Update, June, 2010 : Launch of 'responsible' soy label face global opposition - new scheme opposed by 235 civil society groups

Protest the Round Table on Responsible Soy - "GM Toxic soy is not 'responsible'!"

Can genetically engineered soy - grown with large amounts of agri-chemicals - ever be called 'responsible'? The damage that Monsanto's Roundup Ready soy has done in countries such as Argentina and Paraguay is enormous. Despite that, by the end of May this very same soy will be labelled 'responsible' by The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS).

Because this Round Table is supported by the World Wildlife Fund and the development organisation Solaridad GM toxic soy will be provided with a green image. By supporting this Round Table these two organisations think that they will help reduce the damage done by the soy industry. But it will have the opposite effect. Declaring GM products 'responsible' is a dangerous step that legitimises the further growth of toxic soy cultivation. The destruction of rainforests, instead of being halted, will still be permitted. Read more about the impacts and action www.toxicsoy.org.

This is a ‘La Soja Mata’ (Soy Kills) campaign. La Soja Mata is a project supported by the organisations ASEED Europe and Corporate Europe Observatory. Some of us live or have worked in Paraguay and Argentina. This has resulted in many contacts with local people and organisations. Video reports can be watched at our site www.lasojamata.org.

Recommended: to watch both Part 1 and 2 short clips from the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), which held its 3rd conference in Buenos Aires, April 2008.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=uyvIe-ax_aI&NR=1
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=-clHVh7tuuw&feature=related

See also the briefing: The Roundtable on Ir-responsible Soy: Certifying Soy Expansion, GM Soy and Agrofuels, April 2008

Soy in Paraguay

In Paraguay, less than 2% of the population owns 70% of the land. The expansion of GE soy is now one of the main causes of land conflict, and one of the principal reasons for the increasing number of landless peasants. You may have seen the devastation wrought by expanding monocultures of Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant soy shown in the film "The World According to Monsanto". You can also find more information on this situation at www.lasojamata.org

Click her to view a clip about the pesticide-related deaths of children in Paraguay from Monsanto's herbicide sprayed on GE soy "Farms without Farmers"

In Paraguay, soy monoculture is taking land and livelihoods away from small-scale farmers. Rural, indigenous communities are frequently threatened with violent evictions from their land to make way for soy monoculture and pesticide poisonings have become a serious health issue.

"Ongoing human rights violations in Paraguay go hand in hand with the advancement of soy monocultures. Agribusiness corporations knowingly take advantage of the fact that in Paraguay corruption florishes, while environmental regulations or human rights are not respected" - Javiera Rulli (Paraguay) speaker "Crops, Cars & Climate Crisis"

Rural eastern Paraguay used to be full of jungle, small farms, schools and wildlife. Now it is a green sea of soybeans. This is what La Via Campesina call the green deserts.