Vancouver Greens want to ban GMO plants and seeds

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      The Vancouver Greens want to see the city ban the use of genetically modified plants and seeds.

      That proposal is one of the ideas outlined in the party’s election platform, and it’s a policy that Green councillor Adriane Carr says is critical for a city declaring itself as green.

      “I’ve tracked this issue for a number of years and recognized that there is a real link, obviously, between GMOs and the impacts that they have on wildlife,” Carr told the Straight by phone. “In particular, what’s come out in the last few years more solidly is the incredible impact that GMOs have on bees, and bees, of course, are linked to the survival of the majority of food plants that we rely on.

      “I think we just have to be ultra-cautious in this,” she added. “In fact, we can’t afford not to be.”

      Carr, who is seeking reelection in November after becoming Vancouver's first Green councillor in 2011, was involved in efforts to declare Powell River a genetically engineered–free zone—the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement such a ban.

      Since then, 14 other municipalities have followed suit, including Richmond and Saanich in 2012 and North Vancouver in 2013.

      Last year, the Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution urging the B.C. government to legislate the prohibition of importing, exporting, and growing genetically modified plants and seeds, and raising genetically engineered animals.

      In its election platform, the Coalition of Progressive Electors is vowing to expand the city’s ethical purchasing policy to include a ban on genetically modified products.

      Carr said she’s concerned that people might unwittingly grow a GMO product in their gardens without knowing the potential impacts.

      “I think that’s where government has to set policy, so that people are clear about the behaviour that helps the environment and behaviour that harms the environment, and growing GMO crops does harm the environment,” she said.

      The councillor also wants the city to press senior governments for labelling on GMO products.

      “The concern around GMO crops largely, I think, comes to the fore with citizens who are very concerned around what they put into their bodies, and that they do not want genetically modified organisms as part of their food sources,” Carr said.

      Vesanto Melina, a registered dietitian and coauthor of books including Becoming Vegan: Express Edition, views the lack of labelling as “a very serious problem”. She also noted that it hasn't been possible to test GMOs on humans for extended periods of time.

      “Some of these experiments that we’re doing probably are resulting in health problems and we just don’t know at this point,” she told the Straight by phone.

      “They certainly could be allergies, because the body’s just not used to some new substance going in. They could be reactions that maybe don’t involve the immune system exactly as an allergy does, but it’s some other kind of reaction.”

      Locally, the Vancouver Food Policy Council, a city-council advisory group, has been looking into steps that could be taken in relation to GMO regulation.

      Council member Trish Kelly said that although placing a ban on GMOs is outside the city’s jurisdiction, potential actions include ensuring that the park board doesn’t purchase GMO fruit trees, and that community gardeners aren’t using GMO seeds.

      She added that education is another major component. Her advisory group is hoping that city council will pass a proclamation in support of non-GMO Month in October to advocate for more public awareness about genetically modified products.

      “I really respect all of the municipalities that have taken the time to pass the resolution to say that they are now G.E.–free zones, but I want to make sure that what we work on doesn’t give the public the impression that it’s taken care of,” she told the Straight by phone.

      “This is a really complex issue and really has to do with the food that we’re buying and that often is coming in from outside of our growing region....So that’s why I think the education element is so important, and it’s a place where it’s not a lot of effort for the city to support, and yet it really can be powerful for community groups to have that sort of amplification of their efforts.”

      Comments

      15 Comments

      Boris Moris

      Sep 24, 2014 at 2:45pm

      The sentiment is sound but coming from Carr, and her Green Party, it is just another empty promise. BC has an extreme right wing government who actually paid for ads endorsing a Green candidate in the last provincial election. Locally, Carr and her team are endorsed by NPA operative (in TEAM drag), Bill McCreery.
      The LAST thing a right wing government, federal or provincial, will do is ban GMO seeds.

      This is just more rhetoric from a compromised party whose presence on the ballot has helped right wing parties achieve majorities which have then allowed them to gut environmental oversight.

      Boris Delores

      Sep 24, 2014 at 4:08pm

      GMO crops kill bees. Without bees we're dead. This is the only Party thinking about what a "greenest city" really looks like. She's got my vote.

      mooha

      Sep 24, 2014 at 10:26pm

      I think Adrian has come down with Moonbean-itis

      Lovely sentiment, but just how many GMO plants and seeds are grown in Vancouver? Has she considered the tons of pesticides that would otherwise be used? How many bees die from them? (btw Boris I completely agree with you, without bees, we're toast)

      Yet another Municipal Politician fretting and trying to make political hay (pun?) about something that is outside of her purview.

      Stick to the issues that are your responsibilities please!

      Arthur Vandelay

      Sep 25, 2014 at 5:41am

      Since when is regulating GMOs a civic responsibility? If Ms. Carr wishes to do something about them, she should run for whatever level of government has that responsibility. It's certainly not Vancouver civic council.

      On densification in Vancouver, an actual responsibility of hers, Ms. Carr has consistently taken the anti-green side and voted against these measures. And why? The anti-density crowd screams the loudest, so Ms. Carr's name gets amplified as the only one who "listens". Ms. Carr will throw any cause under the bus to advance the cause of Ms. Carr.

      I most certainly will not be voting for Ms. Carr.

      OMG

      Sep 25, 2014 at 7:30am

      This is why I vote Green. They may never have much power but at least they make an effort in the right direction.

      Robert Wager

      Sep 25, 2014 at 8:06am

      A few points;
      First GE crops do not harm bees. in fact the use of Bt crops allow farmers to greatly reduce broad spectrum insecticides so these crops help bees.

      Second there is no threat to local environment from GE crops. This is the opinion of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority when asked about a ban a couple years back:

      “There is no evidence that Health Canada approved GE foods and food crops are any less safe for human health than non-GE varieties…There is no public health reason for a ban on genetically engineered trees, plants and crops as proposed by the resolution to Council.”
      VCHA 2012

      the same opinion of the US National Academy of Science report-Imapct of GE crops on Farm Sustainability in the US:

      "In general, the committee finds that genetic-engineering technology has produced substantial net environmental and economic benefits to U.S. farmers compared with non-GE crops in conventional agriculture."

      and the European national academies of Science report-Planting the Future:

      "There is compelling evidence that GM crops can contribute to sustainable development goals with benefits to farmers, consumers, the environment and the economy."

      RICKSHAWLARRY

      Sep 25, 2014 at 9:03am

      GMO plants are dangerous not mostly due to the change in the plant being detrimental to our health or our environment directly. They allow the use of pesticides and herbicides that are the greater concern. Allowing GMO plants based on their specific toxicity is not the main issue but how we operate when we do have them is more important.

      Guest

      Sep 25, 2014 at 10:48am

      Robert Wager... you must be a shill for Monsanto.
      GMO crops are destroying the planet and the bees.they are not yielding bigger crops, GMO crops are not saving the planet. Any studies that have been done were done and payed for by Monsanto.
      All GMO needs to be banned...fortunatly the world is waking up to this garbage.

      Siminov

      Sep 25, 2014 at 1:59pm

      Cancer patients might be upset if they can't get treatment that comes from GMOs.

      McGeeT

      Sep 25, 2014 at 2:09pm

      Glad the Greens are bringing attention to this issue. Their municipal platform looks to be the most substantial of any of the parties. They have my vote.