Genetic Modification and Bees

The Terramar Organics Newsletter, May 2007

Welcome to this month's newsletter

More fair trade and organic fashion - Tuesday 1st May 2007
7pm - 10pm in Mountford Hall, Liverpool Guild of Students

Tickets can be bought on the door. All the money raised will go to "The truth isn't sexy" campaign. This is a campaign intended to expose the truth between human trafficking and prostitution, thereby seeking to cut demand for prostitutes. Issues of both slave labour and human trafficking will be highlighted at the show. More information on the campaign is available online at http://www.thetruthisntsexy.com/ and from the organiser of the fashion show Danielle.

Genetic Modification
Good news! The European Parliament has decided to set the lowest possible threshold for GM contamination of organic food of 0.1% (the lowest measurable level) instead of 0.9% as is currently allowed. This ruling should help to lower the risk of any negative effects from the consumption of foods containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Genetic Modification (GM) or Genetic Engineering is the process by which genes are altered to produce a trait which, through natural processes, would not occur in the plant or animal subjected to the genetic manipulation. Traits can include, for example, herbicide resistance.

The full ramifications of introducing GM crops into nature are not known and therefore it is important to consider the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops and the potential for spreading and cross fertilisation of these plants. That is, once genes from a GM crop contaminate non-GM crops there is no possibility for reversal of the contamination.

GM crops created superweed, say scientists
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,1535428,00.html

As GM technology advances, it is becoming increasingly important to expose the critical issues surrounding the commercialisation and spread of GM crops and the like.

The effects of consumption of GMOs are still unclear, but recent research on the effects of the consumption of GMOs on rats suggests that there may indeed be undesired, even dangerous implications for human health.

GM Soya Fed Rats: Stunted, Dead, or Sterile
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GM_Soya_Fed_Rats.php
Cows Ate GM Maize & Died
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/CAGMMAD.php
Symptoms of Poisoning Observed in GM Corn
http://www.biofach.de/main/biofach142_gb.pdf?id=pdf-ezmc3mq5&type=lib (pdf)

Furthermore, it is clear from trials in the USA, and in other regions where GM crops are grown, that the spread of GM seeds is not easily containable due to the natural ways in which seeds are dispersed e.g. by the wind and animals.

Crop trials for GM cotton in India have, in some instances, required a heavier application of pesticides than if non-GM seeds had been used and resulted in lower crop yields; thereby, causing further debt on top of the cost of the sterile GM seeds. This spiral of debt seems to be directly related to the increasing number of farmer suicides occurring daily in India. Once a crop symbolic of a countries struggle for independence cotton farming has become debt-ridden and has resulted in human tragedy on an unprecedented scale with the loss of husbands, fathers and sons to debt and despair. Furthermore, in areas where applications of chemical pesticides, fertilisers and insecticides are used it is common for the surrounding water sources to become poisonous and cause yet more illness and death in regions with generally poor health care provision.

India's farming crisis
http://www.new-ag.info/07/02/perspective.php
And meanwhile in Vidharbha
http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032904471000.htm

However, organically grown cotton, although not without its difficulties, is a way forward from debt and environmental destruction to sustainability and independence. Without the use of GM seed, chemical pesticides, fertilisers and insecticides, organic farming encourages biodiversity, protects the health of the environment it is grown in and, therefore, the health of those who work and live on or near the plantations keeping the water table clean and the land fertile.

GM Food Nightmare Unfolding in the Regulatory Sham
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMFoodNightmareUnfolding.php
GM Maize 59122 Not Safe
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMmaize59122notSafe.php

Bees
It was recently brought to our attention that local Aberdeenshire bee populations are reported to be drastically declining and, in fact, there is increasing global concern about bee populations. Bees are invaluable in the process of cross pollination of crops hence the widespread alarm which is now at the fore of the news agenda. There are various possible causes for the apparent disappearances of bees one of which may be GM crops, while recent research also suggests Microwave radiation from mobile phone masts and Wi-fi networks could be having a detrimental effect. More information and discussion can be found here:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,473166,00.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2314202.ece
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,,2055067,00.html
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/bees_honey_gm_crops.html
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/MysteryOfDisappearingHoneybees.php

Taiwan mislays millions of honeybees
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/26/taiwan_bee_mystery/
Honeybees dropping like flies
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/02/colony_collapse_disorder/

Mobile phone threat to honeybees
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/16/ccd_research/
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/MobilePhonesVanishingBees.php
http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/article2472074.ece

Requiem for the Honeybee
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/requiemForTheHoneybee.php
Honeybee populations in rapid decline
http://www.terramar.co.uk/page/news/honeybee-colony-collapse-disorder/

Election and Cyberaction
A chance to have your opinion known on Nuclear Energy prior to the May 3rd Holyrood elections:
http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/cyberaction/cyberaction_200706.php/
GM Free UK online petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/gmfreeuk/

Best wishes
Peter and Tom
The Terramar Organics Team

07999 613 982 | http://www.terramar.co.uk

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