FOOD IS LIFE: THE RIGHT TO FOOD IS NOT NEGOTIABLE
As participants in the first
SACC consultation on GMOs held at the ESCOM Convention Centre, Midrand, South
Africa from 26-28 May 2004:
We welcome the initiative taken by the
SACC in convening this consultation on a topic which needs in-depth and more
urgent and focussed attention by Christians and the churches.
We thank the organisers for
providing us the opportunity to enhance our understanding of GMOs by means of a
well-balanced program, thus enabling us to broaden and deepen our contribution
to the debate. We were given the opportunity to listen to presentations from
different sides of the debate, and to reflect on and affirm our own Christian
and indigenous spiritual heritage and traditions.
We are concerned about:
1.
The manner in which complex issues on GMOs are treated
by proponents of GMOs and South African legislation in a ‘purely technical’
manner, delinking science from ethics, values, economic and political ideology,
and our African communal spirituality about life and food.
2.
The link between the promotion of GMOs and neo-liberal
economic globalization with its inherent unequal power relations;
3.
The scientific uncertainties related to the long term
economic, nutritional, health, ecological risks of gene transfer technologies in
view of the irreversibility in the release and use of GE products;
4.
The elevating of natural scientists and civil servants
to be experts and adjudicators in regard to issues of GMOs even as they pertain
to human life, the environment and the spirituality related to life;
5.
The insufficient representation of relevant sciences
(including ethics) to advise government, and the apparent non-independence of
advisors to government and government institutions in the development and
implementation of GMO policy;
6.
The lack of public awareness and debate on GMOs,
including our own lack of participation in GMO policy developments;
7.
The overriding profit motive and supremacy of the
market over issues such as human and environmental safety and health, and food
supply;
8.
The erosion of the sovereignty of national states,
democracy and transparency in policy processes of international agreements and
conventions related to food standards and agriculture which make domestic issues
subject to trade concerns;
9.
The commodification of life and monopolisation of
knowledge through the patenting of genes and living organisms as well as
indigenous science, products and practices.
We appreciate the role played by
people and organisations outside the church who have committed themselves and
their organizations to fight for socio-economic justice by resisting the
unbridled introduction and use of GMOs and products.
We affirm:
1.
Our conviction that there is sufficient food for all
our people, but the problem remains inequitable access to and maldistribution of
food.
2.
Our commitment to the option for the poor, marginalized
and disempowered. And as far as GMOs are concerned we are further driven by our
vision of the dignity of the human person; the common good; solidarity;
subsidiarity; integrity of creation; socio-economic and environmental justice.
3.
That food and life is a gift from God and we are
co-workers and custodians with God to sustain creation and life and the
abundance thereof.
4.
The power and sustainability of indigenous knowledge,
practices and resources.
We commit ourselves to broaden and
deepen:
1.
our understanding of GMOs and the mechanisms dealing
with these matters on local, national, regional and international levels;
2.
our theological reflection and action in addressing the
introduction, use and impact of GMOs and this biotechnology on food security;
3.
our networks of solidarity and cooperation in South
Africa, in the region, the continent and beyond;
4.
our awareness of the organic link between food, HIV and
AIDS, poverty and GMOs.
We call on the SACC and its members to:
1.
Take the issue of the right to food seriously and
co-own the issue of GMOs as an issue of justice in line with our longstanding
commitment to solidarity with the poor and marginalised.
2.
Redouble its efforts and programmes aimed at the
eradication of poverty.
3.
Learn from and be in solidarity with the struggles of
the poor related to food sovereignty and the impact of GMOs as promoted by the
dominant and fundamentally unjust economic ideology, systems and mechanisms of
neo-liberal economic globalisation. We cannot but denounce and resist with the
poor this ungodly ideology, since it affects the core of our common faith and
vision for the world.
4.
Undertake and facilitate the generation of
prophetic/contextual theologies and resource material for education, liturgies,
bible studies, as well as theological reflection and research at academic
institutions which will empower the church to pursue its stand on GMOs.
5.
Establish a pool of resources in terms of persons and
institutions inside and outside the church to assist the SACC in a variety of
engagements /interventions such as: dialogues with scientists; private sector
companies; government; civil society; public awareness and education; and,
policy interventions in national, regional and international forums.
6.
Call on government, while it is still allowing GM
technology to operate and have an impact on our environment to:
§
affirm that GM is a high
risk technology;
§
impose a moratorium on any
further permits granted for GMOs in South Africa;
§
take all measures necessary
to make South Africa compliant with the Cartegena protocol.
7.
Develop regional and continental solidarity and
cooperation related to the churches’ interventions on GMOs.
8.
Develop localised campaigns and advocacy initiatives.
9.
Agree on a clear strategic planning process and
eventual reporting on progress made towards achieving its commitments.
10.
Make this document public, and bring it to the
attention of the member churches and other stakeholders including small-holder
farmers, government, scientists, private sector, and civil society organisations.
28 May, 2004
