Anti-GM pilgrimage reaches Assembly

8 October, 12.30 pm: National Assembly, Cardiff Bay
Assembly Members from all parties and members of Friends of the Earth, GM Free Cymru and other groups will garland Gerald's tractor with over one thousand messages of support from around Wales on paper "vegetables".

Organic farmer Gerald Miles' anti-GM pilgrimage will reach the Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 8th October from where he will be given over one thousand messages of support from Assembly Members and the people of Wales.

Gerald left his organic farm in St Davids, Pembrokeshire on Monday and will arrive in London on Monday October 13th where he will join hundreds of consumers, environmentalists and farmers at a central London Tractors and Trolleys Parade against GM [1].

Friends of the Earth Cymru will also present Gerald with a map of Wales filled with signatures in support of a GM Free Wales at this year's National Eisteddfod [2]. Later on Wednesday, Gerald will be greeted by groups of supporters in Cwmbran and Abergavenny as he continues on his journey [3].

The Tractors and Trolleys Parade comes at the end of a summer of anti-GM activity triggered by the Government's GM Nation debate. Both the UK and Welsh Assembly Governments have to make important decisions on the commercialisation of GM crops in the UK in the coming months [4].

Friends of the Earth Cymru and GM Free Cymru are part of an Alliance with the Farmers' Union of Wales and the National Federation of Women's Institutes - Wales which is calling for Wales to stay GM-Free [5].

Gerald Miles, organic farmer and member of GM-free Cymru said:
"As a farmer I am concerned that no-one knows the impact of GM on our health or the environment. I believe planting GM crops on a commercial scale is not a risk we should be taking especially as consumer demand for non-GM food is overwhelming. GM crops, whether planted commercially or as trials, will inevitably contaminate both non-GM and organic crops.

"If the Government does go ahead with the commercialisation of GM, it will put our seed purchases and chemicals under corporate control and it will be another nail in the farming coffin. I am driving my tractor all the way from Pembrokeshire to London to join the Tractors and Trolleys Parade to draw attention to our concerns".

Julian Rosser, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru commented,
"People in Wales have made it clear that they do not want GM crops in their countryside or GM food on their plates. People from all over the country have been offering support and sending messages for Gerald's pilgrimage. We hope to send him off from the Assembly in style."

Notes

[1] The London event is organised by Friends of the Earth, the Five Year Freeze, Genetic Engineering Network and GM-Free Cymru. At least 10 individuals plan to make the pilgrimage to London; with one walking from Scotland and one cycling from Land's End. Others will walk or cycle from Devon, Yorkshire, Brighton, Cambridge, Essex, and Birmingham. The pilgrimages will take in significant locations en route including GM crop test sites, biotech companies and local farmers markets, and will be supported by local activities and send off actions.

[2] Signatories include rugby legend Ray Gravell, comedian Dilwyn Price, broadcaster Iolo Williams, singer Byddyg James, poet Twm Morys who won this year's bardic chair and Eirwyn George, former double winner of the bardic crown. Politicians who signed the map include Cynog Dafis, Dafydd Wigley, David Davies AM, Mick Bates AM, Jill Evans MEP, Lembit Opik MP, Helen Mary Jones AM, Eleanor Burnham AM, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Eurig Wyn MEP and Cllr Dafydd Iwan.

[3] Details are available from GM Free Cymru and Friends of the Earth Cymru.

[4] The first GM seed, ChardonLL, is approaching addition to the UK "National List" of available seed varieties in the face of massive opposition from farming, environmental and consumer groups. The decision to add the seed to the list must be made jointly by the UK Government and the devolved administrations, including the Welsh Assembly.

www.foe.co.uk/cymru/english/press_releases/ ¬
2003/pants_to_gm.html

[5] www.foe.co.uk/cymru/english/press_releases/2002/ ¬
gm_five_point_plan.html