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Greenpeace blocks biotech corn-laden ship headed for Mexico (Sunday, Sept. 14, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- From a news release:
Greenpeace late last week blocked a ship carrying 40,000 tons
of genetically engineered corn destined for the port of Veracruz, the
largest port in Mexico when two activists from Mexico and Argentina
attached themselves to the anchor chain. This action reinforces the
Mexican government’s rights to reject U.S. genetically engineered (GE)
corn, put into force yesterday through the international treaty -- the
Biosafey Protocal.
The campaign to stop the importation of GE corn into Mexico coincides
with the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Cancun where one of the hotly
debated issues is whether countries can use trade measures to protect
the environment. The Biosafety Protocal allows countries like Mexico
(a signatory) to prevent the importation of genetically modified
organisms.
Last month Greenpeace intercepted and blocked a trainload of U.S.
corn as it tried to enter Mexico, demanding that the Mexican
government undertake an assessment of the scope and magnitude of
the GE contamination in Mexico and declare an immediate halt to the
importation of GE corn.
Greenpeace is calling on the Mexican government to abide by the
Biosafety Protocal and reject this shipment of GE contaminated corn
and to put in place a moratorium on GE corn imports to stop the
genetic pollution. Mexico is the center of origin for corn in the world
and has already seen widespread GE contamination in Southern
Mexico.
For more up to date information on this action and other campaign
activities during the WTO meeting, check http:/www.greenpeaceusa.org .
Also, check out the following Mark Fiore cartoon : | |
