GMOS As
Letter to B&D
from Monica Barlow, Bristol, United Kingdom
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I am a beekeeper and subscriber to B&D, a magazine | thoroughly admire and enjoy. wonder whether B&D can discover more information than | on the likely consequences for bees and beekeepers of |
the introduction of GMOs?
should state that have no sympathies with claims of GM crop producers. believe that this experiment is potentially disastrous for us and for the environment. There seem to be a number of likely consequences to the current rapid introduction of this untested, new technology. These include damage to our environment, to our own and future generations’ health, and to the long-term food security of the |
el
a beekeeper am also concerned by the few indications have found about the effects of GM crops on bees. Preliminary research has shown that there are dangers to beneficial insects. In a field trial of Monsanto's Bt-cotton in Thailand, 30% of bees around the test field died. Studies in the USA show that bees feeding on GM oilseed rape suffer damage to their foraging abilities. Do you know of any other research findings that might indicate less cause for concern? Is there any research monitoring the health of local bee populations, either independent or funded by the major bio-technical
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world, and enormous profit without responsibility to the agrochemical and bio-technical companies developing and marketing GM plants. Marketing for GM foods claims that they will one day feed the world. This is
pernicious deception. The world can grow enough food already but we cannot yet manage to distribute it fairly. eople in the western world depend upon impoverished farmers in developing countries to grow cash crops for the commodity markets. Food shortages are a result of social, environmental, economic and political problems, not simply lack of food. Genetically engineered crops will condemn poor farmers to lifelong dependence on multinational companies who have no intention of feeding the world unless they are handsomely reimbursed for the service. Terminator technology ensures that poor farmers are caught in an endless and slavish cycle, unable to use seed from one year’s crop for the next.
corporations?
The protection zones around GM crops
UK are laughable.Are there any better protection zones round GM crops in other countries? Is anyone monitoring the amount of GM pollen that must already be finding its way into honey supplies? Has any research been done on the consequence for human health? in the
read of much dissatisfaction (and destruction of GM crops) in India, so feel sure that beekeepers around the world will be sharing my anxiety. Perhaps you could cover some of these issues in |
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B&D?
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Clive de Bruyn presents the issues:
ome people see genetic (GE) benefiting agriculture and medicine. Others view it as a threat to life and nature:
Seems
unethical, unnecessary, potentially harmful and only of benefit to multinational companies. Everyone has a view on GMOs. Where do beekeepers stand? In February 1999, opposite the Houses of Parliament in London the organisation ActionAid unveiled an ice sculpture showing a fish mutated with vegetables. This was to highlight a of Parliament's call for a Member British on GMOs. Prince Charles, five-year ban a vociferous and outspoken GMO critic has claimed that scientists are invading territory that he believes is “The province of God alone.” Sir Paul McCartney vows to use his late wife’s meals to spearhead the fight. He is spending 3m to make Linda’s foods ‘totally’ free from GMOs. Every pack of food proclaims “Say No to GMO”.
On the other side are the GE GE is at the companies. They claim that forefront of future developments in
insecticides.““GMOs will help to
resolve major agricultural problems”. They promise. acai
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As we go to press, UK Prime
Minister Tony Blair has warned that GM food may be bad for us: "There’s no doubt that there is potential for harm, both in terms of human safety and in the diversity of our environment, from GM food and crops”, said Mr Blair.
The statement that GM crops could lead to lower pesticide use has been shown to be a deception by the agrochemical associations: they predict massive increases in sales as a result of this new technology.
by Clive de Bruyn, Essex, United Kingdom
agriculture and food. They promise plants that will resist insect pests reducing the need for farmers to spray
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GMOs and Bees
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== A Bees for Development publication
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