[diggers350] [Fwd: ACT NOW TO STOP COMMERCIALISATION OF GM CROPS!]

Carol Kearney carolk at foe.co.uk
Wed Feb 9 14:04:12 GMT 2000


> Dear GM Campaigner,
> 
> This email is to alert you to an urgent call for action regarding the
> Government's intention to fully commercialise GM Maize THIS MONTH!
> 
> It is almost certain that the Government will decide to place the first
> GM seed onto the National Seed List at the end of February.  The seed
> will be herbicide tolerant maize developed by Aventis (formerly called
> AgrEvo).  This variety will be added to the National List despite the
> lack of convincing evidence that it is safe for the environment and
> human health.  If the listing goes ahead GM maize will be legally sold
> and grown in the UK.
> 
> This decision follows an announcement by the Government that it will not
> allow GM crops to be grown commercially until after the farm-scale
> trials are completed.  If the decision to List is made, the Government
> will have limited legal powers to prevent commercial growing and it will
> be very reliant on a voluntary agreement with the biotechnology
> industry.
> 
> The good news is that we can all individually object to this process!
> At the end of February when the announcement is made, we will then have
> a very limited period in which to object - about 14 days - so swift
> action will be required by everyone who wishes to object.  PLEASE JOIN
> FOE in opposing this ill-judged decision by the Government.
> 
> We all have a democratic right, in low, to stop this happening!  This is
> contained in the current Seed Regulations and represents the only point
> in the whole GM approval process at which interested individuals have a
> statutory right to intervene.
> 
> Attached to this email is a briefing which describes how you can help to
> stop GM seeds being put on the National List - in .txt format, so
> everyone should be able to open it.  If you can't open it, you can visit
> our website and download your own copy (this is not live today - 8
> February - but will be live sometime in the next few days).  The
> briefings give an overview of some grounds on which you can object -
> please use this to start giving some thought to and preparing the
> representations you may wish to make to the relevant Minister.  All of
> the actions you need to take are also detailed in the briefing, but
> roughly, these include:
> 
> *       deciding if you want to object (directly yourself by paying the
> required fee - this is the best way to do it if you can afford it; or
> asking FOE to represent your interests if you can't afford to pay)
> *       writing now to your relevant Minister to register an interest and
> asking him/her to keep you informed when they announce their decision at
> the end of February
> *       raising the issue with your MP.
> (the briefing describes in detail how to do each of these, please read
> it before taking action).
> 
> We very much hope that you can help FOE successfully object to the
> National Listing of the first GM seed.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> --
> Carol Kearney
> Campaign Assistant
> Real Food Campaign
> Friends of the Earth
> 
> 0171 566 1602 (telephone)
> 0171 490 0881 (fax)
> 
>                    *****Check Out Our Web Site*****
> 
>                   http://www.foe.co.uk/realfood
> 
> REAL FOOD is food we can trust.  It is free from contamination by
> antibiotics, pesticide residues, genetic modification, hormones, and
> pathogens such as e coli and salmonella.  Real Food is produced on real
> farms, not factories. It is produced/processed locally and protects
> wildlife and the environment as well as human health.
> 
>   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>               Briefing
> 
>                                                             February 2000
> 
>                              Act Now to Stop
>                          Commercialisation of GM
>                                  Crops!
> 
>                               Introduction
> 
> In February 2000, the first genetically modified seed
> variety, is expected to go onto the National List of
> agricultural plant varieties. Once it is on this List, the
> biotechnology company Aventis will be able to sell
> GM maize seeds to farmers - despite the fact that the
> Government's farm-scale trials of GM maize will
> not be finished for another 3 years!
> 
> But the good news is that we can object to this
> recommendation, and demand a public hearing.
> Please contact FOE if you would like a more
> detailed legal briefing.
> 
>                              What to do now
> 
> We need to move fast. Firstly, if you want to object
> officially you must register your concern with the
> Government immediately. In December 1999, the
> Government proposed changes to the 1982 Seeds
> Regulations to take away our right to demand a
> public hearing, and instead leave it to the Minister's
> discretion. To make sure you don't lose these rights,
> we believe you should register now.
> You must also be ready to respond with your written
> objections, and demands for a hearing, by the
> middle of March.
> 
>                              How to Register
> 
> Write now to the relevant Minister (see end of
> Briefing), as follows:
> "Dear Minister,
> As a [consumer, farmer, gardener, allotment holder,
> environmental organisation, bee keeper, whatever
> applies], I am a person who would be affected by
> any proposed decision which you might make to add
> a genetically modified variety to the National List.
> As such, I am entitled to make written and oral
> representations in connection with such a proposed
> decision.
>  I would be very grateful if you would inform me as
> soon as you make any such proposed decision.
> Yours faithfully,...".
> 
> Send it right away, as the letter must arrive during
> the first half of February. There is no guarantee
> that you will receive a response.
> 
>                               How to object
> 
> At the end of February, the Government will publish
> its decision to put the GM maize onto the National
> List. After that there are only about 2 weeks to
> object. So we need to prepare now.
> 
> You'll have to show how you are 'interested' in the
> decision. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
> Food has told FOE that "a wide range of people [are
> interested], e.g. individuals, farming interests, plant
> breeders, consumers, environmental groups etc.".
> Bee-keepers, allotment holders and public bodies
> with duties to provide food in their schools, homes
> etc. would also qualify.  In other words almost
> anybody can object.
> 
> You'll also have to decide whether you want to
> object directly, or through somebody else. At the
> moment, it costs œ30 to make written objections
> (which you must send in when you write) and œ60 to
> object at a hearing (to be paid before the hearing).
> You can do either, or both.
> 
>           If you have registered and want to object
>      directly and can afford to pay, fill in and
>      return the form at the end of this briefing as
>      soon as possible and we will write to you as
>      soon as the proposed listing appears.
> 
>           If you don't want to object officially in the
>      formal process, you can write now to the
>      relevant Minister (see end of briefing) stating
>      your objections (see Grounds to Object) and
>      why you might be affected.
> 
>           If you do this, you can also ask for FOE to
>      represent your interests and so you may wish
>      to add the following sentence to your letter:
>      "If any proposed decision is made to add a
>      genetically-modified variety to the national
>      list, I object and wish Friends of the Earth
>      Limited to be regarded as representing my
>      interests for the purposes of The Seeds
>      (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations
>      1982 or any amendment thereto".
> 
> If you want FOE to represent you, please let us
> know directly by:
> 
>           by sending an email  to:
>      seedsquad at foe.co.uk with a subject line
>      title 'SEEDSQUAD-FOE TO REPRESENT
>      ME'.  In the body of the email please type
>      your name, address, telephone number &
>      email address;
> 
>           by writing to SEED SQUAD, FOE, 26-28
>      Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ, with
>      your name, address, telephone number and
>      date written as clearly as possible.
> 
>                             Grounds to object
> 
> Some of the kind of arguments which can be made
> against Aventis' GM maize include the following:
> 
> Threats to organic and non-GM
> farmers
> 
> GM maize poses a threat of contamination, as the
> result of cross- pollination, for  non-GM and organic
> maize crops. As well as this, the GM maize pollen
> could contaminate the honey of local bee keepers.
> 
> Research into Food & Environmental
> Safety Incomplete
> 
> Government-funded research into GM crops is
> incomplete. For example, the farm-scale trials are
> not due for completion until 2003. There is also
> further unfinished MAFF research, such as:
> 
>           Consequences for agriculture of the
>      introduction of GM crops: due for
>      completion March 2002.
>           Botanical and rotational implications of GM
>      herbicide tolerance: due for completion
>      March 2002.
>           Risk of gene transfer from genetically
>      modified crop plants to gut bacteria: due for
>      completion December 2001.
> No Safety Assessment for animals
> 
> At present, the European Union (EU) does not
> require an assessment of the safety of GM crops for
> animal feed. A Regulation covering this issue has
> been under discussion within the EU since at least
> 1994, but still nothing has emerged.  Commissioner
> Byrne, responsible for health and consumer
> protection,  has referred to the novel feeds proposal
> as "the missing link in Community legislation on
> GMOs."
> 
> Farm animals may consume a greater proportion of
> GM ingredients in their diet than humans. In the UK,
> maize commonly makes up 30 - 50% of the diet of
> dairy cattle. The use of maize silage for beef cattle is
> also increasing as a cheaper alternative to grain. So
> there is a higher risk of gene transfer to bacteria in
> the intestines of cattle than humans.
> 
> The Government has recently appointed an Advisory
> Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs, but this has
> not yet considered any GM crop in terms of animal
> safety.  A GM crop variety which may be used as an
> animal feed should not be placed on the National
> List until such time as procedures are in place to
> assess its safety as such.
> 
> Impacts on the soil
> 
> Aventis' GM maize has been engineered to be
> tolerant to the herbicide, glufosinate ammonium
> (GA). GA has  been shown to be harmful to some
> beneficial bacteria and fungi that live in the soil.
> So it is possible that it could disrupt the
> micro-organism community within the soil,
> possibly affecting the health of following crops.
> Maize is often grown year after year in the same
> field so this is an important issue for farmers.
> 
> Some soil bacteria have been shown to be able to
> 'pick up' genes from GM plants a process
> referred to as 'horizontal gene transfer'. This issue
> has not been investigated at all and the
> implications are unknown. No Listing should be
> made until long-term effects of this type are
> understood.
> 
> And in addition.....
> 
> Aventis' GM maize must, legally, show "a clear
> improvement" for agriculture. We will only know
> whether the results of the trials show this or not
> when the recommendation is made and the results
> published.
> 
>                             Write to Your MP
> 
> Also, if you want to raise the issue with your MP,
> AM or MLA, the following is some suggested
> text:
> 
> "I am very concerned about the impact of growing
> GM crops in the UK.  Pollen from these crops
> cannot be recalled and could contaminate normal
> crops, honey and organic foods.  I wish to avoid
> GM foods and do not want my freedom of choice
> taken away.
> 
> "I understand that Agriculture Ministers are
> proposing to add the first GM seeds onto the
> National Seed List, which will allow their sale to
> farmers.  I am extremely concerned about this
> because the Government's own safety studies will
> not be finished for several years.  It would also go
> against the will of the public who are opposed to
> GM foods.  I hope that you will raise these points
> with [INSERT NAME OF RELEVANT MINISTER
> -SEE END OF BRIEFING] and urge [him][her]
> not to list any GM varieties.
> 
> I look forward to your reply.
> 
> Yours faithfully, ..."
> 
> FOE would be interested to receive copies of your
> correspondence.
> 
>                                  Summary
> 
> The Seed Regulations provide people with their
> only statutory right to object to GM crops.
> 
> FOE intends to use this right to ensure that GM
> crops are not allowed to be marketed unless we're
> sure they're good for agriculture, good for
> consumers and that there are no adverse health and
> environmental effects. Please join us!
> 
> Relevant Ministers
> 
> If you are in England, write to:
> Rt Hon Nick Brown, Agriculture Minister, Nobel
> House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR.
> If you are in Wales, write to:
> Ms Christine Gwyther, Agriculture Secretary,
> National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff
> CF99 1NA.
> If you are in Northern Ireland, write to:
> Ms Brid Rodgers, Agriculture Minister,
> Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road,
> Belfast BT4 3SB.
> 
> Seed Squad
> Friends of the Earth
> 26-28, Underwood Street
> London
> N1 7JQ
> Email - seedsquad at foe.co.uk
> Website - www.foe.co.uk/camps/foodbio
> Fill in and return this form as soon as possible if you wish to pay to officially object to the
> listing of genetically modified maize and receive a briefing pack when the proposed decision is
> advertised.
> 
> Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Telephone Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> .
>  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Email:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> 
> Seed Squad, FOE, 26-28 Underwood Street, London, N1 7JQ.
> 
> References
> 
> 1)  Ahmad, I. and Malloch, D. 1995, Interaction of
> soil microflora with the bioherbicide
> phosphinothricin Agricultural Ecosystems and
> Environment 54 (1995) 165-174.
> 
> 2)  Gebhard, F. and Smalla, K. (1998)
> Transformation of Actinetobacter sp. Strain
> BD413 by Transgenic Sugar Beet DNA Appl
> Environ Microbiol, No 4 April 1998 1550-1554
> References
> 
> 1)  Ahmad, I. and Malloch, D. 1995, Interaction
> of soil microflora with the bioherbicide
> phosphinothricin Agricultural Ecosystems and
> Environment 54 (1995) 165-174.
> 
> 2)  Gebhard, F. and Smalla, K. (1998)
> Transformation of Actinetobacter sp. Strain
> BD413 by Transgenic Sugar Beet DNA Appl
> Environ Microbiol, No 4 April 1998 1550-1554
> Fill in and return this form as soon as possible if you wish to pay to officially object to the
> listing of genetically modified maize and receive a briefing pack when the proposed decision is
> advertised.
> 
> Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Telephone Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> .
>  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Email:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> 
> Seed Squad, FOE, 26-28 Underwood Street, London, N1 7JQ. Fill in and return this form as soon as possible if you wish to pay to officially object to the
> listing of genetically modified maize and receive a briefing pack when the proposed decision is
> advertised.
> 
> Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Telephone Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> .
>  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Email:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> 
> Seed Squad, FOE, 26-28 Underwood Street, London, N1 7JQ.
> References

-- 
Carol Kearney
Campaign Assistant
Real Food Campaign
Friends of the Earth

0171 566 1602 (telephone)
0171 490 0881 (fax)

		   *****Check Out Our Web Site*****

		  http://www.foe.co.uk/realfood

REAL FOOD is food we can trust.  It is free from contamination by
antibiotics, pesticide residues, genetic modification, hormones, and
pathogens such as e coli and salmonella.  Real Food is produced on real
farms, not factories. It is produced/processed locally and protects
wildlife and the environment as well as human health.



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