Action Briefing Oct 2005 - Nov 2005
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Genetically Modified Crops Back on the Agenda

"Coexistence"

In 2004, FOE held a GM scarecrows action in London in anticipation of a consultation on GM. Public opinion was strongly against GM, with even the Daily Mail joining in outraged condemnation.

A bit shocked by this strength of opinion, the Government went quiet on the issue for a couple of years. But suddenly, in the middle of the summer holidays, out comes the consultation on the ‘coexistence’ of GM and conventional crops.

A conspiracy theorist might wonder whether they have noticed that all the major NGOs are placing nearly all their campaign resources into climate change, and saw an opportunity… but, whatever the reason, this consultation ends on 19th October.

The proposals on which we are consulted is even worse than campaigners had suspected.

Firstly and most importantly, why are we having this consultation at all? The public emphatically rejected the idea of GM crops being grown in the UK – or even GM foodstuffs being sold – during the Government’s previous consultation. 18.5 million of us live in local authority areas that have declared themselves ‘GM Free’. They can’t even say that it is just scaremongering on the potential dangers of eating the stuff, as that consultation clearly showed that most people are primarily concerned about corporate control of farming and food, and biodiversity issues, rather than that the concept of a tomato with fish genes in it makes them feel slightly nervous.
Unfortunately, biotech firms have made 12 different applications to grow crops in the EU, so, public opinion and a fair degree of scientific and masses of economic evidence notwithstanding, the risk is still with us.

After this, the most blindingly obvious flaw in the consultation is on separation distances. A bee can travel for around 5 kilometres transferring pollen, and some beetles much further. Separation distances between GM and conventional crops with which they can interbreed is proposed from as little as 35 metres.

FOR GM potatoes, the proposals state that the producer will be responsible for removing all GM matter from the field before planting the next crop, but everyone knows that potatoes will spring up for years after you intended to be growing them.

Other massive flaws include a startling weakness on liability. Can you imagine the biotech companies being so keen if this document required them to compensate for ill effects on humans; loss of farmers’ livelihoods; damage to wildlife; cross-contamination with other crops; loss of organic status?* Funnily enough, the liability only extends to the contamination of a specific crop, rather than the more ongoing impacts. Oh, and honey producers are not even mentioned. There’s more, but I’m running out of space.

If you think this is another campaign for privileged foodies who aren’t interested in feeding the world and can’t bear the idea of exposing little Tristan and Jemima to anything more risky than an organic lentil, then try www.biotech-info.net/indian_farmers.html which tells the story of a citizens jury of Indian farmers and others who concluded that GM was part of the economic colonisation with which corporations try to control people. There have also been demonstrations by farmers all over the world including India, Brazil and Pakistan. Farmers have been sued by Monsanto for growing their crops without a license when this has actually been unwilling contamination from a nearby GM field.

Back to the UK: Luckily, if you’re as outraged by this travesty of democracy** as I am, FOE have squeezed an excellent briefing, email action and other assistance out of the time they have that is not devoted to the climate change campaign. If you can find a moment to act on it, you can phone for or pick up a leaflet or briefing from the Warehouse in Digbeth, or go to www.stopgmcontamination.org for the briefing and the quick email action. If you want to do more, you can tell your MP - even if you’ve already got a date with them about the Big Ask – your WI group, your gardening club… please help us stop the Government from sneaking this one past us while we’ve been looking the other way!

Karen Leach

* Most of these have actually happened. I’d supply evidence if I had the time!
**Mind you I suppose such travesties are becoming quite commonplace.

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