More and more information on the negative impact on the health of humans, animals and plants by genetically modified crops is being made public.
The GMO industry calls it pseudo science in spite of the fact that most claims by the industry have been, in the long run, proven to be false.
While the GMO industry in the U.S. is regrettably in full swing and is global in scope, mainly due to the enormous pressures being put on politicians by lobbyists, campaign contributions and revolving door situations to licence GMOs, we, in Canada, have fortunately shown some resistance to GMOs.
However, since the approval processes in Canada are apparently partially financed by corporations seeking approvals, our licensing bodies are put in an awkward position of having corporations exerting undue influence on the decision-making process.
GMO corporations are now seeking approval to introduce genetically modified alfalfa in Eastern Canada.
If GM alfalfa is approved in Eastern Canada, all local dairy products will be contaminated by GMOs and, due to cross-pollination, all alfalfa in Canada will ultimately be contaminated.
Do we really need this?
The ultimate and totally unnecessary result of genetically modified food is that every Canadian, from newborn to senior, from poor to rich, without exception, will have no choice but to eat GM contaminated food, and all this only for the single purpose of giving the GMO industry patent-protected power to extract millions from food growers.
According to evidence-based reports, there is absolutely no need to take risks with GMO crops when effective, readily available and sustainable solutions to the problems that GMO technology is claimed to address already exist.
Nature has provided us with wholesome food for thousands of years and for this reason alone, there is no need to upset the natural balance.
Mr. Harper, it is our elected government’s duty to protect the health of its citizens.
Since GMOs affect everyone of us, we, the citizens who live in a democracy, should have the final say on GMOs by means of a binding referendum which could be held as part of the next federal election.
The final approval decision should not be in the hands of bureaucrats who seem to be more concerned about political fallout or effects on their professional future.
My plea to you, Mr. Harper, is that you put any future decisions on GMOs on hold until we , the people, have made a final and binding decision on GMOs at election time and regain personal control over what we eat.
Casey Berlanda
Vernon
