March Against Monsanto 2016

It's time to march again. Join us on Saturday, 21st May 2016 in Valletta at 10:00 am.  March Against Monsanto is a global call to action aimed at informing the public, calling into question long-term health risks of  Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) and the chemicals used such as Glyphosate, Malta should vote NO for Glyphosate. The European Parliament voted last month to stop the EU approve "probably carcinogenic" glyphosate for most uses. Glyphosate weedkillers like Roundup should be completely banned, but the European Commission still seems determined to put Monsanto's interests before public health concerns. In March, the Netherlands joined France, Sweden, and Italy to oppose a new 15-year licence for glyphosate. Undeterred, the European Commission has tweaked the glyphosate license proposal a little to win over the Netherlands. We need to come together now to make sure the government stands up to the agrochemical lobby and the Commission. Concerns about the harm of the world's most popular weedkiller are reaching a breaking point. Which means that the vote will be a close one, and "swing vote".    Tell the Maltese government to use its decisive vote to keep glyphosate out of Europe. Last month, MEPs backed a ban of glyphosate not only for hobby gardeners and in green spaces like parks and playgrounds, but also in agriculture, where crop diversification and mechanical means are sufficient for the necessary weed control. They also called for strict limits on pre-harvest applications - -- proof that lawmakers are coming to understand the dangers of Monsanto’s favorite pesticide.  Yet, the Commission is ploughing ahead regardless – while experts say we need an outright ban in order to protect against contamination of our food, water, and soil.

Locally, a group of concerned citizens and a number of NGOs have come together to form the Clean Food Movement (CFM). The movement, though still very young, has already held a number of activities to fulfill its mission.  The movement’s mission is to disseminate information and educate consumers and stakeholders on food issues. The movement’s principles are based on three very simple terms:  Clean, Healthy, Care. The movement will lobby for: •    Food that meets high quality and safety standards devoid of chemicals, clean from additives, least processed and does not harm human health •    Food production and consumption that treat animals humanely •    Food production and consumption that protects the environment •    Food with accessible prices for consumers and fair conditions and pay for producers Food production over the years has become dominated by a few multinational players that control the supply chain, from seed to fork!  Such dependence and dominance by these players is affecting our right to food that is clean and healthy.  We demand food that is free from patent rights!. Industrialised food has shifted the value of food from the farmer to the industrialist.  Today, it is a fact that for every 100 cents we spend on food, it is only 15 cents that are reaching the real producer of the food, which is the farmer. The movement will also do whatever is within its power to lobby against the further spread of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).  Besides the potential health effects, GMOs are not ethical.  What was promised to solve the world food hunger has resulted in more widespread famine as fewer companies got hold of the food supplies, even the basic right to seeds.  Farmers that are trapped into the GMO scam will lose their rights to harvesting seeds for their next crop and will have no option but to pay the patent rights on the common good. We will not stand for cronyism. We will not stand for poison. That’s why we March Against Monsanto