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[geoff]

Hi there from Greenpeace,

Just when we thought the threats to our environment couldn't get any worse after world leaders failed to secure a climate-saving deal in Copenhagen, we're now stunned to discover that the European Commission is exploiting a 'backdoor' loophole to get genetically manipulated crops on to supermarket shelves in the EU - and into our mouths.

Health Commissioner John Dalli, in agreement with EU President José Manuel Barroso, recently authorised the cultivation of a GM crop for the first time since 1998.

The Amflora potato, developed by German agro-chemical company BASF, has been approved without debate - against the wishes of many member states and public opinion. And hot on the trail of this GM potato are three pesticide-producing maize varieties - all awaiting authorisation.

We need to stop this backdoor move towards GM farming in its tracks. And the good news is that we can - a new initiative allows 1 million EU citizens a unique chance to make official requests to the European Commission.

So we've joined forces with online campaigning commuity Avaaz to gather the 1 million signatures needed to trigger a formal citizens' request to President Barroso. We're asking him to suspend the introduction of all GM crops, and set up an independent scientific body to research and regulate their impact on our environment.

And we're nearly there - across Europe over 850,000 people have already signed up!

Now we need you to add your voice to our petition, and let President Barroso know that there is strong EU-wide opposition to his plans, and that we won't allow him to force GM foods on us against our will. Please click here and add your name:-

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering/take-action/EU-Petition
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it's never too late

[douglagh]

Just so we all know there is an alternative view, perhaps this paper is worth reading. Genetic modification has been going on for centuries - dog variants for example. Direct gene manipulation is a newer science. There are massive benefits, indeed the survival of whole communities in Africa in global waming scenarios may absolutely depend on GM crops. There are of course some risks, bit like life today.

http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0000008

[Rhodie]

The bad press surrounding GM crops is mainly due to Monsanto. They produced and marketed crops that were immune to their own brand of glyphosate weed-killers (RoundUp). This resulted in an increase in weed-killer use. They also made certain that plants grown from their seed did not produce viable seed themselves and the farmer was obliged to buy new seed each season. We will not feed the extra 3 to 4 billion people that will be on the planet by mid-century if this is all GM has to offer.

Fortunately Monsanto is not the only company in the field. Others are working on and producing plants that are resistant to pests and diseases and so do not require the application of pesticides. Strains are also being developed that are more productive and others that can be grown in more saline conditions. These companies will feed the world’s future billions in the predicted changing climates.

I will be amongst the first at Groves buying a GM seed potato that will not be stricken with blight half way through July.
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It's later than you think

[geoff]

I'm afraid I don't see why feeding the hungry third world has to involve GM crops being grown here.

Wouldn't a better way to tackle third-world hunger be to fund irrigation and education projects and to stop bribing them to use their land to grow out of season luxury crops like mange-toute peas in December to fly to the west, instead of much larger crops of staple foods for their own people ?

The multinational chemical companies stand to make huge profits selling more agri-chemicals for us to eat via their newly bred chemical-resistant plants.

Just like the 'digital switchover', this is another case of government by stealth. They think that if they do things slowly enough that no one will notice until it is too late - and in reality they are probably correct. Were you ever actually asked if you wanted to lose analogue TV ? or if you wanted GM crops here ?

G.
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it's never too late

[douglagh]

Had a conversation with a cereal farmer who I know well. On the question of roundup ready wheat, he would be using it if the Govt. would allow it. Although Monsanto tie in their own weedkiller, it would be used less frequently and hence it would be cheaper and safer. On the question of sterile hybrids, it is not significant, because farmers buy seed corn from the best/cheapest source every year anyway. He also says the issue is to keep increasing yields to feed ever increasing populations. It would be safer to have resistance engineered into seed rather than supply complex and expensive chemicals into the hands of third world farmers. Without one or the other, the crop yield will be miserable. And no, organic solutions are more complex and expensive with respect to getting the sheer bulk of animal waste transported to the big cereal producers.
Never as simple as it may seem...