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Printer Friendly Version

Early Warning French Professor Under Severe Attack
By Agro-Biotechnology Lobby

By ENSSER

11 May, 2010
db.zs-intern.de

See PDF Version

May 10, 2010 - Today the French Fondation Sciences Citoyennes (FSC) (1) and the
European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility
(ENSSER) (2) launch a public support letter for Prof. Dr. Gilles-Eric Séralini of the
University of Caen (France) and his co-workers who came under severe attacks by
representatives of the agro-biotechnology industry and aligned scientists.

The letter has already been signed by more than 250 scientists from 20 countries in
order to defend the principles of respectful scientific criticism and the use of pluralistic
expertise on issues as sensitive, complex and potentially irreversible as the effects of
released GM crops. Many of them have added their personal comments, such as
Prof. emer. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker from the German University of Duisburg-
Essen who noted that "having looked at the publications and results of Prof. Séralini I
feel that his work is as solid as scientific work can be". FSC and ENSSER are inviting
more scientists and the public in general to sign the letter. (3)

The initiative was welcomed by Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the
European Environment Agency (EEA). In her opening speech at the recent EEA-
ENSSER Symposium "Integrity of Science under Attack" she noted: "In our
publications on 'Late Lessons from Early Warnings: the Precautionary Principle
1896-2000' we provide a number of examples of early warning scientists who have
either been ignored or attacked because of the 'inconvenient truths' that they
present".(4)

Prof. Séralini has recently published seven peer-reviewed scientific papers on
potential side effects of the herbicide glyphosate and genetically engineered (GE)
maize on human and mammalian health. Glyphosate was a major source of income
for the U.S. company Monsanto that also dominates the world market of GE seeds,
resistant to glyphosate and producing the insecticide Bt. In addition, Prof. Séralini
wrote a biosafety expertise on GE eggplants (brinjal) that was one basis for the
Indian government to stall the commercial release of the Bt brinjal and to launch a
comprehensive scientific biosafety review. Since the stop of this U.S.-Indian public-
private initiative, the scientific and personal credibility of Prof. Séralini has been
repeatedly questioned in public which may have serious impacts on his professional
career.

Dr. Christian Vélot, board member of FSC and vice chairperson of ENSSER, warns:
"This is the most recent case in a series of incidents where vocal defenders of the
status quo have ignored, then denounced and harassed scientists who dissented
from the consensus of the powerful and brought warnings of impending risks.
Shooting the messenger is the preferred method rather than engaging with the
different interpretations or the new science that the scientists were bringing to the
public debate". Dr. Vélot is a senior lecturer in molecular genetics at the University of
Paris-Sud and in 2007 encountered himself the loss of his funding and his affiliation
to his research institute because of his public stands on genetically engineered
organisms during TV shows and public conferences. He was pointing to the risks and
uncertainties of this technology and called for an open democratic debate on the
future use of GE crops in France.

Prof. emer. Ghislain Nicaise of the French Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis
added: "I can bear testimony to the intellectual and scientific competence of Gilles-
Eric Séralini. Knowing his courageous positions I am not surprised that he became a
target of denigration."

The letter has also gained support from several academics outside of Europe. Prof.
David Ehrenfeld from the State University of New Jersey (USA) stated: "I fully
support Professor Séralini, and condemn the victimization to which he has been
subjected. His work is respected and important. Professor Séralini brings great
distinction to France, and is an inspiration to scientists around the world."

NOTES:

1. Fondation Sciences Citoyennes is a French NGO aiming at stimulating the freedom of
expression and debate in the scientific world, supporting early warning scientists and
the development of public controversies on key scientific issues, increasing the
capacity for research and expertise of civil society organisations and citizen
movements, and promoting the democratic elaboration of scientific and technical
choices. http://sciencescitoyennes.org/

2. The “support and protection of independent and critical research” into the potentially
negative impacts of new technologies and their products is a major aim of the work of
ENSSER which was founded in 2009. http://www.ensser.org/

3. the letter can be signed online at http://www.ensser.org/ and
http://sciencescitoyennes.org/

4. 'Late Lessons from Early Warnings: the Precautionary Principle 1896-2000'
(Vol 1, 2001; & Vol 2, 2011)
http://reports.eea.europa.eu/environmental_issue_report_2001_22/en

 

CONTACTS:

FSC: Claudia Neubauer (DE, FR, EN)
T +33 954065409
E [email protected]

ENSSER: Christian Velot (FR, EN)
T +33 169158295
M +33 670347845
E [email protected]

EEA: Gulcin Karadeniz (EN, FR)
T +45 33 36 71 72
E [email protected]