http://www.gmfreeze.org/actions/24/ Also get a friend to sign it, tweet about it and/or put the url on your Facebook page. You could even put the tagline "GM wheat? Growing in the UK? Tell them 'No Thanks!' today" on your email messages.
–-
–-
Growing GM Wheat in the UK New campaign says "No Thanks!"
GM Freeze, 1 March 2012
http://www.gmfreeze.org/news-releases/182/
GM Freeze is today launching a new campaign called "GM Wheat? No Thanks!" to protest the Government’s approval of an open-air field trial of GM wheat at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire. [1] The campaign calls on individuals, farmers and food businesses to pledge not to use or buy GM wheat, and demands that research money to be directed to more sustainable food production methods. [2]
The consent for the trial, granted by Defra in September 2011, is valid as of today, meaning the crop could be planted any day. [3]
The campaign is already supported by organisations from around the world, including the Real Bread Campaign, African Centre for Biosafety, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Pesticide Action Network and War on Want. [4]
The GM wheat emits an alarm chemical that aphids give out when they are under attack. Rothamsted Research hopes the chemical will drive aphids off the crop and draw aphid predators to the area.
However even before the crop is planted research shows aphids may get used to the alarm and ignore it, making the release of GM into the environment both risky and pointless.
Encouraging natural aphid parasites and predators – like ladybirds – already works without the risks of GM to the UK’s farming, food chains and exports.
Commenting on the trial GM Freeze Campaign Director Pete Riley said:
"Defra approved this GM trial against public and scientific objections. It is risky, unnecessary and unwanted.
"The UK has successfully avoided the serious agronomic problems caused by GM in other parts of the world, like the rampant spread of super weeds in the US. We should be learning from that experience and protecting our food and farming, not chasing GM pipe dreams.
"Our campaign offers the public a way to get informed and register objections to the Government’s insistence on pursuing GM crops. The easiest thing they can do is take a few seconds to sign our Pledge not to buy or use GM wheat for their homes or businesses.
"We want the trial stopped immediately and all public funding currently aimed at GM redirected to research into genuinely sustainable agriculture, including agroecology and non-GM high-tech plant breeding.
"One of the biggest mysteries of this GM wheat is who is expected to buy it. There is no market anywhere in the world for GM wheat, so why are we putting our countryside at risk?"
Chris Young from the Real Bread Campaign added:
"The Real Bread Campaign works to find ways to make the whole chain from seed to sandwich better for us, better for our communities and better for the planet. Has GM technology ever done anything that supports any of these aims? If it has, could the same or better results have been achieved by non-GM means? We need to be working with nature, not against it."
Calls to: Pete Riley 07903 341 065
Notes
[1] See GM Wheat? NO THANKS! for briefings, background, action ideas and free materials.
http://www.gmfreeze.org/gmwheatnothanks/
[2] See "We pledge 'NO' to GM Wheat"
http://www.gmfreeze.org/actions/24/
[3] GM Freeze press release, 16 September 2011. "Defra Approval of UK GM Wheat Trial a Mistake"
http://www.gmfreeze.org/news-releases/167/
[4] Companies or groups wishing to add their support to the campaign should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
UK ACTION: Sign the pledge: "We pledge 'NO' to GM Wheat": - Main Menu
- Home
- News
- Articles
- Videos
- Index of speakers
- Glyphosate Videos
- Gene Editing videos
- Must see videos
- Health Effects
- Agriculture videos
- Labeling videos
- Animals videos
- Corporations videos
- Corporate takeover videos
- Contamination videos
- Latin America videos
- India videos
- Asia videos
- Songs videos
- Protests videos
- Biofuel myths videos
- Index of GM crops and foods
- Contact
- About
- Donations
- News
- Articles
- Donations
-
Videos
- Index of speakers
- Glyphosate videos
- Gene Editing
- Must See videos
- Health Effects
- Agriculture videos
- Labeling videos
- Animals videos
- Corporations videos
- Corporate takeover videos
- Contamination videos
- Latin America videos
- India videos
- Asia videos
- Songs videos
- Protests videos
- Biofuel myths videos
- Index of GM crops and foods
- Contact
- About
News Menu
News Archive
- 2023 articles
- 2022 articles
- 2021 articles
- 2020 articles
- 2019 articles
- 2018 articles
- 2017 articles
- 2016 articles
- 2015 articles
- 2014 articles
- 2013 articles
- 2012 articles
- 2011 articles
- 2010 articles
- 2009 articles
- 2008 articles
- 2007 articles
- 2006 articles
- 2005 articles
- 2004 articles
- 2003 articles
- 2002 articles
- 2001 articles
- 2000 articles
PLEASE SUPPORT GMWATCH
If you like what we do, please help us do more. You can donate via Paypal or credit/debit card. Some of you have opted to give a regular donation. We greatly appreciate that as it helps place us on a more stable financial basis. Thank you for your support!
Web Development By SCS Web Design