Cork Greenmap

Dear …

with regard to the upcoming vote in Brussels on the potential introduction of genetically modified pesticide producing maize and potatoes including antibiotic resistance I would urge you to take a stand on behalf of the people of Ireland, the environment, and the creation of a sustainable nationwide and global food system, to vote no on this issue.

There are numerous controversial issues involved in the GMO debate, many of which have not been sufficiently tested, discussed or been subject to sufficient controls, so firstly with regard to the Precautionary Principle it would not only be unwise, but remiss in your obligation as a representative of Ireland in Europe, and contrary to the EU legislation to protect human health and the environment, to allow this to go through uncontested.

Secondly with regard to some of the more specific issues there are a few points you should note:

• The two maize varieties that will be debated on 7 May produce their own pesticide. According to current practices these crops were only tested for 90 days for health effects whereas pesticides are tested for 2 years.
• The GM potato contains a gene that makes cells resistant to antibiotics. As I’m sure you are aware there are already serious problems regarding increasing antibiotic resistance leading to increasing incidences of ’superbugs’ and decreasing treatment options for conditions requiring the administration of antibiotics.
• The actual effects of eating genetically modified foods have also not been sufficiently studied to determine their safety, and in some cases variable effects on digestion have been recorded. e.g. see “Effect of diets containing genetically modified potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine”
  Ewen & Pusztai, 1999, Lancet . Vol. 354.
• The acceptance, continuation and promotion of methods of agriculture that are highly dependent on fossil fuels, chemical use, and multinational corporations are eroding not only our capacity for food production, but adding to issues of food security, the rights of growers and citizens, the negative exploitation of our common resources including energy, biodiversity, and to issues of climate change.
• Industry promotes GM crops as potentially feeding the world, however this has not materialised whilst ecologically sound farming models and methods show real potential. Recently, even the UN admitted that genetically engineered crops are not a solution for poverty, hunger or climate change.
• The negative experiences of farmers in Canada, America and Argentina, where GM crops were first commercialised, should be taken into serious consideration in any discussion on the use of GM crops. See Mauro IJ and McLachlan SM. “Farmer knowledge and risk analysis: postrelease evalulation of herbicide-tolerant canola in Western Canada. Risk Analysis 2008, 28″, and also the many cases of contamination of farmers fields by GM crops, and subsequent legal battles e.g. Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian farmer who recently the case against Monsanto for such contamination. http://www.percyschmeiser.com/
• And as I’m sure you are aware there are serious global concerns about the current shortages of rice in particular, (and the consequences of this, particularly for the less economically well off countries and peoples) combined with the very low levels of grain stores, climate change, food and energy security etc. The notion that widespread use of GM crops will relieve or solve these problems is overly simplistic and unrealistic at best. At worst …
• The body responsible for advising the Commission on GMOs, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) is not doing its job properly. First of all it has recognized that it lacks the methods for carrying out long term assessment of the health and environmental impacts of GMOs. Secondly, it is relying on incomplete data that is submitted by the agro-chemical industry.

These points are backed up by concerns and research from numerous Irish, European and global organisations, some of which I have listed below

- Irish Doctors Environmental Association - who object to the release and use of genetically modified organisms on the grounds of serious health concerns, increased chemical use, undermining of food security, and detrimental effects on biodiversity.
http://www.ideaireland.org/gmfood.htm

- GM Free Ireland - http://www.gmfreeireland.org/
Here I also refer you specifically to the supposed government policy, which would be totally undermined by a yes vote, i.e.
“to negotiate for the whole island of Ireland to become a GMO-free zone”, i.e. off-limits to the open release of genetically modified (GM) seeds, crops, trees, insects, crustaceans, fish and livestock. The policy is supported by Michelle Gildernew MP of Sinn Féin who is in charge of Agriculture in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Declaring the whole island of Ireland a GMO-free zone is good for business, health and the environment. It will protect the health of our livestock and human population, save our landscape from being invaded by GM superweeds, protect farmers from GM patent infringement lawsuits and loss of market share, and provide livestock and food exporters, restaurants, hotels and tourist operators with a competitive advantage by positioning Irish food with the most credible safe GM-free brand in Europe.”

- FEASTA - the foundation for the economics of sustainability, http://www.feasta.org/.

I refer you specifically to the paper by David Fleming in the second FEASTA review, available at http://www.feasta.org/documents/review2/fleming2.htm, which highlights numerous issues relating to GMOs.

- The Institute of Science in Society,

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/index.php, who have and are carrying out research on the effects of GMOs on farmers, biodiversity, health, food security etc.

- Greenpeace International

- http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering/email-the-commission-before-ma?utm_source=gpi-cyberactivist-list&utm_medium=email&utm_content=4484889&utm_campaign=ge

There are many many more.

Also the majority of European citizens oppose the use of GMOs and this opposition has been consistent for the past 10 years.

Again I urge you to take these issues into consideration, and vote No in the upcoming case.

Sincerely,

…

I am forwarding this on behalf of Greenpeace, who are asking everyone to email their representatives in the EU Commission to vote No in the upcoming case. You can check out the details on he greenpeace website (link below). I have also drafted an email to Charlie McCreevy, expanding on many of their points. Please feel free to use this text and email him yourself, and cc greenpeace (addresses at the link below also). Thanks. Alice, CGM

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering/

Dear friends,

An important vote on GMOs is due to take place on 7 May in Brussels. The agro-chemical industry wants to get EU permission to grow pesticide-producing maize plants and a GM potato that contains an antibiotic resistant gene. We want EU Commissioners to say NO when they discuss the applications on 7 May. Our petitions, postcards, emails, blog comments and actions have helped bring the EU to this historic moment. Now, this is it! Can you join us in writing directly to all the European Commissioners this week?

The agro-chemical industry is already bombarding the Commission with lobbyists and messages. Greenpeace activists and campaigners are on the ground in Brussels, too. But with your voice, and your network of friends, we can deliver a louder, more direct message to Europe’s top politicians.

We have contact details for all 27 European Commissioners, talking points you can use in your message to them, and links to further reading. The vast majority of EU citizens are opposed to GMOs, and emails direct from people who care ? in Europe, around the world ? can really work.

Thank you for taking action before 7 May and for campaigning this far with us already.

We will keep you informed!

Everyone at Greenpeace International

Parents at the Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Alainn  in Mayfield, with support from Cork Greenmap and the City Council, are taking to the streets, taking positive action to tackle traffic congestion and hazards at the school gates.

Anyone coming close to school gates at the beginning or end of a school day knows how chaotic it can be. In a hurry to drop their kids on the way to work, parents park wherever they can in the heavy traffic surrounding the school. As well as increasing the risk of accidents, the resulting congestion also increases air pollution and stress.

In an effort to alleviate some of these pressures, the school has joined forces with Cork Greenmap volunteers to organise a walking initiative based on the tried and tested idea of the ‘Walking Bus’. The “bus,” organised and supervised by parents, picks children up as it “walks” to school along a pre-arranged route. As well as being a fun, safe and active way for children to travel to school, taking part in a ‘walking bus’ can improve children’s health, increase their road safety skills, and benefit the environment.  It moves towards sustainable transport, reducing local traffic congestion and air pollution. It also benefits the local community, empowering the local children and parents to actively engage in improving their area.

Cork Greenmap is playing a supporting role in this project as part of an ongoing programme of promoting sustainable living solutions in Cork.  Following on from a series of mapping workshops with pupils and meetings with parents, Sophie Le Roch, Project Coordinator with Cork Greenmap, said: “Kids and parents alike are responsive to the idea of walking to school and are very enthusiastic about the project”.

And enthusiastic they are! Impatient to get started, organisers have decided to mark the coming Earth Day, on the 22nd of April, with a special ‘Walk to School’ event. They are inviting pupils and their parents in Mayfield and beyond to make a special effort to walk to school on the 22nd to enjoy what ‘walking parent’ Fergal Carton  describes as “this unique moment of the day where you can have a chat with your kids without the distraction of TV or the stress of driving.”

The Walking Bus in Mayfield will be the first of its kind to be run in Cork and it is hoped that many more schools and parents will follow suit. Successful walking buses are taking off around the country.  Walking your child to school is a small, simple step you can take to benefit your family’s health, your environment, and your community. So take the initiative, and get on the walking bus.

and other Indian foods with ARUN KAPIL of ‘GREEN SAFFRON’

Learn how to use them in authentic, traditional family recipes. Also pickles & chutneys,aged basmati rice, Indian breads and regional foods of India

At Crawford Gallery Cafe on Thursday 24th April at 7.30pm.

6 euro including tea, coffee, etc.

Cork City Council hosts the first Cork Bike Swap Shop on Saturday, 29th March 2008

Cork City Council will host the first Cork Bike Swap on next Saturday, 29th March 2008 at Emmet Place (near Cork Opera House), Cork city, between 2pm and 5pm.

Do you regularly find yourself stressfully hunting for parking spaces? Or do you regularly get frustrated because you’ve just missed the bus?

If so, then read on and dream of a healthier life…imagine cycling…
If you don’t have a bike or if you’ve outgrown the one languishing in your shed, then why not join the bike spring clean?

Whether you are a Sunday cyclist or a die-hard biker or you’re just eager to get-fit on a bike, you can soon avail of a unique opportunity to get a new bike.

Curious? Then, why not venture over to Emmet Place (near Cork Opera House) on next Saturday, 29th March, between 2.00pm and 5.00pm, where Cork City Council will be hosting the first Cork Bike Swap Shop.

Just bring along your old bike or the bike your kids have outgrown or simply come and see if someone else has a bike that takes your fancy.

So why not come and set free one of the most convenient and civilized conveyances known to man: the bicycle!

For more information about cycling events in Cork city please visit:
http://www.corkcity.ie/ourservices/roadstransportation/trafficdivision/cycling/

Hi all,

Our next Monthly Meeting will take place on Wednesday 2 April at 7pm in Nasc, Mary Street, Cork. We will be showing a number of short documentaries lent to us by the Latin America Solidarity Centre on the issue of water in Latin America, followed by a discussion. Water is the theme of Latin America Week 2008 which is taking place from 5 - 12 April, check out www.lasc.ie for further information.

From this month, our Monthly Meetings will take place the first Wednesday of every month at Nasc - pencil it in your diary! If you have any issues you would like raised please let us know. We will also soon begin working on our next Irish Aid funding proposal so if you have any ideas you would like explored please let us know so we can include them.

Best regards,

Ethical Development Action
www.edacork.org

Darfur rebel leader Dr Abdullahi El-Tom will visit Kinsale to speak about the ongoing conflict in Darfur.

DATE:            Friday 4th April 2008

TIME:            8.00 PM

VENUE:         The Friary Centre, Carmelite Friary, Kinsale

ADDMISSION FREE

DONATIONS TO THE PROJECT ARE WELCOME

A leading academic at the Department of Antropology at NUI Maynooth, Abdullahi El-Tom is head of training and strategic planning for the Justice and Equality Movement – JEM in Darfur. 

Dr El-Tom sits on the advisory board of Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas development division and is involved with briefing Irish Troops before their deployment to Chad as part of EUfor.

The aim of the Kinsale Peace Project is to promote peace and justice at home and overseas and to encourage Huan Rights Speakers to come to Kinsale and speak about their peace-building work in conflict areas of our world.

Light FAIRTRADE refreshments will be served on the night

For further information please visit www.kinsalepeaceproject.com

With Tom and Joanne Doorley. Lots of tips for soil preparation, choosing which vegetables to grow and ideas for tasty dishes.

Also Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds will have seeds for sale.
Crawford Art Gallery Cafe at 7.30pm
Entrance 6 euro including tea & coffee

Due to time commitments of other projects we, at Cork Greenmap, unfortunately haven’t had much time to organise walks so far this season.

But spring is here and it’s time to get out and about. So if anyone is interested in suggesting and/or leading and/or coordinating new walks in and around the Cork area in the near future that would be much appreciated.

Please feel free to contact us with your ideas at any stage and we will do our best to facilitate any outings, thanks!

The Cork Greenmap Team

Learn more about Cork Green Walks here and download our walk leaflets.

The workshop has been open to the public on Saturdays now for over two months and there has been a steady stream of interest from people wanting to maintain their own bicycles and from people looking for second hand bicycles. We also had a very successful few days out with the bulls over St. Patricks weekend.

We are now half way though our first six week bicycle maintenance course for adults. At present we are looking for numbers to start another course. Details of the course content can been seen in the projects section of our website. It’s a great opportunity to learn as we are lucky enough to have the skills of an expert bicycle mechanic at our disposal. Please get touch by phone or email if interested. We have also recently completed our first six week bicycle maintenance workshop with young people from the Togher area and the program has been endorsed by all the youth workers involved.

Two projects coming in the next two weeks of note are Kinsale Spring Fair and the Bike Swap in Cork city which will both take place on Saturday the 29th of March. The Kinsale spring fare is a family day out with local artists, food and music in Kinsale town. Pedal powered juice will be on hand and one of our bicycle mechanics to do a Dr.Bike for the day. The Bike Swap is primarily aimed at the second hand bicycle market with a Spring Clean theme associated with it. People are welcome to bring along old or disused bikes (which are in good enough condition that they can be of use to somebody else) to swap with other bargain hunters in a fun and friendly atmosphere. We will be participating with an information stand and perhaps a few bargains to boot.

Off the topic of bicycles. We are now in the final stages of building the home made wind turbine. Photos can be seen on the website. Hopefully we will run further wind turbine courses in the near future. Get in touch if interested.