Category Archives: Biotechnology

Japan Resources – 190

Biotechnology, Japan Resources, Nuclear, , ,

Please click here for our latest English newsletter (pdf): JR 190

http://www.nishoren.org/en/wp-content/uploads/JR-190.pdf

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Contents:

From the Editors: There Are Always Alternatives

Urgent Statement:
Protest Against TEPCO’s Discharge of Contaminated Water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Ocean

Future of Food: Public Meeting on Genome-edited Fish in Kyoto

60 Years and More, for Japan’s Nuclear Reactors? No Thanks!

The Fukushima Contaminated Water Release: From the NGO Perspective

From the Editors: There Are Always Alternatives

Consumers Union of Japan has a history as an alternative voice in Japan and the global community. We do what we can to appeal to common sense, based on the principles that consumers and citizens have rights: the right to know being one of the most fundamental.

The right to protest is also emerging as an important one.

However, as the recent debate surrounding the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant shows, TEPCO and the government will do whatever they think is right, regardless of the protests, here and abroad.

We believe there are alternatives, and we will continue speaking up against the mis-management of nuclear power and its supporters.

– Editors

Public Meeting on Genome-edited Fish in Kyoto

Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Corporate Responsibility, Food, ,

Public Meeting on Genome-edited Fish in Kyoto

～What will happen to the future of food? ~

Japanese text here

Genome-edited foods are now being distributed in Japan, and in Japan alone, and are starting to appear on our tables. Moreover, two of the three types of genome-edited food distributed in Japan are fish (horse mackerel and tiger puffer fish). Until now, genetically modified fish have never been distributed as food in Japan. Genome-edited foods are as dangerous as, or even more dangerous than, genetically modified foods, yet the government has stated that there is no need to assess whether they are safe to eat or to label them. It is also totally unpredictable what will happen if genome-edited fish escape and enter the ecosystem. Regional Fish, the Kyoto University venture that developed, farms and sells such fish, has made no attempt to respond to our concerns or questions, while downplaying the dangers.

The fish farm is located in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, where the rich fishing grounds produce a lot of delicious local fish. However, Miyazu City has adopted genome-edited tiger puffer fish as an official “Hometown Tax Return Gift” as part of a program to promote local regions around Japan. Despite local citizens demanding that it be revoked, the city will not listen.

Regional Fish is developing genome-edited fish in collaboration with Food & Life Companies, which owns Sushiro, the revolving sushi restaurant chain. It has established a joint venture with NTT for land-based aquaculture and claims to be planning to establish new land-based aquaculture facilities across the country.

Genome-edited fish are now gradually making their way into our daily lives. But there is no labelling. We, the consumers, have no choice. Consumers Union of Japan is calling on Regional Fish to stop the development and cultivation of genome-edited fish, and on Miyazu City to withdraw them from its official tax return program. Furthermore, we are also working with the fishing industry to stop the onshore cultivation of genome-edited fish. This is why we have organised this meeting in Kyoto, where genome-edited fish are being developed and farmed.

We hope you will join us at this meeting to help protect the future of our food supply!

Date: 23 September 2023 13:00 – 16:00

Venue: Hito Machi Koryukan Kyoto, Kyoto Main Conference Room

Address: 83-1, Umeminato-cho, Kaminoguchi-agaru, Nishi-Kiyamachi-Dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Participation fee: 500 yen

Capacity: 300 at the venue, 500 online

Application deadline: Tuesday 19 September

(Note: The meeting will be held in Japanese only)

Program

12:30 Doors open

13:00-13:05 Opening remarks

13:05-13:50 Part 1: Keynote speech “How will genome-edited foods change the future of food” by Setsuko Yasuda

13:50-14:25 Part 2: Talk session “What is the problem with genome-edited fish?” by Keisuke Amagasa and Masahigashi Kawada

14:25-14:35 Break

14:35-15:10 Part 3: Panel discussion “Genome-edited tiger puffer fish as a tax return gift for promoting hometowns”

15:10-15:40 Questions and answers

15:40-15:55 Appeal by fishermen, appeal on genome-edited tomatoes

15:55-16:00 Rally appeal, closing remarks

Japan Resources – 189

Biotechnology, Environment, Food, Japan Resources, Peace, ,

Please click here for our latest English newsletter (pdf): JR 189

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Contents:

From the Editors: Over 90 Consumer Organisations Have Signed Our Peace Appeal!

Symposium: Let’s Connect Citizens for Peace in Asia! Peace Action by Japan, Korea and Taiwan

90 + Support For Our Consumer Peace Effort

GM Zucchini Found in South Korea: How about Japan?

Action Day to Bring Citizens’ and Farmers’ Voices to the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to Stay GM Free

Open Letter of Inquiry on Artificial Turf

In the News: Corteva’s Genome-Edited Maize Not Commercially Cultivated at Present

From the Editors: Over 90 Consumer Organisations Have Signed Our Peace Appeal!

Consumers Union of Japan and Shufuren Association of Consumer Organizations, took the initiative to protest against Japan’s proposal to increase its military spending. Over 90 groups including many local co-operatives have now joined together. It is a pretty impressive movement!

For our Annual Meeting on 18 June we have invited speakers from Taiwan and South Korea, who share our views on peace in this region of the world. You can join us in Tokyo or follow the Peace Action online.

– Editors

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to stay GM free

Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Environment, ,

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the world’s leading forest product certifier, has decided to back away from a process that critics said would have opened the door to overturning FSC’s long-time core certification policy that prohibits the commercial use of genetically modified (GM) trees. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, which closely monitored the FSC discussions, noted: “The field testing and release of GM trees pose unprecedented threats to forests, wildlife, and communities that live near them.”

In November 2022, Consumers Union of Japan joined over 130 environmental and social justice groups from 34 countries that signed a statement to stop GM trees.

Japan Resources – 188

Biotechnology, Peace, ,

Please click here for our latest English newsletter (pdf): JR 188

JR-188Download

Contents:

From the Editors: Peace of Mind

Press Event: Consumers in Japan Oppose Increased Military Spending

Blog: Breaking Bread

How about it, World, Do We Care about Biological Diversity, or Not?

Consumers Union of Japan has Signed the Global Appeal to Stop Gene Drives

In the News: Doubling the Defense Budget Won’t be Easy for Japan

From the Editors: Peace of Mind

Consumers Union of Japan took the initiative to protest against the proposal to increase Japan’s military spending. 28 consumer organisations joined together, wanting to protect ourselves and others from the potential risk that Japan will once again be involved in aggressive warfare.

This year, we will also step up our activities at home and abroad against the risks associated with genetic engineering, especially genome editing and gene drives. We are reaching out to like-minded groups in other countries to give a voice to consumers and citizens, who all want to live peacefully.

Please stay updated with CUJ’s activities and news on our English website, as well as on our English Twitter account: https://twitter.com/consumerunionjp/