Green group says US exploits hungry in GM food row
Date: 26-May-03
Country: EU
Friends of the Earth (FOE) said the United States, which is fighting the European Union's ban on most GM foods, was exploiting famine-stricken populations by denying them the choice to avoid genetically engineered crops in aid shipments.
The United States says GM crops are safe and have the potential to end food shortages in Africa.
It accuses the European Union of hampering U.S. efforts to fight famine in the continent as poor states adopt the wary European stance on hi-tech crops.
"They (EU) have blocked all new bio-crops because of unfounded, unscientific fears," U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday.
"This has caused many African nations to avoid investing in bio-technologies for fear that their products will be shut out of European markets."
Friends of the Earth also noted that new U.S. legislation granting $15 billion to fight AIDS in Africa mentions the reluctance of some states to accept GM food.
It said this might imply a link between eligibility for the AIDS money and a country's willingness to accept GM foods.
"The U.S. should stop playing with hunger," said Nnimmo Bassey, Friends of the Earth Nigeria. "It is immoral for the U.S. to exploit famine and the AIDS crisis in this way."
Friends of the Earth campaigns against GM food across the globe, saying farmers and consumers must be allowed to choose GM-free products. It supports the five-year-old ban the European Union has imposed on most biotech crop imports.
