TODAY, is the 17th day of the hunger strike that is meant to call attention to the grave danger of Bt corn and to urge the government to issue a moratorium on the commercialization of this dangerous genetically modified (GM) corn variety. 

In 2000, a group of noted scientists from all over the world wrote a letter to all governments calling for the "immediate suspension of all environmental releases of genetically modified crops and products, both commercially and in open field trials, for at least five years; for patents on living processes, organisms, seeds, cell lines and genes to be revoked and banned; and for a comprehensive public inquiry into the future of agriculture and food security for all." You can find this at the website of the Institute of Science in Society (www.i-sis.org.uk) or ask for a copy from the Lingkod-Tao Kalikasan (ltkfi@codewan.com.ph). 

Last April 22, Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, in his "capacity as scientist and designated expert of the International Cartagena Biosafety Protocol and director of the Institute of Science in Society representing more than 578 scientists around the world" wrote President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to urge her to reconsider approving multinational company Monsanto's Bt corn. He explained why. 

Recently, 18 well-known Filipino scientists and physicians, led by Dr. Nelia Cortes-Maramba of the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department of the University of the Philippines' College of Medicine, have likewise come out with a position paper against the commercialization of Monsanto's GM corn. First on their warning list was the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes that would render life-saving antibiotics ineffective. But this is getting ahead of the story. 

Even the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines has called for a moratorium, saying that "in the absence of compelling human emergency" it sees "no justifiable reason to introduce in a hurry new untested technology until we have solid proof of their utility and safety." 

What more does the President need? The warnings are raining down on us during this broiling-hot summer of our lives while everybody is worried about the unseen SARS virus that is sweeping across parts of the globe. The warnings on Bt corn seems all but ignored while the strikers in front of the Department of Agriculture go hungry to defend the environment and the food of the inhabitants of this planet. 

The hunger strike is an attempt to stop the commercialization of Bt corn, a Monsanto-patented genetically engineered variety which has a built-in poison to kill the corn borer. Those who consider this variety dangerous have raised the following concerns: 

Because corn is wind-pollinated, Bt corn is sure to contaminate local poison-free varieties. Contamination is now a concern in places like the United States and Mexico where this was introduced. Bt corn could go the way of the golden snail that was introduced here some decades ago. 

Scientists have warned against the health effects of Bt corn. Four days after the Philippines approved the commercialization of Bt corn on Dec. 4, British histopathologist Dr. Stanley Ewen warned that Bt corn could raise the risk of stomach and colon cancers and hasten the growth of tumors. 

Filipino farmers whose fields are contaminated by Bt corn could find themselves sued by Monsanto which owns the patents. Monsanto has done this in the United States and Canada where farmers were fined. 

Bt corn rejection is now gaining ground among consumers who do not want information about transgenic content of products hidden from consumers. Monsanto, its critics say, is strongly lobbying against GMO labeling of products. 

But even poor countries like India and Zambia are going to reject offers of Bt corn as free food aid. 

Among the organizations supporting the hunger strike are the Philippine Greens, Searice, Greenpeace, Pakisama and Lingkod Tao Kalikasan. Their members who are making the difficult sacrifice will continue until a moratorium on Bt corn is declared. 

They contend that it is irrational for the government to rush to commercialize Bt corn and contaminate farms with a pesticide product that multiplies by itself. Bt corn is a biological time bomb waiting to explode. 

According to Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, research in China showed that while Bt cotton is effective in controlling the primary pest of cotton when first planted, there were adverse impacts on parasitic natural enemies. Populations of secondary pests increased in Bt cotton fields after the target pest (bollworm) had been controlled, some of which then replaced bollworm as primary pests and damaged cotton growth. 

The Bt toxin, Ho said, is released in root oxidates from Bt corn. It accumulates and persists in soil and retains insecticidal, immunological and other biological activities with potentially large impacts on soil ecology and fertility. 

Furthermore, the efficacy of Bt crops in pest control is compromised when pests become resistant to the Bt toxins. This has been a problem in the United States. 

Bt toxins, Ho added, may be actual and potential allergens for human beings. And because Bt and Bacillus anthracis (anthrax species used in biological weapons) are closely related to each other and to a third bacterium, Bacillus cereus (a common soil bacterium and cause of food poisoning), they readily exchange plasmids. If B. anthracis picked up Bt genes from Bt crops, new strains of B. anthracis with unpredictable properties could arise. 

That's more frightening than SARS. 

"Please do not hesitate to contact me," was Dr. Mae-Wan Ho's closing sentence in his letter to the President. 

Send comments to cerespd@info.com.ph