Endangered species and human health are at risk! 750,000,000 genetically engineered mosquitoes are scheduled to be released in Florida soon. Take action now to stop the first-ever mass release of a GMO insect.
Oxitec, the British biotech corporation that developed the GMO mosquito, won’t stop in Florida. They already have plans to launch an experiment in Harris County, Texas, and to sell boxes of GMO mosquitoes directly to uninformed consumers across the U.S. in stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Take Action: Tell President Joe Biden, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) Executive Director Andrea Leal to stop the reckless GMO mosquito experiments!
In February, a concerned Florida Keys resident, Meagan H., mailed a letter to the White House with an urgent plea for President Biden to intervene to stop the experiment. Two Congressional inquiries, first by former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL-26) and second by current officeholder, Congressman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-26), have also been mailed to the EPA. The current administration has not responded to any inquiries. (Correspondence letters can be found HERE.)
Four academic researchers, including a Harvard scientist and three others who support genetic engineering testified at an Islamorada Village Council Meeting on March 18, 2021, warning against the impending GMO mosquito experiments. Their testimony can be viewed here beginning at the 18:40 timestamp.
Florida plans to release over a billion genetically engineered mosquitoes into the Florida Keys, one of the most eco-sensitive areas in Florida. As they did in Brazil, the GMO mosquitoes could reproduce with wild mosquitos. Their release could have grave consequences, potentially creating more aggressive and virulent mosquitoes, potentially impacting human health and threatening endangered species in the Everglades and Florida Keys.
Oxitec has repeatedly lied to the public. The corporation has made false claims about whether the mosquitoes being released will be able to bite people and animals. There have been no studies on the ability of these mosquitoes to reduce disease transmission, and Oxitec does not make any such claims. The uncontrolled experimental release of GMO mosquitoes provides no benefits to the community. Yet, Oxitec is racing to get the mosquitoes released quickly, despite significant gaps in the research:
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No Environmental Impact Statement
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No Endangered Species Assessments
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No studies on human health impacts
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Scientists who support genetic engineering are calling for more research prior to any experimental release
This is truly madness. Take action to stop Florida from launching this genetically engineered mosquito experiment.
Download the educational brief, "Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes: Coming Soon to Florida and Texas?" to learn more.
Take Action: Tell President Joe Biden, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) Executive Director Andrea Leal to stop the reckless GMO mosquito experiments!