SOS is looking for an EU GMO campaigner
Background: After years of standstill regarding the use and regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the European Union’s food and agricultural production and policy, the EU Commission has kicked off a suggestion to deregulate some newer forms of genetic engineering. This opens a new, EU wide debate about the use and regulation of GMOs. The discussion has been prepared by a well organised group of international companies, science organisations and PR firms. NGOs, which had been active in the GMO debate between 1990 and 2010, are re-organising as well. The social, political and scientific discourse has further developed over the past decade, resulting in a new framing and a new set of priorities (e.g. climate change, biodiversity, health / epidemiology) which will form the basis of the discussion.
SOS: Since 2002 ”Save Our Seeds” is an international Campaign of the Germany based Foundation on Future Farming (Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft) with a long tradition of anti-GMO campaigning and networking at EU level. Inter alia, SOS has organised nine European Conferences of GMO free Regions and a successful campaign for “zero tolerance” of GMOs in seed. It has founded a round table of NGOs on GMOs and publishes a critical information service in Germany. At present, SOS runs a campaign for a global moratorium on the release of Gene Drives into the environment.
The challenge: We are looking for a person who systematically contributes to EU wide co-operation and campaigning against the deregulation of new genetic engineering techniques like CRISPR/Cas in EU legislation. His/her main tasks would be
- Active participation in existing NGO networks on the subject
- Preparation of the next European GMO Free Regions Conference in Brussels
- EU wide collection and distribution of information and campaign materials on the issue
- Lobby efforts and campaigning support at EU and national levels
- Dialogue with scientific and business communities on the subject
The profile: We are looking for a European NGO networker with proven experience in intercultural collaboration and sufficiently solid knowledge of the GMO debate and EU legislative processes and discussions. Skills would include
- Multilingual working experience (English is a must)
- Experience with web-based-campaigning
- Strong networking skills and international networking experience
- Solid grasp of the scientific, food, farming and environmental issues
- Independent, self-organising and committed working style
- Willingness to travel frequently
The job: We offer an initial one-year contract at fair, not luxury conditions with a firm prospect of a permanent position. You don’t need to be based in Berlin but are welcome to use and/or regularly visit our office there. A small GMO campaign team will integrate you and a large community of collaborating campaigners in other organisations is looking forward to working with you.
Send application with CV and credentials to Benny Haerlin
please apply now!
Praktika und FÖJ
Das Büro von Save Our Seeds in Berlin bietet Praktika- und FÖJ-Stellen für Menschen, die sich für unsere Themen interessieren und die Arbeit einer Nichtregierungsorganisation kennenlernen möchten. Die Aufgabenfelder sind dabei vielfältig und variieren je nach mitgebrachten Fähigkeiten und Kenntnissen.
Ein Praktikum ist möglich bei Save Our Seeds und/oder einer unserer Aktionen und Kampagnen: GMO-Free Europe, Stop Gene Drives, Weltagrarbericht, Weltacker - 2000 m² für alle.
Wichtig ist uns das Engagement für unsere Projekte. Die Dauer des Praktikums kann individuell abgesprochen werden und sollte nicht unter 3 Monaten liegen.
