Genetically modified crops

Genetically Modified crops
Here is a message via Slow Food about a court case coming up in West Australian tomorrow 10 February 2014.
If you are against GM crops there are ways suggested in Slow Foods message to show support.
Max Dingle                                                                                                      9 February 2014
www.maxdingleart.com

“Carlo Petrini, President of Slow Food International, said "The case of Steve Marsh offers concrete proof of the fact that GMOs pose a threat not only to our health and the environment, but also to a fundamental right, the right to food sovereignty. It is unacceptable that an Australian organic farmer should lose certification for approximately 70% of his land after it was contaminated by Monsanto GM canola from a nearby farm. GMOs are depriving farmers and consumers of their fundamental right to choose. The former cannot choose what they grow, while the latter often cannot choose what they eat. For this reason, we support Steve Marsh in his battle, and we invite everyone to participate in the global Twitter storm using the hashtag #IamSteveMarsh. Even though this is just the story of one Australian farmer, the way in which it plays out in the courts on February 10 could have global implications."

Slow Food is against the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops.  We promote GM free food and animal feed and we are active in a global campaign against all genetically modified organisms (GMOs)!  We believe that we need to protect the future of food and farming that will benefit people and the planet and not the pockets of big business. 

Steve Marsh is a farmer from Kojonup, south of Perth, who lost his organic certification when Monsanto’s GM canola blew onto his farm from a neighbouring property in 2010.  Steve lost most of his income and has struggled for the past three years trying to make ends meet while working to decontaminate his land and get his organic certification back.  As Monsanto has a no liability agreement with GM farmers it prevents them from being sued.  Steve’s only choice was to take his neighbour to court for compensation of loss and damages.  Steve’s neighbour is well supported and well funded by a pro-GM organisation.

This landmark case against a farmer's right to grow clean food will start on February 10th in the Western Australian Supreme court. See some of Steve's story on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpQHuUTfRro&feature=youtu.be).

Now is the time to ask you to act. I am calling you to  take action to support Slow Food Perth , safe food foundation and Steve Marsh in his court case to fight GMO contamination on his farm and for his right to produce good, clean and fair food.  

What can you do?
Distribute this information.  Please send the information to your local journalists so that they are aware of the case with a clear message that Slow Food is against GMO’s.  Use social media to inform your members and friends or simply pass on this email to work colleagues, friends and any interested parties.

Support Steve financially.  Safe Food Foundation (http://safefoodfoundation.org) is one of the major supporters of Steve's right to farm GM-free food. If you are able to help, please support Steve  financially by going to http://safefoodfoundation.org/helpthisfarmer and donating (even the smallest amount can help).

Show support in other ways. If you cannot help financially, please feel free to send messages of support to Steve via www.facebook.com/HelpThisFarmer. Your comments are vital so that the collective voice of slow food opposition to GMOs  is heard in all parts of Australia and the world.

Keep up to date with the case.  For the first time in WA courts, journalists can tweet live during court cases. Follow journalists on Twitter who are covering this case and let others know which Twitter feeds to follow.
 
Slow Food's opposition to  GMOs can be found at: http://www.slowfood.com/international/22/gmos.