The UK Government is sponsoring a review of GM science
Posted on 05/11/2003 12:39:55 PM PDT by yankeedame
Sunday, 11 May, 2003
National Trust bans GM crops
The UK Government is sponsoring a review of GM science
Thousands of National Trust tenant farmers have been banned from allowing genetically modified (GM) crops to be grown on its land.
Dozens of controversial GM trials taking place across the UK are due to end this summer.
Public consultation will then follow on whether these cops should be grown commercially.
The government is due to launch a £500,000 "public debate" in the coming weeks.
The move to ban the GM crops for the Trust's 2,000 tenant farmers has been welcomed by campaigners Friends of the Earth.
Cautious
Tony Burton, the National Trust's director of policy and strategy, said his organisation were adopting a "precautionary approach".
"We have not used our land for the purposes of those experiments and we are encouraging our members, and others, to contribute to the public debate."
He added: "We had the question raised and we have given our view and it's not gone any further that that."
But he indicated it was possible the Trust's stance could change in the light of more scientific evidence.
The Prince of Wales, the Trust's president, has previously been vocal in his opposition to GM crops.
Last year he said: "To me it's absolutely essential that we operate husbandry and stewardship of this piece of Earth."
GM crops are designed to be naturally resistant to pests.
'Potential risks'
But environmentalists fear the make-up of species could cause long-lasting damage to the environment.
Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said the government "must listen to this growing opposition to GM crops and refuse to allow the crops to be commercially grown".
The results of the GM crop trials will be published in the summer followed by a government-funded independently-run public debate in June.
There will also be a scientific review of GM and a study by the prime minister's Strategy Unit into the overall costs and benefits of commercial GM cropping.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website says the government is "neither pro nor anti GM crops... it recognises that they have both potential risks and benefits".
All farmers feel that way. The prince's POINT is....??
About the National Trust
The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists - Miss Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley. Concerned about the impact of uncontrolled development and industrialisation, they set up the Trust to act as a guardian for the nation in the acquisition and protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings.
More than a century later, we now care for over 248,000 hectares (612,000 acres) of beautiful countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus almost 600 miles of coastline and more than 200 buildings and gardens of outstanding interest and importance. Most of these properties are held in perpetuity and so their future protection is secure. The vast majority are open to visitors and we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve public access and on-site facilities.
We are a registered charity and completely independent of Government, therefore relying heavily on the generosity of our subscribing members (now numbering over 3 million) and other supporters. Find out more facts and figures about the National Trust.
And who owns the property after the landowner dies? It's really depressing that so many people are willingly giving up the option of private ownership of property and property rights forever.
The National Trust appears to have it's fingers in every fashionable cause from the preservation of landmarks to the usage of cropland and what types and numbers of livestock are allowed. National Trust farms are generally 'organic' and therefore described as 'low input, low output.'
In other words, as far as modern agriculture to feed a modern population goes, their rules are utterly useless.
Thank you for stating the truth.
One day soon scientists will identify the gene to quadruple yields,,, and these folks will be left holding the bag and unable to compete with the rest of agriculture. So be it.
I never understood that either, and it's something the greenies havne't been able to adequately describe. In fact, they aren't able to adequately describe how eating such plants is dangerous to humans.
They must think we're all gonna spontaneously spout cornsalks out of our ears. Maybe they were all so wacked out on drugs while watching Attack of the Killer Tomatos, they thought it was a documentary on the dangers of 'GM' produce and had some kind of quasi-religious epiphany.
Then again, these are the same wankers who accused Americans of being 'ignorant' for refusing to tramp through their hoof and mouth infested, acrid smoke-filled 'scenic landscape' a couple of years back.
And we all know exactly what these three look like, don't we?
"Sir Robert, may I introduce Miss Octavia Hill..."
"Charmed, I'm sure."
"...and Canon Hardwicke Ramsley.* "
"How do you do?"
==============================
*Pronounced 'roms-ley'
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