US Negotiators 'Very Appreciative' of GMO Critics' Views at TTIP Forum

[OrwellwasRight]

Source: Sputnik

NEW YORK (Sputnik) — Negotiators in the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks were thankful for various presentations by critics on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and biotechnology, Assistant US Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East Daniel Mullaney told Sputnik.

“I and our leads on the agricultural issues who also attended those stakeholder sessions, were very appreciative of hearing both views,” Mullaney said on Friday during a press conference marking the end of the ninth round of TTIP negotiations in New York City.

The comment came in response to reports that US representatives were inattentive and at times laughing during presentations made by anti-GMO advocates at Thursday’s forum.

<snip>

Presenters charged that US representatives particularly disliked the presented information on weak US laws pertaining to GMO labelling, and the calls on European Union leaders to stand firm and not weaken their protections against GMOs.



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/us/20150425/1021356368.html

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Read more: http://sputniknews.com/us/20150425/1021356368.html#ixzz3YLhcrUqd

Laughing? How disrespectful. I guess this tells you how the US is going to deal with all the pesky state efforts to label GMO foods. Just make it a violation of the TTIP, and stop the whole effort.

So much for 'free trade,' which requires 'free markets,' which require 'perfect information.'
http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/fallacies-free-markets/

[djean111]

1. "Just make it a violation of the TTIP, and stop the whole effort." - That is exactly the plan.

And I doubt very much that anyone at all believes the US Negotiators were not laughing.
The corporation seem to have this in the bag - brilliant, No need for lobbyists and ALEC any more, just sue over the laws you don't like! Profit trumps all.

[SoapBox]

2. It's really depressing...

And all the while, American lemmings are only concerned about getting their new phone, texting, gaming, NFL and a new quadruple bacon burger at the drive thru.

Depressing.

[SoapBox]

4. In retrospect...

I wonder who the anti-gmo presenters were.

Dressed in suits with documented facts...or dressed in clown outfits with ears of corn stuck on their heads? Would this have something to do with any laughing?

We must stop looking and acting crazy, when we protest shit like this.

[djean111]

6. Maybe that's how YOU would dress. This was a formal presentation, and what you

described (editorial "we"?) would certainly have made the news, if the American reaction made the news.
Looks to me like you are just trying to marginalize or make fun. Has anyone showed up for treaty or trade agreements with corn stuck to their heads? Or is this just how you picture people who are anti-GMO?

I believe the laughing was due to the fact that the fix is in, and the palms are greased.

[blkmusclmachine]

3. How can you be "for" TPP and "against" Citizens United?!?! Just ask OBAMA!!!

[Geronimoe]

5. Time for a tax revolt

No taxation without Representation.

[Buzz Clik]

8. Remember the Alamo

[wordpix]

7. were they for the anti-GMO presenters before they were against them?

Getting two versions here. I hope the US gov paid attention to the GMO/MOnsanto glyphosate issue

[Buzz Clik]

9. Glyphosate is a crop management problem, not a GMO problem.

[wordpix]

10. GMOs developed to withstand glyphosate, allowing increased Roundup applications

Glyphosate is a teratogen that causes cell damage at all concentrations , from agricultural or lawn doses down to concentrations 100,000 times more dilute than shelved products. Major birth defects have been found in piglets born to sows fed GMO feed.

Crystal Gammon and Environmental Health News, Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weed-whacking-herbicide-p/ Jun 23, 2009

Truthout. http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/25426-one-little-piggy-had-birth-defects-is-monsantos-roundup-to-blame. Aug. 8, 2014

“Studies conducted on rats and rabbits since the 1980s have shown an astonishing spectrum of birth defects associated with glyphosate, including absent kidneys, missing lobes of the lungs, enlarged hearts, ventricular septal defects (holes in the heart), extra ribs, and deformed and absent bones of the skull, spine, ribs, sternum and limbs.”

Danish pig farmer who changed to GE soy feed found piglets with (photos): a) malformed spine b) ear not formed c) cranial deformation d) cranium hole in head e) piglets born alive having short legs and one eye not developed f) one large eye, an elephant trunk with bone in it g) elephant tongue h) female piglet with testes i) fore gut and hind gut of the piglet with swollen belly are not connected j) malformed piglet with swollen belly. (Photos courtesy of Professor Monika Krueger)

[Buzz Clik]

11. Right. But don't blame the GMOs. Roundup was around long before roundup ready crops.

We can put the blame squarely on those who approve the chemical labels: EPA. It is shocking to see how late they allow Roundup to be applied to these crops.

I will grant you this: prior to GMOs, one would never put out post emergent Roundup in a manner that would the crop or it would have killed it. The crops are now resistant, so the chemical can be applied very late.

Again, this is a management issue facilitated by the GMOs.