CPE
Member of Via Campesina
rue Sablonnière 18-1000 Bruxelles tel: 32 22173112 fax: 32 22184509
Coordination Paysanne Européenne
European Farmers Coordination
Europäische Bauern Koordination
Coordinadora Campesina Europea
Europese Boeren Vereniging
Coordenadora Labrega Europea
Europako Nekazarien Kordinakundea
Coordenadora Agricola Europeia
Sambandet av Europeiske B¢nder
Coordinamento Contadino Europeo
cpe@cpefarmers.org
www.cpefarmers.org
Brussels, September 1st, 2005
Mr Aleksander Kwasniewski
President of Poland
ul. Wiejska 10
00-950 Warszawa, Poland
fax. +48 22 695-22-38
Dear Sir,
The European Farmers Coordination (CPE), which groups 24 farmers organisations from 14 countries in
Europe, request that your honor consider the pardon from prison of Marion Zagorny. An activist farmer,
he was sentenced on 21 May 2003 for protesting the illegal smuggling of genetically modified organisms
(GMO) into Poland which suspended his previous pardon of a one year prison sentence from 9 June 2000.
Over the past five years, Marian Zagorny has publicly opposed, through a number of actions, the import of
genetically modified maize and grain for many substantial reasons.
Genetically modified crops can interbreed with and contaminate unmodified crops, creating offspring that
interact unpredictably with other organisms and the environment. This is especially dangerous for farmers
who wish to avoid genetically modified organisms and have no recourse to protect their crops from crosspollination and contamination of GMOs.In addition, GMO critics have raised questions about the ability of
bacteria in human intestines to pick up antibody resistant genes from the genetically modified food. This
would create powerful new bacteria that are resistant to known antibiotics, making human diseases harder
to treat. In short, neither the gentech industry nor the scientific community has determined the various
implications of genetically modified crops.
The impact of illegal imports to Poland is tremendous on the small scale farmers. Their livelihoods are
already threatened, as rich European companies flock to buy up fertile agricultural land. Marion Zagorny is
defending polish farmers' livelihoods as he opposes the smuggling of illegal maize, grain, chicken and pig
meat. Marion Zagorny was participating last year in the European and international seminar we organized
in France about the future of small farms in the enlarged Europe.
Poland should not prosecute and penalize an anti-GMO activist working to raise public awareness. We
encourage you, President Kwasniewski, to release Marion Zagorny and pardon all his actions
protesting the illegal importation of genetically modified crops into Poland.
Sincerely Yours,
The CPE Board : René Louail – Xosé Ramon Cendan- Heike Schiebeck – Ingeborg Tangeraas Géza Varga
p/o Gérard Choplin, coordinator
Prezes Sadu Okregowego
Wydzia³ IV Penitencjarny i Nadzoru nad Wykonywaniem Orzeczen Karnych
58-500 Jelenia Gora, ul. Wojska Polskiego 56
Poland
Dear Sir,
The European Farmers Coordination (CPE), which groups 24 farmers organisations from 14 countries in
Europe, request that your honor consider the pardon from prison of Marion Zagorny. An activist farmer,
he was sentenced on 21 May 2003 for protesting the illegal smuggling of genetically modified organisms
(GMO) into Poland which suspended his previous pardon of a one year prison sentence from 9 June 2000.
Over the past five years, Marian Zagorny has publicly opposed, through a number of actions, the import of
genetically modified maize and grain for many substantial reasons.
Genetically modified crops can interbreed with and contaminate unmodified crops, creating offspring that
interact unpredictably with other organisms and the environment. This is especially dangerous for farmers
who wish to avoid genetically modified organisms and have no recourse to protect their crops from crosspollination and contamination of GMOs.In addition, GMO critics have raised questions about the ability of
bacteria in human intestines to pick up antibody resistant genes from the genetically modified food. This
would create powerful new bacteria that are resistant to known antibiotics, making human diseases harder
to treat. In short, neither the gentech industry nor the scientific community has determined the various
implications of genetically modified crops.
The impact of illegal imports to Poland is tremendous on the small scale farmers. Their livelihoods are
already threatened, as rich European companies flock to buy up fertile agricultural land. Marion Zagorny is
defending polish farmers' livelihoods as he opposes the smuggling of illegal maize, grain, chicken and pig
meat. Marion Zagorny was participating last year in the European and international seminar we organized
in France about the future of small farms in the enlarged Europe.
Poland should not prosecute and penalize an anti-GMO activist working to raise public awareness. We
encourage you to release Marion Zagorny and pardon all his actions protesting the illegal
importation of genetically modified crops into Poland.
Sincerely Yours,
The CPE Board : René Louail – Xosé Ramon Cendan- Heike Schiebeck – Ingeborg Tangeraas Géza Varga
p/o Gérard Choplin, coordinator
Minister Sprawiedliwosci Prokurator Generalny RP Andrzej Kalwas
Ministerstwo Sprawiedliwosci
Al. Ujazdowskie 11, 00-950 Warszawa
Poland
Fax +48 22 621 30 95
Dear Sir,
The European Farmers Coordination (CPE), which groups 24 farmers organisations from 14 countries in
Europe, request that your honor consider the pardon from prison of Marion Zagorny. An activist farmer,
he was sentenced on 21 May 2003 for protesting the illegal smuggling of genetically modified organisms
(GMO) into Poland which suspended his previous pardon of a one year prison sentence from 9 June 2000.
Over the past five years, Marian Zagorny has publicly opposed, through a number of actions, the import of
genetically modified maize and grain for many substantial reasons.
Genetically modified crops can interbreed with and contaminate unmodified crops, creating offspring that
interact unpredictably with other organisms and the environment. This is especially dangerous for farmers
who wish to avoid genetically modified organisms and have no recourse to protect their crops from crosspollination and contamination of GMOs.In addition, GMO critics have raised questions about the ability of
bacteria in human intestines to pick up antibody resistant genes from the genetically modified food. This
would create powerful new bacteria that are resistant to known antibiotics, making human diseases harder
to treat. In short, neither the gentech industry nor the scientific community has determined the various
implications of genetically modified crops.
The impact of illegal imports to Poland is tremendous on the small scale farmers. Their livelihoods are
already threatened, as rich European companies flock to buy up fertile agricultural land. Marion Zagorny is
defending polish farmers' livelihoods as he opposes the smuggling of illegal maize, grain, chicken and pig
meat. Marion Zagorny was participating last year in the European and international seminar we organized
in France about the future of small farms in the enlarged Europe.
Poland should not prosecute and penalize an anti-GMO activist working to raise public awareness. We
encourage you to release Marion Zagorny and pardon all his actions protesting the illegal
importation of genetically modified crops into Poland.
Sincerely Yours,
The CPE Board : René Louail – Xosé Ramon Cendan- Heike Schiebeck – Ingeborg Tangeraas Géza Varga
p/o Gérard Choplin, coordinator