GM Debate
| When? | Wednesday 16th July, 7 - 9pm |
| Where? | Friends Meeting House, Manchester City Centre |
| Why? | To discuss the issues surrounding genetically modified (GM) food, and provide feedback to the Government on their policies regarding GM. |
A debate on genetically modified (GM) food took place in Manchester on Wednesday 16th July, as part of a nationwide consultation process called GM Nation? The Public Debate.
The local authority had failed to set up a meeting since the consultation started on June 3rd, so the Unicorn Grocery and Manchester Friends of the Earth got together to give the people of Manchester the chance to contribute to the national debate.
An audience of around 130 people packed into main hall of the Friends Meeting House to take part in the event.
The Chair, Lance Crooks of the Manchester Green Party, started proceedings at 7pm by playing a video provided by the GM Public Debate Steering Board outlining the main issues surrounding GM food.
He then introduced a panel of speakers, who presented the case for and against GM food:
- Jonathan from Corporate Watch, spoke against the commercial growing of GM crops;
- Sue Meyer of GeneWatch UK, took a neutral stance;
- Beth Knowles of the Unicorn Grocery, spoke in favour of the commercial growing of GM crops. Beth is not personally in favour of the technology, but the organisers have found it impossible to find an advocate prepared to speak despite approaching many organisations who are pro-GM.
After the speakers had put forward their arguments, the debate was thrown open to the floor and a lively hour-long discussion followed, covering a wide range of ethical, environmental and political issues associated with GM food.
Finally, at 9pm, Lance brought the event to a close by asking the audience to complete their GM Nation consultation questionnaires, and to vote on two motions:
Motion 1: This meeting considers that, at present, the actual and perceived risks associated with the production of genetically modified crops are such that they outweigh any benefit which may be brought about by their production.
In respect of this we call upon the UK government to halt all production of genetically modified crops until such a time that it can be proven that there is no risk attached to that process.
Note: This meeting notes that for the purpose of this motion that the term "Genetically Modified crops" includes the following; All GM crops to be used in the production of food; All GM crops to be used in the production of non-food and other industrial materials; All experimentally grown GM materials where there is risk of contamination to the open environment.
Motion 2: This meeting calls upon Manchester City Council to adopt a "GM Free" position in respect of Genetically Modified crops as defined in motion 1.
Note: This will essentially re-assert Manchester's
earlier stance in the use of GM foods within its own services. It will
also extend this principle by taking advisory measures against the promotion
of GM crops and by positively encouraging the avoidance of GM products
within the commercial and private sections of the Manchester community.
Results
The results of the vote were as follows:
| For | Against | Abstained | |
| Motion 1 | 114 | 0 | 1 |
| Motion 2 | 112 | 1 | 2 |
We also collected 109 completed questionnaires that we forwarded to the organisers of the national GM Nation debate.
Quotes
"Claims about GM feeding the world are false, hunger is about access to food."
- Jonathan, Corporate Watch
"The simple fact that the farmer cannot own, keep or save the seed of a GM crop destroys any other argument in support of GM food."
- Audience member
"Central to the debate is the question of patenting genes - 30% of world seed varieties are owned by ten companies. This is a frightening consolidation of power."
- Sue Meyer, GeneWatch UK
"Not only is the technology is unnecessary, it's potentially unsafe."
- Jonathan, Corporate Watch
"The issue of a polluted nature being passed down to future generations deserves more emphasis than regulators have been prepared to give it."
- Sue Meyer, GeneWatch UK
"We are moving into a realm where we think we can control nature, and we will suffer for it."
- Audience member
Photos
The panel (from left to right, Jonathan, Sue and Beth).
Lance takes a question from the audience.
Press Releases
- GM Nation Too Risky for Us 17th July (pdf)
- GM Nation? Manchester Decides This Week 14th July (pdf)
- GM Nation - Manchester's Debate 7th July (pdf)
Take Action!
For those that couldn't attend the meeting, you can also make your views on GM food known via the GM Nation website before 18th July.
There is more information on GM food on the GM-Free Britain campaign website from national Friends of the Earth, and on the GeneWatch UK site.