Food for Thought? What are you rooting for?

A sign of things to come?



Dear friends and followers,



The European Commission has recently approved growing genetically modified crops in the European Union for the first time in 12 years! But already 920,000 of us have signed up to oppose the move.



Caving to the GM lobby, the commission has ignored 60% of Europeans who feel we have to get the facts first before growing foods that could pose a threat to our health and environment.



A new initiative allows 1 million EU citizens to make official legal requests of the European Commission. We are nearly there -- Let's build a million voices for a ban on GM foods until the research is done; they will be delivered to the President Barroso of the European Commission. Sign the petition and forward this email to friends and family:



https://secure.avaaz.org/en/eu_gmo/97.php?cl_tta_sign=9497e5b9a4dea22793ad6ff4102dab4f



Consumers, public health, environmental and farmers groups have long rallied against a few international GM companies having such significant influence over European agriculture. Concerns about growing GM crops include: contamination of organic crops and the environment; their impact on climate due to the excessive need for pesticides; the destruction of biodiversity and local agriculture; and the effects of GM food on public health.



EU member states have voiced strong opposition to the EC decision to authorise BASF's potato and Monsanto's maize -- Italy and Austria are opposed, and France said it would ask for further scientific research.



There is still no consensus on the long-term effects of GM crops. And it is the GM industry, pursuing profits not public well being, that is funding the science and driving the regulatory environment. That is why European citizens are calling for more independent research, testing and precaution before crops are unleashed onto our land.



Now, the "European Citizens' Initiative" gives 1 million EU citizens the opportunity to submit policy proposals to the European Commission and offers us a unique chance to drown out lobbyists' influence.



We can reach 1 million voices now to put a moratorium on the introduction of GM crops into Europe and set up an independent, ethical and scientific body to research and determine the strong regulation of GM crops. Sign the petition now and then forward it widely:



https://secure.avaaz.org/en/eu_gmo/97.php?cl_tta_sign=9497e5b9a4dea22793ad6ff4102dab4f



With determination,



Alice, Benjamin, Ricken, Luis, Graziela and the entire Avaaz team.



More information:



Last Eurobameter Survey 2008 'Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment', page 66:

http://bit.ly/aMkeVJ



The Independent, Fury as Brussels authorises GM potatoes:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/fury-as-eu-approves-gm-potato-1915833.html



Reuters, France blasts GM crop approvals by EU agency:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6241ZQ20100305



New Report: GMOs Causing Massive Pesticide Pollution:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-kimbrell/new-report-gmos-causing-m_b_362888.html



Summary of the International Assessment on Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, including critics of GMOs use in agriculture:

http://globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/international-trade-and-development-1-57/genetically-modified-organisms.html#key

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Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.



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