If years of postings to this list on genetic engineering have not yet  

radicalized you on the issue, maybe this will.--Tom

 

In a message dated 8/16/2011 7:38:35 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  

[log in to unmask] writes:





Public pressure halts GM trials in Castellón, Spain

Phil Lee  

Friends of the Earth International, August 12 2011  

http://www.foei.org/en/what-we-do/food-sovereignty/latest-news/demonstration

s-stop-genetically-modified-rice-with-human-genes



Friends  of the Earth Spain celebrates the suspension of GM trials with 

human genes  after mass mobilisations by the general public.



Valencia's local  government has revoked the permit of an Italian 

pharmaceutical company to  experiment with GM rice combined with human genes in 

Vinaros, Castellon.  



After protests from social, ecologist and peasant organizations, the  

Valencian Committee of Genetically Modified Organisms, which depends on the  

Council of Agriculture, has rejected this dangerous crop.



The aim of  the GM trial was to obtain enzymes to treat Gaucher's disease. 

However, there  are several treatments for this disease that are obtained 

through genetic  engineering in confined environments.



The risks associated with this  experiment would have been far to high for 

what was a commercial purpose.  There are already many cases of 

contamination with experimental GMOs, some of  them with rice crops.



The trials were opposed by various social,  ecological and farmers 

organisations. In Castellon the 15M movement were  involved in setting up 

information stands about GM crops in various towns in  the province in order to 

educate citizens more on the controversial science.  



Talks and open debates were also organised and a cyberaction was  carried 

out in which 5,000 people participated requesting the annulment of the  

license granted to the crop. As a result of the opposition, the municipality  

declared the Castellon region would remain GM-free. 



However, in Spain  as a whole, there are still numerous experiments with GM 

crops taking place.  The country is the only EU member state that 

cultivates large-scale commercial  GM corn.



Further information



The following organizations  participated in this campaign: *ACSUD Las 

Segovias * ADP Amics de Palanques *  ADV Producció Ecològica del Montsia Baix 

Ebre * Amigos de la Tierra * APNAL  Ecologistas en Acción Vinaròs * Asociación 

Olea * Colla Ecologista  d’Alacant/Ecologistas en Acción * Colla Ecologista 

de Castelló * Colla  Ecologista d´Almassora * GECEN * GER Ecologistas en 

Acción Vila-real *  Greenpeace * Grup de Ciències Meridià Zero * Intersindical 

Valenciana * ISF  Ingeniería Sin Fronteras Valencia * La Unió de Llauradors 

i Ramaders * Llavors  d´ací * Asociación de consumo L´Alficòs * L´Arquet 

Ecologistas en Acción Vall  d’Uixó * Mercatrèmol Alacant * Plataforma 

Andalucía Libre de Transgénicos -  PALT * Plataforma Ciutadana No a la Contaminació 

* Red de Semillas Resembrando  e Intercambiando * Som lo que sembrem * 

Terratrèmol * Xarxa d´Agroecologia de  Castelló



Check out the campaign's blog for more information:  

http://notransgenicsavinaros.blogspot.com/





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