permaculture

[Russ Grayson + Fiona Campbell <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

> Setsuko Yasuda (No! GMO Campaign)
> c/o Consumers Union of Japan
> 1-10-16 Megurohoncho, Meguro-ku,
> Tokyo, Japan  #152-0002
> e-mail: nishoren@jca.ax.apc.org
> Tel: +81+3-3711-7766
> Fax:+81+3-3715-9378
>
> An open letter to Australian and New Zealand Farmers and Agribusinesses
>
> We,the undersigned consumer groups in Japan, sincerely request that the
> farmers and agriculture industries of Australia and New Zealand plant and
> segregate  adequate quantities of non-genetically engineered (GMO)  cotton
> and other crops  to meet the needs of your export markets.
>
> While some would have you believe  that our opposition to GMOs is a trade
> barrier, this  is untrue. Japanese  consumers are seriously concerned about
> the potential health and  environmental hazards of GMOs. We believe that
> there is  solid scientific  basis for our concern. We are therefore asking
> you, both of your governments and your  agriculture industries not to plant
> GMOs and to export only non-GMO products.  We, Japanese consumers request
> that our non-GMO  imports contain less than a 0.1% GMO content. If you
> don't plant GMO at all, you can meet our request very easily.
>
> >From our discussions with  experts, we understand that it is possible for
> the storage and  processing companies who work with farmers to acquire an
> independent (third-party) non-GMO certification provided by  CERT ID.  This
> type of independently verified segregation control (Identity Preservation)
> program will help Japanese consumers to maintain our trust in imported
> Australia and New Zealand agriculture and food products.
>
> It is our understanding  that one of the reasons North American farmers are
> facing  deflated prices is the export of crops mixed with GMO products that
> consumers are opposed to.  We sincerely hope that by explaining our non-GMO
> requirements now, you will choose conventional (non-GMO) seeds
> and not to grow GM crops in both of your countries.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Consumers Union of Japan: Yoko Tomiyama(Chairperson)
> Shufuren (Housewives Association): Masae Wada (Representative)
> Consumption Science Federation: Yasue Ito (Secretary General)
> Tokyo League of Regional Women's Organizations: Satoko Tanaka (Associate
> Adviser)
> Home Nutrition Research Society: Takako Hasuo (Chairperson)
> Tokyo Metoropolitan Area Consumers' Group Communications Ass: Katsuko
> Terada (Rep)
> Kanagawa Prefectural Liaison Committee of Consumers' Org: Tsutomu Kobayashi
> (Chairperson)
> Yokohama Liaison Council of Consumers' Activities: Takako Hattori 
> (Chairperson)
> Banish Bad Food Kanagawa Liaison: Kazue Ono (Representative)
> Food&Agriculture Network: Setsuko Shirone (Representative)
> Niigata Consumers Center: Mitsue Tani (Representative)
> Dietary Life Improvement Popularization Liaison: Itoko Hiraide (Chairperson)
> Inaho Liason(Koube): Tami Satoh (Representative)
> Tokorozawa Life Village: Setsuko Shirone (Representative)
> Haibara Nature&Health Defense Liaison: Isako Totani (Representative)
> No! GMO Campaign: Setsuko Yasuda (Secretary General)
>
> Ms Setsuko Yasuda
>
> She is Director of Consumers Union  of Japan since 1990. She is in charge
> of Safety of Foods and Agriculture problem.  In present she is a secretary
> general of 'No! GMO Campaign' which is the citizen group from 1996.  The
> campaign has about 100 groups such as a consumer organization, a consumers
> cooperative, an agriculture person group, a religious group and individual
> members. It publishes "No! GMO Campaign News" consisting of internal and
> external information of GMO  and an appeal of action, an opinion monthly.
> And it does a meeting, learning society, administration negotiations,
> publication.
>
> Consumers Union of Japan
>
> JCU had established in 1969. JCU is  the private individual, and membership
> system, consumer organization and  independent. JCU has a slogan which is
> "connect healthy life to a generation  of a child and a grandchild!"  JCU
> works on safety of Foods, dioxin,  pesticide, nuclear power,
> electromagnetic wave, medical care, cosmetics, rip-off selling, the
> taxation system, agricultural administration widely as movement. A
> bulletin "consumer report" gets high social evaluation and
> reliability as a tool  of citizens movement. It is a quarterly with "Japan
> Resources" in English.
>
> =======================================================
>
> Subject: Codex NGO Forum in Japan
>
> Please circulate the following information.
>
>   The Japanese government will host the Codex  Ad-hoc Committee on
> Bio-engennered Food in March. The Committee will be held in Chiba
> (right next to Tokyo) from March 14th to March 15th. As a chair of
> the Committee,  the Japanese government aims " to set up
> international rules that can promote fair trade through rational risk
> assessment based on scientific evidences". They have announced to
> invite 100 public observers in a special video room.
>
> Taking this occasion very seriously,  Japanese NGOs including
> consumers, farmers and citizens groups are organizing to hold the
> "Codex  NGO Forum in Chiba" during the meeting. We have just started
> to organize the NGO Forum. However, the Codex NGO Forum in Japan
> shall include a couple of public forums, demonstration, panel
> discussions, press briefings and celebration of food diversity,
> beside a few gatherings sponsored by specific organizations including
> a International symposium by NO! GMO Campaign and a Consumers'
> gathering by Seikatsu Club Consumers Cooperatives.
>
> The venue of the most gathering will be the Overseas Vocational
> Training Association Hall, less than 10 minutes walk from the
> Committee's Conference Center in Chiba.
> The accommodation for NGO participants and press rooms are also
> booked in the OVTA's Center. The room charges are between US$40 and
> 60 for a person.
>
> For more information on the Committee from the Japanese government,
> visit their homepage: http://www.mhw.go.jp/topics/idenshi/index.htmel
> To apply for the public observer status (interpretation available in
> English, French and Spanish), e-mail the office of the Ministry of
> Health and Welfare: codex@mhw.go.jp
>
> For more information on NGO activities and logistic help including
> accommodation booking, contact Mika Iba or Yoko Takase:
> mika@mb.kcom.ne.jp
>
> We will launch the Japan NGO Committee next week and finalize
> schedule of the Codex NGO Forum in Chiba next week.
>
> Mika
>
>    -------------------------------------------
>    Mika Iba                                                  NESSFE
>    mika@mb.kcom.ne.jp
>     Tel: +813-3327-6444        Fax:+813-3325-5890
>    -------------------------------------------
>
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>
> Bob Phelps
> Director
> Australian GeneEthics Network
> PO Box 2424, Fitzroy MC 3065 Australia
> Tel: (03) 9416.2222 Fax: (03) 9416.0767 {Int Code (613)}
> email: geneethics@acfonline.org.au (Bob Phelps)
> WWW: http://www.zero.com.au/agen
>
> "If it is left to me I would certainly not eat it (GE foods). We are
> putting new things into food which would not have been eaten before.
> The effects on the immune system are not easily predictable and I
> challenge anyone who will say that the effects are predictable."
>
>                            Professor Arpad Pusztai
>                            (fired for speaking out)
>
> "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a
> revolutionary act."
>                            George Orwell
>
> "Non-cooperation with injustice is a sacred duty."
>
>                            Mahatma Gandhi
>
> "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good people (men)
> do nothing."
>                            Edmund Burke
>
> "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint.
> When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist."
>
>                            Dom Helder Camera
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
> change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
>
>                            Margaret Mead
>
> When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.
>
>                            Ethiopian proverb
>
> "Knowing is not enough, you must also act"
>
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