‘Educating’ the public about GM has failed – let’s get Minister Heath to frighten them

David Heath, Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has been using emotive words according to the Telegraph:

• survival,
• forced to dig,
• threat of food shortages,
• British families have been warned,
• dramatic rise in food prices.

Knowing full well that most people won’t have the time, the skills or the land to grow their own food, Minister Heath is warning them they will have to do this.

Support comes from the pro GM Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBRC) which speaks of the ‘threat’ and adds another scareword: “disastrous”.

But they offer the easily frightened a get-out clause – accept genetically modified crops

BBRC’s website informs us that it is one of 7 Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK) – funded by the Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Its budget for 2011-12 was around £445M and its members’ links with the large biotech companies are many and varied.

Label GM food – sensible Hong Kong does!

The one blocking proposal which really frightens the GM industry here and in America is the requirement to label their GM produce – that they fight tooth and nail, knowing that sales of such would be very low. See the Hong Kong government website.

European Union countries once again under siege

In order to make the huge profits they anticipate, corporates like Monsanto and their political friends and allies in government are once again planning to lobby this and  other European Union countries to lift current restrictions on the use of GM technology.

But there is active opposition

Marches against Monsanto in 190 cities of the world on May 25^th have been announced; Lee Ryan is the London march organiser.

‘Anonymous hacktivists’ accuse the company of “altering the nature of our food supply without concern about long term effects on human health” and of “creating a monopoly on the supply of seeds for farmers.” They also claim to have found “increasing evidences of long term environmental damages.” Anonymous’ statement says: “For too long, Monsanto has been the benefactor of corporate subsidies and political favoritism. Organic and small independent farmers suffer losses while Monsanto continues to forge its monopoly over the world’s food supply, including exclusive patenting rights over seeds.”

“Today we are asking you to take a first step and help us to inform the public about Monsanto’s secrets. Join us in the march to the streets to show the world and Monsanto that we are aware and want them to be hold accountable.”