2-Plants: Diocese of Marbel (Philippines) launches Bt corn study

[GENET <coordination@genet-info.org>]

                                  PART I
-------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  Church eyes impact study on Bt corn
SOURCE: Sun Star, Philippines, by Bong S. Sarmiento
        http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2005/06/22/news/
church.eyes.impact.study.on.bt.corn.html
DATE:   22 Jun 2005

------------------- archive: http://www.genet-info.org/ -------------------


Church eyes impact study on Bt corn

KORONADAL CITY -- Maintaining the local Catholic Church's vehement
opposition to the controversial bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, a
religious leader recently disclosed plans to come up with a survey to
determine the transgenic plant's economic contribution to farmers using it.

Fr. Romeo Catedral, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese
of Marbel, said they hoped to launch the survey in the next few months
and release the results before the end of the year.

"Whatever the outcome, we would make the results available to the
public," he said.

Catedral said the survey will zero in if Bt corn really yielded higher
production, as touted by seed giant Monsanto, the company granted license
by the government in 2002 to commercially propagate the genetic crop in
the country.

Catedral said the social action centers of the 24 parishes in the diocese
would be meeting before the end of this month to discuss the survey and
other social matters.

Catedral assured farmers who will participate in the survey that their
identities would remain confidential.

The priest revealed plans to pursue a survey in the diocese in the wake
of a recent Greenpeace-Southeast Asia statement that a Filipino farmer in
Naujan, Oriental Mindoro failed to earn substantially from planting Bt corn.

Catedral said the diocese has not wavered in its stance against Bt corn,
saying that Church workers have been continuously educating the flock
even at the level of the Basic Ecclesiastical Communities.

He maintained there is still no worldwide scientific consensus on the
safety of Bt corn to human health and the environment.


                                  PART II
-------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  Church to oppose Bt corn despite Vatican's catechism
SOURCE: Sun Star, Philippines, by Bong S. Sarmiento
        http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2005/02/07/bus/
church.to.oppose.bt.corn.despite.vatican.s.catechism.html
DATE:   7 Feb 2005

------------------- archive: http://www.genet-info.org/ -------------------


Church to oppose Bt corn despite Vatican's catechism

KORONADAL CITY -- Despite claims of groups favoring genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) that Vatican has "endorsed" the propagation of
transgenic crops, Catholic leaders here vowed to continue opposing the
controversial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn.

Fr. Romeo Catedral, director of the Social Action Center (SAC) in the
Diocese of Marbel, said they will not waver in their stance even with the
release of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, the
official catechism approved by the Holy See.

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino and Bishop Gian Paolo Crepaldi of the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace issued the compendium last year,
which the pro-Bt corn groups in the country used some portions to promote
the transgenic crop.

Dr. Benigno Peczon, president of the Biotechnology Coalition of the
Philippines, asserted during a seminar last week in Alabel, Sarangani,
that the Vatican stand on biotechnology is a big booster "in terms of
their efforts in pushing the acceptability of Bt corn use in the country."

"But even without it, Bt corn is really safe. The transgenic plant will
not be allowed for commercialization in the country, or around the world,
if it has not gone rigorous safety tests," Peczon said.

Fr. Catedral however insisted there is still no worldwide overwhelming
scientific consensus on the safety of Bt corn to human health and the
environment.

Catedral nevertheless conceded that man has the right to tinker with
nature but pointed out the need to observe the precautionary principle.

"At the rate Bt corn is propagated, they make experiments out of human
beings. What if 10 years from now Bt corn would be discovered to be
causing hazards to human health and the environment? They should have
ensured its safety first," Catedral said last week.

Catedral suggested the Bt corn advocates in the country are apparently
misleading the public because they pointed out only a portion of the
compendium favorable to their cause.

Father Romeo Buenaobra, vicar general of the Diocese of Marbel, also said
the compendium would not sway the stance of the diocese against Bt corn
until there is an absolute scientific assurance of the transgenic crop's
safety to human health and the environment.

The Diocese of Marbel, headed by Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, has been
hotbed of Bt corn opposition in the country.




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