Things to do

If after assessing the facts you would like to see more controls or blocks on the development of GM, then here are some ideas that may be of interest.  Please note that LABB does not necessarily endorse all the views or suggestions presented on other websites.

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• {NEW}  GM Freeze has launched a new campaign "GM Wheat No Thanks" opposing field trials in Hertfordshire. ('What's New', 1/3/12)
  
  
• {NEW}  SumOfUs has a petition asking WalMart - that operates Asda - not to sell Monsanto's GM Bt corn. The Institute of Science in Society has collected evidence of health hazards associated with Bt crops.
  
  
• {NEW}  Morrisons supermarket has reversed its policy and has now authorised the use of GM feed by its poultry farmers. ('What's New', 22/3/12) GM Watch suggests consumer action.
  
  
• Following the discovery of a Bt toxin from GM crops in pregnant women and foetuses - 'What's New', 20/5/11 - GM Freeze suggests the public should write to supermarkets and Members of Parliament, and provides guidelines for doing this.
  
  
• Sign the petition to ban food produced using animal cloning technologies in Europe.
  
  
• The sale of food from the offspring of cloned animals is now regarded as legal, but it is not to be labelled. Refer to 'What's New' for details. You may wish to raise this issue with your MP, MEP and MSP (see below).
  
  
• GM animal feed - the hidden GM in your trolley
  "GM is still in the food chain, but not on the label. Genetically modified crops still feed many of the animals we eat or use for eggs and milk, and it is this “hidden” GM feed that is keeping the biotech industry alive and profitable," says GM Freeze, "Customers need to keep up their pressure on supermarkets". GM Freeze offers an up to date guide to the issues and a sample letter.
  
  
• Products containing GM in the UK   [Extract from GM Freeze website]
  "In 2003 Greenpeace produced a 13 page booklet listing hundreds of products to help shoppers try to avoid buying GM foods. Since then overwhelming public rejection has succeeded in forcing most of these products off supermarket shelves or the replacement of the GM components with non-GM. However, in recent months we have noticed a few GM products for sale in UK supermarkets. We want to develop a new list in order to help shoppers avoid these products and to help direct pressure on supermarkets to stop selling them.
  "If you find a product containing GM for sale in the UK, please send us:
  • the name of the product
  • the GM ingredient(s) concerned
  • the name and address of the shop where you found it
  • the date you saw the item for sale
  • a photograph of the label stating the GM content if at all possible
  • what, if anything, the store manager has to say in response to any complaint you make
  "Many thanks for your help. As long as some supermarkets say they are keeping an 'open mind' about GM, we need to help them understand that their customers are still resolutely opposed." Read full page with product list and links
  
  
• Weak surveillance and ignorance of the law are still allowing GM products unlabelled into catering outlets (news Archive 7/4/08). All food outlets must by law provide clear information on any GM ingredients. An action guide [60K Word document] is still available from Friends of the Earth along with a newer guide "What's in your chips?" from GM Freeze. Both these guides give an introductory background and describe how to contact your local Trading Standards office.
  
  
• {NEW}  GM Freeze also has a useful webpage kept up to date with suggestions for action, such as letters, petitions, etc.
  
  
• Write to your food supplier, MSP, MP, MEP or local councillor, outlining in your own words any points of concern you may have.   Find your local MSP, your local MP, your local MEPs. Or you can find them and write using the website 'Write to Them'.   Include your postal address - it is always useful to write in such a way that a reply is in order.  Do not be surprised if you receive an unsatisfactory response - many officials and elected representatives have little time or inclination to explore the facts for themselves.  It is quite likely that you will receive a skilfully worded but very selective reply - plan your letters accordingly.
  
  
• Letters to newspapers are also useful - keep them brief and topical. Remember newspapers may have their own agenda. If possible mention some hard facts, since the industry is trying to deny there are any 'scientific' reasons to object to GM.
  
  
• Join a campaigning organisation - there are several mentioned elsewhere on this website.
  
  
• Take some of LABB's posters or leaflets for your friends and local shops.  Subscribe to our free email GM news circulars (average about one a day at present).  Send requests by email (see Home Page ).
  
  
• Check out the following websites:

Ban GM Food   http://www.bangmfood.org
Campaign started in 2008 by GM Watch, with the backing of experts. Has an interesting section with many quotations.

SOS - save our seeds  http://www.saveourseeds.org/en.html
European campaign to prevent GM contamination of the seed market.