Love for Life

MAdGE - Mothers Against Genetic Engineering

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Jack, this weeks digest...

Thursday 31st January 2008 - Digest No. #21

1. MADGE event – meet Canadian farmers, Melbourne, Fri 8th Feb

2. Welcome Brumby back – Parliament House Tues 5th

3. Week of local GE free action: 2-9th February

4. MADGE leaflet – 10 rabbits fed GM canola for 4 days. Is this a suitable
safety test? If you eat, this is essential reading

5. MADGE and the Health Ministers

From last week but still current:

6. Don’t forget to have your say on GM food labelling by 6 th Feb

7. Sustainable Living Festival 16th February in Fed Square

8. Percy Schmeiser Tour, 19th- 28th February

9. VFF GM Information Forums – 19th- 21st Feb

Breaking News

Contact Anne Nunn by Friday 1st Feb to get in The Australian. The True Food Network and Greenpeace are sending an open letter about GM canola to the Premiers of Victoria, NSW and SA. It will be printed in the “early general news” pages of The Australian on Thursday 7th Feb. MADGE will be a signatory to the letter. If you want to add your name, company or group to the letter contact Anne Nunn on 0412 355 572 or anne.nunn @ au.greenpeace.org

1. Madge Event
MADGE and Geneethics are hosting an Open Forum in Melbourne, Friday 8th
,Feb, 6-8pm ,Main Meeting Room, 60L Building, 60 Leicester St, Carlton

Hear Canadian farmers, Terry Boehm, Vice President of the Canadian National
Farmers Union and Arnold Taylor, National President of the Canadian Organic
Growers Association, tell what life after GM canola is really like. Ring
Gene Ethics 1300 133 868 for details.

The public events of Terry and Arnold’s tour are:

* Sydney, NSW 4-5th Feb Ring Teri 0419 697 515

* Corowa, NSW, Corowa RSL, 7th Feb, 7.30pm Dick & Gai 02 6035 9428

* Marong (near Bendigo ) Marong Hall, High St , 7th Feb, 7pm Ring Helen 03 5435 2216

* Penola, SA Rymill Hall 10th Feb, 2pm Ring Geoffrey 0353866261 or 0428 316 901

* Adelaide, SA, 12th Feb Ring Teri on 0419 697 515

* East Perth, WA , City Farm, 13th Feb 7.30-9.30 AM Ring Tracey 0402 137 376

* Williams, WA, RSL Hall, 14th Feb, 7.30-9.30 AM Ring Maggie 0412 836 777

Full details of the tour

2. Welcome Brumby Back

Parliament sits for the first time for 2008 on Tuesday 5th Feb. Brumby
will give his “State of the Union” address at 3pm. Many people who are
unhappy with the State Government’s recent decisions will be there to greet
him. MADGE will be on the steps of Parliament House from 12pm. We will also
hand out our new leaflet. If you can join us we would love to see you there.

Ring Fran 0401 407 944

3. Week of local GE free action

Week of local action to stay GM free 2nd-9th Feb
Local GM-free groups are organising information stalls in Warrnambool, the
Grampians, Casterton, Koonwarra and more are being organised. Successful
meetings this week in Leongatha and Hurstbridge show concern is mounting at
the massive experiment with our food and crops.

Petitions to call on your council to declare itself GM Free are downloadable
from the MADGE website. Now is the time to tell your politicians that the GM ban must be extended - see our Local, State and Federal letters and new leaflet on the website for ideas. A handwritten letter is even better!

4. MADGE leaflet

The MADGE leaflet is an easy to read snapshot of GM canola and the
incredibly minimal feeding trials that have been done.

The canola oil we eat has had no feeding trials done. The component fed to
animals, canola seed and meal, has been tested by the biotech companies
themselves. Even when unhealthy liver weight gains of 12-16% were found in
rats fed GM canola for 4 weeks, it was ignored by regulators. No follow up
tests were required.

The leaflet can be downloaded in Black and White or Colour format. When
printing, print out the 2 pages separately. They can then be double-sided
photocopied and folded into 3 to create an eye-catching leaflet.

If you want printed copies, please contact MADGE

Please feel free to send them to councils, politicians, friends, neighbours,
in fact anyone and everyone.

The references for this leaflet are not listed due to lack of space. However
if you wish to know where the information came from email i...@madge.org.au
The references will be loaded onto the site when time allows.

5. MADGE and the Health Ministers

MADGE sent a letters to the State Health Ministers and the new Federal
Health Minister. They are meeting today – 31 st Jan - in Melbourne. The
letter gives details of the inadequate testing and asks for measures
to protect the public. If you want more details on GM canola then read this
letter. It may give you ideas on what to write to your Local, State and
Federal politicians.

6. Comment on labelling of GM foods to FSANZ by 6th Feb

Food Standards Australia NZ asked for submissions on labelling for 2 foods
derived from GM cotton and one from GM corn. The deadline for submissions is
6th February. Please consider making a submission. Even a simple letter
makes a difference. Details from www.foodstandards.gov.au

7. Sustainable Living Festival in Federation Square

Fran Murrell from MADGE and Bob Phelps from Gene Ethics will talk from 4-5 pm on Saturday 16th Feb
in the Speakers Tent.

8. Percy Schmeiser Tour, organised by Slow Food Victoria

Percy Schmeiser is the Canadian canola farmer sued by Monsanto after GM
canola polluted his crop. He is touring Victoria and should not be missed :

TUES 19th Feb - Forum in Horsham. 1 pm at the Wesley Performing Arts
Centre. Speakers joining Percy on the panel will be Dr. Judy Carman, Tammy
Lobato MP, Ms Michiyo Koketsu,from the Japanese Consumer Co-ops and MADGE
More info Jane 0412 077630

FRI 22nd Feb "Fast, Slow, Global, Local" Percy Schmeiser will join Greg
Critser and Helena Norberg Hodge at BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne .
Free. 7 to 9 pm

SUN 24th Feb "Farmers Take Back the Land" Barbara Burstyn, Helena Norberg
Hodge and Percy Schmeiser explore the perils of farmers losing control of
the land. at BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne . Free. 12.00 to 1.30 pm
MON 25th Feb Percy introduces "The Future of Food" film at ACMI 6.30 pm

TUES 26th Feb Percy introduces "The Future of Food" at Sale Cinema 6.30 pm with Q and A
More info: Robbie Aitken 0418 502571

9. GM Information Forums

The Victorian Farmers Federation in conjunction with DAFF National
Biotechnology Strategy are holding GM Information Forums at the following
locations:

* Shepparton - Feb 19th, 6pm
* Swan Hill - Feb 20th, 6pm
* Murtoa Feb 21, 12.30pm

Happy eating,
Love Madge