[Imc-uk-features] gm victory feature

[Ben]

title : GM Victory. One down, One to Go!

photo : https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/images/2007/04/368416.jpg  
(but cropped and the right way round)

regions: uk, cambridge, leeds & bradford

related topics:  bio-technology / ecology / health

It seem there are not often victories to celebrate so it's seem  
strange when they occur seemingly unnoticed. That's exactly what's  
happened regarding the news that BASF have pulled out of this years  
proposed GM potato trial in Yorkshire despite government consent   
[ http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070514a.htm | http:// 
www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=9675].

Back in April there was an action in Hedon near Hull [https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367864.html | https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368519.html | https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368713.html | https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368541.html | https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368382.html |  Audio: https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/media/2007/04//369096.wav | Video: https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/05/369901.html] to demonstrate  
public opposition the first GM trials in the UK proposed in three  
years. The Hedon trial had not yet been planted and the protesters  
planted their own organic potatoes in what they thought was the field  
earmarked for the GM variety. The aim was to invalidate the  
experiment before it was planted and while it turned out that they  
had picked the wrong field [https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/ 
2007/04/368698.html] they did successful demonstrate that public  
opposition to GM crops was as strong and militant as ever.

The other trial, located in Cambridge [https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368176.html | https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368511.html], had been planted  
unhindered despite local opposition and protests [https:// 
publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367550.html]. However,  
campaigners say that it's not to late to drive home the message that  
"there is still no future for GM in the UK". A national 'potato  
picnic' has been announced for Sunday 1st July near the site of the  
Cambridge trial. [https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/06/373698].

Background :
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/08/348987.html
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/cambridge/ 
2006/12/357519.html
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/368164.html?c=on#c173674

Campaign links :
http://www.mutatoes.org
http://www.hedonagainstgm.org.uk/
http://www.cambridgeaction.net/gmconcern

Read more>>

Three years ago, the British public won the battle against  
Genetically Modified (GM) crops being grown in the UK. The British  
countryside is free of GM crops, and supermarkets and food  
manufacturers no longer sell products containing GM ingredients.

These monumental victories were the result of a long struggle between  
the British public and the giant biotech companies. Resistance took  
many forms: leafleting supermarkets, attending rallies, lobbying  
farmers, food manufacturers and suppliers, pulling up crops and  
blockading Sainsbury’s depots as they continued to sell foods  
containing GM animal feed. Across the country people successfully  
resisted the advance of GM crops in the UK.

Unfortunately, the battle is not quite over…. 3 years on, one company  
is attempting to recommence GM trials in the UK.

German based chemical company, BASF, applied for government consent  
to grow trials of GM potatoes this year at two locations, one in  
Cambridge and another just outside of Hull, Yorkshire. BASF stated  
that the trials were designed to test whether potatoes can be  
genetically modified to be resistant to blight. However, given the  
historical context, it seems more likely their function is to test if  
the UK public is still resistant to GM.

"To maintain the successes achieved over the past decade, it is vital  
that these two trials are opposed. There is no room for complacency.  
If we act together now we can keep our fields GM free, but if we  
allow the trials go ahead unhindered, we help pave the way for  
commercialization of GM crops across the countryside." - mutatoes.org