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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| NOVEMBER 18, 1998 10:46 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Greenpeace USA Charles Margulis, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Issues Specialist, 212-865-5645 Racine Tucker-Hamilton, Media Officer, 202-319-2435 or 202-256-4041 (cell) |
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| Monsanto Memos Show Increasing Opposition For Genetically Engineered Foods in Europe | ||||
| WASHINGTON - November 18 - Greenpeace
today released two industry documents confirming widespread public opposition to
genetically engineered foods promoted by the US company, Monsanto, in the United Kingdom
and Germany. The documents, written on Oct. 5, 1998, were recently leaked to Greenpeace. They were written by Stan Greenberg, former polling advisor to President Clinton, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Last summer, Monsanto, spent over $1 million in advertising in Europe. The aim of the advertising was to increase public acceptance of genetically modified (GM) food. "The latest survey shows an on-going collapse of public support for biotechnology and GM foods," Greenberg wrote to The British Working Group of Monsanto, in a memo entitled, The British Test. "….The Monsanto advertising campaign....directed at upper socio-economic populations and using 'non-news' publications - was, for the most part, overwhelmed by the society-wide collapse of support for genetic engineering in foods." To the German Working Group, Greenberg wrote in his memo, The Maturing Crises, "In the focus groups, biotechnology companies were seen to be willing to risk great human danger in order to make profits. That is balanced by a somewhat weaker view that bio-technology companies are future-oriented and modern." In its European advertisements, Monsanto suggested the public contact some opponents of GE food including, Greenpeace. In the U.S. however, Monsanto continues to oppose the labeling of GE foods. Greenpeace is the leading independent organization that uses peaceful and creative activism to protect the global environment. You can see a complete version of Monsanto's report on Britain and Germany or view a chronology of the growing opposition to genetically engineered food. ### |
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