Difference between revisions of "GMO Compass"
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*[[Gerd Spelsberg]]<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP6_PROJ&ACTION=D&RCN=74127 GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet], CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref>. He is founder of the web PR firm [[i-bio Information Biowissenschaften]] ([[Transgen]]).<ref>[http://www.i-bio.info/werwirsind/g.spelsberg/1.html Gerd Spelsberg], i-bio Information Biowissenschaften website, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref> | *[[Gerd Spelsberg]]<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP6_PROJ&ACTION=D&RCN=74127 GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet], CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref>. He is founder of the web PR firm [[i-bio Information Biowissenschaften]] ([[Transgen]]).<ref>[http://www.i-bio.info/werwirsind/g.spelsberg/1.html Gerd Spelsberg], i-bio Information Biowissenschaften website, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref> | ||
*TUV NORD EnSys Hannover GmbH & CO. KG<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP6_PROJ&ACTION=D&RCN=74127 GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet], CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref> | *TUV NORD EnSys Hannover GmbH & CO. KG<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP6_PROJ&ACTION=D&RCN=74127 GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet], CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Skewed poll== | ||
| + | In May 2008, in the days running up to an important meeting of European Union Commissioners to discuss the approval of a number of GMOs, GMO Compass ran a poll on GM foods and crops on its website. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Simultaneously, noted GMWatch, a number of pro-GM lobby groups e-mailed their supporters telling them to complete the poll ahead of the meeting on the 7th. Here, for example, is what the [[European Federation of Biotechnology]] told its members: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :A pro-biotech internet survey will be launched on the www.GMO-compass.org website in the coming 2 days and would encourage you to answer the few questions and circulate this email encouraging other people to log on and answer the yes/no questions asap and certainly before midday on May 6th.<ref>[http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/9562 Complaint about online poll re GM crops and hunger], GMWatch, 20 May 2008, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | GMWatch reported that the pro-GM lobbyist [[Klaus Ammann]] was even more explicit about the purpose of the poll on his listserv: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :I am sure you have been alerted through several channels about a poll, which is of political importance. it has been distributed since last Wednesday: the pro-biotech survey is now on line at www.gmo-compass.org and needs your input please! | ||
| + | |||
| + | :THE DEADLINE IS BY TOMORROW 8.00 pm | ||
| + | |||
| + | :The objective is to get as many positive answers as possible by next Tuesday evening before the College of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday but also to continue collecting positive votes at least until the day before the 27 EU Ministers for the environment meet to discuss GMOs as well on June 5th.<ref>[http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/9562 Complaint about online poll re GM crops and hunger], GMWatch, 20 May 2008, acc 21 Jan 2011</ref> | ||
==Contact== | ==Contact== | ||
Revision as of 00:54, 21 January 2011
GMO Compass is a pro-GM website that makes claims to neutrality:
- GMO Compass is not decidedly 'for' or 'against' genetic engineering. The website does not seek to discourage the use of genetic engineering in food and agriculture, nor does it seek to promote it.[1]
GMO Compass is maintained by the biotech PR firm Genius and web PR firm i-bio Information Biowissenschaften (Transgen).[2]
Who writes the content?
The GMO Compass site claims that the content "is the work of independent science journalists. The writers of GMO Compass are not contractually restricted and exercise journalistic freedom in the selection and presentation of the website's content."[3]
Helena Paul, author of the book Hungry Corporations, told GMWatch that she sent a message asking for a list of the journalists to GMO Compass's "comments welcome" address. It bounced. However, the message bounced back from the following address: cloewer[AT]genius-biotech.de
- a Genius email address.
"cloewer" turns out to be: Dr. Christoph Löwer, GENIUS GmbH Robert-Bosch-Str. 7 D-64293 Darmstadt Germany ... e-mail: christoph.loewer[AT]genius.de[4]
Staff
- Dr. Kristina Sinemus - CEO.[5] She is also the CEO of Genius.[6]
Funding and aims
The setting-up of the GMO Compass website was financially supported by the European Union within the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme from 1 January 2005 until 28 February 2007.[7]
Between 2005 and 2007, GMO Compass was funded by European taxpayers to the tune of 460,020 Euros.[8]
However, the European Commission and other EU agencies say they "are not responsible for the content".[9]
Cordis, the EU Commission's information service, describes the GMO Compass project as follows:[10]
- GMO-COMPASS aims at the establishment of a European consumer-oriented website (www.gmo-compass.org) providing easily comprehensible information on issues of safety evaluation of GMOs and GMO-products. The information on risk analysis, assessment and risk management will be embedded in the general GMO debate closely linked to political, legal and socio-economic aspects along the food chain. A network of local correspondents in EU member states support reporting the national GMO debate. GMO-COMPASS complements the existing information supply and transparency measures of EU institutions and state bodies as well as the websites of lobby groups and scientific institutions. The consumer will be reached:
- (1) by the choice of issues presented at the website, which will be orientated consequently along the information needs of consumers
- (2) by offering science-based information due to the expectations of laypersons embedded in a balanced reporting including counter-expertise and views of non-scientists
- (3) by an intensive off-line and on-line marketing (e.g. content co-operations with consumer- and commercial food related websites, co-operations with consumer organisations)
- (4) by appealing journalistic outcomes such as news, interviews, stories, condensed (pocket) information, Q&As, fact sheets and
- (5) a close cross-linking between information and public dialogue (on-line discourse).
- GMO-COMPASS will support important goals in the EU-commission's strategy for consumer information: - stronger presence and awareness of science-based facts in the public debate - transparency in the safety evaluation regulatory practice of GMOs - by that - supporting more public trust in food safety of GMOs and the precautionary principle- providing and facilitating a dialogue between consumers, scientific experts and stakeholders on risk perception and consumer expectations on food quality and safety of GMO.
Cordis names the contact organisation for GMO Compass as Genius.[11] It lists two other "participant organisations":
- Gerd Spelsberg[12]. He is founder of the web PR firm i-bio Information Biowissenschaften (Transgen).[13]
- TUV NORD EnSys Hannover GmbH & CO. KG[14]
Skewed poll
In May 2008, in the days running up to an important meeting of European Union Commissioners to discuss the approval of a number of GMOs, GMO Compass ran a poll on GM foods and crops on its website.
Simultaneously, noted GMWatch, a number of pro-GM lobby groups e-mailed their supporters telling them to complete the poll ahead of the meeting on the 7th. Here, for example, is what the European Federation of Biotechnology told its members:
- A pro-biotech internet survey will be launched on the www.GMO-compass.org website in the coming 2 days and would encourage you to answer the few questions and circulate this email encouraging other people to log on and answer the yes/no questions asap and certainly before midday on May 6th.[15]
GMWatch reported that the pro-GM lobbyist Klaus Ammann was even more explicit about the purpose of the poll on his listserv:
- I am sure you have been alerted through several channels about a poll, which is of political importance. it has been distributed since last Wednesday: the pro-biotech survey is now on line at www.gmo-compass.org and needs your input please!
- THE DEADLINE IS BY TOMORROW 8.00 pm
- The objective is to get as many positive answers as possible by next Tuesday evening before the College of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday but also to continue collecting positive votes at least until the day before the 27 EU Ministers for the environment meet to discuss GMOs as well on June 5th.[16]
Contact
- Genius GmbH
- Robert-Bosch-Str. 7
- 64293 Darmstadt
- Germany
- www.gmo-compass.org
Notes
- ↑ Editorial principles, GMO Compass website, acc 20 Jan 2011
- ↑ Team, GMO Compass website, acc 20 Jan 2011
- ↑ Editorial principles, GMO Compass website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ European Commission funding biotech PR effort, GMWatch, 21 Jul 2007, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ Team, GMO Compass website, acc 20 Jan 2011
- ↑ Company, Genius website, acc 20 Jan 2011
- ↑ Imprint, GMO Compass website, acc 20 Jan 2011
- ↑ GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet, CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ Imprint, GMO Compass website, acc 20 Jan 2011
- ↑ GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet, CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet, CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet, CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ Gerd Spelsberg, i-bio Information Biowissenschaften website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ GMO Compass Project Fact Sheet, CORDIS website, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ Complaint about online poll re GM crops and hunger, GMWatch, 20 May 2008, acc 21 Jan 2011
- ↑ Complaint about online poll re GM crops and hunger, GMWatch, 20 May 2008, acc 21 Jan 2011
