US escalates GM food row with Europe

[dArKeR]

Europe's dispute with America over genetically modified food escalated yesterday after Washington asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to force the EU to lift its five-year-old ban on new GM food products.

In a move which raises the prospect of a fresh trade war just a month before crucial world trade talks in Mexico, America requested the formation of a WTO dispute settlement panel to decide once and for all who is right on GM technology. The call was backed by Argentina and Canada.

Washington said it hoped that the panel -- which could take up to 18 months to pronounce -- would rule that the EU's failure to allow the sale of 30 US biotech products on precautionary grounds was illegal.

The EU response was immediate and curt. It said it regretted the move, blocked the formation of the panel (something it is allowed to do only once), and claimed that the case would confuse already sceptical European consumers.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=19244

http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[OldEuropean]

1. GM food

If I remember correctly, all the EU asks for is that GM food gets labelled as such before import is allowed. Of course, Bush & the companies behind him fears that would make the customers not buying the GM products at all.

And where is the long time studay that shows GM food is harmless?

[Mari333]

2. EU to US ...

"Blow Me"

:silly:

[alaine]

3. We're making me sick.

Thanks for posting this. The U.S. is also trying to shove GMO's down Africas throat too, but Africa doesn't want this kind of aid because they can't export these foods to Europe.

[wellstone_democrat]

4. Pl.ease explain how this is "free market" economics

No, really. If the market is supposed to be "free" so that superior products will rise to the top through customer demand, how does forcing a market to accept goods it does not want "free market" philosophy?

I'm surrounded by people who endlessly swoon over the idea that this is a free market. They are largely Bushites* and quote him and his admin daily. Price supports, tarriffs, and subsidies aside, how is THIS sort of "Opium War" tactic towards Europe an example of the "free market" ideology that is supposed to make us all happy and FREE! (capitals because they all say it that way....)

personally, it drives me nuts. But, if you have an answer, I'd love to hear it.

[govegan]

5. You are so right. You aren't likely to hear a rational response,

because this is total bullshit.

Free market my ass!

Just like BGH (bovine growth hormone) in the US, Monsanto and their ilk are out to destroy the family farms and genetic diversity. The health of the consumer be damned, it is no concern to them.

[qb]

6. Anti-BGH consumers are gaining ground

The sections in our local stores devoted to non-BGH milk have gotten a lot bigger since the option was first presented. I guess this underscores their fear of labeling.

[SpiralHawk]

7. Cover your butt. Join a CSA - community supported farm

you can ensure a clean, local and GM free supply of food for your family. Support a local farmer, help keep urban and suburban land open and fully of beautiful plants and animals -- an environmental oasis.

If interested in learning more, just google CSA or community supported agriculture. You will turn up a wealth of resources.

Here's one link:
Robyn Van En Center for Community Supported Agriculture
http://www.csacenter.org/


And here's a link to an essay on the topic:
http://www.chiron-communications.com/communique%208-1.html

...snip...

A CSA farm is a community-based organization involving consumer households and growers. The households live independently but agree to provide direct, up-front support for the local growers by investing in a share of the harvest. The growers in turn agree to do their best to provide sufficient quantity and quality of food to meet the household needs and expectations of the shareholders.

CSA farms typically produce a sizeable share of a family's fresh vegetables and fruits; many CSAs also offer shares of milk, butter, eggs, meat, and flowers; some also have formal links with consumer coops, giving shareholders access to a wide variety of goods.


Within this web of economic relationships, the farms and families form a network of mutual support, whether the community is based in an urban neighborhood, a suburb, a church, a school, or some other social constellation. CSA has wide latitude for variation, depending on the resources and desires of the participants. No two community farms are entirely alike.


As CSA pioneers conceived of it -- and as it is being practiced at many farms -- CSA is not just another new and clever approach to marketing. Rather, community farming is about the necessary renewal of agriculture through its healthy linkage with the human community that depends on farming for survival. It's also about the necessary stewardship of soil, plants, and animals: the essential capital of human cultures.

...snip...