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To:  

Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach
Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture and Food
Dick Roche, Minister for Environment and Local Government

Subject:  

Keep Ireland GM-free!

Dear Bertie Ahern, Mary Coughlan and Dick Roche,

Monsanto and other transnational agri-biotech corporations are now poised to invade Ireland with genetically modified (GM) seeds, crops, trees, and livestock. GM food and farming impose unacceptable health, environmental, and economic risks to Irish consumers, farmers, food producers, and future generations. GM crops can not "co-exist" with conventional and organic crops, without contaminating them. Contaminated crops may then become the property of Monsanto and other patent owners, and can never be recalled after their release. This will cause Ireland to lose its share of the EU market for safe GM-free food.

Please do not compromise the health, environment and food security of the Irish people by allowing this invasion.

I hold you personally accountable to prevent this disaster now before it happens and demand that you immediately:

1.  

Vote "NO" on all EC proposals to legalise GM food & crops, and resist WTO pressure to force us to accept them.

2.  

Refuse all patent applications for GM seeds and crops.

3.  

Reject all EC Recommendations to "ensure the co-existence" of GM crops with conventional and organic farming.

4.  

Support the Assembly of European Regions' call for a new EC Directive that recognises the democratic right of Irish Regions, Local Authorities, farmers and landowners to set up local GMO-free zones.

5.  

Place a 5-year moratorium on the introduction of GMO seeds, crops, trees, insects, fish, crustaceans, poultry and livestock on the island of Ireland.

6.  

Engage your counterparts in the UK and the North of Ireland to declare the whole island of Ireland as a GMO-free zone off-limits to GMO seeds, crops, trees, insects, fish, crustaceans, poultry and livestock.

7.  

Lobby the European Commission and the other EU Member States to designate Ireland as an EU GMO-free biosafety reserve, as a precautionary measure against GM disasters for the food security of all EU member states. Ireland is the candidate of choice for this function because we are: (i) geographically isolated and surrounded by water, (ii) upstream from most sources of transboundary contamination by wind-borne GM pollen from other countries (80% of local prevailing winds blow in off the Atlantic), (iii) have the lowest level of previous GM contamination in the EU, and (iv) would thus have the most credible GM-free food brand in Europe.

Keeping Ireland GM-free is a vital part of Ireland's transition to a sustainabile future. It will enhance the value of our world famous green image - along with our farming and tourist revenues - for generations to come.

But time is running out, and insurance companies refuse cover against GM disasters.

Please prevent the GMO invasion now, before it is too late!

Yours sincerely

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