Taiwan Church News

3300 Edition

May 25 - 31, 2015

Church Ministry

Protesting Monsanto GM Produce, Citizen Groups Urge Government To Shake Up On Food Security

Reported by Simon Lin

On May 23, responding a globally synchronized "Anti-Monsanto" parade, a protesting assembly of citizens and civil groups like Homemakers United Foundation(HUF) and NO GMO(Genetics Modification Organisms) showed up at Taichung City's Citizen Plaza with street drama and short speeches, warning the public about the risk of genetics modification organisms (GM Foods) and urging the government to be alert on food security issues.

Chang Ming-chun, Deputy Director of HUF's Taichung Branch Office, was quite wary about current Taiwan's voluminous consumption of soybeans. Because 90% of these consumed soybeans were GM products imported from overseas corporations. And Monsanto Agri-Biological Corporation is the key techniques supplier of these GM foods and produce.

The GM soybean does not only consist of herbicide and pesticide, the genetically modified organism could even cause the cancer, tumor and genetic mutation in the laboratory animals. Regarding 20% increase of children asthma and allergic syndrome from 1996 up to now, Academy of American Pediatrics also strongly doubts this phenomenon is positively related to the prevalent acceptance of GM foods, Chang said.

Chang expressed, a non-GM soybean produce in EU countries has to strictly comply with the requirement: percentage of GM ingredients within the soybean products has to be under 0.9%! Yet, Taiwan's thresh hold on GM's ingredient percentage is too loose to protect our basic health, as the government could only agree to reduce GM ingredients from original 5% to 3% after so many years of warning and protests. "Is the life of the Taiwanese much more cheaper than other countries'?", Chang asked in a fury.

Translated by Peter Wolfe