Archived press release

Pilgrims to join tractors and trolleys against gm

22 August 2003

Ten individuals will make a personal pilgrimage to London from all corners of the country this October, travelling by foot, tractor and bike to demonstrate their deep opposition to GM crops. Their journeys will take place in the weeks leading up to October 13th when the pilgrims will join hundreds of consumers, environmentalists and farmers at a central London Tractors and Trolleys Parade against GM.

The 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, one cycling from Land's End, and one driving a tractor from Pembrokeshire. 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. [1]

The Tractors and Trolleys Parade comes at the end of a summer of anti-GM activity triggered by the Government's GM Nation debate and coincides with the start of the new parliamentary session when the Government is expected to announce its decision on the commercial growing of GM crops.

Friends of the Earth GM campaigner Clare Oxborrow said:

"People in this country are have made it clear that they do not want GM crops in their countryside or GM food on their plates. Pilgrims, consumers and farmers from up and down the country will unite in London in October to show their strong opposition to GM and to demand that Tony Blair makes sure that this year doesn't see the last GM-free harvest."

Gerald Miles, from 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 planning to drive my tractor all the way from Pembrokeshire to London to join the Tractors and Trolleys Parade to draw attention to our concerns".

Opposition to GM remains high and there is deep concern about the impacts of GM crops and food on our health and the environment. Around the country local authorities from Cornwall to Cumbria have voted to act against GM as part of Friends of the Earth GM-free Britain campaign [2].

Notes

For more information see www.tractorandtrolley.com

[1] Pilgrims' itineraries and biographies will be available from the press office at Friends of the Earth

[2] See www.gmfreebritain.com

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust