Ottawa Citizen | January 5, 2000 | James Baxter
Canadian diplomats and trade officials have, according to this story, been studying the European response to Genetically Modified Organisms as a means of preparing an effective response to what one called the "blizzard of disinformation that now has been laid before the public."
The story says that for more than 18 months, government officials stationed in the Canadian High Commission in London have been filing dispatches back to Ottawa to update senior bureaucrats and politicians about the mounting opposition to genetically modified organisms in the the European Union.
A February 1999 status report obtained by Ken Rubin under the Access to Information Act was quoted as saying, "By changing targets on a daily basis, an unlikely and unholy alliance has brought together the (British) Conservative Party (the official opposition), environmentalists and consumers in a common cause. Full media attention ... has created a sense of disarray which has not been seen since the hey day of 'Mad Cow' (disease). It has not been pretty. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, most media do not yet appear ready to engage in overly sober analysis and intelligent debate."
The story says that the documents, which were mostly unclassified and widely circulated within the department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as well as the department of Agriculture, focus considerable attention on local media coverage in Europe and the effects of a public relations campaign waged by Greenpeace in the U.K.
Ian Thomson, counsellor for agriculture and fisheries at the Canadian High Commission in London, was quoted as writing in a briefing memorandum that, "Greenpeace presented an aggressive outline of its pro-active strategy aimed at ridding the U.K of GM crop technology," and noted that Greenpeace Canada is preparing a similar $9-million "True Food" campaign of its own.
"Their confidence no doubt stems from the considerable success they have enjoyed to date and the continuing recognition they are receiving for their 'achievements.' They also noted that the issue was not so much one of waning scientific credibility in the food safety area, but rather mistrust in the political use and manipulation of science, resulting in another blow to consumer confidence."
Department officials, while being quick to note that preparing briefing notes is one of the principal functions of diplomatic staff based overseas, were cited as saying the frequency and tone of the correspondence is reflective of the concern officials have over a growing global campaign to scare people away from all genetically modified organisms.
