Welcome to "Save Our Seeds"
"Save Our Seeds" is dedicated to keeping conventional and organically grown seeds free of genetically modified organisms. In a joint petition 300 organisations representing over 25 million members and 200.000 individual citizens of Europe demand a strict EU law to protect the purity of seeds. Seeds are the kernals of life, the foundation of our food supply and humanity's oldest heritage.
The Current Situation
The European Commission has been planning to introduce limits for the "accidental or technically unavoidable" contamination of conventional seed with genetically modified varieties for the past 7 years. In September 2004 a directive which would allow up to 0.3% GMOs in maize and oilseed rape seed without being labeled was supposed to be adopted. However, after fierce protests, the Commission withdrew the proposal at the last minute leaving the problem to be dealt with by the new EU commissioners. Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment since 2004, has not submitted any new recommendations and has publically questioned whether thresholds are either sensible or necessary. The official position of the EU Commission remains, however, that a new proposal for the specification of threshold values is in the works.
News and Action
Monsanto's corrupt science in GM canola assessment
In a new Report (1) written by Madeleine Love (Researcher for MADGE Australia Inc) and submitted to the elected politicians of Western Australia and South Australia, it has been revealed that "evidence" based on corrupt science has been accepted at face value by regulators across the globe prior to the issuing of consents for RR canola commercialization and feed and food useLove has now pointed out that the studies on which these consents were based were highly defective and probably fraudulent. Also, none of the studies were true health / safety studies.
New Report highlights Monsanto's corrupt science in GM canola assessment
The non-science of biotechnology companies
An anonymous public statement was signed and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 26 leading scientists, entomologists who work with insects that infect corn. It stated that scientists are unable to conduct independent research on GM crops as patents prevent full access to research materials and the ability to grow and study these plants. [...] In other words, the claims of GMO proponents cannot be verified independently or indeed be falsified...read more
Pain-free animals would not be guilt-free
Yes, logically speaking, pain-free animals make sense. But only in a world that has already devalued animal lives to the point where factory farming is acceptable. Our visceral reaction to pain-free animals is actually a displaced reaction against the system that makes them necessary. Too many of us are too attached to the pleasures of affordable meat to consider the plight of factory-farmed animals. If the proposal to create pain-free animals achieves anything, it is to force us to confront the pain and suffering that our diets inflict. End factory farming, and the ”problem” of pain-free animals goes away too...read more
Europe's food agency accused of junk science
The ten-year licence for MON810 maize has expired and the EU is currently considering whether or not to re-authorise it. In this context, the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) issued an opinion at the end of June claiming that MON810 is safe. However, a scientific analysis of the opinion commissioned by Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Europe has revealed serious mistakes and omissions by EFSA and questions its conclusion. [3] Among other points, the report reveals that EFSA:
ignores or plays down research that shows that the insecticide produced by the GM maize could have negative knock-on impacts on Europe’s butterflies and other insects. Instead they recommend unspecified “management measures” for areas known to host butterflies and moths;
fails to admit that there is scientific uncertainty and conflicting reports over the maize’s impact on the environment or health;
ignores peer-reviewed scientific studies that highlight safety concerns;
quotes research carried out on a completely different GM crop as a basis for claiming that MON810 is safe;
fails to investigate the safety of new unknown proteins generated in the maize by the genetic modification process...read more.
Schmeiser vs. Monsanto
Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Saskatchewan Canada. In 1998 after his rapeseed field was contaminated with Monsanto's Round-Up Ready Canola he was sued for damages by the market dominating seed company Monsanto. Monsanto's position was that it didn't matter wheter or not Schmeiser knew about the contamination with the Roundup Ready gene, or whether or not he took advantage of the technology (he didn't); they take action against him for infringment of a patent, insisting that he must pay Monsanto their Technology Fee of $15./acre. Early in March the Supreme Court of Canada agreed with Schmeiser, ruling that he didn't have to pay Monsanto anything. The lately released film "David against Monsanto" made by author Bertram Verhaag tells the story of Percy Schmeiser and his unequal fight against the multinational company Monsanto.
Videotrailer: David versus Monsanto
