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. on GMOs

September 2007

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EYFA's summer was busy, with time spent in Portugal implementing projects, like the annual gathering Ecotopia and also an exchange about Migration. At the same time in Portugal, a campaign against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) brought this issue into the forefront of Portuguese public and political debate. So we thought it would be a good moment to focus our newsletter on the issue of GMOs. We hope this highlights the campaigns and initiatives gaining momentum around Europe, which attempt to educate about the dangerous development and use of GMO agricultural models.

Read on, and please support these campaigns and struggles and spread the information through your networks. eyfa office

**Contents

1. Do you live in a GMO-free zone?

2. Defending a GMO-free zone in Portugal

3. La Soja Mata - Soy Kills

4. FOE's European Anti-GMO Campaign

5. “Say no to genetic engineering” Greenpeace's campaign

6. GM Watch .org

7. Links to campaigns in Europe

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1. Do you live in a GMO free zone?

What is a GMO? A GMO is a “genetically modified organism” (also called “genetically engineered”): a plant, animal, or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have naturally. For example, genes from a fish have been placed in strawberries and tomatoes. GMOs have negatively affected biodiversity, the environment, farmers and consumers around the world, while multinational companies such as Cargill and Monsanto who created and patented GMOs gained more economic and political power through the introduction of GMOs into our food systems and the environment. A number of campaigns have been raising awareness about the social and environmental injustice caused by GMOs. These campaigns are also trying to stop further expansion of GMOs. And maybe there is something you can do to help. Have a look at the list of anti-GMO campaigns at the end of this newsletter. But first check if you live in a GMO-free zone – have a look at www.gmo-free-europe.org

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2. Defending a GMO-free zone in Portugal

On 17th of August 2007, “Movimento Verde Eufémia” did a direct action against the first GM-corn field in the GMO-free Zone of the Algarve [see http://genet.iskra.net/en/portugal ] The action was publicly announced and cameras were waiting. In the action less than 1 hectare of GM corn was symbolically mowed by a group of activists. [ more about the action on indymedia: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/379708.html The action was first of this kind in Portugal and it provoked a discussion on presence of GMOs in Portugal and put the spotlight on GMO related issues. There was also quite a lot of media spin (as expected) from mainstream media, and varying political disapproval by current government and other political parties. Movimento Verde Eufémia is under a lot of pressure and legal intimidation, and calls out for a support and the creation of international solidarity network. If you are active in GMO campaigning or know groups who are, or would simply like to help, please contact verde.eufemia at hush.com Visit their website http://eufemia.ecobytes.net or for those who do not speak Portuguese, please see http://eufemia.ecobytes.net/category/english/ and have a look at anti-GMO in Portugal www.stopogm.net

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3. About La Soja Mata - Soy Kills

There is a campaign and website, "La Soja Mata" or "Soy Kills", which provides information about the direct impacts of large scale monocultures, specifically GM-soy, on people's lives and the environment. La Soja Mata aims to support campaigns against such dangerous monocultures and the soy model, which rely heavily on "RoundupRead" or GMO crops. La Soja Mata makes information about these issues and international campaigns accessible.The public in 'consumer countries' have by now been extensively informed that the advance of soy plantations causes massive destruction of ecosystems, such as rainforests and savannahs, in countries like Argentina and Brazil. However, the scale and speed with which land is taken over by the production of these crops, driven by a growing demand, is making many more victims: local communities are driven out, farmers loose their crops because of intensive use of the herbicide Roundup on RoundupReady (GMO) soy, and this also causes health problems on a scale that many do not realise. In addition, soils degrade and water levels go down, deforestation changes regional climate patterns. Soy plantations do not generate jobs, so there is a continuous flow of people migrating to the city slums or abroad. If people disappear, so does the market for many other small scale economic activities. Small scale agriculture harbours both agricultural and natural biodiversity - moncultures don't. Resistance in producer countries is growing. La Soja Mata provides information in English, and hopefully other languages, about campaigns carried by farmers, landless people, rural and urban communities, against the take over of their surroundings by (RoundupReady - GMO) soy plantations. www.lasojamata.org

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4. Friends of the Earth - European GMO Campaign and Biotechnology Programme

Friends of the Earth's European GMO Campaign is working to safeguard GMO-free agriculture and to ensure that European citizens have the right to choose GMO-free food. To achieve this, Friends of the Earth's national groups across Europe are working together to: * actively lobby at EU and national level to strengthen GMO legislation; * promote the creation of GMO free zones; * increase public awareness and participation in decision-making about GMOs, and help ensure that consumers can exercise their right to choose about GM crops and food; * research information and propose policy solutions. The Friends of the Earth Europe website has many links to new developments with European legislation about GMOs, new publications and links to press releases and actions. www.foeeurope.org/GMOs/Index.htm

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