LAST week the Tavistock Genetics Group organised an excellent public discussion to contribute to the Government?s ?GM Nation?? public debate. As at dozens of other public meetings up and down the country, the overwhelming opinion of the public has been against the commercial planting of GM crops.
The ecological risk of GM crops is clear from previous instances where step-changes have been made to the genetic content of ecosystems, using the best scientific advice of the day.
In the past, this has been done by the introduction of alien species. Such introductions have sometimes been beneficial, but there have also been many catastrophes.
Few scientists or politicians are trained to think objectively about small risks. For many, even a modest economic benefit can appear to outweigh a small but real risk of catastrophic change.
Typically they tell us ?any such risk is purely theoretical?. But theoretical risk of disaster must be taken seriously. Before September 11 2001 the risk of people hijacking aeroplanes and crashing them into skyscrapers in American cities was purely theoretical. For many years we were told that the risk that BSE in cows could cause brain disease in humans was purely theoretical.
Only massive public opposition to GM crops will prevent the Government from giving the GM companies the go ahead. Members of the public have until Friday July 18 to contribute to the ?GM Nation?? debate which they can do via the internet by completing an on-line questionnaire at http://www.gmnation.org">www.gmnation.org
When the Government receives the report of the ?GM Nation?? debate it will find that the public is overwhelmingly opposed to GM crops and GM food. It must not be allowed to ignore our views.
Martin Quinn
West Devon Green Party
61 Old Exeter Road
Tavistock