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STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
May 10, 2008
We the people of the United States fully support Koreans who are opposing their government's decision to import U.S. beef that could be contaminated with Mad Cow Disease. We find the following to be true:
U.S. beef poses a health threat to consumers in the United States and abroad.
The trade liberalization of beef in Korea will benefit powerful U.S. meat corporations.
The United States and South Korean governments must re-negotiate the agreement on lifting the ban on U.S. beef to safeguard public health in South Korea.
U.S. beef is not safe. Among the few countries whose cattle has been afflicted with mad cow disease, the United States is the only country that continues to allow cows to be raised on mixed milk and cattle blood. To date, American medical experts continue to warn the public about the lack of U.S. regulations to adequately protect the public from mad cow disease. Under the current meat slaughtering and processing practices, U.S. beef may carry the highest risk of mad cow disease, for which citizens across the United States have been organizing and fighting against.
Last February, Westland-Hallmark Meat, a major distributor of school lunches recalled 64,350 tons of U.S. beef, among the largest recalls in history. As consumers who deeply care about the health of our families and communities, we can verify that both the U.S. government and U.S. beef industry have not demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting consumers. Thus, we are concerned about the Korean government's recent decision to weaken the already weak regulations governing the U.S. meat industry by allowing no age limit on beef import and importing beef of all parts including intestines and bones that are known to have the highest risk of mad cow disease. As Korea is the 3rd largest importer of beef from United States, since 2003 when the outbreak of mad cow disease occurred, Tyson Food and Cargill suffered lower profits. With a growing number of Americans skeptical about the safety of U.S. beef and reducing their consumption, it is clear why the beef industry needs new markets.
As citizens of the United States, we are concerned about the potential risk of Mad Cow Disease in U.S. beef. That is why we are so inspired by the efforts of thousands of Korean children, students, parents, elders, teachers and people from all walks of life in educating the Korean people and for participating in mass candlelight vigils to oppose the recent Korea-US trade negotiations that lifted the ban on U.S. beef. 82% of all people in South Korea are urging its government to re-negotiate the U.S. beef import agreement, and thousands of people are flooding into the streets throughout the country to express their concerns over food safety.
The Korean government's decision to import U.S. beef assuming its safety for human consumption threatens people in Korea and all around the globe who consume Korean food products. It will also set a horrible precedent for other countries to follow. The current global food system is a reminder that people around the globe must work together to protect each other's health and communities.
In solidarity with the people of Korea we demand the following:
- We urge the U.S. government to protect the health of Americans and the people around the globe from mad cow disease by shutting down inhumane and unsafe practices of its beef industry.
- We urge the U.S. government to re-negotiate the terms of exporting U.S. beef with weaker countries, including Korea, based on protecting the rights and safety of the consumer.
- The South Korean government must stop its "mad cow policy" and guarantee the freedom of speech for all people engaged in peaceful candlelight vigils in Korea.
- The U.S. and Korean governments, in upholding the will of its people, must cancel the beef agreement.
Concerned Americans against Mad Cow Disease
Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto |