31 October 2001

SCHOOLS PROPAGANDA - SCOTTISH COALITION TAKES ACTION

Please support this important campaign on biotech propaganda in schools launched by scottish genetix - full details below - by e-mailing today Scotland's Minister for Education Jack McConnell (address at end).

The biotech-industry funded "Your World" magazines in question are going into schools worldwide and Scotland is seen as the entry point for the magazines going into classrooms UK-wide. The scientific advisor on the most controversial issue in the pro-biotech "Your World" series was none other than the propagandist behind the infamous AgBioView list, CS Prakash.

NB Scottish Genetix have produced a reference guide to teachers in reply to this particular "Your World" magazine on their excellent website
http://www.scottishgenetixaction.org/

For a very informative article form the Sunday Herald on this issue
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0415-03.htm

see also: Propaganda being fed to young minds - Industry hype being pumped directly into your child's mind at school.
http://www.mindfully.org/GE/Propaganda.htm

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from scottishgenetix: <scottishgenetix@ziplip.com>

Scottish Genetix Action schools propaganda campaign
http://www.scottishgenetixaction.org/

Email Jack McConnell - GM propaganda in schools

A coalition of groups have formed to support demands made by Scottish Genetix Action for a halt to be called on the distribution of a Biotech industry funded magazine "Your World" Volume 10, Issue 1 on GM crops within Scottish schools until a reasonable debate has taken place.

The magazine itself presents a distorted and unscientific view of the arguments surrounding G.M. crops.

Les Webster of the Scottish Beekeepers Association has stated "it is improper to distribute any material having a bias to school children; we
would therefore support action to prevent the distribution."

Thus far the Scottish Minister for Education, Jack McConnell has been very quiet on the issue.

The groups supporting Scottish Genetix Action's call for a reasonable debate before the magazine is distributed to our children are wide and
varied and range from Greenpeace UK, The Henry Doubleday Research Association, Scottish Socialist Party, the Scottish Green Party and many
others.

You can read our reference guide to teachers in reply to the "Your World" magazine under our section "Your World or Their World?"
http://www.scottishgenetixaction.org/

E-mail Minister for Education Jack McConnell, and let him know that we want our school kids to be given a chance to make up their own minds on the GM debate and not be force fed a diet of propaganda from the GM corporations.

Jack.McConnell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk