Below is in follow-up to 2013-02-12 A million signatures on AVAAZ petition to US FDA, stop the licensing of GM salmon.
= = = = = = = = = = =
CONTENTS
1. “THE ONLY SOURCE OF GM SALMON EGGS ON THE PLANET“, PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDERS ARE MOBILIZING (again) TO STOP IT!
2. BERTRAM VERHAAG`S FILM “MONSTERSALMON” TELLS THE STORY. A TOOL WE CAN ALL USE. AND HIS MOST RECENT FILM, “Scientists under Attack – Genetic engineering in the magnetic field of money” is a film about courage, secrecy and danger!
REQUEST: please take time to scroll down to #2. about the GM films. They are important. I will see if my local community theatre can show. Persons outside our networks may not know that this “engineering“ of animals is taking place. Up the pressure to stop these insane people. Help spread the word, use the films.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
1. “THE ONLY SOURCE OF GM SALMON EGGS ON THE PLANET“, PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDERS ARE MOBILIZING (again) TO STOP IT!
Islanders say No to GM Salmon
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Please help us promote our newly-launched petition to ban the production of GM salmon eggs at the AquaBounty facility in Prince Edward Island, Canada. As the only source of GM salmon eggs on the planet, we have an opportunity to throw a wrench into AquaBounty’s plans.
Our petition is located here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Frankenfish_Egg_Production/?ccjFNab
And our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IslandersSayNoToFrankenfish?fref=ts
Background: see the media release below.
Thanks!
Sharon Labchuk
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
MEDIA RELEASE, 28 February 2013
GM Opponents ask Premier to Ban GM Salmon Egg Production in PEI
Charlottetown – Islanders Say No to GM Salmon is calling on Premier Ghiz to ban the production of genetically modified (also known as genetically engineered or GE) Atlantic salmon eggs in PEI. As the United States edges closer to approving human consumption of GM salmon in the next months, increased attention is now focused on Canada, and in particular PEI, as the only source of GM salmon eggs on the planet.
The experimental lab-created Atlantic salmon eggs have been produced by AquaBounty, an American company, at a remote facility in Bay Fortune, PEI for more than a decade while it tries to convince the U.S. government to allow the mutant fish into grocery stores.
AquaBounty proposes to produce the GM salmon eggs in PEI, ship them to Panama for growing out and processing, then send the GM fish into the U.S. market. Using PEI and Panama to produce the fish allows AquaBounty to avoid an even more contentious environmental assessment process in the US, said Islanders Say No to GM Salmon spokesperson Sharon Labchuk.
Already the US government has received more than 30,000 comments from citizens and groups as part of the public process to assess the GM fish. Almost one million people have signed an online petition from Avaaz, a global civic action organization, against GM salmon.
Even the aquaculture industry doesn’t support GM fish and says there is no market for them.
“Scientists say the escape of just 60 GM salmon, and fish escape all the time from aquaculture facilities, could mean the end of the wild Atlantic salmon, a species already struggling to survive,” said Labchuk. “The mutant fish are engineered to produce unnatural amounts of growth hormones causing them to grow quickly. The worry is these fast-growing frankenfish will outcompete wild salmon for food and breed with them, effectively eliminating the species.”
AquaBounty claims the GM salmon will be grown in land-based pens in Panama but the company will have no control over regulations in other countries once the eggs are marketed around the globe. The company claims the fish are sterile but it’s own data submitted to the U.S. government shows up to 5% of the fish will be capable of breeding.
“A coalition of PEI organizations has lobbied both Liberal and Tory governments over the years for a GM-free province,” said Leo Broderick, Islanders Say No to GM Salmon representative. “Now because of the urgency of the situation we’ve come together to focus on a GM salmon ban. Canada has not yet approved commercial production of the GM salmon eggs but we fear if the U.S. gives approval to human consumption of GM salmon the Harper government will quickly follow suit and approve not only the sale of the frankenfish in grocery stores but the production of mutant salmon eggs as well,” said Broderick.
This month the Alaska House of Representatives came out in opposition to GM Atlantic salmon, saying it has concerns about threats to human health and wild salmon stocks, and potential negative impacts on the wild Alaska salmon fishery. Islanders Say No to GM Salmon asked Premier Ghiz to similarly tell the Harper government that PEI opposes GM salmon. The group said that even if Prime Minister Harper does approve GM salmon egg production, Premier Ghiz has the authority to ban production in PEI.
“There is no evidence the frankenfish are safe to eat,” said Mary Boyd, group representative. “Genetically engineered salmon have higher levels of IGF-1, a growth hormone that according to experts may increase the risk of several types of cancer.”
“In past years, international media reported on PEI’s role in AquaBounty’s quest to market the world’s first GM animal for human consumption,” said Labchuk. “Attention is now intensifying and PEI is poised to be a critical player. Do we want PEI known around the world as home of the frankenfish, the province that could have stopped GM salmon from wiping out Atlantic salmon but didn’t? There’s nothing to gain and everything to lose by letting this American company, concerned only with lining its own pockets, set up shop in PEI. It’s up to Islanders to say no to GM salmon.”
-30-
Contact
Sharon Labchuk 902 626 7327 slabchuk AT gmail.com
Leo Broderick 902 894 4874 lcb45 AT eastlink.ca
Mary Boyd 902-892-9074 maryboyd AT live.ca
Islanders Say No to GM Salmon on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IslandersSayNoToFrankenfish?ref=hl
More information on the issue:
Canadian Biotechnology Network
Backgrounder re Islanders Say No to GM Salmon
Islanders Say No to GM Salmon is a group organized to push for a ban on GM Atlantic salmon eggs in PEI but the founders of the group are all long-time opponents of GMOs in PEI. Leo Broderick, Sharon Labchuk and Mary Boyd formerly worked in collaboration for years under the banners of organizations we represent, respectively, the Council of Canadians (PEI Chapter), Earth Action, and the PEI Health Coalition.
Opposition to genetically engineered organisms began in PEI with the introduction of Monsanto’s NewLeaf potato in the mid-90’s. Our campaign, assisted by many national and international organizations, forced Monsanto to withdraw the GM potato from the global market. No GM potato has been approved in Canada since.
We began to campaign against AquaBounty and its GM Atlantic salmon in 2000, including participating in an action with Greenpeace at the AquaBounty site that was broadcast around the world. We campaigned for PEI to be GMO-free zone beginning in 2001 culminating in legislative public hearings in 2005. More presentations were made at these hearings than at any other legislative hearings in the history of the province. With the U.S. poised to make a decision in the coming months on approving GM salmon for human consumption, our efforts in PEI will ramp up.
We are members of the Canadian Biotechnology Network (CBAN), a coalition of anti-GMO organizations, and work closely through CBAN with our American colleagues on issues like the GM salmon. With CBAN we’ve participated in public panel presentations in PEI and other provinces and attended U.S. government hearings on the GM salmon.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
2. BERTRAM VERHAAG`S FILM “MONSTERSALMON” TELLS THE STORY. A TOOL WE CAN ALL USE. AND HIS MOST RECENT FILM, “Scientists under Attack – Genetic engineering in the magnetic field of money” is a film about courage, secrecy and danger!
Hello Sandy,
Do you remember – I am the filmmaker from Germany who made the film (including Monstersalmon) “Life running out of control”. As you see on our website www.denkmal-film.com we are still active in this area of genetic enigneering.
How are you? – I hope fine!!
Suddenly, I was eliminated from your mailing list – so I am happy to be in contact again.
Concerning Aqua Bounty’s “Frankenfish”, we made a separate 30min film only on “Monstersalmon”. I would be grateful to have this information (on the film “Monstersalmon“) spread as far as possible.
Besides this, I would like to draw your attention on our latest film about genetic engineering “Scientists under Attack – Genetic engineering in the magnetic field of money”. Have a look at our website and www.scientistsunderattack.com and watch the trailers on youtube: www.youtube.com/denkmalfilm.
“Scientists under Attack” has several distributors and online platform, but they changed the title to: “Attack the Scientist”.
Looking forward to hearing from you and please find enclosed texts about “Scientists under Attack” and “Monstersalmon”.
I would appreciate to spread our information where people can find/buy the films.
Scientists under Attack:
Árpád Pusztai and Ignacio Chapela have two things in common. They are distinguished scientists and their careers are in ruins. Both choose to look at the phenomenon of genetic engineering and made important discoveries. Both are suffering the fate of those who criticise the powerful vested interests that now dominate big business and scientific research.
Statements made by scientists prove that 95% of the research in the area of genetic engineering is paid by the industry. The big danger for freedom of science and our democracy is evident. Can the public – we all – still trust our scientists?
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/scientists-under-attack
Monster Salmon:
The company AquaBounty Technologies wants to multiply the salmon supplies with a genetically modified salmon which grows twice as quickly and 6 times as big as conventional wild salmon. While “normal” Atlantic salmon require around 3 years to be ready for slaughter, the transgenic animals are not only larger but also sexually mature earlier, allowing them to “outdo” their fellow natural species. If only 60 genetically modified salmon reached the wild, this could trigger a natural population of 60,000 salmon in less than 40 fish generations. They would be the first genetically modified fish to be commercially used and released as food. Carp and tilapia are believed to be next. The consumers are not asked but we and nature are exposed to a great trial. The possible consequences which genetic technology has on humans, animals and plants are irreversible! This film explains this.
Attack the Scientist: changed title for VOD: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/attack-the-scientist/id527458217
Best Wishes,
Bertram
———————-
DENKmal-Film Verhaag GmbH
BERTRAM VERHAAG
Herzogstrasse 97
80796 München
Telefon +49 (0)89 – 52 66 01
Fax +49 (0)89 – 523 47 42
mail AT denkmal-film.com
www.denkmal-film.com
www.facebook.com/denkmalfilm
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Monster Salmon –
genetically modified giant fish
You can find it on buffets, pasta, bread, steamed in dill sauce or on the grill. Salmon has become a mass delicacy which is produced on a large scale in fish farms.
The company AquaBounty Technologies wants to multiply the salmon supplies with a genetically modified salmon which grows twice as quickly and 6 times as big as conventional wild salmon.
When breeding the transgenic salmon it is inevitable that some escape into free nature, which would have fatal consequences for the population of wild fishes.
While “normal” Atlantic salmon require around 3 years to be ready for slaughter, the transgenic animals are not only larger but also sexually mature earlier, allowing them to “outdo” their fellow natural species. If only 60 genetically modified salmon reached the wild, this could trigger a natural population of 60,000 salmon in less than 40 fish generations.
Neither AquaBounty Technologies nor the American Health Authorities FDA have commissioned independent scientists to research the consequences on the health of people, the environment and the animal population.
GM salmon are about to be approved.
They would be the first genetically modified fish to be commercially used and released as food. Carp and tilapia are believed to be next. The consumers are not asked but we and nature are exposed to a great trial. The possible consequences which genetic technology has on humans, animals and plants are irreversible! This film explains this.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
In the early 90s the Agro-Chemicals-Multi Monsanto introduces genetically modified plants onto the market, which is the equivalent of an agricultural revolution for some that will solve all the world’s food problems. Others view these plants as an irrevocable destruction of bio-diversity on this planet that needs to be fiercely combated.
A political Thriller
On GMOs and freedom of speech
SCIENTISTS UNDER ATTACK
Genetic engineering in the magnetic field of money
Documentary, 88min
35 mm and DCP
written and directed by
BERTRAM VERHAAG
with
Arpad Pusztai Andrew Kimbrell Ignacio Chapela Jeffrey Smith and Antonio Andrioli
Camera: WALDEMAR HAUSCHILD; Editing: VERENA SCHÖNAUER; Music: GERT WILDEN; Sound: ZOLTAN RAVASZ;
Camera Assistant: ISABEL THEILER; Production Manager: IVAN COSIC, ANJA ARDAL; Sound Mixing: MAX RAMMLER
Production Assistant: FRANK PREKRATIC, LAURA HEITMANN; Redaktion: SONJA SCHEIDER (BR)
Árpád Pusztai and Ignacio Chapela have two things in common. They are distinguished scientists and their careers are in ruins. Both scientists choose to look at the phenomenon of genetic engineering. Both made important discoveries. Both of them are suffering the fate of those who criticise the powerful vested interests that now dominate big business and scientific research.
Statements made by scientists themselves prove that 95% of the research in the area of genetic engineering is paid by the industry. Only 5% of the research is independent. The big danger for freedom of science and our democracy is evident. Can the public – we all – still trust our scientists?
First press commentaries
“Disturbing and well argued” “Very controversial, intriguing and provocative”
(OX DOX – Festival) (Galloping Films)
“Amazing film, folks were blown away. Big crowd, we ran out of seats. Thank you so much for letting us screen the film”
(Film council Greater Columbus, OHIO)
It’s a film about courage, secrecy and danger!
| PRODUCTION AND WORLDSALES: |
DENKmal-Film GmbH Bertram Verhaag Herzogstraße 97 80796 München
tel: +49-89-526601 fax: +49-89-5234742 mail@denkmal-film.com www.denkmal-film.com