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Giant Thanksgiving Card Urges US to Go Cold Turkey on GM
24 November 2004
A giant turkey-shaped "card", feathered with the protests of thousands of people from the UK, was delivered to the US Embassy on Wednesday, 24th November to highlight the ongoing dispute between the US and EU over genetically modified (GM) food and crops. But Embassy staff refused to take the card, which was delivered for Thanksgiving (Thurs 25th), the traditional US celebration of food, family and freedom.
Friends of the Earth had hoped to deliver the card to the charge d'affaires (acting in the absence of an Ambassador), to urge the US Government to withdraw their World Trade Organisation complaint about GM food.
The United States, with Argentina and Canada, launched a formal WTO complaint, accusing the European Union of blocking trade in GM crops and foods. Friends of the Earth believes that consumer choice over GM food is more important than WTO policies on market access.
Friends of the Earth's Head of Trade Campaign Eve Mitchell said:
"The US Government should not be trying to force GM food on to Europe's dinner plates. Thanksgiving is a traditional celebration of food and freedom and we want the US to recognise that people in Europe should have the freedom to choose what they eat."
Friends of the Earth has criticised the current trade negotiating process because the resulting trade rules benefit business at the expense of people and the environment.
Eve Mitchell continued:
"The GM case is shows how the interests of big business are being put before the needs of people and the environment. We want to see a more democratic and accountable trade negotiating process, with greater transparency for all the interests involved."
Notes
Pictures of the turkey card outside the US Embassy in London are available here: www.idspicturedesk.com/picturedesk/I?k=MaG77WtL22-91526&u=tgF
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
