south african faith communities environment institute                                                                                  Coordinator: Bishop Geoff Davies                                                                                              7 Upper Quarterdeck Road                                                                                          Kalk Bay, 7975  South Africa                Telefax: (++27) 021 788 6591

 Email: geoff.davies@safcei.org.za

 June 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Genetically Modified Organisms

We write to you from the South African Council of Churches and the SA Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) about genetically modified food. We are concerned about this technology for the following reasons: 

1. The Precautionary Principle is not being applied: The precautionary principle states that scientific discoveries should not be implemented until the outcomes have been thoroughly tested. Humans have been selectively breeding crops and animals for millennia. Genetic modification or engineering is a whole new development. Geneticists are taking a gene from one species and placing it in another unrelated species in a way that would not occur in nature. The consequences of their actions are not fully known. Some would say that they are playing God. Tests have not been conducted on humans but some tests on rats have shown extremely disturbing results.

2. Sustainable agriculture: Most of Africa feeds itself through small-scale, multi-crop subsistence farming.  Patented genetically modified seed, which needs to be bought anew each year, suits the large scale mono-crop commercial farmer who relies on high-capital, high-energy, high-tech input.  However, for centuries, Africa has relied on saving and sharing seeds from the previous year. This cannot happen when using genetically modified seed.

 Apart from that, there is great need to develop labour intensive, organic farming.  We cannot continue the agri-business style of farming which uses vast quantities of oil for energy, fertiliser and pesticide.  If we can keep our crops GMO free, we are in a far better position to reach markets in Europe which have come out strongly against GM food. 

3. Lack of information: The National Department of Agriculture had decided that GM food was safe and should therefore be used.  South Africa is the only country in the world where genetically modified crops are used for the staple food, maize. GM Soya is also being extensively planted and used in our food.  However, the majority of the South African public is unaware of this.  GM food at present, is not required to be labelled.  We believe we have a right to know what we are eating.

 we are therefore asking faith-based communities to join in an approach to the retailers of South Africa to make available in their shops a list of foods that are GM free. This means that the South African public would have the choice of selecting food that they know has not been contaminated with GM crops.

We are asking if you would kindly agree to endorse this approach to the retailers to give us the right to know what we are eating and whether it is free of genetically modified organisms. 

 We also ask you to inform your members about the issues of GM food. We enclose a PACSA Bulletin to give you further information.  There is also much information on the South African Freeze Alliance on Genetic Engineering (SAFeAGE) Website at: www.safeage.org.

 If you agree, please return the attached form by fax or email (see details on the form) and we will ask the retailers to support us in our request to list food that is GM free.

 We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

 Yours sincerely,

 Bishop Geoff Davies
Coordinator          
Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute.                  

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