Biotechnology companies are attempting a corporate take-over of the entire food chain. Farmers, especially those in developing nations, have already lost out because of subsidies and tarrifs. Meanwhile the World Trade Organisation (WTO), led by the USA, plans to bully more countries into accepting GM seeds, GM crops and unlabelled GM foods.
The WTO promotes free trade for the gain of private interests, over and above our health and the environment. Greenpeace is opposed to the globalisation that is increasing corporate power, evidenced by the agenda of the WTO.
Greenpeace urges governments to create an alternative trade system, where trade will be fair and not biased in favour of rich countries.
The possibility for developing a free-trade reality was reinforced by the resistance shown at the 2003 conference. Developing countries and hundreds of non-governmental organisations like Greenpeace, stood against the USA and the EU, opposing the imposition of trade laws which do not work towards sustainable development.
Greenpeace is in favour of a system that has human well-being and eco-systems as its priorities. The WTO this year continually stalled on these issues, which are crucial to global sustainable development.
We are therefore calling on governments to re-assess the rules of the current international trade system so that sustainable development accross the world can be achieved.
The World Trade Organisation
Article tagged as: cancun, GM, GM food, press releases, WTO
