SECRECY,  GM  TRIALS  &  MISLEADING  HEADLINES?

Item 2: asks: "Why did Minister Wooldridge's office know nothing about the placement of hundreds of beehives in these genetically engineered crops?,"
Item 3: "Tasmanian beekeepers apparently unaware of the risks involved in projects with Monsanto and Aventis are facing potential ruin"

From a UK perspective: it's not only the French (see recent item on court battle) or the Australians who aren't getting the full story - see item 1 below. The new EU legislation calling for transparency about all GM trials won't change anything either, according to Paul Cawthorne who has done much to uncover the UK secret trials.  It seems the Government has about two years to incorporate this into UK law before anyone can take any action against them for non-compliance.

This is another two years in which secret trials can be run with part C listed GM crops whereever Aventis likes and as it has already repeatedly done, and with NIAB collusion.  This means UK bee-keepers can unknowingly place their hives close to GM crop sites.

1. FORKED TONGUE
2. Tasmania facing  rural crops crisis
3. AUSTRALIA: Beekeepers fear ruin with potential GE crop contamination of honey
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1. FORKED TONGUE  7 March 2001  - By John Vidal - The GUARDIAN (Environment section)

How British greenies like cuddling up to career politicians.

Last week, environment minister Michael Meacher attended a meeeting of the big seven eco-groups and had them purring as he called for a full-scale inquiry into industrial agriculture and pledged to bring back small abattoirs.

Little did the groups know that, five hours later, a man going by the same name and posing as an environment minister, would be announcing 55 more farmscale GM trials and that Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace et al would have to resume their ritual attacks on government.

Interestingly, Meacher's team announced the trials right on press deadlines, on the day of the rail crash and on the worst day yet in the foot and mouth crisis.  The headline on the press release read: "Greater say for Staffordshire moorland tenants following transfer."  Perhaps they didn't want anyone to know?
ENDS
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2. Tasmania facing  rural crops crisis - Brown CANBERRA, March 6  - AAP

Tasmania was facing a rural crops crisis and the federal government must step in to help, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today. Senator Brown said bees, placed by canola companies in the centre of genetically modified canola fields in Tasmania, could spread the GM pollen across other crops.

"Why did Minister Wooldridge's office know nothing about the placement of hundreds of beehives in these genetically engineered crops?," Senator Brown asked in parliament. Senator Brown said the 100 metre buffer zone surrounding the canola crops were a farce, as bees could fly between eight and 10 kilometres a day.

Justice Minister Amanda Vanstone said the situation was not a crisis and that risks were negligible. She said Health Minister Michael Wooldridge would receive a report on the situation and that he would investigate. Senator Brown later issued a statement saying he would place a notice of motion urging the Senate to demand Dr Wooldridge provide information on the situation by Thursday morning. "Dr Wooldridge has let the crisis get completely out of hand," he said.
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3. AUSTRALIA: Beekeepers fear ruin with potential GE crop contamination of honey
http://just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=26794&app=1
Source: just-food.com editorial team  -7 Mar 2001
 

Tasmanian beekeepers apparently unaware of the risks involved in projects with Monsanto and Aventis are facing potential ruin amid fears that their bees are contaminated with genetically engineered  canola pollen.

The two major agribusinesses convinced many beekeepers to place their hives close to GE-canola crops in a bid to facilitate pollination  and increase production. The problem has now been raised following findings in Europe that honey can be contaminated with GE pollen. Health Minister Michael Wooldridge will investigate the situation after a report is prepared, and speculation as to the future for the beekeepers is rife.

Family and Community Services Minister Amanda Vanstone insisted that risks of contamination are negligible and the situation had not become a crisis.

Others do not agree. Bob Brown, Australian Greens senator, spoke of a rural crop crisis and appealed for help from federal government.

"It is a big concern and it is an appalling situation that could compromise these {producers'] livelihoods," explained Peg Putt from Greens MHA.  For many the mere association with GE contamination is enough to give the kiss of death to producers.

Putt called for the agribusiness giants at the centre of the situation to foot the bill for the necessary tests on Tasmanian honey.