BBC NEWS | Africa | Famine-hit Zambia rejects GM food aid

[Stewart Farber <farbersa@optonline.net>]

Radsafe:

For those interested in foolish applications of risk aversion and a perverted sense of applying the 

"precautionary principle" to a fear of genetically modified foods [similar to radiophobia among many], 

see the link below to Zambia refusing food aid to help millions of its citizens facing starvation. As Alf 

once quipped:

"Dogma, dogma, dog manure"



Once again, politics and fear trumps science and common sense.



Stewart Farber, MS Public Health



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2371675.stm



>From the BBC Story:

Tuesday, 29 October, 2002, 12:36 GMT 

Famine-hit Zambia rejects GM food aid





Some 14 million are at risk of famine across the region



The Zambian Government has finally decided not to accept a donation of genetically- modified food for 

nearly three million of its people facing famine.



The decision was taken after the Zambian Government despatched a team of scientists around the world to 

study the potential effects of importing GM crops. 



The food aid was initially offered by the international community to Zambia and five other Southern 

African countries, but President Levy Mwanawasa referred to the food as "poison". 



"In view of the current scientific uncertainty surrounding the issue... government has decided to base 

its decision not to accept GM foods in Zambia on the precautionary principle," Agriculture Minister 

Mundia Sikatana said. 





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