--MAIL BOX

Friday, January 14, 2000 — Nerth Shore

experiments opposed

Dear Editor:

Your headline chowe for
Martin Zelder’s arncle detend
ing the agribietech industry is
as Moleading and insulting as
his misinformation
(Geneteaiiv modified food
phobia will prove costly,”
North Shore News, Jan. 7}.

A phebia, according to
Webster's Discionary, is “an
exagyerated and usually inex-
pheable aiid illogical tear of a
particular object or class of
objects,” while the public's
doubts abour the safety and
the necessity of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs)
and foods derived from them
are based on pragmatism, com-
mon sense and the historical
record.

Mr. Zelder’s only concern
about opposition to GM foods
is how corporate profits may
be affected. He doesn’t ques-
tion whether the agribiowch
industry has any right to foist
GM crops on farmers and con-
sumers in their acver-ending
quest for market domination
and larger profits.

While the industry stands
to gain, farmers will become
increasingly dependent on a
corporate monopoly, con-
sumers will pay more for food
that is less nutritious and
potentially harmful, and the
environment will be degraded
more rapidly.

Has Mr. Zelder heard of
the precautionary principle?
Not long ago the onus was on
manufacturers to demonstrate
their products were harmless
to the public and the environ-
ment. Risk assessment was
based on the understanding
that the absence of scientific

_ évidence or certainty did not
preclude decision-makers from
denying approval of a product
pending further investigation.

The case of the gasoline
additive MMT demonstrates
that governments have lost the
ability to protect citizens from
the effects of potentially harm-
ful products.

For free trade ideologues,
the precautionary principle is
just another on a long list of
“barriers to free wade.” Other
“barviers” include respect for
humans rights, consumer
rights, democratic sovereignty,
social justice, the environment
and labour.

With respect to GM foods,
neither the Canada Food
Inspection Agency nor Health
Canada test foods for safety.
Both groups rely on informa-
tion from applicants and both
groups receive matching fund-
ing from the industry they are
supposed to monitor.

One must wonder how
“consumers may ultimately
decide that non-GM products
offer no tangible benefit”
when up to 75% of processed
foods on supermarket shelves
contain GM products yet are
not labelled.

If “the reality” is that GM
foods are safe, why do produc-
ers vehemently oppose manda-
tory labelling? If GM products
are not separated, how can one

“prove” they are safe?

The agribiotech industry is
conducting an uncontrolled
experiment without our con-
sent. This is unethical and

Canadians are correct to |

oppose this approach.

Mr. Zelder alludes to genes
of Bacillus thuriengiensis (Bt)
being inserted into potato
crops. Its successful use by
organic farmers depends on
infrequent applications.

Conversely,

greatly increasing the bkeli

hood of natural pest resistance.

In bichogical systems, “proba
hifity of harnv” of tone ina tril
tion” is actually a likely occur

in GAL crops,
resisQince is always chsplaved.

rence and even the agribiotech
madustry admiis that nature will
overcome an Cengineering”
in less than 10 years.

There is a wealis of intor
magien to counter Mr. Zelder’s
false claims and icacers should

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North Vancouver

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