Following are Two Statements on Food Safety and Genetically Modified/Engineered Organisms (GMOs) :

1. International Columban JPIC Meeting Manila - TRIPs Campaign Update 9-13 December 2005 and the

2. International Conference on SAFE FOOD: YOUR HUMAN RIGHT
Dec. 9 – 10, 2005 at Miriam College, Quezon City, Philippines

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1. International Columban JPIC Meeting Manila –
TRIPs Campaign Update
9-13 December 2005

Against the backdrop of the WTO meeting in Hong Kong and the United Nations International Human Rights Day, the Philippines Region co-sponsored an international conference “Safe Food: Your Human Right” held at Miriam College, Quezon City, Philippines (9 and 10 December 2005). Guest speakers included Rev Sean McDonagh and Dr Mae-Wan Ho (Institute of Science in Society) Mr Paul Borja (Searice), Dr. Crisanta Panganiban (National Poison Control Centre, University of the Philippines-PGH) Ms Lim Li Lin (Third World Network), Ms Lim Li Ching (Third World Network) and Ms Varoon Svangsopakal (Greenpeace). Delegates included representatives from over 120 organizations in the Philippines and from various countries throughout Asia and further afield.

There were 14 Columban delegates, 10 of whom continued to meet after the conference to discuss Columban JPIC focus on TRIPs and the Patenting of Life. These delegates came from Australia, Fiji, Korea, New Zealand, the USA and the Philippines.

Subsequent to the Conference, we, the Columban delegates, took the opportunity to assess the state of our involvement in the TRIPs/Patenting of Life campaign. We recalled the history of the TRIPs/Patenting of Life campaign arising out of the 2000 General Assembly and developed further by the JPIC meeting in London, February 2003. We recognize the real demands and difficulties involved in the TRIPs/Patenting of Life campaign, and that many in the Society fail to see either its relevance or how they might be practically involved.

The Columban Society, in taking on the TRIPs/Patenting of Life campaign has demonstrated genuine leadership. Nevertheless, we emphasize that TRIPs/Patenting of Life is not just another justice issue. Our Columban perspective challenges the anti-gospel claim that human beings can replace the Creator by creating and controlling life in its own right. TRIPs 27.3.b is the international legal instrument by which this control is asserted. Our faith, which is based on the creedal affirmation that God alone is the Creator of all life, seen and unseen, demands that we resist such blasphemy.