GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisms

Some useful links:

CEL articles and press releases
on GMOs

1. CEL leaflet, (revised 2005:) GM Crops? – A Christian Response A useful leaflet to put out at church stalls etc.
2. CEL Press Release (Feb 2004) Church group attacks “immoral” plans to exploit GM technology

3. CEL’s Briefing paper (June 2003)on GM Crops explaining why there is great concern if permission is given for GM crops on UK farmland
4. October 2002: CEL Response to the Strategy Unit Scoping Note on GM Crops. CEL’s latest material on this topic
5. Oct 2002: GMOs in Aid to Africa – Letter from Co-ordinator of Genetic food Alert (UK) – To socially concerned Church Organisations
6. June 2000: “Dig up all remaining accidentally planted GM-contaminated crops before they pollinate“. CEL backs English Nature’s call
7. November 1999 : Church decision on GM Crops imminent: “Disinvest in GM Shares” says Christian Ecology Link
8. July 1999: “Should the Church of England allow trials of genetically modified crops on its land?”.. A Response by Christian Ecology Link

9. July 1999: “The Church of England’s view on genetically modified organisms”:A Response by Christian Ecology Link

Some Useful Genetic Engineering Links

http://www.nlpwessex.org/docs/gmagric.htm a nice site from an influential researcher

http://www.cropchoice.com an American farming perspective which does much to debunk the techno-euphoric claims of higher yields and less chemical usage by referring to hard data

Some sites from which can be reached most of the really good science-based links.
http://www.psrast.org/selfshgen.htm
http://www.ucsusa.org
http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/faculty/eclark/

Friends of the Earth

Greenpeace

Site of San Francisco University academic: essays from many leading scientists & journalists on all aspects of GE (last updated 2006)

Oganic Consumers Association GE link American – but lots of links.

ETC group (formerly RAFI – Rural Advancement Foundation Int.)
Excellent site including information on biopiracy. This deals with plant patents. Some developing countries are being persuaded/forced to make agreements with Big Plant Breeding Firms, so that the firm gets the patent for a species of plant. This would then deny the farmers their right to save and exchange seed.

Genes, Crops and Superweeds is the title of report produced by the UK Wild-plant conservation charity Plantlife It can be downloaded from the publications page in pdf format or ordered for a cost of £3. It gives some sensible scientific discussion.  It points out that Plant Species that cause problems for conservationists include native and introduced species, from creeping thistle and ragwort to Indian Balsam and Japanese knotweed. Nobody predicted the latter would become as successful as they have, or so difficult to control, but they were introduced from horticulture, not agriculture. No agricultural plants have become so problematical. Plantlife believes that more attention should be given to herbicide resistant garden varieties.

CEL supports GM Freeze, originally the Five Year Freeze (FYF), this national campaign calls for a moratorium on GM commercialisation, works to highlight the problems with GM that remain unresolved and the hardening of public attitudes against it, as well as promoting sustainable alternatives to GM food and crops.
The campaign co-ordinator is Eve Mitchelle: eve@gmfreeze.org
Website – www.gmfreeze.org