GM debate 2003
The National Debate on GM Crops
This took place during the month of June and the first part of July 2003. Information about the debate is available at the government-sponsored website www.gmnation.co.uk. See the lead article in Sage Words September 2003 and Canon Christopher Hall's report on the Dorchester Abbey GM debate 2003. The results of the GM debate are now available (24 September 2003), showing widespread public concern and considerable public opposition to the introduction of GM crops into the UK. The question now is whether the results of the debate will influence government policy- watch this space!
LOCALLY
Oxford Friends of the Earth have campaigned to make Oxfordshire a GM-free zone. On Tuesday 4th November 2003 Oxfordshire County Council voted by 40 votes to 9 for a motion that called on national Government to abandon plans for commercial growing of genetically modified crops in the UK. On Tuesday 17th February 2004 the Executive of Oxfordshire County Council passed a resolution for a package of measures to stop the commercial growing of GM crops in the County and to ensure that the County Council's catering, including school dinners, will contain no GM ingredients. Oxfordshire is the seventh County Council to become GM-Free, joining over twenty other local authorities. For more details see Friends of the Earth: Food Campaign
LATEST NEWS
GM tests 'provide few answers'- article on the BBC website (16th October 2003) concerning the results of a 3 year experiment on the environmental impact of GM crops in the UK.
Monsanto departure pleases greens- article on the BBC website (16th October 2003) concerning the decision by Monsanto to close its European seed cereal business in Cambridge with the loss of 80 jobs.
Anger over GM crop 'go-ahead' The UK government appears to be ready to give the go-ahead for the use of genetically modified crops. (19 February 2004).
LEGAL CHALLENGE WARNING ON GM MAIZE Friends of the Earth warned that it would consider a legal challenge if the Government pushes ahead with the decision to force through Chardon LL GM maize for commercial growing in the UK. (21 February 2004).
Bayer deals blow to UK GM crops German company Bayer announces that it has decided not to grow Chardon LL GM maize in the UK. It now looks likely that commercial growing in the UK will not happen until at least 2008 (31 March 2004).
RESOURCES
Here are a selection of useful sources of further information on genetically modified crops:
Press Release Should Christians be in favour of GM Crops? Published on 15th October 2003 is an article by Dr Joe Perry, a scientist retained by the government to plan and devise the “Farm Scale Evaluations” FSE experiments – and a professing Christian believer.
(note that Sage members do not necessarily agree with all the views expressed in any of the sites above)
Further information about Christian responses to the GM debate is available in the Oxford area from: