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Austrian inititiative about Genetic Engineering

Here is a rough, but accurate, translation of the Austrian voter
initiative
that closed this Sunday with 1,245,000 people signing, 21% of the voting
age
population. Under Austrian law 100,000  signatures were needed to
activate
the next step, a referendum, presented to the general population, which
is
then either voted up or down. The initiative received 12.5 times the
number
of signatures needed. Both major parties were against the initiative, it
was
supported by the Austrian Green Party, The Catholic Church and the far,
far
right Freedom Party (agrarian populist). 

1. NO FOOD FROM GENETIC ENGINEERING LABORATORIES IN AUSTRIA!

We demand a legislated prohibition of the production and sale of
genetically
altered food and agricultural products in Austria.

No one can guarantee that prolonged consumption of genetically
engineered
food will not (adversly) affect the health of human beings.

As in the case of atomic power, we therefore demand that no long term
experiment upon human beings be initiated.

2. NO INTRODUCTION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISM INTO THE
ENVIROMENT IN AUSTRIA!

We demand  a legal prohibition of the letting free of genetically
altered
plants, animals, and micro-organisms.

The introduction of genetic technology means a threat to those Austrian
farmers who, in the interests of consumers, pay attention to high
quality
and regional diversity.

3. NO PATENTS ON LIFE!

We demand a legal prohibition on the patenting of life forms.

Animals used in agriculture, experimental animals and plants should not
be
created in the laboratory and should not be marketed by the owners of
patents.

The patenting of life forms is from an ethical viewpoint fundamentally
unacceptable.

The creation of life should remain the province of nature and not the
genetic laboratory.
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or
the
press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the
Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment I to the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

"....AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES."

Our politicians tell us that we are stuck with genetic technology
because of
GATT and NAFTA. But, if genetic engineering, GATT and NAFTA aren't
grievances, what the hell is?

Let's get on with it!