Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing Aug /Sept 1999
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing Aug /Sept 1999 |
American Independence Day 1999 - appropriate or ironic that this should be the day chosen by Friends of the Earth to hold a series of GM-free picnics across the country in support of the Five Year Freeze campaign which is aiming to allow at least some temporary independence from the unwanted products of the bio-tech corporations.
In Birmingham the picnic was held in Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston. As the sun shone, tables were set up by the bandstand, decked out with a large banner, and local members came with picnic goodies, all free of Genetically Modified Organisms and many of them organic. We were joined by members of Organic Roundabout, the Birmingham-based organic food distribution co-operative. During the afternoon the picnic drew the interest of many people out in the park, keen to discuss the issues surrounding genetic engineering and its introduction into our food supply, and pleased to sample the various sandwiches, breads, cakes, fruits and vegetables.
The Five Year Freeze campaign is calling for a five year freeze on the growing of genetically engineered crops for any commercial purpose, the import of GM foods and farm crops and the patenting of genetic resources for food and farming. We were able to get a large pile of Five Year Freeze postcards signed which have all been sent off to MPs on behalf of those who attended. We will be interested to see the responses, so please let the food campaigners know if you hear back from your MP on this issue and we will compile a summary for the next newsletter.
Many thanks to all those who made or brought food for the picnic and helped make this event a great success.