Life and Death for Sale
Columban Fr Charles Rue speaks with The Far East about his 26 minute DVD called ‘Unjust Genes - Life and Death For Sale.'
TFE: How did you come to make a DVD on genetically engineered food? Aren't the Columbans supposed to be missionaries?
A. All my priestly life I have taken up new jobs in response to a new mission need. I have previously served as a Columban in South Korea and Jamaica. Other roles I have taken on are: author of a family prayer book, teacher of liturgy in Korea and mission educator around Australia. Producing a DVD on genetically engineered (GE) food is my latest venture.
The lead up to this DVD has a history. Nearly a decade ago fellow Columban Fr Sean McDonagh started a Columban campaign to challenge the ‘Agreement' on the copyright of human foods that bio-tech companies had pushed through the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Member nations then had to enact legislation that connected trade with US style patenting laws (TRIPs).
The effects of the Agreement on farmers in poorer countries were dire. Local crops were contaminated once GE seeds entered the market place so, by law; the farmers were obliged to pay royalties to the bio-tech seed companies. Further, saving or swapping unique seed varieties among themselves became meaningless. Their traditional seeds were contaminated.
Perversely, some of the GE seed, which farmers were forced to pay royalties on, was developed from traditional seeds that these same farmers had developed over centuries. This is robbery of the poor by rich companies, sanctioned under the WTO Agreement and local patenting laws.
The difficulties didn't end there. Some farmers and their families fell sick to allergies, stomach complaints and skin disorders. The only new factor in their lives seemed to be the genetically engineered food. Scientific research into these incidents is rarely open to the public. Bio-tech companies keep their own research secret so that it is not challenged by peer-review and their scientists have been fired for revealing negative reports.
Faced with this systematic injustice around such a basic human need as food, Columbans became involved by preaching a Gospel about food justice and the scandal of patenting God-given life forms.
In November 2005 the Columban Fathers in the Philippine Region sponsored an international Conference in Manila entitled ‘Safe Food: A Human Right.' Specialists such as British scientist Dr Mae Won Ho of ‘Science in Society' and Malaysian lawyer Lim Le Ching from the Third World Network were among the high profile speakers.
In the light of such a rare opportunity, Columban Justice and Peace and the Integrity of Creation coordinators decided to use the Safe Food conference as a basis for DVD footage on what is accurately named as ‘Transgenic Food.' Professional media producer Bruce Dynan from Sydney was contracted.
When creating a story line for the DVD, it became evident that GE Food issues were affecting developed countries. In interviews, Australian canola farmers spoke of lost premiums as their crops became contaminated with GE seed. Consumers said they find it harder to buy non-GE foods in the supermarket so losing their right to choice. Biologists feared the contamination of the natural environment. All groups pointed to advancing conventional or organic breeding as a safer path, of greater benefit and a more cost effective way forward to issues of disease control, increased yield and the like.
Other interviews revealed that the science itself is regarded as suspect. Scientists say that what they term ‘Recombinant DNA' technology is totally new. It is not merely a continuation of traditional bio-technology techniques like selective breeding or using yeasts. Genes are now being transferred between unrelated species to create ‘Transgenic food,' something that does not happen in nature. Very little research has been done into the long-term health risks.
As interviews continued, the main culprits identified in this story were the international bio-tech companies. They want to control the human food chain and make money from their monopoly. Their main instrument to get their way is the law, enacting local laws on intellectual properties and patenting. Leaders in government, farmer and consumer groups were accused of failing their citizens and members.
The DVD with an accompanying booklet was the end product of this Columban project. It seeks people's understanding about a serious problem. Moral and spiritual issues are at stake. It seeks producer, consumer and student involvement to face it.
