| Montreal, 13/04/2004 – Following the Commission for Environmental Cooperation's (CEC) symposium on maize and biodiversity, held on 11 March 2004, in Oaxaca, Mexico, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) provided its initial recommendations to the CEC Council today—the three North American environment ministers—on the issue of transgenic maize in Mexico.
The symposium drew several hundred participants, including indigenous peoples and campesinos, and this diversity and the variety of comments expressed at the event brought a very 'human face' to this complex and controversial subject. JPAC feels strongly that it is essential that conservation of biodiversity not be separated from protection of cultural diversity. Indeed, all analyses should be based on a broad understanding of sustainable development and the interplay of environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts.
Several thoughts and observations are expressed in the JPAC letter of advice to the CEC Council:
- There is an obvious imbalance in the composition of the Maize Advisory Group. Indigenous people are a minor component of the committee. Western institutions have great faith in the scientific method. Indigenous peoples, for most part, are sceptical of western science and instead have great faith in their own traditional practices and methods.
- Over-reliance on the 'scientific method' and 'science based' conclusions can work to exclude indigenous peoples and the knowledge they possess.
- Various chapter authors of the draft report were unable to respond to the many indigenous presenters who attempted to discuss and articulate their relationship with maize as sacred, the center of life, their brother and part of their dignity and identify.
- There is a very strong case to be made that governments should apply the precautionary principle in their decision-making processes, requiring industry to be comprehensive when submitting rationale and creating space for public debate.
- A moratorium on imports of transgenic corn to Mexico should be put in place until the risks to human health, cultural integrity of maize producers in Mexico and the environment generally are better understood and an appropriate long-term course of action can be decided.
- Concerns were raised regarding the analysis of risks and benefits. It appears that the corporations share most of the benefits and the producers and the environment share most of the risks. It can be argued that the identification of benefits and risks is a value judgement, thus great care should be taken about how these benefits and risks are described.
- The final report should be published before the Council session to permit a full discussion of its contents and identification of specific follow-up actions should be included at the agenda of the June Council Session in Puebla, Mexico.
Next JPAC Meeting
In parallel with the Council Session on 21–23 June in Puebla, Mexico, JPAC will organize a workshop on the future direction of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). Financial assistance is available. For more information, please consult the CEC web site at www.cec.org.
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners in implementing NAAEC, the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.
JPAC is a 15-member, independent, volunteer body that provides advice and public input to Council on any matter within the scope of NAAEC.
All JPAC and CEC official publications can be found on the CEC web site at or contact Manon Pepin, the JPAC Liaison Officer, at mpepin@ccemtl.org. |
