GPA To UN: Ban GMO Foods

In a scathing letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres, the Global Prolife Alliance (GPA) has demanded a global ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) foods, citing twelve major health concerns and allegations of biotech terrorism.

The GPA, a vocal critic of GMOs, claims that these genetically engineered foods pose a significant threat to human health and safety.

The letter, signed by Academician Prince Dr. Philip C. Njemanze, Chairman of the GPA, presents a damning indictment of GMOs, highlighting links to cancer, liver and kidney damage, infertility, and blood disorders.

The GPA also alleged that biotech companies are behind a campaign of terror against natural seed farmers in Africa, using violence and intimidation to force the adoption of GMO seeds.

The Full Letter reads:

16th August 2024.

António Guterres,

UN SECRETARY GENERAL

760 United Nations Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.

Occupational safety and health services: gsc-osh@un.org

Your Excellency,

GPA TO UN: BAN GMO FOODS because of

Twelve Major Health Concerns and Biotech Terrorism

We wish to draw the attention of the United Nations to the growing health hazards and security concerns related to the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMO) foods in Africa. We present peer-reviewed data published by leading investigators worldwide that conclusively demonstrate the health risks of GMO foods, with no corresponding benefits. There is rising concern that proponents have supported terrorist groups in Africa to eliminate natural seed farmers, thereby forcing the adoption of GMO seeds and capturing Africa’s food security.

1. GMO Increases Glyphosate – Round-up Pesticide Use: Contrary to claims that GMO crops reduce pesticide use, the spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds in herbicide-resistant weed management systems has led to substantial increases in the number and volume of herbicides applied. [See Benbrook C.M. Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the U.S. – The First Sixteen Years. Environmental Sciences Europe 2012, 24:24. http://www.enveurope.com/content/24/1/24 ].
2. Glyphosate Causes Cancer: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), glyphosate use is linked to cancer. [See International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs, volume 12: Evaluation of 5 Organophosphate Insecticides and Herbicides (March 20, 2015). World Health Organization].
3. GMO Maize Damages the Liver and Kidney: French scientists from the Committee for Independent Information and Research on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN) in Paris established liver and kidney damage in experimental rats fed GMO corn. [See Séralini G-E, Cellier D, Vendomois J.S. A New Analysis of a Rat Feeding Study with Genetically Modified Maize Reveals Signs of Hepatorenal Toxicity. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2007), 52(4), 596-602. DOI: 10.1007/s00244-006-0149-5]. Figure 1 shows the normal kidney and liver structures, and the effects of GMO and GMO + Round-up. Complete damage to kidney and liver anatomy is observed due to GMO and GMO + Round-up exposure. [See original article: Séralini G-E, Clair E, Mesnage R, Gress S, Defarge N, Malatesta M, Hennequin Didier, Vendômois J.S. Republished Study: Long-term Toxicity of Round-up Herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant Genetically Modified Maize. Environmental Science Europe 2014, 26:14. http://www.enveurope.com/content/26/1/14].
4. GMO Maize Causes Breast Cancer: In Nigeria, breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, accounting for 22.7% of all new cancer cases. Nigeria has the highest breast cancer mortality rate globally, with 12,000 deaths in 2018. Experimental studies suggest that GMO maize may cause cancer. The release of GMO maize in Nigeria for public consumption could further increase breast cancer risk in Nigerian women. Figure 2 shows breast cancer in experimental rats caused by feeding with GMO maize. [See original article: Séralini G-E, Clair E, Mesnage R, Gress S, Defarge N, Malatesta M, Hennequin Didier, Vendômois J.S. Republished Study: Long-term Toxicity of Round-up Herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant Genetically Modified Maize. Environmental Science Europe 2014, 26:14. http://www.enveurope.com/content/26/1/14].
5. GMO Potatoes Damage the Small Intestine: Mice fed GMO potatoes (Bt-toxin) experienced damage to the small intestine cells according to Australian scientists. [See Zdziarski I.M., Edwards J.W., Carman J.A., Haynes J.I. GM Crops and the Rat Digestive Tract: A Critical Review. Environment International 2014, 73:423-433].
6. GMO Soy Damages the Liver in Rabbits: Laboratory evidence shows that rabbits fed GMO soybeans suffered liver damage. [See Tudisco R., Lombardi P., et al. Genetically Modified Soybean in Rabbit Feeding: Detection of DNA Fragments and Evaluation of Metabolic Effects by Enzymatic Analysis. Animal Science 2006; 82: 193-199].
7. GMO Soy Causes Stunted Growth and Premature Death in Rat Pups: Research from the Russian Academy of Sciences demonstrates that rat pups fed GMO soy experienced decreased weight and high mortality. [See Ermakova I. Genetically Modified Soy Leads to the Decrease of Weight and High Mortality of Rat Pups of the First Generation. Preliminary studies. Ecosinform 2006; (1): 4-9]. Figure 3 shows the stunted growth and premature death in rat pups caused by GMO soy.
8. GMO Foods Cause Infertility: Research from the Russian Academy of Sciences demonstrated that rats fed GMO soy developed small testes with bleeding and did not produce sperm (Figure 4). [See Irina Ermakova, “Experimental Evidence of GMO Hazards,” Presentation at Scientists for a GM-Free Europe, EU Parliament, Brussels, June 12, 2007].
9. GMO Food Causes Mass Sterilization: The Monsanto Epicyte gene, inserted into maize, could cause mass infertility. An infertility gene, the Epicyte gene, has been inserted into GMO seeds and so-called hybrid corn, cowpeas, beans, and yellow rice, which could be given to children in the internationally supported Home-Grown School Feeding program across Africa. [See attached report in Guardian (London) 2001 https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/jun/24/gm-crops-african-farmers].
10. GMO Food Can Cause Blood Cancer: The genes used in GMO crops, such as Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, or Cry2A, can cause hematological risks in vertebrates, increasing their toxic effects with long-term exposure. Brazilian scientists have demonstrated the toxicity of GMO foods, which could result in blood cancers like acute leukemia. [See Mezzomo B.P., Miranda-Vilela A.L., Freire I.S. et al. Hematotoxicity of Bacillus Thuringiensis as Spore-crystal Strains Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, or Cry2Aa in Swiss Albino Mice. Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases 2013; 1:1. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/jhtd.1000104].
11. GMO Yellow Cassava Does Not Contain Protein or Vitamin: Biotechnology promoters hyped a falsified study that claimed GMO yellow cassava contained protein. This study was later retracted. [See Retraction: Abhary M., Siritunga D., Stevens G., Taylor N.J., Fauquet C.M. Retraction: Transgenic Biofortification of the Starchy Staple Cassava (Manihot Esculenta) Generates a Novel Sink for Protein. PLoS One 7(9): 10.1371/annotation/9081d3ad-e74f-47f1-a722-cf02048a14c5. doi: 10.1371/annotation/9081d3ad-e74f-4f-47f1-a722-cf02048a14c5].
12. GMO Golden Rice Does Not Contain Enough Beta-Carotene to Merit a Health Claim: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) consulted with the US FDA to confirm that the agency had no objection to GMO Golden Rice being used in human or animal food products. However, the FDA stated that “Although the concentration of beta-carotene in Golden Rice (GGR2E) is too low to warrant a nutrient content claim, the beta-carotene in Golden Rice results in grain that is yellow-golden in color.”

Biotech Terrorism

According to the United States Council on Foreign Relations, between 2015 and 2018, about 37,500 people were killed by Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. Of these, 32,000 (or 85%) were Muslims, and 5,500 (or 15%) were Christians. The data clearly suggest that the insecurity in Nigeria is not related to Islamic religious extremism, as most of those killed were Muslims.

All victims of Boko Haram were farmers who were natural seed growers and their families. The terrorism in Nigeria is related to biotechnology companies attempting to eliminate farmers who grow natural seeds, aiming to replace them with GMO seeds. Therefore, this is more appropriately referred to as “Biotech Terrorism” rather than “Islamic Terrorism,” as it has been deceptively labeled until now.

International grants were provided to 14 million farmers for cell phones called Electronic Wallets, enabling them to make farming input purchases via electronic transfer from grant funds. However, unbeknownst to the farmers, their detractors commissioned terrorists to use global positioning systems (GPS) and near-field communication (NFC) devices to track them. The seed-grower farmers were then killed on their farms. Competing biotechnology companies replaced the natural seeds with GMO seeds. These biotechnology companies are the primary suspects in the killing of natural seed-growing farmers, with the aim of conquering Nigeria’s food security.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly await your swift and decisive action.

Sincerely,

PCNjemanze

Academician Prince Dr Philip C. Njemanze MD (Hons)

Chairman, Global Prolife Alliance (GPA), for the Council on National Policies; BOT member, Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Owerri, Archdiocese, for Ethics Committee.

Copies sent to: HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, HE Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, HE Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate NASS, HE Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House NASS, IGP, EFCC, ICPC, Ministers, Bishop Conferences in Africa, Europe, Asia and America, Head of States of all UN member countries, UN Ambassadors, UN Agencies on Human Rights, African Union, Organization of American States, Members of the United States Congress, European Union Parliament, ASEAN, World Medical Association, Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), ECOWAS, ILO, WTO, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID, DFID, CIDA, International Human Rights Organizations, international press, local press, distinguished Nigerian and African socio-political leaders.