Hi Everyone – please read this carefully and consider sending a letter on Bill C-474 to Ben Lobb – it’s easy to do – using an online process – and you will be helping to protect our markets from harm! – support Bill C-474 – before Monday March 29, 2010 – Support Canada’s Farmers! You can stop GE Alfalfa and GE Wheat!
If your member is someone else you can find him/her at the link below.
Write a letter to your MP asap. Click on the link for the tool to use.
Bill C-474 will be debated for a second hour in Parliament March 29. The vote will happen a few days later. Even if you have already written your MP, you are encouraged to send another letter before March 29.
Your concrete action could stop genetically engineered (GE) seeds from causing chaos in Canadian farming! Europeans call them “Monster Seeds”.
Bill C-474 would require that “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.” The Bill could stop GE alfalfa and GE wheat.
they're called "monster seeds"
This Bill is critically important because, as we know from experience, the introduction of new genetically engineered (GE) crops can cause economic hardship to farmers. Farmers are at risk when GE crops are commercialized in Canada without also being approved in our major export markets.
Flax farmers in Canada are now paying a heavy price because of this exact problem. Late last year, Canadian flax exports were discovered to be contaminated with a GE flax that is not approved in Europe or in any of our other export markets (except the U.S.).
Flax farmers actually foresaw that GE contamination or even the threat of contamination would close their export markets. That’s why they took steps in 2001 to remove GE flax from the market.
Despite this measure, flax farmers were not protected. The GE flax contamination closed our export markets in 2009. It has created market uncertainty and depressed prices. Farmers are also paying for testing and cleanup and may be required to abandon their own farm-saved flax seed and buy certified seed instead. These costs are an unnecessary and preventable burden.
We cannot allow GE seeds to harm our export markets. Please support Bill C-474 and protect Canada’s farmers.
Write a letter to your MP immediately from http://www.cban.ca/474action Take action before March 29, 2010.
Bill C-474 was introduced by Alex Atamanenko, the NDP Agriculture Critic and MP for British Columbia Southern Interior. However this goes well beyond politics and to the heart of Canadian agriculture.
For updates, more info and action options see http://www.cban.ca/474
or contact Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network coordinator@cban.ca 613 241 2267 ext. 6
This action alert was issued by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) http://www.cban.ca
Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)
Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice
431 Gilmour Street, Second Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 0R5
Phone: 613 241 2267 ext.6
Fax: 613 241 2506
coordinator@cban.ca
www.cban.ca
Your action to support Bill C-474 is making a difference! Support Canada’s Farmers!
Write to your MP please – from http://www.cban.ca/474action
Take action before March 29, 2010.
Thankyou
