[VegChat] Ban the Terminator

[Edelweiss D'Andrea]

Please consider sending the letter below. It was shared with me by my
friend, Dr. Martha Ruben, and I added a few sentences to it.  Please email
the letter (with changes if you like) to pm at pm.gc.ca or send it by land
mail, NO postage required to:

Stephen Harper
Prime Minister
House of Commons
PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

Dear Right Honourable Stephen Harper,

I just found about "Terminator technology," a form of genetic engineering
designed to produce plants with sterile seeds, forcing farmers to buy seeds
every year. I am horrified by the destructive and selfish philosophy behind
the use of such a
technology. Billions of people around the world depend on farmer-saved seeds
for a living; it has been like this for ages. Terminator technology is a
direct threat to this cornerstone of food security.

I also learned that, in recognition of the importance of farmer-saved seeds,
a global de facto
moratorium on testing and commercialization of Terminator technology has
been in place at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
since 2000. However, I also learned that, in February 2005, the Canadian
government tried to overturn this global de facto moratorium at CBD meetings
in Bangkok.

Under pressure from the United States, Canada has joined Australia and New
Zealand to undermine the current United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity meeting, which is taking place between March 20 and 31 in
Brazil. Unless the international community succeeds in getting a strict ban
on the technology, the genetically modified suicide seeds will force farmers
into buying seeds every year and destroy the natural biodiversity of
farmer-saved seeds. Farmers will face economic run, while multi-national
seed companies laugh all the way to the bank. It's horrific and shameful.

I urge you to support the work of the Canadian Ban Terminator
Campaign Steering Committee (ETC Group, Inter Pares, National Farmers Union
and USC Canada) and many other organizations. The Canadian CBD delegation
must reverse their efforts to undermine the de facto moratorium and
work with other countries to push for a global ban. I hope I can count on
your support.

Sincerely

Name
-------------------------------------


Martha Ruben, M.D., Ph.D.
Biomedical Consultant,
Biomedical Writer, Editor,
and Translator (EN<>SP)
25-2415 Southvale Crescent,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 4T9
Tel: +1 (613) 523 3011
Tel/Fax: +1 (613) 248 1004
martha.ruben at sympatico.ca


Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 9:43 PM
Subject: The Terminator (March 20, 7 pm, Ottawa Congress Centre)


> Public events: Terminator on Trial
>
> March 20 Ottawa Public Forum
>
> "TERMINATOR ON TRIAL": Suicide Seed Technology, Implications for Global
> Food
> Security and Farmers' Rights
>
> THE CRIME: The Canadian government is attempting to lift the "de facto"
> global moratorium on Terminator technology
>
> THE JUDGE: Gerry Barr (CEO Canadian Council for International
> Co-operation)
>
> THE HOST: Bob Carty (CBC journalist and documentary producer)
>
> THE KEY WITNESSES: Dr. Vandana Shiva (scientist from India), Percy
> Schmeiser
> (Canadian farmer who took on Monsanto); industry and government
> representatives have been invited
>
> THE JURY: YOU!
>
> With a LIVE Link to the UN Biodiversity Convention meeting in Brazil
>
> Monday March 20th
> 7:00pm - 9:30pm
> OTTAWA CONGRESS CENTRE, (Hall A/B)
> 55 Colonel By Drive at Rideau Street
> Everyone Welcome - Free Admission - Donations Welcome
>
> Sponsored by the Ban Terminator Campaign Steering Committee: ETC Group,
> Inter Pares, National Farms Union and USC Canada
>
> MORE INFORMATION:
> http://www.banterminator.org
> Ph: (613) 241-0817
>
> BACKGROUND:
> Terminator technology refers to the genetic manipulation of plants that
> renders seeds sterile at harvest. Over 1.4 billion people rely on
> farmer-saved seeds. The Canadian government is currently working to
> overturn
> a long-standing United Nations de facto moratorium on the use of
> Terminator
> technology. Would we rather see our government working with other
> countries
> to support a global ban? Please come explore the issue with farmers,
> scientists, journalists, government and industry representatives,
> indigenous
> leaders and activists, and make up your own mind about this important
> issue.
>
> TAKE ACTION:
> Please click here to find out what else you can do:
> http://www.interpares.ca/en/action/
>
>