GM crop protesters to be silenced
Geoffrey Lean | 19.05.2002 13:59 | Bio-technology
Secret plans are being prepared to stop Britons challenging the safety of GM crops at public hearings, a confidential document seen by The Independent on Sunday reveals.
19 May 2002 14:44 GMT+1 Home > News > UK > Environment
GM crop protesters to be silenced
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
19 May 2002
Secret plans are being prepared to stop Britons challenging the safety of GM crops at public hearings, a confidential document seen by The Independent on Sunday reveals.
The internal memorandum circulating in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, proposes an "urgent" change in the law by November to crack down on objections to the crops, before they are grown in Britain.
The disclosure comes as public hearings open in London tomorrow overcorn developed by Aventis, the first GM variety grown commercially here. Environmentalists, including Friends of the Earth, are challenging this.
The document urges the Government to "proceed rapidly" to amend the law, straight after hearings into GM corn end this month. It admits the plans ''will be criticised because it will seem we are trying to silence GM objections''.
The Government's move follows proposals to stop the public challenging the need for nuclear waste dumps, and other controversial developments, at public inquiries.
Last night, Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth said: "The Government pretends to be neutral ... but this memo unveils the real agenda, to force GM food on to a reluctant public, while removing the only legal opportunity to object."
Meanwhile, Tony Blair will warn scientists this week that they have to do more to persuade the public of the benefits of scientific advances. The Prime Minister has previously warned that Britain was in danger of developing an "anti-science" culture.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=296623
GM crop protesters to be silenced
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
19 May 2002
Secret plans are being prepared to stop Britons challenging the safety of GM crops at public hearings, a confidential document seen by The Independent on Sunday reveals.
The internal memorandum circulating in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, proposes an "urgent" change in the law by November to crack down on objections to the crops, before they are grown in Britain.
The disclosure comes as public hearings open in London tomorrow overcorn developed by Aventis, the first GM variety grown commercially here. Environmentalists, including Friends of the Earth, are challenging this.
The document urges the Government to "proceed rapidly" to amend the law, straight after hearings into GM corn end this month. It admits the plans ''will be criticised because it will seem we are trying to silence GM objections''.
The Government's move follows proposals to stop the public challenging the need for nuclear waste dumps, and other controversial developments, at public inquiries.
Last night, Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth said: "The Government pretends to be neutral ... but this memo unveils the real agenda, to force GM food on to a reluctant public, while removing the only legal opportunity to object."
Meanwhile, Tony Blair will warn scientists this week that they have to do more to persuade the public of the benefits of scientific advances. The Prime Minister has previously warned that Britain was in danger of developing an "anti-science" culture.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=296623
Geoffrey Lean
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http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=296623
Comments
Hide the following comment
So whose investment goes down the drain?
19.05.2002 20:09
A: Lord David Sainsbury of Tur ville.
So when are all you supposed activists going to get real amd stand up (I mean really stand up) and say "Enough is enough"? People like Monbiot have been warning you for what seems years, yet these power maniacs just go on and on stealing your common wealth.
Why do you put up with it?
Why do you continue to pay taxes to feed these people's greed?
Why?
They don't care a gnat's tit about the environment of those who have to live in it. Check out Lord David and ask him personally just what he think's he's doing with the future of millions who could be in the firing line now that Crick's 'central dogma' has been shown to be fallible.
(
Check it out now - right about NOW...
bushwacked