Statements

Victoria Allen

My name is Victoria Allen and I am 17 years old. My home address is :

Lattimer House
Main Road
Belchford
Nr Horncastle
Lincolnshire
LN9 6LQ

I am taking part in this genetiX snowball action because I believe that genetically modifying crops is unnatural, unsafe and very under-researched. The Government and relevant authorities have said that we as consumers have no right to know whether the foods we are eating are genetically modified or not. I believe this is wrong. I believe we have the right to know exactly what is in our food and how it is going to effect us in the future. Through being a part of genetiX snowball, I am making a very reasonable demand: for a five year moratorium on the deliberate release of GM plants in Britain, except for Government sponsored ecological health and safety tests (in enclosed systems) and the removal and safe destruction of all GM test crops already existing.

When this is achieved, genetiX snowball will be called off and British Food will be safe to consume.

It was years ago that I heard about genetic engineering. It worried me then but I didn't know enough about it to give a concrete base to my fears. Since then I have researched the subject, and open mindedly listened to both sides of the argument. I do believe in the possible benefits it could have. But at the moment as far as I can see, the dangers far outweigh the benefits. Unlike chemical or nuclear contamination, (which is already renowned for its danger) gene contamination can never be cleaned up ; effects of genetic mistakes will be passed on to all future generations of a species.

I believe that there is inadequate government regulations. Bio-tech companies claim that government regulatory bodies will protect consumers. However, D.D.T., Thalidomide, L-Tryptophan etc. where approved by British and US regulators with tragic results ... in 1989, there was an epidemic of a new disease, Eosionphilia Myalgia syndrome. The disease was traced to over produced the amino acid L- Tryptophan. The excessive amounts of L-Tryptophan in the bacterial cells led to the formation of a novel toxin (a newly discovered toxic substance) which contaminated the final product. Of 5000 people who contracted the disease, 37 died and 1, 500 are permanently disabled.

It is impossible to predetermine the effects of genetic modification;

'The unexpected production of toxic substances has now been observed in genetically engineered bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals, with the problem remaining undetected until a major health hazard has arisen. More over genetically engineered foods may produce an immediate effect or it could take years for the full toxicity to come to light.'
Dr. Michael Antoniou Ma, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer in Molecular Pathology, London.

Through genetic engineering, the ecological balance is also greatly disturbed and this could pose a serious risk to the biodiversity within a given system. It will be easier for a farmer to grow a monoculture as opposed to a more diverse range of crops. This is potentially disastrous in itself as through just one year of inadequate conditions for the crop i.e. disease or weather, the whole farm could be destroyed.

The safety research systems facilities (I believe) are completely inadequate. These UK institutions have little protection to ensure that experimental genetically engineered organisms are not escaping into the local environment. For instance seeds can he blown by the wind over low fences or carried great distances by birds extremely quickly. It is not possible for anyone, any farm, or any country to isolate itself from the potentially disastrous effects of genetic manipulation.

These are just some of the reasons why I, on the 16th of August 1998 am going to pull out of the ground one sugar beet plant. I am pulling up just one because 1 believe this adequately symbolizes my beliefs about genetic modification. The whole scope of genetic engineering fills me with disbelief and anger, that the authorities and government can knowingly ignore the possible dangers and risks of this huge field of biotechnology. But my intentions are not to convey this anger, but to calmly and non-violently carry out the removal of one plant, as I believe this will have the most impact - on myself and others who are prepared to listen. I fully understand my actions and will accept the consequences openly and account ably for anything I have justifiably done wrong.

I am not an 'Eco-warrior' or an uninformed Activist. I firmly believe that what I am doing is right. All I ask for is proof that this technology is safe and beneficial. After all, our whole world is at stake.

Victoria Allen