People Power & GM Foods

The people of Britain have won a grand victory over the introduction of genetically modified foods. The papers reported that the last GM bio-tech company Syngenta, has now quit the isles and moved to the US.

Because of American pressure and political influence the government was very keen on GM and they supported it all the way. But the Brit’s refused. The protests started with a few people dressing up in white, anti-chemical, protective outfits and pulling up crops in farmer’s fields. That was a powerful image on TV. Then the media latched on to the popular revolt calling GM crops ‘Frankenstein foods’ and the buyers in the shops shunned the in-coming GM products. Then the government realizing it had backed the wrong side, started to be less insistent about the glories of high-tech nosh. Eventually, the government pulled the funding for research and the idea has beaten an ignominious retreat with its modified tail sticking out of its left ear.

We need to feed the world by consuming less, we don’t need an over-sized tomato that tastes of wet air. It’s nice to win, even if it is only once in a blue moon.

© Stuart Wilde 2004
www.stuartwilde.com