GE - SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY CANDIATE ARRESTED AT GM-CROP PROTEST

[genetics <genetics@gn.apc.org>]

SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY CANDIATE ARRESTED AT GM-CROP PROTEST 
> 
> Sunday March 28 : A Scottish Green Party Candidate for the 
> Scottish elections was 
> arrested today for pulling up genetically modified oil seed rape at 
> a protest outside 
> Edinburgh. 
> 
> Mark Ballard, on the Lothian list for the second vote in May, was 
> among five people 
> arrested for pulling up genetically modified oil seed rape at 
> Boghall Farm in Midlothian. 
> About 100 people took part in the protest. 
> 
> Speaking following his arrest, Mark Ballard said “The Scottish 
> Green Party believe that 
> genetically modified crops should not be allowed in Scotland under 
> any circumstances. 
> Even field trials present a threat to nature”. 
> 
> “If the Government refuses to protect people and our countryside 
> the Scottish Green Party 
> are left with no choice but to take peaceful direct action”. 
> 
> James Mackenzie, Scottish Green Party Education Spokesperson was 
> also arrested and 
> commented, “to test how dangerous genetically modified crops are by 
> releasing them into 
> the environment is irresponsible in the extreme”. 
> 
> The Scottish Green Party put their weight behind the protest 
> against the GM-crop trial of 
> oil seed rape, genetically modified to be tolerant to high doses of 
> herbicides. The Greens 
> say that such experiments run the risk of creating “superweeds” and 
> that they pose a 
> threat to surrounding farmland. 
> 
> Mark Ruskell, Scottish Green Party Agriculture spokesperson who was 
> present at the 
> action said “the Scottish Greens believe that the perceived 
> short-term benefit that GM 
> crops offer is vastly outweighed by the long-term effect that 
> man-made species could have 
> on the environment. Billions of pounds arte being piled into 
> research on GM-crops while 
> research on organic methods of farming remains in its infancy. 
> Agricultural science is 
> being driven by a desire for corporate profit rather than 
> researching how we can work with, 
> rather than against, natural resources”. 
> 
> Mark Ruskell continued, “When regulatory bodies fail to recognise 
> the hazards of GM 
> technology people are forced to take peaceful direct action”. 
> 
> For immediate release 
> 
> For further information please contact: Steve Burgess 07887 682 574

---

• Prev by Date: GE - [BIO-IPR] FR: The crisis every Ugandan farmer needs to know about
• Next by Date: GE - Apologies for lack of emails
• Index(es):
  • Main
  • Thread

  Genetech pages