|
Press release 10 November 2004, Finland
China´s GM poplars cause concern
International campaign demands global ban
on GM trees
China appears to be the first country on Earth which has taken genetically
modified trees into commercial use. According to reports there are
now more than a million insect resistant GM poplars in plantations
in Southern China. There is still a great lack of information as
to the varieties in question but activists are worried. -If those
GM poplars can cross pollinate with the natural populations the
contamination cannot be avoided. In that case China has obviously
made LMO (living modified organism) invasion to other countries
and by that it will break the national sovereignty of those countries
and also international laws like the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol,
says Mikko Vartiainen, a lawyer and activist in People´s Biosafety
Association in Finland.
-There is no right for contamination, says Leo Stranius,
chair of Friends of the Earth Finland. -Whatever the country is
which starts global contamination of forest trees, that action is
not justified. We hope that China can soon give good news to the
international community that they have finished the project and
removed the risk of contamination.
The Global Ban on GM trees campaign has opened an
Internet workshop for sharing discussions and information on China's
GM poplar project. Link:
http://video.elonmerkki.net/forum/topic/?catid=101
The campaign continues on the
Internet
In the beginning of this year three Finnish environmental organisations
launched an international campaign for a global ban on GM trees.
The open petition for UN has now been signed by more than 200 organisations
and 2000 individuals from 70 countries.
(http://video.elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/signed1.html)
The campaign has protested the UN decision in the climate meeting
in Milano which gives possibility to set up genetically modified
tree plantations and get some emission rights by them. Look more:
http://video.elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/press3.html
http://video.elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/press040504.html
http://video.elonmerkki.net/forum/thread/?id=224
The next step for the campaign is to present its demand in Buenos
Aires in December when the tenth UN Kyoto meeting (Cop 10) happens
there.
-Genetically modified trees are not the solution. Instead of taking
irreversible risks that extend over generations we should develop
the true alternatives of ecoforestry and organic agroforestry, says
the campaign coordinator of the Union of Ecoforestry Hannu Hyvönen
For more information:
Global Ban on GM trees
http://video.elonmerkki.net/forestforum
Hannu Hyvönen
coordinator
tel +358-408317733
e-mail:hannu AT video.elonmerkki.net
Leo Stranius
chair
Friends of the Earth Finland
tel +358-40-754 7371
email:leo.stranius AT maanystavat.fi
http://www.maanystavat.fi
Mikko Vartiainen
lawyer
People´s Biosafety Association
tel.+3580503863354
email:mikko.vartiainen AT nic.fi
|
