CALIFORNIA DREAMING AND DR. ALEXANDRA MORTON
by Betty Krawczyk - Betty's Early Edition
Yes,
many in the state of California are dreaming of passing Proposition no.
37 on Tuesday that would require mandatory labeling of food that
contains Genetically Modified materials. At least it’s on the ballot
and if passed could mean a breakthrough in the murderous hold that food
companies have over our food. The food companies (Monsanto, DuPont, Dow
Agrosciences and BASF to name a few) have spent over twenty five
million dollars to try to defeat Proposition 37. Many of us in Canada
would welcome such a bill as we are increasingly worried about GM
products, especially GM corn. The corn syrup from GM corn seems to be
in a myriad of products on grocery shelves. But in my opinion, the most
monstrous GM horror show is yet to unfold. This horror show will start
with the go ahead from the US for fish farms to start raising
Genetically Modified Salmon for human consumption in the US and
elsewhere.
Dr.
Alexandria Morton, we need you on this issue. Your concern for the
health of wild salmon has made you an international hero and I am one of
your most ardent fans. You accomplished an incredible feat in exposing
the evils of the fish farms that pass sea lice and a lethal fish
disease to wild fish that are migrating out to sea. British Columbians
owe you an enormous debt. But this genetically modified salmon
business poses a threat to wild salmon that could prove to be worse in
the future than the on-going threats you have already uncovered.
Fish
farms in the US, Canada and elsewhere have been waiting for the US
government to give approval that FrankenFish (as GMO fish are called by
the US press) are okay for the market. Canada raises the GMO eggs on
the east coast and may soon be shipping them all over the world.
Lucy
Sharrett, coordinator of Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, said
she was caught off guard by the news that once the US gives the go
ahead, Frankenfish fish eggs could start rolling out of Bay Fortune in
Prince Edward Island headed for fish farms all over the world (CBC News
Oct.27.) Sharrett said this increases the risk of GMO salmon escaping
into the wild.
I
am somewhat surprised that Sharritt was caught off guard by
AquaBounty’s plans. They certainly weren’t kept a secret. AquaBounty
people have been all over the place trying to allay public fears on GMO
salmon as they are expecting soon to get the okay from the US
authorities to start producing Frankenfish and their eggs. And Canada
will play a major role in this. The FrankenFish was born in Canada, in
Canadian universities (Queen’s university and Memorial University in
Newfoundland) and patented; the patent eventually winding up in the
grips of AquaBounty.
AquaBounty
downplays the danger that escaped Frankenfish could mate with wild
salmon. In my opinion it is similar to anticipated oil spills should
Enbridge go through…it’s not a question of “if” but “when”. And when
this happens would it be like Monsanto suing farmers because GM crops
blew over into their fields from a neighbouring farm? If a wild salmon
could be shown to possess some of the GMO genes no matter who caught
them, would these salmon then belong to AguaBounty? Is it possible that
AquaBounty could wind up claiming a large portion of the wild salmon in
the sea?
Dr. Alexandra Morton, please hear our plea. There is no other agency in
Canada aware enough, acknowledgeable enough or who cares enough to take
this on except you and your Salmon people. Please call them. We
cannot let this happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment