PERCY SCHMEISER RETURNS TO B.C. - SEPTEMBER
15-20
Internationally-Renowned
Saskatchewan Farmer Continues His Journey of Warning
Farmers and Eaters of the
Risks of Genetically Engineered Food.
08.20.09
KELOWNA,
August 20 - It's not often that farmers reach celebrity status and between
September 15-20, communities throughout the interior of the province will be
welcoming one of the most celebrated farmers in the world - Percy Schmeiser.
Between
1998-2008, Saskatchewan's Percy and Louise Schmeiser have waged a classic David
versus Goliath struggle against one of the most influential multinational
agricultural corporations - Monsanto.
Their
ongoing battles have reached such international recognition, that in December
2007, the Schmeisers became the recipients of the Right Livelihood Award;
often referred to as the "alternative Nobel". The award was presented in honour
of the Schmeisers' "courage in defending biodiversity and farmers' rights, and
challenging the environmental and moral perversity of current interpretations
of patent laws".
Since the mid 1990s, the
food supply of Canada has become increasingly dominated by genetically
engineered (G.E.) foods. The process of transgenic engineering involves the
placement of DNA from one species or kingdom into the cells of another. Such
processes do not take place within nature or from conventional breeding and the
technology expectedly continues to receive widespread global opposition. Canada
remains among a small minority of countries who support such foods and has
welcomed G.E. ingredients into our food supply. Canada even goes so far as to
aggressively lobby other countries to do the same.
It is estimated that over
three quarters of foods on grocery store shelves now contain G.E. ingredients.
Most Canadians remain completely unaware of their presence. With the technology
having not received any long-term human safety studies, Canadians have become
the product of one of the largest human feeding experiments in history. The
foods/ingredients that are most often genetically engineered are corn, soy,
canola and cottonseed. These crops represent the foundation for most foods
consumed today including soft drinks, breakfast cereals, oil-based foods,
dairy, meat and eggs among others.
The genetic engineering of
the food supply continues to expand. In 2008, G.E. sugar entered the food
supply for the first time, and in early 2009, an industry-led campaign was
launched to encourage the future introduction of G.E. wheat.
The Schmeiser's visit
marks their second to B.C. in the past 14 months. In July 2008, Percy addressed
audiences in Castlegar, Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where he urged
communities there to protect the local food supply and support efforts to
establish G.E. Free Zones (regions that could remain free of genetically
engineered plants and trees). Since that visit the municipalities of Nelson,
Rossland and Kaslo have all passed policies that oppose the cultivation of such
experimental technologies. The groups hosting Percy on this tour will either be
continuing their efforts to establish such zones and/or will be introducing the
idea.
Farmers Rights
Among the many
environmental and health concerns of G.E. foods, farmers' rights are also of
great concern. When a plant is genetically engineered, it can then be patented.
Once private ownership of the lifeform is established, the company then owns
the plant regardless of where it ends up. This is of significant concern
because G.E. plants can freely cross with non-G.E. varieties over long
distances. In the Schmeisers' case, Monsanto's RoundUp Ready
canola ended up in their fields of non-G.E. canola even though the Schmeisers
had never purchased the G.E. seed. The Schmeisers, who had been saving seed for
decades, were left to harvest seeds that were now owned by a multinational
corporation. It didn't take long before they found themselves in a courtroom
with a powerful corporation demanding that they pay the company royalties for
having used their patented technologies (seeds).
This shocking example of
the corporate control of our food supply is the clear direction in which our
food system is heading.
Following years of legal
battles, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 5-4 in favour of Monsanto in
2004. The decision sent shockwaves to farmers around the world.
The battle continued when
another incident between Monsanto and the Schmeisers was sparked in 2005. This
time, it was the Schmeisers challenging Monsanto, and this time, the
Schmeisers were the victor. In March 2008, Monsanto paid the Schmeisers
$660 in an out-of-court settlement. While the sum was small, the message was
powerful, and the Schmeisers have since been touring the world sharing their
story of this victory.
In
July 2008, Percy Schmeiser helped launch the G.E. Free Kootenays campaign at a
packed event in Castlegar. The campaign has been successfully working towards
the establishment of a region that will remain free of genetically engineered
plants and trees. As part of this latest return to B.C., Schmeiser will continue
to lend his experience to farmers and eaters and further encourage the
establishing of G.E. Free regions throughout the province.
Supporters: Society for a G.E. Free BC, Okanagan Greens Society,
Okanagan College, FASNO, Shuswap Seed Savers,
G.E. Free Kootenays, Kootenay Food Strategy Society, Deconstructing Dinner, Canadian Biotechnology
Action Network (CBAN), Grand Forks and Boundary Regional Agriculture Society,
Creston Food Action Coalition
Dates / Venues:
Creston
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Prince Charles Auditorium
223 18th Avenue S. Creston B.C.
7:00pm... Doors open 6:30
Admission by Donation
(Suggested $10)
Grand Forks
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Grand Forks Community Centre
6410 Community Centre Road
7:00pm... Doors open 6:30
Admission by Donation
(Suggested $10)
Salmon Arm
Friday, September 18, 2009
Salmar Classic Theatre
360 Alexander Street NE, Salmon Arm, B.C.
7:00pm
Admission $5
Vernon
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Okanagan College - Lecture Theatre, 7000
College Way, Vernon, B.C.
7:00pm
Admission $5
Kelowna
Sunday, September 20, 2009
4th Annual Organic Okanagan
Festival
@ Summerhill Pyramid Winery,
4870 Chute Lake Road, Kelowna, B.C.
1:00pm
Admission $5