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Overpopulation
is not the problem - poverty is. We have enough food but only those
with money can afford to buy it - famine and poverty are inextricably
interlinked. We do not need GM crops because we cannot grow enough
food. GM crops are being tested because they are commercially better
and offer quick high returns. Commercialism and money governs what
we eat rather than proper research and whether GM crops are healthy
and sustainable.
MARK,
NORFOLK
I
think it is disgusting that the trial of GM crops, with the far
reaching implications for all local farmers, and in particular organic
farmers, should be allowed to take place in our county. The whole
country, let alone the county, is not large enough to be used as
an 'experimental' testing site, when it is blatantly obvious to
anyone that a boundary limit of 50 yards is ridiculous, allowing
for the fact that blowing in the right direction, sand from the
Sahara can be blown into Norfolk.
MRS
HUBBARD, NORWICH
Why
are the Biotech companies talking about feeding a growing world
population? If the world cannot support it's population with traditional,
pollution-free agriculture, then it's obvious... There are simply
too many people in the world, and the last thing we ought to be
doing is encouraging people to breed more!
STELLA
KEEBLE, NORWICH
I
have always thought that GM trials would be a good idea in Norfolk.
Why not? After all, two heads are better than one!
Roberto, Sudbury
Studies
here in the US are beginning to show that GM crops are affecting
our ecosystems in unexpected ways. Pollinators, such as moths and
butterflies, are disappearing at alarming rates due to the inclusion
of BT in varieties of corn and beans. The wind drift of pollen is
being shown to expand outside of expected parameters. One question
that hasn't popped up a lot is... are we going to push nature into
evolving 'super bugs and mega weeds' that will not be affected by
current pesticides and herbicides? We are beginning to see 'super
germs' because of our overuse of antibiotics, right?
CL
Dalley, South Carolina, USA
Communist
China with a population of 1,000,000,000 has stated that GM farming
is the way forward for feeding their people. Does it matter what
a handful of farmers in a tiny part of Norfolk do? With a good south-easterly
wind the Chinese can successfully pollinate the whole of Europe
as well as Britain. Those who care ought to learn Chinese and pop
across and have a word with them. Why not go by V2 rocket. Perhaps
the United Nations could bomb them. Either way, it will in a few
years time put the foot and mouth crisis into perspective.
GLYN,
DISS
We
should certainly not have GM crop trials in this country. The fields
and farms are so small and could affect our wildlife population.
GM crops should only be considered in the large prairie areas of
North America where there is plenty of space and little wildlife
for miles around.
LUCY,
HERTFORDSHIRE
Of
course they should take place in Norfolk Why on earth not? There
are no reasons to suggest they will be any danger to anyone, and
for those opposed to GM commercialization, data from such trials
are needed before they can say "no" to Brussels. If there
are some negative consequences of using herbicide tolerant varieties,
then the UK will be able to say no, but we need the data before
that can happen And of course if the results suggest the effects
are benign, then what have we been worrying about?
JONATHAN, NORWICH
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