Local Level Way To Defeat GMO Crop & Food Contamination: 1,000 GMO-Free Zones For Ireland

national | anti-capitalism | news report Wednesday April 20, 2005 18:19 by Barry Finnegan - personal capacity

Process has now started in Ireland with 1,000 GMO-Free Zones being declared by the GM-free Ireland.

While national governments within the EU, and the EU Commission itself, have the legal right to say ‘yes’ to the planting of Genetically Modified Organisms (i.e. GMO crops), it remains the case that ‘regions’ - in Ireland’s case this would be both counties and provinces - have the right to hold referendums and ban GMOs. This process has now started in Ireland with 1,000 GMO-Free Zones being declared by the GM-free Ireland Network. It is a massive first step.

Expect To See More Of These Signs On The Highways and Byways Of This Island

This news is being highlighted and launched at a press conference in Dublin this coming Friday morning. (The press release is below.) According to the GM-Free Ireland website:

“1,000 conventional and organic farmers North and South of the Border will declare their lands GMO-free on 22 April, as part of the world-wide Earth Day 2005 celebration. Farmers, farmers markets, restaurants, retailers and schools will erect GMO-free signs across the country. The location of the GMO-free sites will be revealed at the following events in Dublin on 22 April: • Buswell's Hotel: media briefing 11am. • Convergence Festival presentation 2pm.”

And as you can see from this weblink: [ http://www.gmfreeireland.org/sign/index4.php ] you can even order a purpose built pretty hefty galvanised steel pole and attachment device for your GMO-Free Sign for outdoor use as well as stickers, flyers etc.

In the USA, among other campaigns is the Bio Democracy Alliance which assists in the creation of ‘GE-Free Zones Across the Americas’ (they call it GE, we call it GMO, same thing). To read more about the counties in the US which have already done this and to see how the campaings are going check out: BioDemocracy Alliance - Creating GE-Free Zones Across the Americas at http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm

Here is a copy of the GM-free Ireland Network press release announcing the launch of 1,000 GMO-Fee Zones throughout Ireland.:
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Press Briefing Invitation
20th April 2005
DECLARATION OF ONE THOUSAND GMO FREE ZONES IN IRELAND
This weekend one thousand GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) Free zones will be declared by farmers, food producers, hotels, restaurants, markets, pubs, retailers, schools and homes throughout the island of Ireland. These sites are demanding legal protection from contamination by genetically modified (GM) seeds, crops, trees, livestock and fish.

To launch this initiative the GM-Free Ireland Network are hosting a briefing for media and politicians to highlight the economic, health and environmental benefits of keeping Ireland GMO-free. The briefing, which takes place at 11am on Friday, 22nd April 2005 (Earth Day) in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street in Dublin, will also include the display of each site location on a digital map.

You and /or a representative and a photographer are cordially invited to attend this briefing.

Speaking at the event will be, Kathy Sinnott, MEP, Munster; John Heney, Rural Development Chairman Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association; Michael O’Callaghan, Co-ordinator, GM-free Ireland Network; Brian Meaney, Councillor, Clare County Council; Sean McArdle, Founder of Irish Famers’ Markets

EVENT: Briefing for media & politicians to launch the 1,000 GMO free zones in Ireland
LOCATION: The Georgian Room, Buswells Hotel, 25 Molesworth St, Dublin 2
DATE: Friday, 22nd April 2005 – Earth Day
TIME: 11am

ENDS

For more information please contact:
Deirdre O’Connell
Ross Communications
Ph. 01 633 4033 / M. 086 829 1082
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GMO Free Ireland ... thinking big!!