What is Genetic Engineering? (GE)Also known as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or Genetic Modification (GM) Genetic Engineering is the direct intervention on the genetic makeup of an organisms usually by introducing foreign DNA into its gene pool by means that would not occur naturally. This method enables humans to create artificial organisms which are no longer the result of the natural means of evolutionary development. Why Genetic Engineering?We are told that it will enable crops to:  | withstand weed killer, so weeds can easily be killed | | grow stronger | | give better yields | | withstand drought better | | help "third world" countries |
Who are the Pro-GE Activists?Countries supporting GE crops: UK, USA. Companies developing GE crops: Aventis, Bayer, Monsanto, Syngenta. Sneaking it in - Monsanto's strategy for Europe"The hope of the industry is that over time the market is so flooded [with GE] that there's nothing you can do about it, you just sort of surrender." Don Westfall, vice-president Promar International, major US food industry consultancy.
Why NOT Genetic Engineering? | GE crops create pollen which contaminates other plants | | GE crops have not done what the makers say they will | | Some GE crops cannot be re-bred: farmers MUST BUY the seed. | | Unless GE is kept in hermetic containment and not allowed to enter the biosphere it will pollute other organisms and get beyond control. | | We do not know the long-term effects of humans or animals eating food with GE ingredients. |
What has History Taught Us?What is the connection between Genetic Engineering of plants and: | Radioactivity | | X-rays | | DDT | | Mercury | | (many others) |
The connection is that the danger of all the above was not realised until many decades after their discovery and use! Radioactivity was originally thought to be safe below certain limits. Over the years, these limits have been reduced and reduced. Now experts wonder if there is a safe lower limit. X-rays were used even to check new shoes for size. I have been subject to X-rays on my feet for this in several shoe shops when I was young. Now they are not used because it has been found that the effects are cumulative. When dentists x-ray your teeth, why do they now go out of the room, or behind a screen? Because of the cumulative effect. This has taken decades to find out about. DDT was used in abandon when I was young. I can remember filling a "Flit" spray with DDT and spraying my Dad's greenhouse, etc, to get rid of bugs. It is now known as a very resistant Organochlorine taking a long time to break down. It is now banned - in "western" countries. Mercury has now been found to pose concerns for health and the environment worldwide
The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys and developing foetus. Mercury contamination can be from ambient air, ingestion of drinking water and food contaminated with mercury and exposure from dental amalgams and medical treatments. The United Nations Environment Programme are carrying out a Global Mercury Assessment and will report in December 2002. Why do we not learn from the mistakes of history?We do not know or understand all the possible damage that can be caused by GE crops. So why are the Pro-GE companies not compelled to learn about this inside sealed laboratories? Why are governments deliberately risking the release GE pollen into the atmosphere and causing pollution of other species? There is a particular huge problem with GE crops. When (it is not a question of "if") GE pollen interacts with other plants, then the foreign genes spread. This is a natural process which cannot be stopped. So what damage will be caused in the future? And what is the future of Organic Farming in which GE is banned? How can an Organic farm NOT be contaminated? And now that GE genes have been released into the environment - what can be done when governments eventually wake up to the fact that these dangerous genes are free?
And who will pay for the research and the cleanup operation? I bet it is not the companies responsible for it, and who are making their fat profits right now. Message to governments: you need to get "the polluter pays" laws enacted very urgently so that these, and other, companies will think twice before polluting the environment. How can Consumers Choose?Consumer choice is reducing rapidly. In the European Union (EU) a product can be said to be GE-free even if it has 0.1% GE content! The EU is now discussing increasing this to up to 0.7%. At this (exponential) rate the contamination might have reached 35% by 2020. Please read the Greenpeace "Seeds of Trouble" update below, and use the links to read more about the problem of GE and then EU citizens can take action. Seeds of Trouble Updateby Radagast on 21 October 2002 An update from Greenpeace GE campaigner Jim Thomas. The plot to contaminate all European seeds with genetically engineered varieties is beginning to run into difficulties - thanks in part to the effort of Greenpeace cyberactivists. On 14th October a delegation of farmers and environmentalists including Greenpeace delivered the 'save our seeds' petition to the EU commissioners for Agriculture (Franz Fischler) and for Consumer protection (David Byrne) - the petition was signed by over 70,000 individuals and 300 organisations representing over 25 million members. Both commissioners seemed surprised at the level of contamination, 7000 million GE plants, that the Seed contamination Directive could unleash. On the same day the Italian Agricultural minister spoke out on how important it was to keep seeds free of GE - Italy it seems is now definitely joining Austria in fighting to save our seeds. One week later and it's the industry's turn. The European Seed Association have taken over a hotel in central Brussels, closed down a whole street and the botanic garden and are meeting behind a ring of razor wire, guarded by over 110 police in riot vans! Top of their agenda is the GE seed contamination directive which they have lobbied so hard for.. but it seems they really don't want the public anywhere near their discussions. The latest news from the European Commission is encouraging. it seems that the vote on the seed contamination directive may be delayed again and there are even suggestions from some parliamentarians that it could be illegal for this unelected technical committee to make the final decision to release more GE contamination than Europe has ever seen. Let's hope so - but if the razor wire and lines of police in central Brussels are anything to go by the Seed industry (Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta) are more determined than ever to get away with GE contamination regardless of public concern. If you haven't yet sent an email telling your Agriculture minister not to tolerate GE contamination of seeds please do so... even razor wire can't stop a cyberaction. Greenpeace has a new briefing on the GE seed contamination directive "Save our seeds: Agriculture and Environment Threatened by GE seed contamination law" - you can read it online at http://ge.greenpeace.org If you are a European resident and have not yet sent a letter to your agriculture minister, you can choose an action for a number of countries by clicking here. |
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