Launch of Independent Science Panel on GMOs
I-sis (ffw) | 08.05.2003 20:16 | Bio-technology | Ecology
Independent Science Panel for a GM-Free Sustainable World
In a surprising move, dozens of prominent scientists have joined forces to form an Independent Science Panel (ISP) on GM, to counteract what they see to be a concerted campaign by the government and the scientific establishment in the UK to promote GM under the guise of _sound_ science.
In a surprising move, dozens of prominent scientists have joined forces to form an Independent Science Panel (ISP) on GM, to counteract what they see to be a concerted campaign by the government and the scientific establishment in the UK to promote GM under the guise of _sound_ science.
"This amounts to open scientific rebellion, possibly unprecedented in history," says Mae-Wan Ho, Director of the Institute of Science in Society, who initiated the move, and confessed to having been taken by surprise, and delighted, by the positive response of the scientists contacted.
Many of the scientists have been feeling frustrated at the lack of open public debate on a whole range of scientific and other issues. The _discussion meetings_ organised by the government are invariably stacked with pro-GM scientists hyping the potential benefits of GM, and giving the public bland assurances that "there is no evidence of harm".
It will all change now.
At a special launching conference on May 10 in London, the ISP will release their report, The Case for A GM-Free Sustainable World, the strongest, most complete dossier of evidence ever put together to support their call for a ban on GM crops and widespread adoption of organic sustainable agriculture. This is timed to kick off the GM national debate in the UK, and to input into the Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology in Sacramento, California in June. The report has already attracted considerable international attention.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher says he will be attending the launch.
"We_ll give them a case to answer," says Brian John, geomorphologist and environment scientist, who has been working closely with the GM Free Cymru campaign. "Those of us who have looked into the science of GM crops and foods from a community or consumer perspective have been appalled at the apparent abandonment of the precautionary principle and at the control exerted over the scientific agenda by the biotechnology multinationals."
The Report will be sent to the president of the Philippines together with a letter in support of one of the ISP members, Roberto Verzola, Secretary-General of the Philippine Greens, who has initiated an indefinite hunger strike, to protest his government_s approval of Monsanto_s Bt maize, now in its 15th day. The Panel includes Britain_s best-loved botanist, broadcaster, writer and tireless campaigner for Mother Earth, David Bellamy OBE, who will lead the launch of the ISP.
Other speakers include Stanley Ewen, Consultant Histopathologist, at Grampian University Hospitals Trust; Malcolm Hooper, Emeritus Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Sunderland; Vyvyan Howard, toxipathologist, University of Liverpool; Arpad Pusztai, formerly senior scientist at Rowett Institute, Scotland, and Gundula Azeez, Policy Manager, Soil Association.
For further details contact Lim Li Ching
ching@I-sis.org.uk tel: 44-(0)20-8643-0681, or Mae-Wan Ho m.w.ho@I-sis.org.uk tel: 44 (0)20-7272-5636, or see the ISIS website 
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/temp/GM-ISP.php.
CONTACT DETAILS
The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR
telephone: [44 20 8643 0681] [44 20 7383 3376] [44 20 7272 5636]
General Enquiries sam@i-sis.org.uk
Website/Mailing List press-release@i-sis.org.uk
ISIS Director m.w.ho@i-sis.org.uk
MATERIAL IN THIS EMAIL MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION, ON
CONDITION THAT IT IS ACCREDITED ACCORDINGLY AND CONTAINS A LINK TO
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/
Many of the scientists have been feeling frustrated at the lack of open public debate on a whole range of scientific and other issues. The _discussion meetings_ organised by the government are invariably stacked with pro-GM scientists hyping the potential benefits of GM, and giving the public bland assurances that "there is no evidence of harm".
It will all change now.
At a special launching conference on May 10 in London, the ISP will release their report, The Case for A GM-Free Sustainable World, the strongest, most complete dossier of evidence ever put together to support their call for a ban on GM crops and widespread adoption of organic sustainable agriculture. This is timed to kick off the GM national debate in the UK, and to input into the Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology in Sacramento, California in June. The report has already attracted considerable international attention.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher says he will be attending the launch.
"We_ll give them a case to answer," says Brian John, geomorphologist and environment scientist, who has been working closely with the GM Free Cymru campaign. "Those of us who have looked into the science of GM crops and foods from a community or consumer perspective have been appalled at the apparent abandonment of the precautionary principle and at the control exerted over the scientific agenda by the biotechnology multinationals."
The Report will be sent to the president of the Philippines together with a letter in support of one of the ISP members, Roberto Verzola, Secretary-General of the Philippine Greens, who has initiated an indefinite hunger strike, to protest his government_s approval of Monsanto_s Bt maize, now in its 15th day. The Panel includes Britain_s best-loved botanist, broadcaster, writer and tireless campaigner for Mother Earth, David Bellamy OBE, who will lead the launch of the ISP.
Other speakers include Stanley Ewen, Consultant Histopathologist, at Grampian University Hospitals Trust; Malcolm Hooper, Emeritus Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Sunderland; Vyvyan Howard, toxipathologist, University of Liverpool; Arpad Pusztai, formerly senior scientist at Rowett Institute, Scotland, and Gundula Azeez, Policy Manager, Soil Association.
For further details contact Lim Li Ching
ching@I-sis.org.uk tel: 44-(0)20-8643-0681, or Mae-Wan Ho m.w.ho@I-sis.org.uk tel: 44 (0)20-7272-5636, or see the ISIS website http://www.i-sis.org.uk/temp/GM-ISP.php. CONTACT DETAILS
The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR
telephone: [44 20 8643 0681] [44 20 7383 3376] [44 20 7272 5636]
General Enquiries
sam@i-sis.org.uk Website/Mailing List
press-release@i-sis.org.uk ISIS Director
m.w.ho@i-sis.org.uk MATERIAL IN THIS EMAIL MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION, ON
CONDITION THAT IT IS ACCREDITED ACCORDINGLY AND CONTAINS A LINK TO
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/
I-sis (ffw)