[03/15/2006] Social movements criticize Brazil’s stance at meeting of Cartagena Protocal
The proposal defended by the Brazilian government at the Third Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (MOP3), has been called into question by social movements. During a debate initiated by the Global Civil Society Forum, Maria Rita Reis, of the organization Terra de Dirietos, expressed the collective discontent with Brazil’s decision to allow another four years to pass without proper labeling of products that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In Ms. Rita’s view, the contradictory position of the government serves only to benefit the agribusiness lobby, which happens to make up a large part of the Brazilian delegation to the MOP3 meeting, currently taking place in the Brazilian state of Parana.
Joao Pedro Estedile, of the MST’s National Coordinating Body, speaking on behalf of the Via Campesina, also expressed concerns with the Brazilian government’s proposal. He went on to denounce the clandestine commercialization of transgenic soy, and the destruction of indigenous peoples’ villages by the multinational, Aracruz Celulose S/A, in the state of Espirito Santo.
Ignoring the harsh criticisms from civil society, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, attempted to defend Brazil’s “proactive position‿. According do Minister Silva, Brazil is helping to develop a model which allows for the co-existence of both GMO and non-GMO products. Minister Silva stressed the importance of both sustainable development and environmental conservation. The governor of the state of Parana, Roberto Requiao, expressed his admiration for the work of Minister Silva and reiterated the importance of legislation that will force the labeling of products based on their GMO or non-GMO content. Governor Requiao also referred to the Minister of Agriculture as the Minister of Transgenics.
In a letter released by a number of important entities tied to the questions of land and the environment, Brazil’s social movements denounced the government stance by directing it to article 18.2(a) of the Cartagena Protocol, which requires information be made available relating to the packaging, transporting and manipulation of products that contain GMOs. The Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Movement of the those Impacted by Dams (MAB), two of the movement who signed the document, affirmed that Brazil’s position has nothing to do with biosafety, and everything to do with the pressure placed on the government by agribusiness lobbyists.
On this same occasion, Terra de Direitos denounced the existence of an illegal experimental site where genetically modified seeds are being produced by the transnational, Syngenta Seeds. This site is located in forested zones of the National Iguaco Falls Park, and its existence has been confirmed by Brazil’s Environmental Protection Agency (IBAMA). The site was occupied by members of the Via Campesina yesterday, March 14th.
In Portuguese –
The above article is available in its’ original form by visiting:
http://www.mst.org.br/informativos/minforma/ultimas1718.htm
In English -
Reuters reports of Brazil's 'strong' stance on GMO lableing:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-03-14T160357Z_01_N1472385_RTRUKOC_0_US-FOOD-BRAZIL-GMO.xml