PLEASE DEMAND THAT SOUTHERN PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE HEARD AT THIS CONFERENCE Dear Friends, The OECD is organising another global biotechnology conference - this time in Thailand in July (see article below). At the last conference, in Edinburgh, the organisers only invited one critic of the technology and failed to invite anyone from Southern nations other than a few scientists who receive their income from Monsanto. As expected, the conference concluded - without consulting any Southern farmers or development economists - that GM crops are the only way to feed the world. At the next conference we need to ensure that Southern voices are heard - or at least we must make it very clear to the media that they have been excluded. The conference is to be chaired by Lord Selbourne (Chairman of the 'UK Chemicals Stakeholders Forum'). His contact details are given below. We suggest that you write to him and the media to demand that the many concerns of Southern farmers and development charities are heard this time. Robert Vint. Address: The Rt Hon the Earl of Selborne, Chancellor University of Southampton Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ UK University of Southampton general contacts: Switchboard: +44 (0)23 8059 5000 General Fax: +44 (0)23 8059 3939 He could also be contacted via the House of Lords. General contact details: telephone enquiries: +44 20 7219 3107 (10.00 am to 6.00 pm when the House is sitting) [general e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - not suitable for messages] ******************************** 2001-05-04: UK govt, OECD to hold GM food conference in Thailand in July interactive investor international LONDON (AFX) - The government and the OECD are holding the conference "New Biotechnology Food and Crops: Science, Safety and Society", at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from July10-12, 2001. The conference is being held in co-operation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Health Organisation, the UN Environment Programme, and the government of Thailand. It will bring together representatives of government, civil society, industry, the scientific community and environmental and consumer groups to explore how scientific knowledge on the safety of genetically modified crop plants and foods is accessed and taken account of in the various international institutions and decision-making bodies. The results of the conference will be presented to the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, in July. --- --- BANGKOK POST May 13, 2001 LENGTH: 1366 words HEADLINE: The Week: SUMMARY OF THE NEWS : MAY 6-12, 2001 BODY: [Excerpt follows] GM conference Sponsors announced plans for the biggest biotechnology conference ever held in Thailand. The conference, organised by Britain and two United Nations groups, will boost biotech for agriculture and promote experiments with genetically modified crops and food. --- ---- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
