Genetix RoundUp
At the height of the final summer season of the government sponsored Farm Scale Trials (FSTs) there is a sense of things gearing up again on the UK GM crops front. As the FST programme draws to an end and a public consultation process on the commercialisation of GM crops looms the BBC seems to have worked itself into a GM frenzy over the last few weeks (June 2002), with their ‘Fields of Gold’ drama and then with the ‘objective’ documentary series ‘Bitter Harvest’. In contrast to these two programmes came a useful piece of investigative journalism on Newsnight. The article shattered the biotech industry’s endlessly perpetuated line that GM crops enable the use of smaller quantities of less toxic herbicide than in the past, and are therefore good for the environment. It revealed that, when grown on a commercial scale in the US, Aventis CropScience’s, (now BayerCropScience), Liberty Link maize often requires multiple applications of the herbicide Liberty (Glufosinate Ammonium) to control weeds. Not only that, but farmers routinely resort to using Atrazine (one of the generation of more hazardous herbicides that Liberty Link crops were meant to make obsolete) as well as Liberty. This practice seems to be so wide spread that Aventis (Bayer) have been marketing a product called Liberty ATZ, a pre-packaged mixture of Liberty and Atrazine.

For further information
Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/infoteam/pressrel/2002/20020625223000.html
BBC programme transcript http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/audiovideo/programmes/newsnight/archive/newsid_2067000/2067669.stm

The Pink Castle
Once upon a time [the early hours of April 25th] in a land not far from here [Littlemoor near Weymouth], and by the light of the moon, a pink castle appeared as if by magic [or a big van]. The castle was garrisoned by a small army of people, all determined to halt the advance of the Forces of Darkness [the biotech industry]. Their story has become has become the stuff of legend.
The pink castle stood guard over the entrance to a field, which, for the second year running, was due to become a test site for Aventis/Bayer’s GM maize. Equipped with a fearsome array of fortifications and weaponry [lots of mud, lock-ons in the castle foundations, mono-poles and an amazing kitchen] the residents of the castle hoped to stay in the field long enough to prevent this year’s GM crop from being planted.
For 3 weeks all went well [despite the mud]. People travelled the length of the land to help defend the rosé ramparts. Local residents visited, lured in by the seductive sounds of pirate radio station GM-FM, curious to find out more about the strange pink structure and the powerful and sinister forces that it was holding at bay.
Then without warning on the morning of May 16th the Forces of Darkness sent in their mercenary troops [the farmer, 4 tractors and 40+ members of the Dorset Constabulary complete with helicopter] and laid siege to the castle. Several of the castle’s inhabitants armed to the teeth [with D-Locks] managed to sneak through the enemy lines and succeeded in halting two of the enemy’s siege engines [tractors]. However, overwhelmed by superior numbers the castle inhabitants were unable to prevent the planting of the GM test site. Four of their number were taken prisoner and held captive in the dungeons of a neighbouring castle [Weymouth Police Station].
After the siege life at the castle quickly returned to normal. The sun shone, bunkers were built, organic veg was eaten, and after a month of intensive digging and weeding [during which the GM half of the field was removed and the GM trial abandoned] the pink castle vanished as strangely as it appeared.
Incredibly truth is stranger than fiction, for a full account of an inspiring piece of direct action and outreach into a community surrounded by GM trials go to www.say-hi.to/thecastle