Guess Who is Coming to Diner?

30 June 2009, Wassenaar. The spokeswoman of the European GMO-free Citizens, Mrs. Miep Bos, did dine with the AG Secretary of the Netherlands, Mrs. G. Verburg.

Photo: Mrs.Miep Bos, spokeswoman of the European GMO-free Citizens, and Mrs. Gerda Verburg, AG Secretary of the Netherlands.

Here is a short impression of the diner on Tuesday with the AG Secretary, cooperations and Members of Parliament. Solidaridad and WWF did not come although they were invited and had accepted the invitation. Greenpeace didn't get an invitation.

The diner was held because of the formerly seminar on GMOs on the 9th of June and was a comentary on that seminar, held at "Landgoed Voorlinden" in the town of Wassenaar. There was a calming atmosphere and a little gentle breeze from the sea.

Miep first met with the organizors of the last seminar ( civil servants of the ministry of Agriculture, they had prepared the seminar) and they wanted to know whether she was content with that meeting. So she told a lot of things that she thought were wrong.They have promised to improve these seminars.

Finally the AG Secretary Mrs. Gerda Verburg had arrived and came to Miep to say that everything turned out for the better, because now she was invited. Miep gave her, Mieps Little English book, that is called: "Worries of a Dutch housewife about GMOs" that everyone can download for free.

Than, at the diner Miep was the 2nd speaker and told the audience about dr. John Fagan, that he wants to speak to the AG Secretary and she told about her meeting with Percy and Louise Schmeiser and that she asked him;  "What is the most important thing you would like to say to our Secretary of Agriculture?"  So she summed up three points he had given to her;

1. Freedom of the farmers to sow their own seed, freedom of speech.

2. Promises of the biotech industry are not realized, there is less yield not more, the crop is less nitrutious, there must be sprayed chemicals 3 to 4 times more and farmers must use  more heavy herbicides because of the superweeds.

3. Coexistance is not possible. In a big country like Canada there no longer is pure canola, and no pure soy anymore. Also the family of the canola is being polluted.

This is a loss of diversity and a loss of world markets. The honey is also poluted and cannot longer being sold as GMO-free.

Tell  the AG Secretary that there still is a way back for Europe, not for Canada anymore. The Canadian people don't want to plant GMOs anymore and don't want to eat them.

During her lilttle speech she didn't hear any spoon moving, they were really listening.

There were a lot of Members of Parliament and she has given the Registrar of the Parliament the leaflet of the scientists that are worried and the DVD "The world according to Monsanto" that Living Colours Entertainment had given as a promotion and have stressed she would show the DVD to all members. She was very friendly and should do so. Unilever got the same envelop with the DVD and leaflet and the beautiful book on Maharishi Organic Vedic Agriculture was also included in all envelopes.

Afterwards some Members of Parliament came to Miep, they were all very friendly and also some civil servents said to her that they are as worried as she is. She also spoke in a short time to the head of the COGEM, professor Zoeteman who dicides on the trails with GMOs. During the diner he pleaded for more influence regarding the consumer.

But the AG Secretary wants to move forward as she planned. Finally a photo was made on the stairs of the "Landgoed Voorlinden".

And we all hope that the outcome will turn out favourable.