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Also: “TAKE ACTION” to keep GMO out of UK fields

An article in Nature (excerpt in item 1 below) takes a pre-election look at where five of the seven UK political parties stand on “science” issues, including GM. The Conservatives and Lib Dems did not respond before publication of the article.

Based on the stated positions in the article and elsewhere, we can trust the Greens, the Scottish National Party, and Plaid Cymru to keep GMOs out of English fields (Scotland and Wales are already opposed to cultivation). A vote for the Conservatives, Lib Dems, UKIP, or Labour, on the other hand, is a vote for GMO cultivation in England.

That’s the case regarding party positions, at least. Obviously there are honourable individual candidates in those parties who oppose GMO cultivation.  

Below that (item 2), please take urgent action at the link given to demand that the UK use new European legislation to opt out of the GMO cultivation experiment. It’s quick and easy.

1. UK election: Political parties respond on science
2. Why don't our supermarkets sell GM food? Because we don't eat it!

1. UK election: Political parties respond on science

Elizabeth Gibney
Nature, 2 April 2015
http://www.nature.com/news/uk-election-political-parties-respond-on-science-1.17256
[excerpt only]

* Five parties lay out their positions on climate change, stem cells, immigration, genetically modified organisms, and funding

[Nature:] Does your party support research on genetically modified (GM) crops, and the cultivation of such crops?

Greens: We believe that the precautionary principle must be applied to research using genetic engineering; research should be genuinely in the interests of humanity, and animal welfare and biodiversity must be protected. We do not support GM crops but advocate a moratorium on the release of genetically modified (GM) organisms into the environment and on importation of food and feed containing GM organisms, pending comprehensive assessment of their safety.

Labour: GM can make an important contribution to tackling the challenge of global food security. It is right that EU member states decide themselves whether they wish to use genetically modified crops. The safety of people and the environment should be the government’s top priority — any decision needs to be based on scientific evidence on a case-by-case basis.

Plaid Cymru: We are against the growth of GMOs [genetically modified organisms] in Wales and support a GMO-free British Isles and Europe on the precautionary principle. We have concerns about the impact of cross-pollination if the UK government pushes ahead with plans to introduce GMO crops in England.

SNP: The SNP has always taken a clear line that we do not support farm-scale cultivation of GM crops in Scotland. We are, of course, in favour of carefully regulated research and development but it is vital that we safeguard Scotland’s reputation for natural crops.

UKIP: We do support research on GM crops, and will support a free vote on cultivation in Parliament.

2. Why don't our supermarkets sell GM food? Because we don't eat it!

Food & Water Watch Europe
https://act.foodandwatereurope.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1928&ea.campaign.id=36013

We have some of the best, most wholesome food in the world. Act to protect it from the GM crop experiment.

Why action now is critical: Two BIG reasons - GM corn and newly granted powers.

With recent rule changes, we can now ban crops one by one. We need to act quickly. DuPont could even foist a new GM corn on us by 2016! More are sure to follow.

Why action matters: Our good, nutritious non-GM food and farming need our protection from government mismanagement.

The government seems confused about the reality of growing GM crops. A few weeks ago, the UK Food and Farming Minister said she wants UK farmers to have access to GM crops to fight disease and raise farm yields, but no GM crop actually does this. The Minister wants decisions on GM to be made on scientific evidence, but scientific field trials conducted in the UK showed that GM harmed the threatened wildlife which we should be protecting.

What's the truth behind the push for GM crops? It's really about trade.

Our government is spending our money on GM research to sell the results here and overseas because it claims that it will help our economy. That's just not true. GM could cost us dearly instead. Contamination happens wherever GM is grown, so growing GM crops will jeopardise the reputation of our agriculture, which employs 3.5 million people and makes up 7% of our economy. UK food exports alone are worth nearly £19 billion per year, so betting the farm on GM crops is a bad plan.

Write now to keep GM crops out of our fields and our food. You don't have to live in the UK to care about what happens in the UK fields

TAKE ACTION: https://act.foodandwatereurope.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1928&ea.campaign.id=36013