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Index of Subjects DEADLINE WEDNESDAY JULY 25: SIGN-ON LETTER ON GM WHEAT PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY. SIGNEZ LA LETTRE COLLECTIVE CONTRE LE BLÉ TRANSGÉNIQUE D'ICI MERCREDI LE 25 JUILLET ! FAITES LA CIRCULER DANS VOS RÉSEAUX. (voir le français ci-dessous) Dear Allies: A partnership between Monsanto and the Canadian government is developing genetically engineered (GE) wheat, with a projected readiness target date for environmental release in about 3-5 years. Already there are secret GE wheat trials in Canada. There has been a well-documented market rejection of GE wheat from importers of conventional Canadian wheat causing many agricultural groups that traditionally support biotechnology to oppose the commercialization of GE wheat. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency claims (CFIA) that only "scientific" concerns will be taken into account in the approval process. Yet the "scientific" risk assessment done by the CFIA has been condemned repeatedly by civil society organizations and many concerned scientists. This view was overwhelmingly supported in the Royal Society's report released in February 2001 entitled Elements of Precaution: Recommendations for the Regulation of Food Biotechnology in Canada. Greenpeace Canada, The Council of Canadians and the Canadian Health Coalition has been working with a collaboration of diverse stakeholders from the agricultural sector, on the issue of genetically engineered (GE) wheat. Amongst our partners are some agricultural groups that are not opposed to genetic engineering (as well as some who are). Uniting us all, though, is a driving opposition to the commercialization of GE wheat for diverse reasons. Our working group has agreed upon a sign-on letter to be released at a joint media conference later in the summer. As you will see below, the sign-on is carefully worded to accommodate the diverse policies of the various sectors that will be asked to sign on. We anticipate there will be hundreds and hundreds of signatories since this letter will be distributed by some of our partners in this collaboration far beyond the NGO community. We are soliciting sign-ons from organizations and individuals with related professional credentials (doctors, biologists, researchers, economists, and other academics and professionals with some connection to the issues surrounding GM wheat). Please email your organization's endorsement to Aaron Koleszar <aaronk@isn.net> by July 25. The subject line should read "<Name of Organization> Endorses GM Wheat Letter" and the message should include relevant contact information and credentials (if applicable). Starting off the list of sign-ons are Greenpeace Canada, The Council of Canadians, the Canadian Health Coalition, and the National Farmers Union. Because of the unusual alliances that have formed in opposition to GE-wheat, we feel we have a rare opportunity of actually PREVENTING GE contamination before our government and industry let it happen. Let's show Monsanto and the Canadian government that we don't want another new GMO contaminating our food and environment. Please circulate this email widely. Sincerely, Holly Penfound, Greenpeace Canada Nadège Adam, The Council of Canadians Mike McBane, Canadian Health Coalition TEXT OF LETTER The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Block 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0A2 cc: Minister of Health Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board Minister of the Environment Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister of Industry Canadian Premiers Dear Prime Minister Chrétien: Genetically-modified (GM) wheat raises concerns in many sectors, both domestically and abroad. Farmers and grain industry participants are concerned about market loss and risks to Canada's distinguished reputation for quality wheat varieties. In addition, farmers are concerned about agronomic impacts. Consumers are concerned about food safety and regulatory adequacy. Citizens are concerned about environmental damage. Organic farmers are concerned about negative effects on Canada's successful organic sector. Not every organization or individual that has signed this letter shares every one of these concerns. However, for one or more of the preceding reasons we, the undersigned, oppose the introduction of GM wheat into the Canadian food supply and seed supply until these concerns are dealt with. Overwhelming numbers of Canadian farmers and consumers, as well as customers for Canadian wheat overseas, have said that they do not want GM wheat at this time. We hope the Canadian government will act democratically, heed the wishes of its citizens, and act in the best economic interests of farmers. We represent diverse constituencies and interests, but we are unified in asking that you act immediately to prevent the introduction of GM wheat into Canadian food and fields unless the concerns of Canadian farmers, industry, and consumers are adequately addressed. Signed: [List of groups here] =========================================================================== ALERTE AU BLÉ TRANSGÉNIQUE ! URGENT ! ON A BESOIN DE VOTRE SIGNATURE D'ICI LE 25 JUILLET! À FAIRE CIRCULER! Un partenariat entre Monsanto et le gouvernement canadien a été conclu pour développer un blé transgénique dont la commercialisation est prévue dans 3 à 5 ans. En secret, des essais en champs ont déjà lieu au Canada. Il existe aussi des études de marché qui confirment que les importateurs de blé conventionnel canadien ne veulent pas de blé transgénique. Ainsi de nombreuses organisations agricoles s'opposent à la commercialisation du blé transgénique, malgré le fait que ces organisations approuvent généralement l'utilisation de la biotechnologie. L'Agence canadien d'inspection des aliments (ACIA) affirme que seulement les considérations « scientifiques » sont prises en compte dans le processus d'approbation même si l'évaluation « scientifique »des risques faite par l'ACIA a été dénoncée plusieurs fois par des ONG, des scientifiques et par le groupe d'experts de la Société royale du Canada, dans son rapport rendu publique en février 2001 (www.rsc.ca). En collaboration avec de nombreux intervenants oeuvrant dans le domaine agricole, Greenpeace, le Conseil des Canadiens et la Coalition canadienne de la santé travaillent ensemble sur le dossier du blé transgénique. Parmis les organisations agricoles participantes, certaines ne s'opposent pas à la biotechnologie. Pour des raisons diverses, ce qui nous uni est notre opposition à la commercialisation du blé transgénique. Ces organisations ont décidé de faire circuler une lettre collective qui sera rendue publique len conférence de presse au cours de l'été. Comme vous pourrez le constater, la lettre est écrite de telle manière que l'ensemble des raisons pour s'opposer à la commercialisation du blé transgénique soient incluses. Nous espérons que des centaines d'organisations de secteurs très variés co-signeront cette lettre. Nous souhaitons des signatures provenant d'organisations ainsi que d'invididus ayant une expertise professionnelle pertinente (médecins, biologistes, chercheurs, économistes et autres professionels ayant une expertises dans le domaine du blé transgénique). Nous vous invitons donc à co-signer cette lettre en contactant Aaron Koleszar <aaronk@isn.net>, d'ici le 25 juil