Sri Lanka: il bando agli OGM ha i giorni contati?

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Sri Lanka: il bando agli OGM ha i giorni contati?

Fonte: FoodFirst
Segnalato da: Fabio Quattrocchi, e-mail: fabiocchi@genie.it,
trad. it. dell'introduz. di Simonmattia Riva per AceA www.consumietici.it

In accordo con la Sri Lanka Environmental foundation il segretariato del
Ministero della Sanitā e della Medicina Indigena ha nominato un comitato di
consiglieri alle dipendenze del governo dello Sri Lanka con la possibile
intenzione di abolire il bando a tempo indeterminato agli alimenti
geneticamente modificati, attualmente in vigore nell'isola asiatica. Il
nuovo comitato č stato nominato senza preavvisare il Comitato di Consiglio
per l'Alimentazione (FAC), giā da tempo attivo presso il medesimo ministero:
il bando sine die agli OGM fu suggerito e caldeggiato proprio dal FAC. Il
nuovo comitato č stato costituito in reazione alle intense pressioni delle
ambasciate e delle imprese commerciali. Al comitato č stato richiesto di
presentare al governo una relazione che, si teme, potrebbe raccomandare all'
esecutivo la fine del bando ENTRO GIOVEDI' 30 AGOSTO. In caso di abolizione
del bando lo Sri Lanka potrebbe diventare un laboratorio sperimentale a
cielo aperto per alimenti e coltivazioni dei quali non č stata ancora
provata l'innocuitā per la salute umana e l'ambiente. Proponiamo di seguito,
in lingua inglese, il testo di un appello ,che richiede il mantenimento
delle leggi attualmente in vigore nello Sri Lanka, indirizzato al Ministero
della Sanitā del Paese asiatico.

E-mail to: Secretary, Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine,
"Suwasiripaya" 385 Wimalawansa Mawatha, Colombo, 10, Sri Lanka, E-mail:
sechim@sltnet.lk Fax to: President Chandrika Kumaratunga c/o Presidential
Secretariat, Colombo, 01 Sri Lanka. Fax: +941 333 703/ +941 446 657 The
Honorable John Seneviratne, Minister of Health , Ministry of Health and
Indigenous Medicine, Colombo, 01, Sri Lanka. Fax: +941 694 227 Secretary,
Ministry of Health "Suwasiripaya" 385 Wimalawansa Mawatha Colombo 10 Dear
Sir, Environmental Foundation is a non-profit public interest organization
working towards the conservation of the environment through legal means. As
a citizens group we are very concerned on the issues related to the Sri
Lankan regulation to ban Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs) and the U.S.
Government's pressure on the Sri Lankan Government on the same. We believe
that genetically modified foods constitute are an untested and uncertain
area and that Sri Lanka should not become a testing ground for such
products. We are amazed to learn that you have appointed a committee to look
into this ban, and we understand the aim of this committee is to move
towards moving the ban so courageously promulgated by the Food Advisory
Committee (FAC) of the your own Ministry. We also understand that this
committee has been appointed without the knowledge of the members of the
FAC. Earlier, EFL applauded the FAC for their persistence and courage in
going ahead with a ban, in spite of international threats to challenge Sri
Lanka's move before the World Trade Organization. EFL has also written to
the UN Human Rights Commission against the U.S. action and also has written
to the U.S. President, asking to refrain from involving his nation in Sri
Lanka's GMO ban as this would amount to interference with Sri Lanka's
sovereignty. Genetically modified foods are still untested and so far have
not been proved safe consumption. It is deplorable that the government is
willing to put economic gain and succumb to the international pressures of
both international and local parties who have no care for the public health.
We therefore express profound disappointment at your actions, which will
directly threaten the health and safety of the Sri Lankan public. This will
set Sri Lanka back after it took such an advanced step applauded by
activists everywhere. Six months were already given to the private trade
sector to come into line with the ban, and it was aware of the move for at
least a year. We therefore urge you to let this ban go ahead on September 1,
in accordance with the present regulations, and not to succumb to the
unreasonable demands either of a mercenary few or of countries who have no
right to interfere or threaten Sri Lanka's sovereign right to protect her
citizens. Yours faithfully, (Firma)