US GM Food Aid Contraversy! -- ECOSUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

06/20/13 11:25 [ VoyUser Login optional ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4] ]

Subject: US GM Food Aid Contraversy!

Author:
Panos Information Resources
[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
Date Posted: 09/ 7/02 16:18
Author Host/IP: myoon0.connect.com.au/210.8.232.4
New Panos Information Resources on GM Food aid and GM policy in southern Africa

On August 16th 2002 the Zambian government announced that it would not accept 27,000 tonnes of food aid from the US to feed about two million of its people threatened by famine, because the food contained genetically modified (GM) grain.
Zambia’s rejection of the food aid resulted in a stormy international debate. International organisations including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme urged Zambia to accept the aid, while the EU, UK officials and many NGOs including a grouping of African civil society organisations criticised the US for putting such pressure on Zambia.

The issue throws a spotlight on the crucial question of whether countries can make their own decisions about introducing GM crops – and make their decisions freely after a process of discussion, weighing benefits and risks in the national context and consulting the wishes of their people.

Debate is proving as heated and difficult in Zambia as in many other countries: feelings are very intense, and appear to be predominantly against GMOs, so that voices arguing in their favour sometimes have difficulty getting a hearing.

In 2001 Panos began a series of information activities to contribute to Zambia’s national decisionmaking process by providing accurate, accessible and impartial information especially to the farming community, those most immediately affected by GM crops, and to create fora for debate and exchange of views.

A survey of farmers’ knowledge at the start of the project revealed that small-scale farmers had little knowledge of (but plenty of interest in) GMOs, and larger-scale commercial farmers who had more knowledge were divided between those in favour and those against GMOs. It is clear that Zambia needs more time to engage its people in a thorough process of information, reflection and decisionmaking. As a contribution to this process, Panos produced a background briefing paper on GM crops and issues around their introduction into Africa.

Both these documents are now available on the Panos London website - http://www.panos.org.uk/environment/gm_food_aid_intro.htm

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

[ VoyUser Login ] Not required to post.
Post a public reply to this message | Go post a new public message
* HTML allowed in marked fields.
* Message subject (required):

* Name (required):

Expression ^{(Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)}

E-mail address (optional):

* Type your message here:
>New Panos Information Resources on GM Food aid and GM >policy in southern Africa > >On August 16th 2002 the Zambian government announced >that it would not accept 27,000 tonnes of food aid >from the US to feed about two million of its people >threatened by famine, because the food contained >genetically modified (GM) grain. >Zambia’s rejection of the food aid resulted in a >stormy international debate. International >organisations including the Food and Agriculture >Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the >World Food Programme urged Zambia to accept the aid, >while the EU, UK officials and many NGOs including a >grouping of African civil society organisations >criticised the US for putting such pressure on Zambia. > >The issue throws a spotlight on the crucial question >of whether countries can make their own decisions >about introducing GM crops – and make their decisions >freely after a process of discussion, weighing >benefits and risks in the national context and >consulting the wishes of their people. > >Debate is proving as heated and difficult in Zambia as >in many other countries: feelings are very intense, >and appear to be predominantly against GMOs, so that >voices arguing in their favour sometimes have >difficulty getting a hearing. > >In 2001 Panos began a series of information activities >to contribute to Zambia’s national decisionmaking >process by providing accurate, accessible and >impartial information especially to the farming >community, those most immediately affected by GM >crops, and to create fora for debate and exchange of >views. > >A survey of farmers’ knowledge at the start of the >project revealed that small-scale farmers had little >knowledge of (but plenty of interest in) GMOs, and >larger-scale commercial farmers who had more knowledge >were divided between those in favour and those against >GMOs. It is clear that Zambia needs more time to >engage its people in a thorough process of >information, reflection and decisionmaking. As a >contribution to this process, Panos produced a >background briefing paper on GM crops and issues >around their introduction into Africa. > >Both these documents are now available on the Panos >London website - >http://www.panos.org.uk/environment/gm_food_aid_intro.h >tm
Choose Message Icon: [ View Emoticons ]

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.
The Voy.com User Agreement applies to all visitors.

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT+10
VF Version: 2.94, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums^(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2012 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.