Only chemical firm giants benefit from GM crops

THE dishonest campaign to force GM crops into Ireland continues unabated for one simple reason.

Ireland without GM crops could be the bread basket of Europe because of all the Europeans that don’t want them. We would have a competitive advantage and that is what the people that are pushing the GM monster don’t want. If we get bullied dishonestly down the same road as the other countries, Irish agriculture can start closing down now. May I briefly recap on some of the facts about GM crops, rather than the self-serving, half-truths that are being put out by the increasingly confident chemical companies behind GM foods and the poisons they will spray on them:

* It is well known that GM crops do not increase yields.

* It is well known that their total resistance to specific herbicides comes at huge cost to the quality of the crops that can now be drenched in those chemicals (sold by the same company, of course) before being sold to us to eat. And let’s not go into the damage to the environment caused being able to safely smother crops and the surrounding area in chemicals for a little bit more profit.

* It is well known that the limited research that has been done shows clearly that there are potential dangers to human and animal health and that much more research is needed.

* Simply because lots of people were using asbestos or smoking cigarettes did not mean that it was therefore safe for more people to do so though that is what paid experts said at the time and what at least one government adviser is saying now.

* It is well known that most small farmers will be driven out of business because of the need to buy seeds every year instead of using the natural seeds from the previous crop as they have done for generations.

This is because of the totally unnecessary terminator gene and will be especially cruel to the poorer areas of the world.

Admittedly, corporations are not in business for human welfare but our politicians should at least pretend to be interested in human welfare.

In summary, GM crops offer not one single benefit to anybody except chemical company profits.

Will anybody be accountable for the food disaster to come? Of course not. Future humans, as usual, will just have to try to surmount the disasters of politicians' ruthless self-interest.

Richard D Barton

Tinahely

Co Wicklow