June 18, 2004Victory: Moratorium on GE expansion in Argentina
The announcement follows months of campaigning by Greenpeace Argentina and other local groups in the area. The decree was signed last night declaring a moratorium on forest conversion for six months with the possibility for renewal for a further three months. "Finally, it seems that the authorities have been listening to what we have been saying. This is the first time a concrete measure has been taken to stop the reckless expansion of GE soya in Argentina which has become a social and environmental nightmare," said Emiliano Ezcurra our GE campaigner in Argentina. On 8 May local farmers and Greenpeace activists created a 'Soya Border' by displaying a huge banner demanding a stop to forest destruction caused by soya agriculture in Santiago del Estero Following this event our local campaigners met with the governor of the province and presented our proposal to him in person, for a moratorium for further forest conversion to ge soya monoculture.
"The forest and the local communities that live in it are not an obstacle for agriculture but a productive ecosystem their own right. The destruction of the last third of our native forest to make way for GE soya monocultures has been challenged for the first time and has been successful," added Ezcurra. Today, over 5,000 people from farming organisations, the Catholic Church, Universities of the region and from Greenpeace marched through the capital city of Santiago del Estero to present Pablo Lanusse with a proposed new Agrarian Policy. Protestors held a banner that demanded 'Not in our Food, Not on our Land. GE Soya Destroys Forests'.
- Read our brief: Roundup Ready' Soya - what more can go wrong? - Read our story: Argentina monitors GE destruction - Read our story: Greenpeace helps protect Argentinean reserve - Read our story: Argentinean Farmers create human anti-GE barrier |
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| GE Soya > GE Everything | Consumer Power vs. Corporate Control | Feeding Pigs, Not People | Seeds of hope |
