Action Briefing Dec 2004 - Jan 2005
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Scarecrows make a stand against GM contamination

Scarecrows took to the streets on Saturday 30th October as Birmingham Friends of the Earth campaigners called on the Government not to allow the country’s farms and food to be contaminated by genetically modified (GM) crops.

As part of a national day of action, sixty-five Friends of the Earth groups made scarecrows and held street stalls where members of the public were encouraged to sign postcards to their local MPs demanding they support tough new laws to prevent GM contamination. We were privileged to have our action filmed by 186 Media who had dropped by to record interviews with us for an interactive resource about GM issues aimed at Open University students.

There are currently no GM crops being grown in the UK, and apart from some GM maize being grown in Spain the EU remains GM-free, but this could soon change. In the last year or so biotech companies have lodged ten applications with the European Commission to approve the commercial planting of GM crops throughout the EU. The worry is that GM crops may contaminate conventional or organic crops in neighbouring fields, or during handling and processing, leading to GM contamination of food.

In July this year, the Government, still intent on bringing GM crops to Britain, announced its plans for a consultation on 'GM coexistence and liability'. That same month, a National Opinion Poll (NOP) World survey for Friends of the Earth revealed that out of the 2002 adults polled, 64 per cent supported new laws to prevent GM crops contaminating non-GM crops, whereas only 17 per cent said that the potential benefits of GM outweighed the risks from contamination.

The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) held meetings with a limited number of 'specific stakeholders' over the summer and will begin to consult more widely before the end of the year (although this may now be delayed until 2005). DEFRA will consult on 'a proposal that farmers growing GM crops should comply with a code of practice on co-existence which has statutory backing, with the aim of ensuring that unwanted GM presence in non-GM crops is within the 0.9 per cent labelling threshold adopted by the EU' (see DEFRA's press release www.defra.gov.uk/news/2004/040716a.htm).

Friends of the Earth believes that Britain should stay GM-free but if the Government does decide to allow GM crop planting then we want a coexistence regime in place that eliminates GM contamination to 0.1 per cent, the lowest detectable level.

Last year's report by the Government's Strategy Unit concluded that the public's refusal to eat GM food meant that there was little economic value in the current generation of GM crops, and that continuing public opposition would also affect their long-term future. A review of the science of GM, led by the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, highlighted the significant gaps in our knowledge concerning the potential impacts of GM food and crops on human health and the environment. More than half (54 per cent) of those polled in the 2003 'GM Nation?' public debate said they never wanted to see GM crops grown in the UK and only 8 per cent were happy to eat GM food.

If the Government can choose so consistently to ignore public opinion, as well as that of its own economic and scientific advisors, and allow GM crops to be grown in this country, then we should at least be able to choose GM-free food and know that effective means are in place to minimise the spread of GM contamination. Farmers and consumers deserve a guarantee that organic and 'GMO-free' crops and foods are what they say they are and have not been adulterated by GM organisms or their derivatives.

James Botham

Take Action
Join us at the rally and mass lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 23rd February 2005. Talk to MPs, listen to inspirational speakers, and meet and network with campaigners.

You can register for the event and find out about transport arrangements to Westminster at www.gmfreescarecrows.org, or by contacting Marie on 01582 438 111, email marie@foe.co.uk. Please register by 10th January 2005.

There will be a separate event in Wales to lobby Welsh Assembly Members. For more info, visit www.foecymru.co.uk