Pamayanan: STATEMENT OF THE ANTI-BT CORN HUNGER STRIKERS (May 20, 2003)

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5/20/2003

STATEMENT OF THE ANTI-BT CORN HUNGER STRIKERS (May 20, 2003)

We set up camp in front of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and began our hunger strike against Bt corn on April 22, 2003. This is our 29th day. Through hunger, polluted air, lack of sleep, and summer heat and rain, and despite media-hugging events like the Iraq War, the SARS scare, and the Mindanao conflict, we managed to thrust the GMO-Bt corn issue into the national limelight and to reach the minds of the media and the public.

Our non-violent action inspired opposition to GMO crops everywhere and drew widespread support from many sectors, in many parts of the country and of the world.

Yet, the grip of the genetic engineering lobby on our government policy and our bureaucrats remained tight and.secure, with government officials more scared of legal action by Monsanto than the wrath of Filipino farmers and consumers.

Last weekend, the two officials in a position to order a moratorium ˆPresident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and DA Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., both of whom refused a final dialog with us -- have flown off to the U.S., escaping public pressure on this extremely urgent issue.

Reports have also come in that Monsanto has been quietly distributing the Bt corn seeds to corn plantation owners who have started planting them. With this development, to stop the subsequent irreversible contamination by the Bt poison gene of our local corn varieties will now take more than a hunger strike and a moratorium on seed distribution.

We now have to go to every locality to warn local governments and inform farmers‚ groups themselves.

We have done everything humanly possible to stop these poisoned seeds. We have not failed. The Macapagal-Arroyo government has failed us.

We have therefore decided to end our fast so that we can join the efforts to control Bt corn contamination and to stop further genetic contamination by other GMO crops.

We dedicate our 29 days of sacrifice to all farmers in the country. Every night, many farmers and their families go to bed hungry. Hunger is terrible. To keep hungry those who produce food for all is the height of injustice.

To conclude our hunger strike, the nine hunger strikers who started on April 22 and the second batch who joined on May 7-9 will do a final One-day Indignation Fast Against the Macapagal-Arroyo government and Monsanto. It is their unholy alliance which spread the Bt corn seeds throughout the country. We will lift our fast and take a sip of organic corn soup on May 21 at noon, on our 30th day of hunger strike.

We call on all our supporters throughout the country and the world to join us and go on a one-day indignation fast yourselves. Let this joint fast seal our common commitment to carry on the fight, until victory is at hand.

(Sgd.) Hunger strikers: Luisita Esmao, Roberto Verzola, Arma Bertuso, Mark Cervantes, Anne Larracas, Gigie Cruz, Antonio Claparols, Rei Panaligan, Fr. Robert Reyes, Andrew Haralam, Manny Onalan.

PAMAYANAN