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January 14, 2000
Charlottetown Guardian (PEI, Canada)
GE Foods Must Be Banned
Leo Broderick of Charlottetown writes that he Island coalition of community
groups opposed to genetically engineered foods, which met recently with
the
Agriculture Minister Eric Hamill, asked the Island government to do three
things. First, to place an immediate ban on the growing of genetically
engineered crops on Prince Edward Island. Second, to dissolve Solanum,
the
government-owned business established to market Monsanto's genetically
engineered potatoes and the Monsanto technology. Third, to disclose to
the
public, the complete relationship the Island government has had, and
continues to have, with Monsanto, the giant U.S. multinational chemical
and
biotech corporation. To our utter amazement, the minister said the P.E.I.
government could not place a ban on the growing of genetically engineered
crops on Prince Edward Island as it did not have the right to do so. The
coalition believes the P.E.I. legislature has the power to do just that.
The
minister also said government would not dissolve Solanum because its
marketing of genetically engineered potatoes and the technology was a
very
small part of Solanum's mandate. The coalition believes Solanum must go.
The
$5,000,000 genetically engineered potato deal signed last January through
P.E.I.'s Solanum, Monsanto, and the premier of P.E.I. is troublesome to
say
the least. And in response to our third request, the minister said the
P.E.I. government has no relationship with Monsanto.This is simply not
true.
The 1998 the speech from the throne stated, "Solanum Inc. has recently
received national recognition for innovation in public administration,
for
its work with Monsanto Corporation to develop and market potatoes resistant
to the Colorado potato beetle." The coalition calls on all Islanders
to
raise their voices in opposition to the growing of genetically engineered
crops on Prince Edward Island soil. Genetically engineered foods have
not
been proven to be safe for humans, animals, or the environment. Their
being
grown on P.E.I. will destroy organic and safe agricultural practices.
They
must be banned.
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