“Suicide seeds” are now coming through the back door? (genetic seed sterilisation technology also known as Terminator Technology, also known as GURTS – Genetic Use Restriction Technologies)
Could you send One email? Or make One phone call? It’s easy enough to stop this.
Seeds are the basis of our food supply. We will be eating food that has been engineered to be sterile – unless we create a critical mass, large enough to persuade the Government to support a UN ban on terminator technology.
“Let individual countries decide for themselves” is not a good strategy given the transportation of grains willy-nilly throughout a global community.
We forced them to back down in Bangkok last year. We embarrassed them into granting (belatedly) an entry visa to Dr. Tewolde. We can once again cause the right action to take place.
Background informaion is included for those new to our network. Cheers!
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CONTENTS
(1) COMMENTS
(2) RECENT MEETING IN SPAIN, TERMINATOR BAN UNDERMINED (UN CONVENTION ON BIO-DIVERSITY)
(3) NOTES FROM TERRY PUGH (NFU – NATIONAL FARMERS UNION)
(4) SEND YOUR OBJECTIONS TO JOHN KARAU, HEAD OF CANADIAN DELEGATION
(5) NOTES ON PHONE CONVERSATION WITH KARAU’S OFFICE
(6) NORWAY SETS UP COLD STORAGE SEED BANK TO GUARD AGAINST LOSS OF SEED MATERIAL http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=9456
(7) OTHERS WHO WILL BE INTERESTED, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW
(8) LETTER FROM MARC LOISELLE TO JOHN KARAU
(9) EXPLANATION OF UN CONVENTION ON BIO-DIVERSITY BY PAUL BEINGESSNER; INCLUDES THE DR. TEWOLDE AFFAIR
(10) THE UN MEETINGS IN BANGKOK, FEB 2005. Canada’s instructions to its negotiators regarding international moratorium on genetic seed sterilisation technology
(11) CONNECTIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND BIOTECH “CLIENTS”, FROM LETTER TO STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 5, 2005
(12) FOR MORE INFORMATION
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(1) COMMENTS
Feel – we are part of a swell on the seething sea of humanity. We rise, fall back and rise again to wash away that which is not good.
This letter to Environment Canada provides commentary:
FROM: Sandra Finley
(1) TO:
John Karau, Director
Biodiversity Convention office
(john.karau@ec.gc.ca) Phone 819-953-9669
(2) Separate email sent to Timothy J Hodges,
Associate Director,
Access and Benefit Sharing,
Environment Canada,
Biodiversity Convention Office,
tim.hodges@ec.gc.ca
(I would like to CC: Prime Minister Stephen Harper but when I phone the Govt I am told there isn’t an email address yet, until the swearing in on Feb 6 when the new Govt takes over.)
———————
Dear John Karau,
RE: Canadian position on GURTS
Canada needs to take a strong stand, alongside principled countries, in outspoken opposition to GURTS (also known as Terminator Technology).
To date, Canada’s participation in the UN Convention on Bio-Diversity has been reprehensible:
- at the Bangkok meetings (Feb 2005) Canadian negotiators were instructed to block consensus on the effort to deal with genetic seed sterilisation technology.
- For the end-of-May 2005 meetings in Montreal, Canada blocked the attendance of some delegates from developing countries by witholding entry visas – the “Dr. Tewolde affair”. (I can still hardly believe that this behavior has been tolerated in Canada. No one has yet been held to account.) This is most egregious: Canada is the permanent host country through the Montreal Headquarters for the UN Bio-Diversity Convention.
- Now here we are in Granada continuing in our complicity, using the tactic of almost-silence, the failure to vocally support the public interest.
It is the responsibility of the people who work for the Government, on behalf of CITIZENS, to protect “the common good”. GURTS, Terminator seeds, “suicide” seeds, GSST, or whatever you want to call it, clearly does not serve the public interest. So the question: exactly whose interests are you serving?
We saw herbicide-tolerant crops developed with the assurance that “seeds can be contained”. We saw Monsanto’s herbicide-tolerant wheat fought down and now it has come in through the back-door via BASF and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (President François Guimont). (To expect anyone to believe that seeds (Nature) can be “contained” shows contempt for the intelligence of citizens.)
- What happened in Bangkok
- The Dr. Tewolde affair
- Herbicide-tolerant wheat and now
- Granada
are all part of the same pernicious malfunctioning of Canadian Government, a continuation of Government funding and subservience to corporate interests.
It would be good if the new Government in Ottawa would provide a directive on “in whose interests” they work, to all civil servants.
Norway’s initiative – (Stowing seeds for disaster, Norway to create super-cold storage vault of edible plant life, Thursday, January 12, 2006 Page A1 Globe & Mail) – comes in recognition of the threat actively being created with the co-operation of some Governments and universities, among them Canadian. The Government of Canada needs to change course, to join hands with countries like Norway.
May Canada and Canadians be well and honorably represented by your work, John.
Best wishes,
Sandra Finley
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(2) RECENT MEETING IN SPAIN, TERMINATOR BAN UNDERMINED (UN CONVENTION ON BIO-DIVERSITY)
JANUARY 27, 2006
TERMINATOR BAN UNDERMINED AT UN MEETING IN SPAIN
The National Farmers Union (NFU) of Canada, the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) in the United States, and other organizations are concerned that “suicide seeds” may be introduced into the environment through the back door.
A worldwide de-facto moratorium on Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs – popularly known as “Terminator” technology) was undermined this past week at a United Nations conference in Granada, Spain. Terminator technology is used to create genetically modified seeds which are rendered sterile at harvest.
A resolution adopted at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Granada, Spain January 27 recommends abandoning the precautionary principle and allows testing of Terminator plant varieties on a “case by case” basis under the guise of “risk management” and “capacity building.” Government representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Canada were instrumental in forcing the change in policy at the UN forum.
Terry Boehm, NFU Vice-President and Chair of the Ban Terminator campaign in Canada, said officials from the Canadian Department of Environment tried to accomplish this objective last year at a similar meeting in Bangkok, but backed off following strong public opposition in Canada and worldwide.
“This time around, the Canadian delegation is involved in a supporting role, with the governments of Australia and New Zealand taking the lead in destroying the consensus against Terminator,” said Boehm. “This flies in the face of any regard for farmers, citizens and the world’s biosphere. Why would Canada help to unleash something as dangerous as Terminator on the world?”
Boehm said the Canadian delegation appears to be taking advantage of a change in government to push though an agenda that benefits large multinational seed and chemical companies.
Colleen Ross, NFU Women’s President, said the CBD consultations in Spain were supposed to involve Indigenous peoples, “yet the bureaucrats repeatedly refused to consult with farmers or Indigenous groups on this issue.” She said Terminator technology is all about who controls seeds – and ultimately who controls the food system.
“Terminator is the ultimate tool in controlling the world’s food supply, because it forces farmers to buy seeds from the handful of seed companies which dominate the global market,” she said.
Other citizens’ groups supporting the stance of the NFU and NFFC in opposing Terminator include: The Council of Canadians, the ETC Group, Inter Pares, Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, Beyond Factory Farming, GenEthics of Australia, the National Council of Women of Canada, and others.
– 30 –
Contact: Terry Boehm, NFU Vice-President (306) 255-2880
Colleen Ross, NFU Women’s President (613) 652-1552
Terry Pugh, NFU Executive-Secretary (306) 652-9465
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(3) NOTES FROM TERRY PUGH (NFU – NATIONAL FARMERS UNION)
Hi Sandra,
It is apparent that letters to the federal government and the Canadian delegation at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meetings do make a difference – so we need to continue (addresses below).
The Canadian government strategy was much more low-key than last year (“the Bangkok meeting”). Australia and New Zealand were the leaders at this meeting. Australian delegates stated they had clear instructions to remove reference to the precautionary approach and to insert language on a “case by case assessment” (This language of “case-by-case assessment” is how the Canadian government describes its regulation of genetically engineered products and is a way of moving the issue of Terminator from a moratorium to the stage of national regulation-approval). The actions of the Australian negotiators confirmed that they, with New Zealand and Canada, have a clear strategy to win approval of Terminator Technology and that the UN meeting March 20-31 in Brazil of the CBD (Convention on Bio-Diversity) will be critical to the future of Terminator.
Canadians need to maintain and increase pressure on our government as we head to the UN meeting March 20-31. Canadians are asked to write to PM Harper and their MPs. The new Conservative Government must take a clear position against Terminator and abandon the Liberal Party position of neither promoting or opposing Terminator. This is really important now because Australia and New Zealand (with assistance from the US) will try very hard to undermine the moratorium in March – and they will want the Canadian government’s help to do this.
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(4) SEND YOUR OBJECTIONS TO JOHN KARAU, HEAD OF CANADIAN DELEGATION AND TO PRIME MINISTER
Postcards addressed to the Prime Minister are available for distribution in communities: to obtain postcards, please e-mail sarah.banterminator@sympatico.ca
(INSERT: Sandra – It is of course hard to reach MP’s in this transitional stage of new Government. It will be easier after they are sworn in on Feb 6. Even then they will be busy learning the ropes. I will mark my calendar for mid-Feb to start EMAIL communications with our MP’s and the Prime Minister about Terminator Technology, in time for the March 20 meetings in Brazil. The postcards and letters to Parliament are, and should go ahead now.)
Letters can be sent to:
Mr. John Karau, Director
Biodiversity Convention office
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 9th Floor
Place Vincent Massey
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3
Phone 819-953-9669
Fax 819-953-1765
E-mail: john.karau@ec.gc.ca
Cc: Prime Minister Stephen Harper
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
Cheers,
Terry Pugh (NFU)
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(5) NOTES ON PHONE CONVERSATION WITH KARAU’S OFFICE
PHONE CONVERSATION
Monday, Jan 30, 819-953-9669, Office of John Karau, Director
Biodiversity Convention office:
(Note: this is Environment Canada but Agriculture Canada is behind the seed development. The Cdn Food Inspection Agency will be responsible for licensing.)
The receptionist advised that EVERYONE who deals with the Bio-Diversity Convention is at the meetings in Spain and will not return until next week.
I asked if there was someone in Agriculture Canada who was connected and with whom I could speak, but she doesn’t know.
I explained that I am from an agricultural background and have an interest in how our food supply is being developed. I do not like what the Federal Govt is doing. I asked whether John Karau would likely be kept on as Director of the Biodiversity Convention office under the new Government?
She does not know. I asked how am I to communicate the reasons for my objections? She energetically assured me that all the communications that have been coming into John Karau are being forwarded to Granada (Spain) as they come in.
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(6) NORWAY SETS UP COLD STORAGE SEED BANK TO GUARD AGAINST LOSS OF SEED MATERIAL
Stowing seeds for disaster
Norway to create super-cold storage vault of edible plant life
Thursday, January 12, 2006. Go to http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=9456
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(7) OTHERS WHO WILL BE INTERESTED, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW
Interested in food? Agriculture? The right of farmers to own seeds?
GMO’s? Health? Issues of governance? Environment? Bio-Diversity? the
Future? … we need critical mass. Pass this email along. That simple
act will increase the likelihood of reaching “the tipping point”, to change
the path we’re on.
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(8) LETTER FROM MARC LOISELLE TO JOHN KARAU
URGENT ACTION today – Ban Terminator Seeds
From: Marc Loiselle
Date: Jan 25 2006
As the forwarded letter email alerts, today is the last and ideal day to reach the head of the Canadian g’ment delegation to the UN meetings in Spain to urge him to stop pushing for acceptance of Terminator technology. See our own letter below as an example for you to use. Do not delay; this is important. (I would still send a letter after today regardless, due to the importance of this!
Email to john.karau@ec.gc.ca mailto:john.karau@ec.gc.ca
Marc & Anita
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Mr. Karau,
As Director, Biodiversity Convention Office, Environment Canada and head of the Canadian Government delegation to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Working Group on Article 8(j) in Granada, Spain, we urge you to stop pushing for acceptance of Terminator/GURTs.
We demand that you and the other Canadian officials act to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and farmers to save and breed seeds; not the opposite!
We demand that Canada acknowledge that the serious negative impacts of Terminator on traditional knowledge, Indigenous peoples and farmers in Canada and around the world requires a _*ban*_ on the technology!
Terminator/GURTs is a technology of genetic engineering that is designed by the multinational seed industry and the United States Department of Agriculture to render seeds sterile at harvest, thus preventing farmers from saving and re-using seed, forcing them to return to corporations to buy seed every season. This predatory strategy is widely condemned by scientific bodies, international development experts, Indigenous peoples, and farmer and civil society organizations because it threatens livelihoods, food security, and agricultural biodiversity. As farmers we recognize the very real threat that this technology poses for our own seed and food production.
Terminator/GURTs would interrupt Indigenous and farmer seed saving and seed exchange, and thereby have important impacts on the practice and retention of traditional knowledge that, in turn, supports food sovereignty, self-determination, cultural and spiritual practices, and the protection of biodiversity around the world.
Terminator is a biosafety hazard as these seeds could be unintentionally introduced into communities through seed markets or humanitarian food aid. We have seen this happen already with GE corn spreading unwanted in Mexico. Terminator genes can also escape through pollen flow in the first generation, passing sterility genes to related (open pollinated) crops nearby.
We demand better from our government officials than to be a mouthpiece for corporate promotion of Terminator/GURTs technology and to sell out to American and multinational interests that do not have the common good of all citizens at heart.
Sincerely,
Marc & Anita Loiselle
Marc Loiselle
Communications & Research Director,
Organic Agriculture Protection Fund (OAPF),
‘To preserve and protect certified organic food and fibre production’
Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD)
http://www.saskorganic.com
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(9) EXPLANATION OF UN CONVENTION ON BIO-DIVERSITY BY PAUL BEINGESSNER;
INCLUDES THE DR. TEWOLDE AFFAIR (blocking of entry visas for foreign scientists to attend Biosafety Protocol Meetings in Montreal)
FROM THE WESTERN PRODUCER, June 6 2005, by Paul Beingessner.
Excerpted:
” … I suspect, for example, that few western Canadians are aware of the Convention on Biological Diversity or the Cartagena Protocol. They probably also don’t know that the Convention has its headquarters in Montreal.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a global treaty whose principles were adopted in 1992 by 150 government leaders at the Rio Earth Summit. Its goal is to promote “sustainable development”. The CBD recognizes the need for conserving biological diversity – that we need to maintain the great genetic diversity of the world’s plants and animals if we are to sustaine life on the planet. The CBD also recognizes that this will not be practical unless everyone shares fairly in the benefits from the use of genetic resources.
One of the outcomes of the CBD has been the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. This agreement for the first time sets out a regulatory system for ensuring the safe transfer, handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms across national borders. The most controversial part of the Protocol is its use of the Precautionary Principle. This Principle says if there are threats of serious damage to the biodiversity of a country or the health of its citizens, the country may refuse to allow in GMOs, even though the science on the threat is not completely certain.
While many countries signed the Cartagena Protocol, fewer have taken the second step of ratifying it. Ratification means the country is bound by the provisions of the Protocol. The list of those who have ratified is dominated by Third World countries, from Azerbaijan to Yemen. Noticeably absent are major agricultural exporters. Canada signed the treaty but did not ratify it. The U.S. has not even bothered to sign. (Mind you, the U.S. hasn’t signed the Land Mines Treaty, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Children, and a host of others.)
Agricultural exporters seem to fear that other countries will use the Protocol as an excuse to keep out imports of GMO crops. Those ratifying the Protocol have a host of other concerns. One of these is the fear GMO seeds will compromise their biological diversity. Many modern crops have their origins in Third World countries.
Mexico provides an example of this. It is the ancestral home to corn and still contains primitive varieties. These are the source of germplasm for modern plant breeding. Unfortunately, many of these native varieties have become contaminated with genes from genetically modified varieties, despite laws in Mexico to prevent this.
(INSERT: “THE TEWOLDE AFFAIR” BEGINS HERE)
The Cartagena Protocol was the subject of a conference in Montreal from May 25 to June 3. The Canadian government played an unusual role in this conference, besides being the host. It refused to give a visa to attend to an Ethiopian delegate, Dr. Tewolde Egziabher.
The 65-year-old Tewolde was educated at the University of Wales and was Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia in the 1970s. Since 1995 he has been General Manager of the Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia. Tewolde worked hard in the development of the Protocol and was instrumental in organizing African countries to negotiate as a block on these issues, and to be leaders of the G77 countries.
Despite being in Canada several times before, Tewolde was denied a visa to come to the conference, with no explanation given. The Canadian government was deluged with letters and emails from people and organizations in Canada protesting this. Again without explanation, the government finally granted Tewolde a visa, in time to attend the last few days.
Canada also refused visas to other Third World participants. Two farmers from India, one a retired professor of agricultural economics and adviser to his state government, were also prevented from coming. They were told to bring their bank statements should they wish to re-apply for visas – far too late to attend the conference. An Iranian, senior expert at his Ministry of Foreign Affairs and responsible for biodiversity-related international agreements, was also refused a visa.
It is worth noting that all these folks were concerned about the import of GMOs to their countries.
Canada’s actions in these cases might be malicious, or only ignorant. Canada has a record of refusing visas to people from poor countries to attend conferences. Young people from Haiti and other impoverished countries were refused visas to attend World Youth Day when the Pope came to Toronto, even though they were sponsored by Canadian organizations.
In Tewolde’s case, maliciousness is more likely. He has been an outspoken leader and critic of American policy in regard to the export of GMOs. Canada is offside with most of the world in refusing to ratify the Cartagena Protocol, but on side with the U.S. and seed giants like Monsanto. Maybe Canada was just trying to tip the scales toward its side. … ”
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(10) THE UN MEETINGS IN BANGKOK, FEB 2005
Canada’s instructions to its negotiators regarding international moratorium on genetic seed sterilisation technology (Terminator Technology, also known as GURTS – Genetic Use Restriction Technologies) to “block consensus”.
February 7, 2005
ETC Group News Release
www.etcgroup.org
A confidential document leaked today to ETC Group reveals that the Canadian government, at a United Nations meeting in Bangkok (Feb 7-11), will attempt to overturn an international moratorium on genetic seed sterilisation technology (known universally as Terminator). Even worse, the Canadian government has instructed its negotiators to “block consensus” on any other option.
“Canada is about to launch a devastating kick in the stomach to the world’s most vulnerable farmers – the 1.4 billion people who depend on farm saved seed,” said ETC Group Executive Director Pat Mooney speaking from Ottawa. “The Canadian government is doing the dirty work for the multinational gene giants and the US government. Even Monsanto wasn’t prepared to be this upfront and nasty. Canada is betraying Farmers’ Rights and food sovereignty everywhere.”
Terminator technology was first developed by the US government and the seed industry to prevent farmers from re-planting saved seed and is considered the most controversial and immoral agricultural application of genetic engineering so far. When first made public in 1998, “suicide seeds” triggered an avalanche of public opposition, forcing Monsanto to abandon the technology and prompting the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to impose a de facto moratorium on its further development. According to the leaked instructions to Canadian negotiators at SBSTTA 10 (a scientific advisory body to the CBD), Canada will insist on Wednesday (9 Feb.) that governments accept the field testing and commercialization of Terminator varieties (referred to as GURTS — Genetic Use Restriction Technologies). Canada will also attack an official UN report, prepared by an international expert group, which is critical of the potential impacts of Terminator seeds on small farmers and Indigenous Peoples. In stark contrast to Canada’s position, the expert report recommends that governments seek prohibitions on the technology.
In Bangkok, civil society and Indigenous Peoples are calling on the Canadian government to abandon its endorsement of Terminator and to join with other governments to prohibit the technology once and for all. Many African and Asian governments have called for Terminator to be banned and the European Union has also been supportive of the existing moratorium.
“It is outrageous that Canada is backing an anti-farmer technology and shameful that it will ‘block consensus’ on any other outcome. Governments from around the world must not accept this bullying tactic,” says ETC Group’s Hope Shand from the negotiations in Bangkok. “If Canada blocks decision-making on this issue, the moratorium will be in jeopardy and terminator seeds will be commercialized ending up in the fields of small farmers.”
The full leaked text of the Canadian government’s instructions to its negotiators on Terminator/GURTS follows. “Advice on the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTS);
Canada has major reservations regarding the recommendations in the AHTEG report. Canada notes that the experts were unable to reach consensus and that while this is recognized in para. 15 of the report, this should have been made clear in the recommendation section of the report. Unfortunately, the report leaves the impression that consensus was achieved on all of the recommendations when this was clearly not case and in particular in terms of recommendation (b) which reads as follows, “In view of the current lack of data, recommends that Parties and other Governments consider the development of regulatory frameworks not to approve GURTs for field-testing and commercial use.” Canada will suggest that the document clearly indicate in the Annex that there is no consensus on for the recommendations. Alternatively, the AHTEG report can be referred to as the “Chairs’ report”. Canada also believes that the AHTEG report contains scientific inaccuracies and a lack of balance in terms of reflecting both potential positive and negative impacts of this technology, and these issues should be addressed before the report is further distributed. We believe that it would be beneficial for Parties and other governments to submit comments to the Executive Secretary/CHM to represent national views to improve the accuracy of the document, and that these be made available to both the 8j working group and COP.
Additionally, Canada will propose that SBSTTA adopt a recommendation for decision at COP8 based on the revised wording of recommendation “b” below and will propose this recommendation be incorporated for consideration at the 8j meeting: NEW WORDING for recommendation b) of AHTEG report
(b) In view of the current lack of data, recommend that Parties and other Governments consider the development of domestic regulatory frameworks TO ALLOW FOR THE EVALUATION OF NOVEL VARIETIES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH GURTS, FOR FIELD TESTING AND COMMERCIAL USE BASED ON APPROPRIATE SCIENCE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL RISK/SAFETY ASSESSMENTS.
In Canada’s opinion the revised wording we are suggesting, strengthens the recommendation and provides for a strong scientific assessment of risk.
If we are unsuccessful in obtaining these additions (indication that recommendations in the AHTEG report were not based on consensus OR agreement to have national views submitted) AND changes to recommendation “B” –or any other outcome which clearly addresses our concern over a defacto moratorium on GURTS– Canada is prepared to block consensus on this issue.”
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(11) CONNECTIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND BIOTECH “CLIENTS”, FROM LETTER TO STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 5, 2005
Réal Ménard (MP) is absolutely right that an Enquiry into the operations of Health Canada (PMRA – Pest Management Regulatory Agency) is in order.
Further to the personal experience submitted to you earlier (Health Canada scientist’s attempt to intimidate me into silence) I have appended documentation of 2 events related to biotechnology. The events make a loud statement that something is very rotten in the state of Canada.
Some will think that the UN Biosafety Protocol Meeting in Montreal and the February UN Meeting in Bangkok have nothing to do with Health Canada and are therefore irrelevant to the decision on whether an Enquiry into the operations of Health Canada is warranted. But Health Canada plays a large role in biotech in Canada.
The PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) is responsible to the Minister of Health. The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) is responsible to the Minister of Agriculture.
The clients of the PMRA (Health Canada) are the chemical companies. The pharmaceutical companies have large ownership interests in the chemical companies, who in turn, by-and-large are the biotechnology industry. Biotechnology in Canada has a current main thrust into agriculture where crops (our food supply) are developed to be resistant to herbicides. (One might logically think that the food supply would be developed using the criteria of nutritional gains and environmental impact on the common good, but this is not the case.) The companies go to Health Canada to get their pesticides and pharmaceuticals licensed for use, and they make large payments to the PMRA (at least $8 million a year as reported by the television programme W5 a couple of years ago). These companies then have partnership agreements whereby the Government through Agriculture Canada pays half the research costs for developing seeds that are resistant to the licensed chemicals. And they have partnership agreements through Health Canada to fund research on biotech drugs.
A second developing main thrust of biotechnology in Canada, and with the same corporate criteria as are applied in agriculture, is into the development of biotech pharmaceuticals. The partnership agreements through which public funding flows to the drug companies to fund research are through a front known as the Health Research Foundation. Health Research Foundations exist at the Provincial level of Government as well. These publicly funded “foundations” fund research that has “the potential for commercialization“. Biotech pharmaceuticals figure prominently. Government funding of the transnational pharmeceutical companies is done in precisely the same way as its funding of the chemical/biotech companies (e.g. for the development of crops such as roundup resistant wheat) which is through front organizations with names such as BioTech Canada and AgWest Biotech.
Both the food and the drugs we consume are determinants of health. The PMRA, other branches of Health Canada, and the CFIA work closely together – their “clients” are the same companies. As I have mentioned, the pharmaceutical companies own the chemical companies who own the biotechnology companies.
These are mostly large transnational corporations many of which have a very long and well-documented history of corruption and non-compliance with the laws of the land.
Given the overlaps in ownership, the overlapping interests in biotechnology, and the collaborations between the Government and the industry through partnership agreements, it is very reasonable to presume that Health Canada may indeed be collaboratively behind the 2 events mentioned. Both the witholding of entry visas to scientists who are effective in their work to insist on a Biosafety Protocol, and the attempted sabotage by Canadian Government negotiators of the UN deliberations on genetic seed sterilisation technology, have the same end in view. I therefore presume that the same people in Government are behind both events. The events are an outrage to democracy and an international embarrassment to Canadians. I don’t know of any other way than an Enquiry to determine what is going on.
(1) Dr. Tewolde and other scientists who were to attend the UN Protocol Meetings on Biosafety in Montreal
(2) the UN Meetings in Bangkok in negotiations on genetic seed sterilisation technology
Documentation on both is appended. It tells you that what Drs Chopra, Haydon and Lambert are telling you is the truth. What is going on in the Government and specifically in Health Canada is not to be tolerated in a democracy.
There needs to be a public enquiry.
Yours truly,
Sandra Finley
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(12) FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Organic Consumers web-site has good information. This is an American site. Look at those nice references to the Canadian role in Terminator Technology!
http://www.organicconsumers.org/un.htm
CREATING A SAFER GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
FEBRUARY: The OCA informed you of new efforts by the biotech industry to legalize the “Terminator” gene, an experimental genetic engineering (GE) technique that makes plant seeds sterile. The technology would benefit GE seed producers by forcing farmers to purchase new seeds every year, but scientists are deeply concerned about what could happen if this experimental “suicide” trait spread from crops into wild plants via pollen drift. Thanks in part to your deluge of emails to the United Nations, those efforts by the biotech industry were stopped, and the terminator has been (at least temporarily) terminated. http://www.organicconsumers.org/un.htm