Gmo Made Fine In Thailand

[ayakiawe]

sorry for the bad copy!

Important news for Thailand

To: [email protected]

Subject: [gefreehi] Greenpeace in Thailand revealed GM papaya grown

for at least 12 months GM WATCH daily http://www.gmwatch.org

FOCUS ON ASIA

Greenpeace campaigners in Thailand recently revealed that GM papaya have been grown for at least 12 months on a farm in the province of Khon Kaen in a widening GM contamination scandal. It was grown from papaya seeds purchased from a Thai government research station in June 2003. Testing shows the seeds they are selling have become contaminated - almost certainly by GM field trials.

To see a map showing the spread of contamination in Thailand: http://weblog.greenpeace.org/ge/archives/M...ntamination.jpg

"The purpose of the ban on field trials imposed in 2001 was to prevent GE contamination. But we now have proof that not only has this ban failed, but the Department of Agriculture itself has committed a crime that threatens an essential food with widespread contamination," said Svangsopakul. "Last year we warned the Thai public of the environmental and health risks posed by GE papaya and called on the government to stop all planting of the crop anywhere in the country. We also pointed to Hawaii as an example of GE papaya gone wrong. "When GE papaya was introduced into Hawaii the biotech industry said it was a 'solution' to the papaya ringspot virus problem. But instead it has caused serious environmental and economic problems for farmers. The selling price of GE papaya has fallen to 30-40 percent below production costs, and the price that farmers get for their GE papaya is 600 percent lower than the price for organic papaya." (item 3)

For more of the background on the GM papaya scandal see item 3.

1.Activists prompt GMO probe

2.NGOs threaten to sue over "GMO seeds"

3.GM papaya scandal in Thailand

---

1.Activists prompt GMO probe by Sirinart Sirisunthorn and Dussadee Ngarmlua The Nation, 4 Aug 2004

The agriculture Department yesterday ordered a halt to the distribution of papaya seeds from its research station in Khon Kaen (Thailand) in an effort to disprove claims by environmentalists that genetically modified papaya seeds slipped through to farmers.

Chakan Saengraksawong, the directorgeneral of the department, said the halt would allow his department to investigate whether farmers possessed genetically modified papaya seeds, as alleged by Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Last week, Greenpeace raided and destroyed plants on an experimental papaya plantation at the Khon Kaen station. The organisation then accused the station of distributing GMO papaya seeds to farmers. Some nongovernmental organisations threatened to sue over the alleged distribution.

The station is the largest supplier of the popular Khaek Dam Thaphra strain of papaya seeds.

Chakan insisted yesterday that while his station was researching GMO papaya, it had not distributed any GMO seeds.

"So, current distribution has to be stopped to check whether GMO seeds have really slipped out as some have alleged," Chakan said. He said farmers who suspected their papaya came from GMO seeds could alert his department, which would check and then confirm where the seeds originated.

Turning the tables, Chakan said he suspected Greenpeace Southeast Asia of allowing GMOs out of the research station. "That day, when Greenpeace raided the station, its staff took some papaya fruit with them," he said, adding that the station would continue experimenting with GMO papaya. --- 2.NGOs threaten to sue over "GMO seeds" by Sirinart Sirisunthorn and Yossawadee Hongthong The Nation, 30 July 2004

A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) yesterday threatened to sue a senior government official if relevant agencies fail to stop the distribution of alleged genetically engineered papaya seeds within 15 days.

Their ultimatum followed Tuesday's raid by environmentalists on an agricultural research station in Khon Kaen where genetically modified seeds are alleged to originate.

The station is considered the country's largest supplier of papaya seeds.

"We will lodge complaints with police and the Administrative Court against the Agriculture Department's director-general for dereliction of duty if the government doesn't heed our demands," said Witoon Lianjamroon of Biothai yesterday.

NGOs demanded the Agriculture Ministry immediately stop the distribution of genetically modified papaya seeds and seedlings. They also called on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to order a neutral fact-finding committee to probe whether some of the seeds and seedlings originating from the Khon Kaen agricultural station were genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

"The committee must complete its investigation in 15 days. We also expect immediate elimination of GMOs outside of research farms if the results indicate such a scenario exists," Witoon said.

He said papaya was a major staple of the country and the consumption of genetically engineered papaya could be harmful to consumers.

The Assembly of the Poor, Green Net Cooperative and many consumer groups supported Witoon's move. Witoon said his alliance would today submit its demands to Thaksin.

Democrat Party deputy leader Khunying Kallaya Soponpanich said the government should not allow people to consume genetically engineered papaya as it remained unclear whether GMOs are safe for consumption.

"People should not be allowed to eat GMOs until they are proven safe," she said.

Meanwhile, the agricultural station's senior official, Wilai Prasartsri, insisted the station had never allowed GMOs outside of its compound, since such an act would be against the law.

"We just distribute non-GMO papaya," she said, adding she welcomed an investigation. She also condemned Greenpeace Southeast Asia's raid on her research station. "We have to lodge complaints with police to set a precedent that establishes such actions are not acceptable," Wilai said. --- 3.GE papaya scandal in Thailand Illegal GE seeds found in packages sold by Tue 27 July 2004

http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en...?item_id=547563

THAILAND/Khon Kaen

[image caption: Greenpeace Thai activists seal off the GE papaya at the Khon Kaen agricultural research station of the Department of Agriculture.]

We warned the Thai government over a year ago not to play with genetically engineered (GE) papaya but they didn't listen. Although trials of the engineered food crop are banned, it seems they couldn't resist having a go themselves. Now they have left the whole country's papaya crop wide open to contamination. Independent laboratory tests carried out in Hong Kong showed that packages of papaya seeds being sold by the Department of Agriculture's research station in the province of Khon Kaen contained GE seeds. We identified one of the fields at the research station as the source of the GE seeds. It turns out that the experimental field was only segregated from the other papaya by barbed wire and banana trees. "This is potentially one of the worst cases of genetic contamination of a major food crop in Asia as this station is one of the largest suppliers of papaya seeds in the country," said Varoonvarn Svangsopakul, our GE campaigner in Southeast Asia. "This is the hard evidence we needed to prove that GE contamination has broken in Thailand."

Thai activists sealed off the GE papaya at the agricultural research station of the Department of Agriculture. Dressed in protective suits they removed the GE papaya fruit from the trees then secured them in hazardous material containers. They also demanded that the government complete this process and immediately destroy all papaya trees, fruit, seedlings, and seeds in the Khon Kaen research station to prevent further contamination.

"The purpose of the ban on field trials imposed in 2001 was to prevent GE contamination. But we now have proof that not only has this ban failed, but the Department of Agriculture itself has committed a crime that threatens an essential food with widespread contamination," said Svangsopakul. Last year we warned the Thai public of the environmental and health risks posed by GE papaya and called on the government to stop all planting of the crop anywhere in the country. We also pointed to Hawaii as an example of GE papaya gone wrong. When GE papaya was introduced into Hawaii the biotech industry said it was a 'solution' to the papaya ringspot virus problem. But instead it has caused serious environmental and economic problems for farmers. The selling price of GE papaya has fallen to 30-40 percent below production costs, and the price that farmers get for their GE papaya is 600 percent lower than the price for organic papaya.

The consequences of growing GE papaya in Thailand are feared to be even more serious than Hawaii. Not only is green papaya eaten as a daily staple food, it is also grown everywhere - in farmers' fields, schoolyards and gardens. "We've been calling for an end to this genetic experiment on the grounds that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are uncontrollable. There can no longer be any doubt that this is true. And the government must take action to stop this experiment now," said Jiragorn Gajaseni, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

"The government must act now to impose a total ban on GE field trials, including those in government restricted areas and experimental stations, and must launch an investigation into this environmental crime."

Edited August 10, 2004 by p1p

[konangrit]

Sorry, I couldn't go through the bother of reading much of that. I doubt that many others will either. What's the jist of it?

[plachon]

Sorry, I couldn't go through the bother of reading much of that. I doubt that many others will either. What's the jist of it?

Just go and have a GMO somtam instead, mate, reading anything more than tabloid style journalism is clearly too much.

This is both old news and new news. Old news that GMO-crops are out there in Thai fields (maize, cotton and probably, rice as well) but new news that Greenpeace have upped the ante and are prepared to take direct action on this issue. Concerned consumers of real food beware, the genie is outta the bottle, and it looks like its got horns on it.

[konangrit]

Sorry, I couldn't go through the bother of reading much of that. I doubt that many others will either. What's the jist of it?

Just go and have a GMO somtam instead, mate, reading anything more than tabloid style journalism is clearly too much.

This is both old news and new news. Old news that GMO-crops are out there in Thai fields (maize, cotton and probably, rice as well) but new news that Greenpeace have upped the ante and are prepared to take direct action on this issue. Concerned consumers of real food beware, the genie is outta the bottle, and it looks like its got horns on it.

Strangely enough I thought hysterical reaction over GMOs were the preserve of the tabloids. I will continue to form my opinions on scientific issues from reading scientific journals such as New Scientist, although I'm sure Greenpeace would prefer I had my opinion formed for me by said tabloids

[plachon]

Sorry, I couldn't go through the bother of reading much of that. I doubt that many others will either. What's the jist of it?

Just go and have a GMO somtam instead, mate, reading anything more than tabloid style journalism is clearly too much.

This is both old news and new news. Old news that GMO-crops are out there in Thai fields (maize, cotton and probably, rice as well) but new news that Greenpeace have upped the ante and are prepared to take direct action on this issue. Concerned consumers of real food beware, the genie is outta the bottle, and it looks like its got horns on it.

Strangely enough I thought hysterical reaction over GMOs were the preserve of the tabloids. I will continue to form my opinions on scientific issues from reading scientific journals such as New Scientist, although I'm sure Greenpeace would prefer I had my opinion formed for me by said tabloids

The New Scientist, last time I looked, was very sceptical about GMO crops veering towards anti.

But for someone who can't be bothered to read a post, and then has the gall to comment on it, then I don't suppose you get much past the glossy cover of NS. Try reading it, the whole thing, and you might just learn a thing or two about this important farming and food issue, which has relevance to all.

[konangrit]

The lack of replies to this post would infer that I am not alone in decling to go through the effort of reading the original post.

I'm sure that you're aware that the only place where New Scientist express' an opinion on anything is in one page of editorial per issue. Of course they are skeptical about new technologies until they have been properly tested and trialed. Unfortunately when groups such as Greenpeace take direct action destroying such trials it robs the scientific community and governments of valuable data needed to come to an informed decision about whether to allow widespread use of such crops.

You're just as likely to read an editorial critisizing Greenpeace as you are to read one critisizing Monsanto. Any articles past the first page merely report the facts as they are, unbiasedly.

Am I to expect your patronising comments every time I post from now on?

[Phil Conners]

GM. Yawn.

[ayakiawe]

wake up bird brains!

http://www.newswithviews.com/Smith/jeffrey2.htm

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS MAY POSE NATIONAL HEALTH RISK

By Jeffrey Smith

August 1, 2004

NewsWithViews.com

In a study in the early 1990’s rats were fed genetically modified (GM) tomatoes. Well actually, the rats refused to eat them. They were force-fed. Several of the rats developed stomach lesions and seven out of forty died within two weeks. Scientists at the FDA who reviewed the study agreed that it did not provide a “demonstration of reasonable certainty of no harm.” In fact, agency scientists warned that GM foods in general might create unpredicted allergies, toxins, antibiotic resistant diseases, and nutritional problems. Internal FDA memos made public from a lawsuit reveal that the scientists urged their superiors to require long-term safety testing to catch these hard-to-detect side effects. But FDA political appointees, including a former attorney for Monsanto in charge of policy, ignored the scientists’ warnings. The FDA does not require safety studies. Instead, if the makers of the GM foods claim that they are safe, the agency has no further questions. The GM tomato was approved in 1994.

According to a July 27th report from the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the current system of blanket approval of GM foods by the FDA might not detect “unintended changes in the composition of the food.” The process of gene insertion, according to the NAS, could damage the host’s DNA with unpredicted consequences. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which released its findings a few days earlier, identified a long list of potentially dangerous side effects from GM foods that are not being evaluated. The ICMR called for a complete overhaul of existing regulations.

The safety studies conducted by the biotech industry are often dismissed by critics as superficial and designed to avoid finding problems. Tragically, scientists who voice their criticism, and those who have discovered incriminating evidence, have been threatened, stripped of responsibilities, denied funding or tenure, or fired. For example, a UK government-funded study demonstrated that rats fed a GM potato developed potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, partial atrophy of the liver, and inhibited development of their brains, livers and testicles. When the lead scientist went public with his concerns, he was promptly fired from his job after 35 years and silenced with threats of a lawsuit.

Americans eat genetically modified foods everyday. Although the GM tomato has been taken off the market, millions of acres of soy, corn, canola, and cotton have had foreign genes inserted into their DNA. The new genes allow the crops to survive applications of herbicide, create their own pesticide, or both. While there are only a handful of published animal safety studies, mounting evidence, which needs to be followed up, suggests that these foods are not safe.

Rats fed GM corn had problems with blood cell formation. Those fed GM soy had problems with liver cell formation, and the livers of rats fed GM canola were heavier. Pigs fed GM corn on several Midwest farms developed false pregnancies or sterility. Cows fed GM corn in Germany died mysteriously. And twice the number of chickens died when fed GM corn compared to those fed natural corn.

Soon after GM soy was introduced to the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 percent. Without follow-up tests, we can’t be sure if genetic engineering was the cause, but there are plenty of ways in which genetic manipulation can boost allergies.

A gene from a Brazil nut inserted into soybeans made the soy allergenic to those who normally react to Brazil nuts.

GM soy currently consumed in the US contains a gene from bacteria. The inserted gene creates a protein that was never before part of the human food supply, and might be allergenic.

Sections of that protein are identical to those found in shrimp and dust mite allergens. According to criteria recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), this fact should have disqualified GM soy from approval.

The sequence of the gene that was inserted into soy has inexplicably rearranged over time. The protein it creates is likely to be different than the one intended, and was never subject to any safety studies. It may be allergenic or toxic.

The process of inserting the foreign gene damaged a section of the soy’s own DNA, scrambling its genetic code. This mutation might interfere with DNA expression or create a new, potentially dangerous protein.

The most common allergen in soy is called trypsin inhibitor. GM soy contains significantly more of this compared with natural soy.

The only human feeding study ever conducted showed that the gene inserted into soybeans spontaneously transferred out of food and into the DNA of gut bacteria. This has several serious implications. First, it means that the bacteria inside our intestines, newly equipped with this foreign gene, may create the novel protein inside of us. If it is allergenic or toxic, it may affect us for the long term, even if we give up eating GM soy.

The same study verified that the promoter, which scientists attach to the inserted gene to permanently switch it on, also transferred to gut bacteria. Research on this promoter suggests that it might unintentionally switch on other genes in the DNA—permanently. This could create an overproduction of allergens, toxins, carcinogens, or antinutrients. Scientists also theorize that the promoter might switch on dormant viruses embedded in the DNA or generate mutations.

Unfortunately, gene transfer from GM food might not be limited to our gut bacteria. Preliminary results show that the promoter also transferred into rat organs, after they were fed only a single GM meal.

This is only a partial list of what may go wrong with a single GM food crop. The list for others may be longer. Take for example, the corn inserted with a gene that creates its own pesticide. We eat that pesticide, and plenty of evidence suggests that it is not as benign as the biotech proponents would have us believe. Preliminary evidence, for example, shows that thirty-nine Philippinos living next to a pesticide-producing cornfield developed skin, intestinal, and respiratory reactions while the corn was pollinating. Tests of their blood also showed an immune response to the pesticide. Consider what might happen if the gene that produces the pesticide were to transfer from the corn we eat into our gut bacteria. It could theoretically transform our intestinal flora into living pesticide factories.

GM corn and most GM crops are also inserted with antibiotic resistant genes. The ICMR, along with the American Medical Association, the WHO, and organizations worldwide, have expressed concern about the possibility that these might transfer to pathogenic bacteria inside our gut. They are afraid that it might create new, antibiotic resistant super-diseases. The defense that the biotech industry used to counter these fears was that the DNA was fully destroyed during digestion and therefore no such transfer of genes was possible. The human feeding study described above, published in February 2004, overturned this baseless assumption.

No one monitors human health impacts of GM foods. If the foods were creating health problems in the US population, it might take years or decades before we identified the cause. One epidemic in the1980’s provides a chilling example. A new disease was caused by a brand of the food supplement L-tryptophan, which had been created through genetic modification and contained tiny traces of contaminants. The disease killed about 100 Americans and caused sickness or disability in about 5-10,000 others. The only reason that doctors were able to identify that an epidemic was occurring, was because the disease had three simultaneous characteristics: it was rare, acute, and fast acting. Even then it was nearly missed entirely.

Studies show that the more people learn about GM foods, the less they trust them. In Europe, Japan, and other regions, the press has been far more open about the potential dangers of genetic manipulation. Consequently, consumers there demand that their food supply be GM-free and manufacturers comply. But in the US, most people believe they have never eaten a GM food in their lives (even though they consume them daily). Lacking awareness, complacent consumers have been the key asset for the biotech industry in the US. As a result, millions of Americans are exposed to the potential dangers, and children are most at risk. Perhaps the revelations in the reports released on opposite sides of the planet will awaken consumers as well as regulators, and GM foods on the market will be withdrawn.

To become more informed of the dangers of GM foods, to download a letter to food manufacturers, and to learn how to avoid buying and eating GM foods, see www.seedsofdeception.com. Order The Seeds of Deception.

This is the first in a regular column about genetically modified foods by Jeffrey M. Smith. He is the author of Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, and the Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology.

© 2004 Jeffrey M. Smith- All Rights Reserved

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Jeffrey M. Smith has been involved with genetically modified (GM) foods for nearly a decade. He worked for non-profit and political groups on the issue and in 1998, ran for U.S. Congress to raise public awareness of the health and environmental impacts. To protect children-who are most at risk from the potential health effects of GM foods-Smith proposed legislation to remove the foods from school meals. He also proposed legislation to help protect farmers from cross-pollination by GM crops. Later, he was vice president of marketing for a GMO detection laboratory.

Smith has lectured widely, spoken at conferences, and has been quoted in articles around the world. Prior to working in this field, he was a writer, educator, and public speaker for non-profit groups, advancing the causes of health, environment, and personal development. This book Seeds of Deception, researched and written after he left the industry, combines Smith's passion for these causes with his extensive knowledge of the risks and cover-ups behind genetically modified foods.

Smith is the founding director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, a member of the Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee, and a member of the advisory board of the Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods. He has a master's degree in business administration and lives with his wife in Iowa, surrounded by genetically modified corn and soybeans. Website: www.seedsofdeception.com E:Mail: [email protected]