[Ngo-sanrm] Farmers and Scientist Groups support House Bill seeking GMO Free Agriculture

[Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Working Group]

 FYI
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----- Forwarded Message -----
>From: APC secretariat <apcsecretariat at asianpeasant.org>
>To: apc_members <apc_members at asianpeasant.org> 
>Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 10:25 PM
>Subject: Farmers and Scientist Groups support House Bill seeking GMO Free Agriculture
> 
>RESIST AGROCHEM TNCS!
>> 
>>PRESS RELEASE
>>August 23, 2012
>> 
>>Farmers and Scientist Groups support House Bill seeking GMO Free Agriculture 
>> 
>>Manila, Philippines –The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) and Resistance and Solidarity against Agrochemical TNCs (RESIST Agrochem TNCs!)lauds the submission of House Bill  (HB) 6454 or “An Act Prohibiting the Use of Products Containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Philippine Agriculture and for other Purposes”. 
>> 
>>“HB 6454 also known as the “GMO-Free Agriculture Act of 2012” is authored by Hon. Rafael Mariano, Anakpawis Partylist representative and concurrent national chairperson of KMP, and was submitted on August 8, 2012 at the House of Representatives,” stated Wilfredo Marbella, KMP deputy secretary general and RESIST Convenor.
>> 
>>The farmer leader added, “This is a timely action of the office of Rep. Mariano especially now that the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in partnership with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) is field testing Golden Rice or Vitamin A Rice in experimental farms in Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte and Camarines Sur.” 
>> 
>>“Golden Rice is a genetically modified (GM) rice that is supposed to contain beta-carotene to produce Vitamin A. Proponents said it is being developed and tested to address the problem of Vitamin A deficiency. However, we assert that the development and promotion of Golden Rice illustrates an industrial model of agriculture that limits bio-diversity and lessens dietary diversification, which primarily causes malnutrition,” stated Dr. Chito Medina, MASIPAG national coordinator also a RESIST Convenor. 
>> 
>>Medina added, “GM food poses risk to consumers, as more and more independent international scientific experiments reveal that GMOs may cause health problems. However, risk assessments done in our country are inadequate. We also question how the country is regulating the entry or approval of GMOs. To date, there are about 67 GMOs approved for direct use as food, feed and processing. While countries in Europe and China has either banned or put a moratorium on GMOs so as to protect their crops from GM contamination , the Philippine government are opening the country to GM crops and thus, endangering its people.”
>> 
>> “We fully support the bill and we will launch campaigns for its passage. We agree with Rep. Mariano that science should serve the people and society, and not of the few who earns big profit at the expense of the people. Science and technological advancement should not cause harm and damage to both people and the environment. Other countries have acted through legislation to protect their citizens and environments from the threat of GM crops and food. Clearly, we must do the same,” Marbella and Medina ended“ #  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>-------------------------------
>>RESIST AGROCHEM TNCs is a broad alliance of Philippine-based farmers' organizations, NGOs, scientists, environmentalists, health workers, academe, and concerned individuals in opposition to Agrochemical TNCs, GMOs and pesticides. It promotes and advocates for alternative, natural and sustainable farming, and pushes for genuine agrarian reform as the foundation of food security and social justice.
>> 
>> 
>>
>>KMP National Secretariat
>>25-B Matiyaga Street, Barangay
                                      Central, Quezon City
>>Philippines
>>Telefax: 632-4352383
>>Email: kmp at kilusangmagbubukid.org
>>Web: www.kilusangmagbubukid.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>MASIPAG Office 
>>2611 Carbern Village, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
>>Telefax: 63 (49) 536-5549
>> Email: info(at)masipag(dot)org
>> 
>> 
> 
> 


-- 
Phan Thu Ha
Senior Working Groups Coordinator
NGO Resource Centre
218 Doi Can, Hanoi - La Thanh Hotel
Tel: +84 4 8328570  Fax: +84 4 8328611
Mobile: 0912174879
Email: haphan at ngocentre.org.vn web: http://www.ngocentre.org.vn 
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