Open Letter from World Scientists to All Governments
Concerning Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- The scientists are extremely concerned about the hazards of GMOs to
biodiversity, food safety, human and animal health, and demand a
moratorium on environmental releases in accordance with the precautionary
principle.
- They are opposed to GM crops that will intensify corporate monopoly,
exacerbate inequality and prevent the essential shift to sustainable
agriculture that can provide food security and health around the world.
- They call for a ban on patents of life-forms and living processes
which threaten food security, sanction biopiracy of indigenous knowledge
and genetic resources and violate basic human rights and dignity.
- They want more support on research and development of non-corporate,
sustainable agriculture that can benefit family farmers all over the
world.
Previous versions of this letter were submitted to many governments and international forums including:
- World Trade Organization Conference in Seattle (November 30 –
Dec. 2, 1999)
- UN Biosafety Protocol Meeting in Montreal (24 – 28, Jan.
2000)
- UN Commission on Sustainable Development Conference on
Sustainable Agriculture in New York (April 24-May 5, 2000)
- UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference in Nairobi
(May 16-24, 2000)
- United States Congress (29 June, 2000)
Signed by
828 scientists from 84 different countries: