GMO THREAT TO POLAND -- ICPPC CALLS FOR HELP

On September 8th 2004 the European Commission decided to allow seventeen varieties of a genetically modified (GM) maize onto the European common catalogue of seeds. This is an unprecedented action as, up until now, no GM seeds have been allowed on the common catalogue. It opens the door for GM crops to be grown on a large scale throughout Europe. ICPPC has sent a protest letter to the Polish Government condemning this action and proposing instead to create a GMO free Poland.

The situation is very urgent, as there are real fears that the Polish countryside will be targeted by Monsanto and other multinational GM seed corporations. The Polish government is not willing to act independently to block the sale and planting of these seeds and Polish consumers and farmers remain largely unaware of the threat posed by GM foods and food production. Much of the media appears to be constrained from actively reporting or researching issues surrounding GM products and many Polish farmers are, as yet, unfamiliar with the arguments commonly aired in other countries.

ICPPC therefore decided, in July, to launch a national campaign to highlight the dangers of GMO's in the Polish countryside and to press for as many areas of Poland as possible to be declared GMO Free Zones (www.gmo.icppc.pl). So far we have 60 farms around Poland and one Province, Podkarpackie, with a population of just over 2 million (Polish total 39 million) declaring themselves to be GMO free zones.

There is growing interest in many parts of the country but far more needs to be done. Much of the Polish countryside is exceptionally rich in biodiversity - a virtual seed bank in its own right - and it is crucial that this rich source should not be contaminated. It is equally crucial that farmers and consumers should be aware of the threat to both the environment and human health that GMO's carry.

Because the first GMO seeds can be planted on Polish fields already this spring, ICPPC is urgently calling for help to prevent this happening - in our common interest.

You can lend vital support to this campaign by sending:
1. Financial support: which will be used by us to continue our anti-GMO campaign. To be sent direct to ICPPC's account 37 1160 2202 0000 0000 2382
9934, SWIFT code: BIGBPLPWXXX, account owner: Fundacja ICPPC, 34-146 Stryszow. Or you can send us money by www.moneybookers.com, but first send
us an e-mail with the amount you wish to support our campaign to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2. A letter of congratulation and support to the first GMO Province on the name of the local authorities of Podkarpackie Province, Senator Kazimierz Jaworski and ICPPC. Please send letter by: fax ++48 33 8797114 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

3. A letter expressing readiness to cooperate with Podkarpackie Province. Podkarpackie is located in South-East Poland and is a very beautiful and traditional agricultural area. Please send letter by: fax ++48 33 8797114 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you for any help you can provide,

With kind regards,
Jadwiga Lopata and Julian Rose,
ICPPC Directors

=================
ICPPC - International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside, Miedzynarodowa Koalicja dla Ochrony Polskiej Wsi 34-146 Stryszów 156, Poland tel./fax +48 33 8797114 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,
www.icppc.pl, www.eko-cel.pl