ACDP Parliamentary newsletter - 10 October 2003

In this issue:

1. GM foods need more research
2. Parody of the Lord's Prayer has ACDP fuming
3. Christian Democrat magazines available

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1. Genetically modified foods need more research

In response to a letter criticising ACDP MP Kent Durr's speech on genetically modified food, Mr Durr replied with this letter:

The writer of the letter on GM food (The Argus, 23 September; Die Burger 30 September, Landbou Weekblad) seems to be on a personal crusade to protect the use of genetically engineered food. Perhaps he has an investment in the industry?

Mr Lombard accuses me of ignorance, giving a long list of authorities he claims support his views, but there are however, two sides to this story, and I am afraid this matter is not as simple and settled and he imagines.

I cautioned that more research is needed on the long-term effects of GM foods on health and the environment as well as the effect on our market for agricultural products in the EU.

In the end, consumers will decide on what extent they will consume or boycott GM foods, as the latest edition of the UK Mail illustrates. Under the heading 'Frankenstein Food Revolt', an article in the newspaper reported the findings of the GM National Enquiry, a UK government-funded study that followed a year of debate involving hundreds of public meetings and 37 000 questionnaires. Independent groups were also set up across the country to assess the issue.

The results of this massive survey revealed that:
? 93% agreed that not enough is known about the long-term health effects of GM Foods (5% disagreed) ? 85% agreed that GM crops would mainly benefit producers and not ordinary people (8% disagreed) ? 91% agreed that there are potential negative effects of GM crops on the environment (7% disagreed) ? 93% agreed that GM technology is driven more by profit than public interest (6% disagreed) ? 86% indicated that they would not eat GM foods (8% said they would not) ? 84% believed that GM is an unacceptable interference with nature (10%
disagreed)

The report states that there is further concern about GM food's threat the environment wildlife and biodiversity through 'super-bugs' and 'super-weeds' and that the debate has raised profound anxieties about the implications of GM for mankind as a while, with many arguments focussing on GM's interference with creation.

This survey was conducted in South Africa's principle agricultural market in Europe, while similar debates are also raging in Germany, Scandinavia and France. South Africa would be irresponsible not to take this debate seriously, and we, as Parliamentarians, have a duty to allow for balanced debate and not to succumb to bully-boy steamroller tactics from a person who seems to have an investment in the industry.

The reality is that producers are becoming worried about losing markets and losing choice over what they can produce, while consumers demand to know precisely what they are consuming, which is why the world trend is towards producing natural and organic foods.

To support my call for caution and further research on GE foods, may I also quote a few lines from the Globe and Mail, Ottawa, Canada of 28 August 2003:

'Growing consumer anxiety over genetically engineered food threatens to side-swipe Canada's multi-billion dollar agri-food industry. Consumers are becoming more worried that they can't distinguish between GE and non-GE products.

"The worry has already cost canola producers export markets in Europe. Since the European Union began restricting GE imports in 1998, Canada's annual sales of canola to Europe have dwindled to about $1.5 million a year from $1.85 million.'

The reality is that producers are becoming worried about losing markets and losing choice over what they can produce and consumers like to know precisely what it is they are consuming, in our world where the trend is to natural and organic foods.

South Africa is a diverse country with a host of botanical species and hot spots that are vulnerable and our capacity for agricultural research in is limited. We need to be clear on any possible knock-on effects of genetically modified plants on our environment, which is already under stress, not the least of which is due to alien species.

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2. Parody of the Lord's Prayer has ACDP fuming

The following article appeared in the Cape Times/Star/Pretoria News on October 1, 2003:

A storm is brewing over a poem written by a pupil in honour of Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi's birthday, which parodies the Lord's Prayer.

African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe said yesterday that the poem was "disgusting" and Ramatlhodi was accepting praise reserved for God. He said King Herod in the Bible was eaten by worms for receiving praise that elevated him to the status of God. The poem was similarly raising Ramatlhodi to a position he did not deserve.

"If (Ramatlhodi) wants to enjoy the rest of his life, he must rebuke the young man and say he will not take what does not belong to him. Everlasting life for ever and ever belongs to God - not to the premier of any province," Meshoe said.

The offending poem, written by pupil Tumi Makudubela from a Limpopo school for the premier's 48th birthday, reads:

"Our premier, who art in the parliament. Hallowed be thy government. Thy constitution come. Thy will be done in rural areas as it is done in urban areas.

"Give us each day our Masakhane and Democracy, and forgive us our impatience as we forgave the boers for apartheid. And lead us not into poverty, for thine is democracy, the power and the rules. For ever and ever. Limpopo."

Meshoe said the poem was taking the Lord's name in vain, and undermined Christianity.

But the premier's spokesman Charlie Nkadimeng said opposition parties were making "an issue out of nothing". The poem was a mere piece of artistic work and the learner did not think that his views might be interpreted in a different manner. Asked if they would initiate action against the publication's editor, Nkadimeng said : "That is utter rubbish."

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3. Christian Democrat magazines available

The ACDP's own magazine, The Christian Democrat have at last been printed and distributed around the country.

We are very excited that this magazine could once again be produced, as it is a powerful tool for the promotion of the ACDP and sharing what the party is accomplishing. This new edition has a fresh new look and is packed with news about the controversial Religion in Education policy, lowering of the age of sexual consent, changes in the political landscape as a result of the floor crossing legislation in addition to report-backs on the great work being done by the ACDP in the community.

Support for the ACDP is growing throughout the country and interviews with the ACDP's newest MPs Adriaan Blaas and Pauline Cupido offer insight into why they chose to cross the floor to the ACDP. A report on how floor crossing affected KwaZulu Natal explains how ACDP MPL Jo-Ann Downs holds the key position in that province.

At 20 pages of full colour articles and photographs, the magazine is available from your provincial offices.

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