FRIENDS OF THE EARTH PRESS RELEASE

Web version:
http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/infoteam/pressrel/2002/20020901103634.html

  Immediate release   Sunday 1st September

  ZAMBIAN GM FOOD AID DECISION HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL PROBLEMS

  Friends of the Earth warned that attempts to force Zambia to
  accept US food aid contaminated with GM could be repeated around
  the world unless the Bio Safety Protocol is ratified and
  implemented by all nations.

  A press release issued by African representatives attending the
  Earth Summit in Johannesburg highlights concerns that the GM maize
  could be planted and potentially contaminate Zambia's indiginous
  maize seed.

  Zambia currently has no regulations in place to control GM
  cultivation.  The Zambian decision to reject GM food aid was based
  on the precautionary principle.

  Commenting Pete Riley Biotech Campaigner for Friends of the Earth
  said:

  The experience of Mexico,where GM contamination of wild maize
  stock has been detected in the last two years, suggests that the
  Zambian Government was right to be cautious.  Non GM food aid has
  been offered from Uganda and Tanzania.  Perhaps the US government
  and the biotech lobby would be better advised to help ensure that
  that food reached the people who needed instead of trying to score
  GM propaganda points.

  Ends

  Copy of release from African NGOs below:
  WSSD / Earth Summit Press Release
  Why Africa SHOULD Reject GE Contaminated Food Aid
  30/08/2002 Johannesburg, South Africa

  Three international reports have been released promoting
  Genetically Engineered (GE) food in the lead up to WSSD.  Each
  report is funded by parties with a vested interest for the success
  of GE food.
  African nations have united against this biased research:
  1.    World Food Programme Report saying GE Food Aid should be
  accepted.
  2.    WTO - WHO Report saying GE is not harmful.
  3.    UN Economic Commission for Africa is pro GE farming and
  medicine.

  Africa's Response:
  Uganda and Tanzania have both offered Zambia GE free food.  They
  argue that there is enough food in Africa to help Zambia.  However,
  ineffective infrastructure hampers distribution of this food to
  drought-stricken areas.

  The US is disposing of its rejected food on Africa.  Africa will
  not allow itself to become a dumping ground.  This is another form
  of colonisation:  first through slavery, then economic
  colonisation and now the control of food and medicine through GE,
  creating total dependency through patented and terminated seed and
  medicines.
  Food crops given as aid are often planted.  This leads to
  contamination as Mexico has experienced.  There must be solidarity
  across Africa for strict controls and decisions.
  Solutions to Africa's regular droughts are not food aid from the
  North nor technology.
  It is:
  o    Enhancing traditional systems of food production where
  farmers control their own diverse livelihood systems.
  o    Improving infrastructure so food can be transported from
  areas of surplus to areas of need within Africa as a priority

  Zambia's Response:
  Dr Lewanika, a scientific advisor to the Zambian government
  explains why Zambia rejects GE Food Aid and why other African
  countries should do so too:

  Zambia has had public debates on the issue.  The majority of small
  scale farmers said they would rather starve than use GE food.
  Hunger is a real issue in Zambia, however, there is still time to
  prepare and to provide GE free food.

  Aid was not offered - money ($51 million) was given as a loan to
  the private sector to import maize from the USA.  When this maize
  was imported Zambia was not informed that it was GE contaminated.
  It is important to get prior consent from a country rather than
  imposing GE contaminated food grain on a nation.
  Currently, there is no regulatory system in place in Zambia to
  evaluate, accept or reject Genetically Modified Organisms.  The
  debate about safety, human health and the environment still rages
  on.  Until the issue is clear, Zambia chooses to take
  precautionary steps.

  -- ends --

  From:
  Dr Lewanika, Scientific adviser to the Zambian government.
  Dr Tewolde Gebre Egziabher, Spokesperson for the African Biosafety
  Proposal.
  Fred Kalibiwane, Organizer of the Farmers Convergence.
  Million Belay, Steering Committee of the African Civil Society
  Group.