[126] in peace2
EVENTS NEXT WEEK: FOOD!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (F. AuYeung)
Wed Mar 8 00:53:41 2000
Message-Id: <200003080552.AAA01332@w20-575-91.mit.edu>
To: peace-list@MIT.EDU, save@MIT.EDU, basec@MIT.EDU, vsg-local@MIT.EDU
cc: ertha@MIT.EDU, chuck@TURNTABLE.MIT.EDU, fosterk@gis.net,
cassiefw@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2000 00:52:57 -0500
From: "F. AuYeung" <auyeung@MIT.EDU>
From Monday to Thursday evenings next week, there will be many events
addressing our FOOD CHOICES (or lack thereof). So please forward this
email and/or bring your friends! Learn about genetic engineering,
about meat, about crops feeding the world.
Monday: Genetically Modified Foods; Martin Shaw
March 13, 7pm; MIT 1-390
Tuesday: Great American Meat-Out; Howard Lyman
March 14, 7pm; MIT 26-100
Wednesday: Biodevestation 2000; panel of distinguished guests
March 15, 7pm; Arlington Street Church
Thursday: Stolen Harvest; Vandana Shiva (moderator Jonathan King)
March 16, 7pm; MIT 10-250
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1. Genetically Modified Foods
Martin Shaw, GenetiX Snowball, UK <www.biodev.org>
Monday 7pm, 1-390
Much of the world is rejecting genetically engineered (GE) food.
The US public remains uninformed and, therefore, unconcerned. Yet
60% of the food we eat contains at least one genetically modified
ingredient. There has been no testing for long term health risks
of GE foods. Genetical engineering causes an unpredictable pattern
of mutation of the genetic blueprint of life that can generate new
toxins, allergens, and diseases from foods that were previously
naturally safe.
The FDA does not require that genetically modified foods be labeled
as such, therefore, preventing consumers from making aninformed
choice about what we eat. The decision to transform our food supply
to one that is predominantly derived from genetically engineered
crops was made by profit driven corporations. Not only has the
public been excluded from participating in this decision, it was not
informed aobut it.
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2. Great American Meat-Out
Howard Lyman, President of EarthSave <www.earthsave.org>
Tuesday 7pm, 26-100
While most people don't think about why it is they eat the foods that
they do at every meal, those who do have firmly-held reasons for
choosing their foods so carefully. Howard Lyman, a fourth-generation
cattle ranger who left his tradition and became vegan, will speak
about some of those reasons, including personal health, environmental
impact, concern for living beings, and global equity and sharing.
Lyman is the President of EarthSave and the founder of Voices for a
Viable Future.
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3. For Sale: Your Genes, Your Water, Your Elected Officials
Grassroots International <www.grassrootsonline.org>
Wednesday 7pm, Arlington Street Church, Boston
On March 15, Grassroots International is cosponsoring a teach-in
featuring five leaders of the emerging global movement against
corporate globalization.
"For Sale: your genes, your water,your elected officials" will pick
up where the Seattle anti-WTO protests left off, and give us a
unique window on the rising global resistance to corporate
globalization. All five panelists are people who very seldom
make it to Boston!
VANDANA SHIVA, long-time activist in India and leader of the global
movement opposing genetically modified seeds and foods. Ms.
Shiva is a physicist, philosopher of science, activist, and author
of the just-published book "Stolen Harvest." She inspired
audiences in Seattle with her rousing indictment of corporate
agribusiness and her call to support family farmers around the world.
ANURADHA MITTAL, a leading advocate of food as a human right and of local
food security. Ms. Mittal is the policy director of the Institute for Food
and Development Policy.
MAUDE BARLOW, leader of the fight against NAFTA and the Multilateral
Agreement on Investment (MAI). Ms. Barlow is a founder and chair of the
Council of Canadians and author of "Blue Gold," a new book detailing
corporate plans to commercialize the world's water supplies.
BERTA LUJAN, coordinating committee member of the Authentic Labor Front
(FAT), Mexico's largest independent labor federation.
The moderator will be MARK RITCHIE, a thoughtful strategist on global
issues and the president of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy,
a key institution behind the Seattle protests and particularly the
Independent Media Center.
Get there early! All of these speakers are exceptionally articulate and
passionate spokespeople for the global citizen's movement. This is a unique
opportunity to hear about the forces that created the "battle in Seattle"
and the solutions people are coming up with all around the world.
Arlington Street Church is at the intersection of Arlington and Boylston
Streets, across from the Public Garden, Arlington stop on the Green Line.
There is a parking garage and a lot two blocks away on Clarendon Street.
Other cosponsors of the event are United for a Fair Economy, People's Earth
Network, and South End Press. $5 suggested donation will benefit the Boston
Global Action Network.
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4. Stolen Harvest: International Trade and Global Food Supply
Vandana Shiva, Director of Research Foundation for Science,
Technology, and Natural Resource Policy (Aimee's heroine!)
Thursday, 7pm, 10-250
VANDANA SHIVA, world renowned environmental leader, developing world
advocate, and feminist, and author of Biopiracy: The Plunder of Nature
and Knowledge and Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply,
will speak at MIT, one week prior to BioDevestion 2000 in Boston.
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I know it's a busy week, but try to make the events you're interested in!
They're all going to be great! Dinner will look very different on Friday...
Also, this information is mostly available at <web.mit.edu/justice>.
Three of the four events are co-sponsored by the Social Justice Cooperative;
if you are interested in our work and/or would like to contribute to this
student group effort, please email <peace-keepers@mit.edu> and/or join our
email lists, as described at the website. Thank you for your time,
Felix AuYeung
