DOCSLIB.ORG

Show Transcript Deconstructing Dinner Kootenay Co-Op Radio CJLY Nelson, B.C. Canada April 20, 2006 Title: GE Free Canada Produce

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Show Transcript Deconstructing Dinner Kootenay Co-Op Radio CJLY Nelson, B.C. Canada April 20, 2006 Title: GE Free Canada Produce Show Transcript Deconstructing Dinner Kootenay Co-op Radio CJLY Nelson, B.C. Canada April 20, 2006 Title: GE Free Canada Producer / Host: Jon Steinman Transcript: Ruth Taylor Jon Steinman: And welcome to Deconstructing Dinner – produced and recorded in the studios of Kootenay Co-op Radio in Nelson, British Columbia. I’m Jon Steinman. Deconstructing Dinner is a weekly one-hour program that aims to discuss all there is to know about our food, but most importantly, how the food choices we make impact ourselves, our communities and the planet. On the surface, it may appear rather easy to walk into a grocery store or a restaurant, place an item into the shopping cart or select an appetizer off of a menu, but the second any of us choose to begin reading a label or asking a waiter or waitress a question about the origins of a menu item, this daily routine of making food choices becomes much more complicated. A level of complication that is very unique to North Americans, because as is the case throughout many cultures around the globe, food is inextricably linked to culture, where food choices do not require many questions, as these traditions and processes have been unchanged for generations. Here in North America on the other hand, the origin of many of our foods is unknown – where and how was it grown, who grew it, what was the cow fed and how was it treated, what is soy lecithin that seems to be in almost every packaged food we buy. The more we question, the more complicated it all becomes. One of the more recent experiments to hit grocery store shelves and restaurant menus is the prevalence of genetically-modified foods – an experiment that labels on food do not indicate is being administered to the unknowing consumer – you and I. And so on today’s program we will hear speeches from three individuals who have all become involved in one way or another with genetically modified foods. We will hear Arran Stephens – the founder and president of Richmond-based Nature’s Path Foods, Percy Schmeiser – the Saskatchewan farmer who is now in his second legal battle with agri-food giant Monsanto, and Colin Palmer – the chair of the Powell River regional district. increase music and fade out Genetically modified plants destined for food have only been approved here in Canada since 1994 and there are now over 70 approved genetically modified plant varieties being grown here in this country. Now for the most part, a browse through the produce section would not yield many modified fruits and vegetables; the most widely modified varieties of plants are crops – the staple ingredients in the majority of our food. In the United States for example, about half of the corn planted is already genetically modified, about three quarters of cotton is genetically modified, and almost all soybean crops are genetically modified. Now it is these among other ingredients that make their way into processed foods. It is estimated that between 70-80% of all processed foods in grocery stores contain some genetically modified ingredients, but there has not yet been regulations passed that would see mandatory labeling of these ingredients. This in itself will be a topic for a future broadcast. But this topic of genetic modification of our food supply has of course led to heated debate since these plants were first approved, and the ways in which a one-hour radio broadcast could touch on this topic are countless. But regardless of what side you choose to take on the issue, there is one certainty that any science used to promote the increasing prevalence of genetically modified organisms, is just as much at risk of being proved a mistake, no differently than the countless scientific theories that have also met such a fate. Here in Canada, our federal government is responsible for approving such varieties of plants, and in granting such approval, our government places genetically modified plants for food into a category known as “novel foods.” And just when you would like to think our own government would be 100% behind allowing such an experiment to take place, they define the novel foods category as including, and I quote, “food products with no history of safe use as a food.” The question then becomes, have Canadians ever been asked if we want an increasing percentage of our food falling into such a category that is deemed to have no history of safe use. soundbite So in presenting today’s topic of genetically modified foods, we will be hearing a selection of speeches recorded in June of 2005. These speakers were recorded in Vancouver during the launch of the GE-Free Canada campaign – a campaign that aims to see GE-Free zones created across the country – GE-Free indicating areas that ban any genetically engineered plants from making their way into the ground. Finishing off today’s broadcast we will hear from Colin Palmer, who represents the region of Powell River which is one of Canada’s first communities to become GE-Free. The second speaker to be heard on the broadcast will be Percy Schmeiser – the renowned Saskatchewan farmer who was taken to court by the agriculture industry’s most influential company – Monsanto. Schmeiser’s crop of non-genetically modified canola was through open pollination, contaminated in 1997 by a neighboring field of GM Canola, and Monsanto sued Schmeiser for illegally planting the company’s property. But first we will hear the speech given by Arran Stephens. Arran is the founder and president of Nature’s Path Foods – a large Richmond, BC based company that produces a line of organic foods, he is an internationally-published author and he also sits on the Vancouver Food Policy Council. Again this recording is courtesy of the Necessary Voices Society, and here’s Arran Stephens speaking on genetically modified foods. Arran Stephens: About three weeks ago. I’m not sure the exact time. There was an all party candidate meeting in Kitsilano. The green party was there, the NDP was there and the liberals were there, and no work party and a couple of others. Anyway it was a very interesting get together it was pretty charged and partisan but the question that I had to ask of the candidates was what is your position on making British Columbia a GE free zone? The NDP candidate said we support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food we would like to see by 2010 that British Columbia would be a GE free zone and the Green Party candidate said we’ve always been for making Canada a GE free zone and particularly British Columbia and if we are elected, unfortunately they didn’t make it, we would make BC a GE free zone immediately. And the Liberal candidate mentioned that it’s got to be science based and we have to study this matter further, basically really didn’t answer directly. So, I was a little disappointed in their answer and so I’m sending them a copy, Gordon Campbell and the other person who got elected in our riding, a book called Seeds of Deception so they can understand the question a little more clearly about the risks and dangers of genetically engineered food. I don’t consider myself political, that is partisan. I like to kind of keep middle of the road but I would support any good person with a good idea at any time any place. I think because human beings have such poor judgment we get ourselves time and time again into a corner environmentally and ecologically that we’re putting the planet at risk, we’re putting the future of our society at risk and we’re putting the future generations at risk. So since sometimes the wisdoms of humans doesn’t prevail in large scale, I think sometimes we need to look at the animal kingdom to learn some lessons. I’d like to share a very brief story about the wisdom of squirrels, elk, deer, raccoons and mice. For years a retired Iowa farmer fed squirrels on his farm through the winter months by placing corn cobs and feeders. One year just for the heck of it he decided to see if the squirrels had a preference for BT corn or natural corn. He put natural corn in one feeder and BT corn in another about 20 feet away. The squirrels ate all the corn off the natural cobs but didn’t touch the BT corn. The farmer dutifully refilled the feeder with more natural corn and sure enough it was soon gone. The BT corn however remained untouched. BT corn is a corn that has been gene spliced with a pesticide, a naturally occurring pesticide, but in its unnatural form of course it has questionable results. The retired farmer got curious what if the BT variety was the squirrels only choice to find out he didn’t refill the natural corn. At the time Iowa plunged into the coldest days of winter but day after day the BT corn cob remained intact, the squirrels went elsewhere for their food. After about ten days the squirrels ate about an inch of the tip of an ear but that’s all. The farmer felt sorry for the squirrels and put natural corn back into the feeders which the squirrels once again consumed. Now this is another story about an elk. Captive elk escaped and took up residence in our crops of organic corn and soy. It had total access to neighbouring fields of GM crops but they never went into them - Susan and Mark Fitzgerald of Minnesota.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Monsanto V Schmeiser: a Landmark Decision Concerning Farmer Liability and Transgenic Contamination
    Journal of Environmental Law (2005) Vol 17 No 1, 83–108 doi: 10.1093/envlaw/eqi004 CASE LAW ANALYSIS Monsanto v Schmeiser: A Landmark Decision concerning Farmer Liability and Transgenic Contamination Biotechnology—Genetically modified crop resistant to brand pesticide—Farmer grows crop without licence—Does patent on transgenic cells extend to seeds and crop itself?—Is there an infringement of patent despite lack of knowledge by farmer of presence of gene in seeds?— Farmer does not use brand pesticide on crop—Remedy for patent holder where user takes no advantage of benefits of patent Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser [2004] 1 SCR 902; 2004 SCC 34; Supreme Court of Canada The Judgment The judgment of McLachlin CJ and Major, Binnie, Deschamps and Fish JJ was delivered by: THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND FISH J: Introduction 1 This case concerns a large scale, commercial farming operation that grew canola contain- ing a patented cell and gene without obtaining licence or permission. The main issue is whether it thereby breached the Patent Act, RSC 1985, c P-4. We believe that it did. 2 In reaching this conclusion, we emphasise from the outset that we are not concerned here with the innocent discovery by farmers of ‘blow-by’ patented plants on their land or in their cultivated fields. Nor are we concerned with the scope of the respondents’ pat- ent or the wisdom and social utility of the genetic modification of genes and cells—a practice authorised by Parliament under the Patent Act and its regulations. 3 Our sole concern is with the application of established principles of patent law to the essentially undisputed facts of this case.
    [Show full text]
  • Unearthing the Power in GMO Discourse: an Analysis of Canadian Agriculture and Agrifood Debates by Wesley Tourangeau a Thesis P
    Unearthing the power in GMO discourse: An analysis of Canadian agriculture and agrifood debates by Wesley Tourangeau A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social and Ecological Sustainability Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2017 © Wesley Tourangeau 2017 Examining Committee Membership The following served on the Examining Committee for this thesis. The decision of the Examining Committee is by majority vote. External Examiner Dr. André Magnan Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina Supervisor(s) Dr. Jennifer Clapp Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security and Sustainability School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo Internal Member Dr. Robert Gibson Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo Internal-external Member Dr. Suzan llcan Professor, Department of Sociology and Legal Studies; and Balsillie School of International Affairs. University of Waterloo Other Member(s) Dr. Andrea Collins Assistant Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo ii AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. iii ABSTRACT The overall purpose of this doctoral research project is to add to our knowledge and understanding of power relations embedded in discourses regarding Canadian agriculture and agrifood debates. Power can be obscured by discourse, and discourse infiltrates acts of power. The primacy of scientific knowledge, specifically reductionist versions of modern science, in decision-making on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is a fitting example; science-based information plays a critical role in safety assessments, while also holding a discursive role in the legitimation of GM technology.
    [Show full text]
  • Percy Schmeiser– Yale Presentation – October 2008
    Percy Schmeiser– Yale Presentation – October 2008 Forward Percy Schmeiser was born and raised in Bruno, Saskatchewan Canada. This agricultural based community of 650 people is located in the heart of Canada’s three western prairie provinces. The town of Bruno has a predominant German heritage and is located 90 km (55 miles) east of Saskatoon, which is the largest city in the province of Saskatchewan. For seventy years, Schmeiser has been involved in agriculture. Following his grandfather and father, he is a third generation farmer and has been farming since 1946. In 1952, he joined the family farm equipment dealership business that was started by his father in 1931. Schmeiser has served the public in various capacities. On the provincial political level, he was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly (M.L.A.) for the constituency of Watrous in the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1967. At the municipal level, he served as Mayor for the Town of Bruno from 1963‐1982. He also was a town councilor from 1960‐1963 and from 1985‐1988. Schmeiser re‐entered municipal politics in 2003 and served as a councilor and deputy Mayor until 2006. Schmeiser served as a Director on the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission from 1991‐1999. He also was a Director with the Saskatchewan‐Manitoba Implement Dealers Association and the President of the White Farm Equipment Dealers Council in Canada. He is a 4th Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a past member of his local Lion’s Club and a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Schmeiser faced a lawsuit from Monsanto in 1998 over the presence of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready canola that had contaminated his fields.
    [Show full text]
  • Percy Press Kit FINAL 10.15.20
    Presents Percy A film by Clark Johnson Running time: 100 minutes, Canada, 2020 Language: English Distribution Publicity Bonne Smith Star PR Tel: 416-488-4436 136 Geary Ave, Unit 217 Twitter: @starpr2 Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6H 4H1 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 416-516-9775 Fax: 416-516-0651 E-mail: [email protected] www.mongrelmedia.com @MongrelMedia MongrelMedia 1 MONGREL MEDIA PRESENTS And CONCOURSE MEDIA PRESENTS A FILM BY CLARK JOHNSON CHRISTOPHER WALKEN ROBERTA MAXWELL CHRISTINA RICCI ZACH BRAFF MARTIN DONOVAN PETER STEBBINGS LUKE KIRBY Produced with the Participation of TELFILM CANDA In Association with CRAVE MANSA PRODUCTIONS Impact Consulting By GRASSHOPPER + MARKS PRODUCTIONS In Association With PRODUCTIVITY MEDIA CBC FILMS VIGILANTE PRODUCTIONS STELLAR CITIZENS DEEPAK KUMAR FILMS PRIVATE LIMITED 2 Produced with Financial Investment From MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC Produced with the Participation of ONTARIO CREATES A SCYTHIA FILMS PRODUCTION In Association With MAY STREET PRODUCTIONS And INFERNO PICTURES Percy Directed by CLARK JOHNSON Written By GARFIELD L. MILLER And HILARY PRYOR Produced by DANIEL BEKERMAN Producer ETHAN LAZAR Producers BRENDON SAWATZKY IAN DIMERMAN Producers HILARY PRYOR GARFIELD L. MILLER Co-Produced by LAUREN GRANT 3 Executive Producers MARK GINGRAS JOHN LAING Executive Producers ANDY MARKS BEATA GUTMAN RYAN KRIVOSHEY Executive Producers KELLON AKEEM YANDY SMITH DWIGHT HOWARD Executive Producers WILLIAM G. SANTOR JOHN HILLS ANDREW CHANG-SANG Executive Producers HUSSAIN AMARSHI JONATHAN WYMAN Executive
    [Show full text]
  • Intellectual Property Rights and Systems for Maintaining Food Quality, Biosafety and Plant Biodiversity
    ‘Straightforward, honest, and uncompromising in describing the socio-political issues of food and the credible political options. There is not a policymaker on this planet who should not read this book. The authors know what they’re talking about and their editors know who they’re talking to. This is the best single summary of the political choices facing food and agriculture policymakers that has been written in this decade.’ Pat Mooney, Executive Director of the ETC Group ‘This is a timely and valuable book about the most important “industry” of all, dominated by giant multina- tionals and governments of rich countries, who make the global rules. This concise overview is both authoritative and accessible for non-specialists – highly recommended to all who are concerned about food, health, and survival.’ Felix R. FitzRoy, Professor of Economics, University of St Andrews and Research Fellow, IZA, Bonn ‘This book is an excellent resource for those mapping the increasing control of our food chain by international players. The agreements that impact on the ability of nations to be food-sovereign and food-secure are described in lucid detail. This is useful information for scholars and policymakers.’ Suman Sahai, Director, Gene Campaign, India ‘In this volume, globally recognized legal and policy experts provide a comprehensive and outstanding analysis of the inter-relationships between intellectual property rights and systems for maintaining food quality, biosafety and plant biodiversity. These are demanding technical issues but have fundamental importance for the future of global agriculture. The book should be read by all concerned with how institutional and policy reforms in these critical areas will affect the livelihoods of poor farmers and the nutrition of societies world- wide.’ Keith E.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond the Science of Agricultural Biotechnology Corporate Technology, Law, and Local Control Over Food Production
    BEYOND THE SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CORPORATE TECHNOLOGY, LAW, AND LOCAL CONTROL OVER FOOD PRODUCTION Gabriela Pechlaner M.A., University of British Columbia, 2002 B.F.A., University of British Columbia, 1990 DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Department of Sociology and Anthropology O Gabriela Pechlaner 2007 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2007 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Gabriela Pechlaner Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Title of Dissertation: Beyond the Science of Agricultural Biotechnology Corporate Technology, Law, and Local Control over Food Production Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Dorothy Chunn Professor of Sociology Dr. Gerardo Otero Senior Supervisor Professor of Sociology Dr. Karl Froschauer Supervisor Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Murray Rutherford Supervisor Assistant Professor of Resource and Environmental Management Dr. Marjorie Griffin Cohen Internal Examiner Professor of Political Science Dr. Jack R. Kloppenburg, Jr. External Examiner Professor of Rural Sociology University of Wisconsin-Madison Date Defended: May 30,2007 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Declaration of Partial Copyright Licence The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution. on its own behalf or for one of its users.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetically Modified Organisms (Gmos) As Invasive Species
    Journal of Environment Protection and Sustainable Development Vol. 4, No. 3, 2018, pp. 31-37 http://www.aiscience.org/journal/jepsd ISSN: 2381-7739 (Print); ISSN: 2381-7747 (Online) Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as Invasive Species John Paull * Geography and Spatial Sciences, School of Technology, Environments & Design, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia Abstract This paper frames genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as invasive species. This offers a way of considering the reception, diffusion and management of GMOs in the foodscape. “An invasive non-native species is any non-native animal or plant that has the ability to spread causing damage to the environment, the economy, our health and the way we live” (NNSS, 2017). Without any social licence, pesticide companies have thrust GMOs into the foodscape. The release of GMOs has generally been unwelcome, there has been no ‘pull’ factor from consumers and there has been vocal resistance from many. The apologists for GMOs have argued the self-contradictory conceit that GMOs are ‘same but different’. Under this logically untenable stance, GMOs are to be excluded from specific regulation because they are the ‘same’ as existing organisms, while simultaneously they are ‘different’ and so open to patenting. GMOs are patented and this demonstrates that, prima facie, these are novel organisms which are non-native to the foodscape. GMO apologists have campaigned intensively, and successfully in USA, to ensure that consumers are kept in the dark and that GMOs remain unlabelled - as a consequence GMOs are ubiquitous in US consumer foods. In contrast, in Australia GMOs are required to be labelled if present in consumer products and, in consequence, Australian food manufacturers do not use them.
    [Show full text]