Greenpeace has launched a campaign against Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist for backing a bill that attempts to coerce African nations into accepting food by suggesting that it could be tied to receipt of AIDS prevention funding.

On Wednesday President Bush charged that European nations were perpetuating starvation in Africa by subsidizing agricultural exports and by objecting to the use of genetically engineered crops.

Bush claimed that American efforts to reduce hunger in Africa have been thwarted by European policies.

This is the latest attack from the White House on countries that oppose genetically engineered crops.

The U.S. has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against nations who had barred genetically engineered food.

And now President Bush has signed an AIDS bill that suggests the U.S. will withhold giving AIDS medications to African nations if they refuse to accept genetically engineered food aid.

In response to the AIDS bill, Greenpeace has launched a campaign against Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist.

Earlier this week Greenpeace filed a complaint with the State of Tennessee calling for an ethics investigation of Frist, who is a doctor by profession.

The group says Frist has backed a bill that attempts to coerce African nations into accepting food by suggesting that it could be tied to receipt of AIDS prevention funding. Greenpeace says such action flies in the face of the physician’s duty to protect and foster free, uncoerced choices.

• Charles Margulis, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Specialist.