1.Update on FSA action
2.FSA's GM 'Dialogue' in Chaos as Second Steering Committee Member Resigns
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1.Update on FSA action

From: Eve Mitchell, Coordinator - GM Freeze
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 10:50 AM
Subject: update to FSA "dialogue" action - second resignation today

Dear friends,

You'll recall that we suggested writing to MPs, MSPs, MLAs and MAs about the waste of taxpayers' money on the pro-GM FSA public "dialogue" when Dr Helen Wallace resigned a few days ago. (see http://www.gmfreeze.org/page.asp?ID=429&iType=1083).

Further press on this story can be found at the links below.

Today a second resignation, that of Professor Brian Wynne citing "dogmatically entrenched" pro-GM positions, gives us an important opportunity to press the message home that we do not want this Labour Government attempt to gather information about our views so the FSA can attempt to persuade us to accept GM food and crops. (see http://www.gmfreeze.org/page.asp?id=430&iType=)

As Professor Wynne pointed out on BBC Radio 4's Today program this morning (link below), this is not just about the safety of GM, but a wide range of issues and problems with the technology, its impacts and control of the food chain.

Please do write to your political representatives (you can find them using your post code at www.writetothem.com) and:

- object strongly to the use of taxpayers' money to conduct a pro-GM PR exercise to try (again) to convince people to like GM food and crops.

- ask your politician to formally ask Ministers and the FSA to explain what is happening and how the cost is justified

- copy or send a link to Dr Wallace's resignation letter (see http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/resignation.doc) and/or Professor Wynne's resignation letter (see http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/Resignationletter31May10.doc)

- you could also refer to the growing attention the issue has received by noting the links to press stories:

BBC Today program (listen at http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8717000/8717392.stm)
Telegraph article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7794313/Academic-resigns-from-FSA-group-over-GM.html
Press and Journal  http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1759073
page that includes background to the 'dialogue'  http://political-cleanup.org/?p=570  
Alliance for Natural Health Europe  http://www.anh-europe.org/news/genewatch-director-resigns-in-protest-from-uk-fsa-‘pro-gm’-steering-group

For those who feel they are too busy to write a letter, please simply forward the links to the resignation letters to your MP and ask them to ask the Ministers to explain what will be done.

Thank you for your help,
Eve
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2.FSA's GM 'Dialogue' in Chaos as Second Steering Committee Member Resigns
- FSA accused of "dogmatically entrenched" pro-GM view
GM freeze, Immediate Release, 2 June 2010
http://www.gmfreeze.org/page.asp?id=430&iType=

The GM Public 'Dialogue', being planned by the Food Standards Agency for later in 2010, is in chaos following the resignation of a second Steering Committee member in less than a week.

Professor Brian Wynne [1] resigned from the independent panel charged with overseeing the conduct of the GM 'Dialogue', which the Labour Government asked the FSA to run last year. Last week Dr Helen Wallace of the think-tank GeneWatch UK resigned over the selection of contractors to run the project when it was revealed they were already working for a major biotechnology company in order to "position the company as a positive force". [2]

Professor Wynne's resignation letter highlights serious differences between the Steering Committee's view of the purpose of the dialogue and those of the FSA. He accuses the FSA of adopted a "dogmatically entrenched" pro-GM position and says that the GM dialogue could become a "public mistrust generator". Professor Wynne is heavily critical of FSA chair, ex-Labour Minister Lord Rooker, who is said to describe the public views on GM food and crops as "anti-science".

Commenting Pete Riley of GM Freeze said:
 
"The Coalition Government needs to look very seriously at how the FSA is attempting to use the 'dialogue' process to gather information on what the public thinks about GM so they can the use it to manipulate public opinion in a pro-GM direction. This would be a gross misuse of public funds, and Ministers need to put a stop to it.

"There is an urgent need to have a genuine dialogue with the public about how we can adapt diet and food production to meet the challenges posed by climate change, dwindling natural resources and rising population, but such a debate should go way beyond the narrow, vested interests of biotech companies. The FSA is far too close to industry on this issue, which is a deep disappointment for an organisation that was set up as an independent regulator and food safety champion for the public just 10 years ago."  

ENDS

Calls to Pete Riley 07903 341065

Notes

1. Professor Brian Wynne is from the ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics, Cesagen, Lancaster University. His resignation letter can be downloaded from www.genewatch.org/.

2. From Helen Wallace's resignation letter from GM Dialogue available at www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/resignation.doc.

See also GM Freeze press release www.gmfreeze.org/page.asp?id=428&iType=1079.