WEEKLY WATCH number 134 (28/7/2005) | |
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor Dear all: This week brings news of the UK's first GM superweed. In the wake of the deluge of publicity surrounding this event, it's emerged that Bayer has withdrawn all its applications to grow GM oilseed rape (canola) in the EU. We also have some devastating Indian government research demonstrating Bt cotton's poor pest resistance (ASIA). It seems the findings were known back in 2003 but were kept under wraps, allowing more releases of a crop that continues to harm the livelihoods of poor farmers. We've always said that inheritance is about more than just genes, and that's being borne out in research that shows toxic insult can be passed down through generations without any alteration of genes (TOXICS AND GENETICS). And there's lots more interesting stuff, from the reported ban on GMOs coming into Ghana to the extraordinary contamination problems besetting Austalasia, so make sure you check out all the different sections below. Claire [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- + GOVT STUDY FINDS UK's FIRST SUPERWEED The revelation raises yet more concerns about the impact of growing GM oilseed rape in the UK. It also comes less than a month after the UK tried to persuade other European countries to lift their own bans on growing GM oilseed rape. The UK government claimed to be acting on scientific grounds but it now seems it was already aware of this study at the time of the votes. The UK's Environment Minister was the only Minister to vote against all of Europe's GM bans. What has given this news particular impact is that scientists had dismissed this problem as virtually impossible. In a review of the evidence by the European Environment Agency in 2000, it was concluded that "there appears to be general agreement that natural gene flow is not likely to occur between B. napus and S. arvensis." (Brassica napus is oilseed rape, Sinapis arvensis is charlock) Friends of the Earth's Emily Diamand said: "The Government's trials have already shown that growing GM crops can harm wildlife. Now we're seeing the real possibility of GM superweeds being created, with serious consequences for farmers and the environment. What is disturbing is the way the Government appears to have ignored its own evidence in trying to force GM crops onto countries that have a real cause for concern. The Government must stop acting as cheerleader for GM crops, and start paying attention to its own research, and above all, to the British public." + WEED DISCOVERY BRINGS CALLS FOR GM BAN Mr Meacher said French research which showed that one herbicide resistant weed introduced into a crop had multiplied to 103,000 plants in four years, was "frightening". "The safe option is to say simply that the risk of these GM crops is too great and we will not grow them," he said. + BAYER WITHDRAWS GM OILSEED RAPE IN EU + SCIENTIST'S CLAIM IS CONTRADICTED BY HIS OWN RESEARCH! In other words, weed management can have major environmental consequences. The herbicide regime used with GM oilseed rape, for instance, was shown to have a significantly more damaging effect on wildlife than that used with the non-GM crop, which was why Bayer was not allowed to proceed with GM rape commercialisation. This makes it ludicrous to argue that a problem such as herbicide resistant weeds that forces farmers to intensify their herbicide regimes by the addition of yet more toxic herbicides is something that has "no environmental consequences"! + MORE SUPERWEED LIES AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM "I have no worries about GM technology producing superweeds." "The concept of a superweed is very interesting. We have all seen The Day of the Triffids and I guess that can cause some alarm but frankly I do not believe it is a problem." |