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| Woman prepares porridge-like drink based on maize starch |
Preserve, defend “community-controlled,
biodiversity-based food systems” ─ an ethical imperative
Excerpting, editing by
Carolyn Bennett
From UNIÓN DE CIENTÍFICOS COMPROMETIDOS CON LA SOCIEDAD,
A.C. (UCCS) letter to Mexico’s head of state
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| Farmer Native Maize varieties |
Genetically Modified maize in México scientists believe will
have “irreversible, adverse effects on maize agricultural biodiversity, on farmer
livelihoods, and on the right to food – not only for México and its people, but
for maize farmers and consumers around the world.”
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| FarmerNative Maize varieties |
Being “bound by a sense of ethical duty to preserve this
critical resource for humanity, and at the heart of the Mesoamerican culture,”
UCCS wrote in 2009, “we demand that the administrations of President Felipe
Calderón, as well as that of the elected President, take all necessary measures
to guarantee that no transgenic maize is released in Mexico, the center of
origin and diversity of this essential food crop.”
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| Women preparing maize |
The UCCS said that its report, GM (genetically modified) maize in Mexico: An irreversible path away
from agricultural biodiversity, farmer livelihoods and the right to food within
the center of origin of maize (originally written in English to reach the
international community), “has been endorsed by well-recognized networks of scientists
and academics, and internationally recognized non-governmental organizations
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c
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oncerned about the impact of
technological developments on society and the environment around the world:
Unión de Científicos Comprometidos con la Sociedad (UCCS), European Network of
Scientists for Social
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| Maize varieties |
and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER), Third World
Network (TWN), GRAIN and the International Network of Engineers and Scientists
for Global Responsibility (INES).
At the time of the letter, Mexico’s Union of Concerned
Scientists (Unión de Científicos Comprometidos con la Sociedad de México) had
issued a call to action statement signed by more than 2,000 academicians and
scientists, Nobel laureates, winners of the Mexican national prize, and other
concerned citizens around the world. The statement ─
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| Maize Farmer |
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R
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ejects the planting of genetically
modified (GM) maize in Mexico
Alerts on threats to maize in its
center of origin and diversity
Alerts of human health risks that
may potentially result from large-scale releases of genetically modified maize
in Mexico
In the statement Mexico’s Union of Concerned Scientists reemphasized
its continuing quest for support and mission to inform academic and scientific communities
on “the necessity to protect maize agricultural biodiversity.”
2013 has been declared the “Year of Resistance and Defense of Native Corn”
Sources and notes
UNIÓN DE CIENTÍFICOS COMPROMETIDOS
CON LA SOCIEDAD, A.C.
San Pedro No. 70 Col. El Carmen Coyoacán C.P. 04100 México,
D.F.
Tel. 5622-9013, 5658-4497, www.uccs.mx
November 26th, 2012.
To the President of Mexico, Lic . Felipe Calderón Hinojosa
To the Elected President of Mexico, Lic. Enrique Peña Nieto
To the Biosafety Authorities of the Government of Mexico
Signed: UCCS, Dr. Antonio Turrent (President)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/71023113/A-peasant-experience-of-rescuing-corn-and-other-native-seeds
Mexico’s Union of Concerned Scientists statement publicly
presented November 15, 2012,
San Pedro No. 70 Col. El Carmen Coyoacán C.P. 04100 México,
D.F.
Tel. 5622-9013, 5658-4497, www.uccs.mx
http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4622-gm-maize-in-mexico-an-irreversible-path
http://www.uccs.mx/doc/g/plantinggmo-corn
“Mexican farmers, environmentalists call on government to
block large scale production of GMO corn ─ In Mexico, groups of small farmers
and environmentalists are calling on the government to reject permit
applications which would open up large swathes of productive agricultural land
to commercial production of genetically modified corn. They cite cultural and
scientific concerns. FSRN’s Shannon Young reports from Oaxaca,” Free Speech
Radio News, January 9, 2013, http://fsrn.org/audio/mexican-farmers-environmentalists-call-government-block-large-scale-production-gmo-corn/11408
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