EU backs Austrian and Hungarian bans on GM crops
"This is what democracy looks like!" is one of the slogans I remember the protesters at the Washington DC coal action chanting yesterday.
The same day Austria's Environment Minister put it just as well, I think, when he told reporters how it felt to beat the European Commission over banning GMO crops: "We have completely prevailed. This is for me as if Austria won the European football championship."
The vote was about lifting the ban on GMOs from Monsanto and Bayer in Austria and Hungary. Those countries had passed national bans, which are supported by the vast majority of citizens.
Only four countries voted in favour of the Commissions pro-GMO plans (UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Finland), and all the others voted with the Austrians and Hungarians. That's right -- even very pro-GMO countries took the view that the EU shouldn't overturn these national decisions. Food campaigners and anti-GMO campaigners around the world should take a moment to share this success story with friends. It's a success story for everyone!
In related news, the European Court of Justice apparently ruled last month that European states can't hide the location of field trial sites, even if making them public may inspire all sorts of public reaction.
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Comments
Austria winning the European football championship? Ha ha! But this is also a wonderful victory over the World Trade Organization, which has been used by the US to try and undermine the EU national bans for ages. Nice one. See http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/wto-undermines-right-to-act-wi
Posted by: DanielMittler | March 4, 2009 12:48 PM
Keeping it cheery: Greenpeace France filmed some giant GMO corn cobs running around the national agriculture fair -- http://vimeo.com/3454918
Posted by: Eoin Dubsky | March 4, 2009 3:55 PM
This is fantasic news and a great sucess. I for one want to thank Greenpeace for allowing me to join their campaign and i signed their petition. Keep up the good work guys you do an amazing job!!
Posted by: Steven O Grady | March 5, 2009 9:33 PM