http://www.responsibletechnology.org/blog/507
"Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU" [Emphasis added] --Recommendation by US Ambassador to France, Craig Stapleton.
WikiLeaked cables released over the weekend revealed more about the US' role as a global bully, trying to thrust unpopular genetically modified (GM) crops onto cautious governments and their citizens. In a 2007 cable from Craig Stapleton, then US Ambassador to France, he encouraged the US government to "reinforce our negotiating position with the EU on agricultural biotechnology by publishing a retaliation list." A list, he added, that "causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility."
The stated reason for their attack was that "Europe is moving backwards not forwards" on GMOs, with "France playing a leading role, along with Austria, Italy and even the [EU] Commission." The Ambassador was concerned that France and others would put a ban on the cultivation of Monsanto's GM corn seeds called Mon 810, engineered with a gene that produces a toxic insect-killing pesticide in every cell. Mon 810 is the first GM crop approved for planting EU-wide and has been a test case for biotech expansionism into the continent.
According to the cable, the Ambassador also rejected the France's new "Grenelle" environment process, which looks beyond just the science of new technologies to also take into account "common interest." Evidently a government that looks out for common interest is just too much for Ambassador Stapleton. He wrote, "Combined with the precautionary principle, this is a precedent with implications far beyond MON-810 BT corn cultivation."
He was also upset about France's draft biotech law that "would make farmers and seed companies legally liable for pollen drift." This concept that the "polluter pays" is a foundational principle of US law -- except for GMOs. Here Stapleton also wants France to give a free pass for Monsanto and the other GM seed companies.
The French government and EU Commission tried to placate the US suggesting that the rejections of Mon 810 "are only cultivation rather than import bans." But Stapleton says, "We see the cultivation ban as a first step, at least by anti-GMO advocates, who will move next to ban or further restrict imports."
The ambassador fails to point out that a de facto ban of GM ingredients in food has been in place since 1999, not by the government, but by the food industry. They have kept GMOs out of their products due to widespread consumer concern about the health effects. Since foods containing GMOs must be labeled in Europe, companies always source non-GMO food to avoid that label.
The exception is animal feed. EU law does not require meat or other animal products to label whether GMOs were fed to the animals. This loophole has allowed lots of US- and Brazil-grown GMO animal feed to be shipped to Europe. According to the cable, "The [French] environment minister's top aide told us that people have a right not to buy meat raised on biotech feed." Offering consumers a choice on GMOs is not on the US government agenda.
Ambassador Stapleton had been a co-owner with George W. Bush of the Texas Rangers baseball team. Once Bush was in office, Stapleton became US Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and then in France. His pro-GMO stance was in-line with the Bush administration, which used a WTO lawsuit to try to force Europe to accept GMOs.
Stapleton's tone in the letter was insistent. "We should not be prepared to cede on cultivation because of our considerable planting seed business in Europe."
He said, "Moving to retaliation will make clear that the current path has real costs to EU interests and could help strengthen European pro-biotech voices. In fact, the pro-biotech side in France -- including within the farm union -- have told us retaliation is the only way to begin to begin to turn this issue in France."
Update:
International bestselling author and filmmaker Jeffrey M. Smith is the executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. His first book, Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating, is the world's bestselling and #1 rated book on GMOs. His second, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, documents 65 health risks of the GM foods Americans eat every day. Both are distributed by Chelsea Green Publishing. To help you choose healthier, non-GMO brands, use the Non-GMO Shopping Guide.
Follow Jeffrey Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyMSmith
Maybe people ought to read up on Monsanto's business practises in India to see that in fact the opposite is true.
As a European I am perfectly within my rights to choose not to eat this crap. And it is my government's job to protect me from it, especially when the US bullies our diplomatic staff to press Monsanto et al's agenda.
If the US thinks this crap is so good ... let them eat it.
Strange why America still marvels at the increasing dislike it faces around the world, not only from "rogue states" ... which is increasingly the kettle calling the pot black anyway.
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/posp47_nftc_eu_reg_final_e.pdf
http://www.itssd.org/Publications/wto-biotech-foods-dec0806.pdf
http://www.ias.unu.edu/binaries2/Precautionary%20Principle%20and%20WTO.pdf
While I agree the people should have the choice between GMO and non-GMO food, I would disagree with the health effects. Nothing has been proved about adverse health effects with GMO food.
If you are fine with playing guinea pig for the likes of Monsanto, that is your decision, but just because they claim to "produce new and better food sources to feed the world", that doesn't mean there are no side effects. Those people aren't in that business for any altruistic reasons but for profit, profit and more profit. So unless there is proof beyond doubt that GMOs are harmless to animal and human health in the long run, there is absolutely no reason for the EU to be thankful for Monsanto's endeavours, much less for the attempts of US diplomats to push their products on unwilling countries.
Well, as it is now, you can be quite sure that at least in Germany, where I live, no one who is not actually starving would ever willingly eat that stuff, let alone feed it to their children. Considering your remarks about breeding and cultivation, this probably seems irrational to you, but that's how it is, and I'd wager that the situation is quite similar in other European countries. And since GMO's have to be labeled here in Europe, consumers actually do have a choice. It's the free market at work.
Meanwhile, I come home and look for information on this stay and I find this article telling me that the USDA essentially ignored the Judge's decision to bar planting and along with handing out waivers to allow planting to proceed, which it did, they are mulling whether they will also ignore the Judge's order to destroy the crop ALONG WITH allowing the 2011 crop to be planted. Read here:
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/company-news-story.aspx?storyid=201012071919DOWJONESDJONLINE000468
SO WHY even have a dog and pony show in court if the USDA can toss a Court order? Why don't they just come out and say 'WE make the rules'???
Can you explain this to me Mr. Smith?
The 95% saturation of GMO in sugar beets cited in the article you linked to gives me the creeps. We are so screwed when the corporate industries don't even feel the need to buy court decision and just feel they can ignore the courts. What possible grounds will the courts have anymore to deal with anything, why should anyone feel compelled to respect a court order?
Are you planning on going to Portland? I think I would enjoy being a fly on the wall for that.
Seems 'the cat is out of the bag' already. In May 09 GMO Sugar Beet Stecklings were found in a garden soil mix being sold to customers from a landscape business in Corvallis, OR. They were found in a soil mix produced by Pro Bark. It's a fluke that we even learned this. A customer found the specklings and contacted OSU who tested the samples and learned they were GMO. No idea how many of these got spread around or what their status is today...did they go to seed, did their pollen drift...it certainly is most likely.
Frank Morton owns Wild Garden Seeds. He is the farmer facing direct threat should they have cross pollinated with his beets or chard. He likens these specklings out there as a 'Cluster Bomb' which is pretty on target. It is THIS incident that appears to have given the lawsuit a firm foundation to stand upon. I think my best next move is to visit him.
I want to know why Dept of Ag gives USDA authority over the biotech stuff. The folks at the Ag bldg were 'nice' enough today but I could feel they were really happy passing the buck on this and sending me on my way.
http://www.wildgardenseed.com/article.php?id=3
I think Frank Morton used a very apt analogy when he referred to "Cluster Bomb". I also think it is a good idea for you to introduce yourself to this man, he is obviously someone who is "in your corner" and nothing but good can result from your going to meet him.
Aside from mouthing a few platitudes I think this issue is completely off the radar for most Americans, the paltry number of comments here would seem to support that belief. As long as this is the case I am afraid that you will receive zero support from government, you will need all the allies you can muster in your fight.
I reside to the North of you in British Columbia, I don't know what, if anything I can do to help but if you know of anything I may do to support you please let me know. Foolish as it may sound, in some way you have put a face to this issue for me, and this is now taking on aspects of a personal battle. Do not hesitate to call upon me to do whatever you think may be of assistance.
i didn't move here till late 07. i didn't begin seed saving until 09. this was all happening between this time and he's right...they made this stealth, well planned massive move with all the sugar people on board ahead of time. we had no time to mount a counter action.
it's well within the realm of possibility they will employ these kind of tactics with each new crop. at the moment my thoughts are wondering what kind of pressure can be applied to candy and baked goods type companies. Like Frank said...McDonalds tossed the new leaf potato because, and I'll never understand this, people who eat there don't want gmo french fries. Guess HFCS in their soda's and gmo fed meat are okey-dokey ...but whatever. It worked.
Why would those same people want gmo sugar in their candy and other sugary treats? In their cereal? I can see some of those companies saying 'made with real sugar' even, to give the impression that they are high fructose free but never telling their product is still corrupt.
Labeling laws are another biggie. Ah, so much to think about here.
You keep your GM foods and leave us to make up our own minds.
Europeans are not here for the benefit or US companies who are bullying their way across the world. Thank you.
20 years ago they said what they wanted was 100% control of all the seeds. They are well on their way.
been a 12% decline of cultivated GMO land in Europe. For that purpose biotechnologists are now trying to push for another of their so called great invention "MAS" technology. This is something we should monitor.