Letter: The GM `monster'

John Norris
Thursday 03 June 1999 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Contrary to your editorial ("This `Orwellian future' is an allusion too far", 2 June), the allusion in "Frankenstein food" to its authors is entirely apt.

The immediate problem is the lack of respect by the authors of GM foods - multinational corporations and the scientists working for them - for the enormity of what they are doing with the building blocks of creation. Just as Dr Frankenstein sought to induce life in an assembly of body parts, they are seeking to create new, unnatural life forms.

The are developing - messily, and with inadequate knowledge - transgenic organisms which would not arise in millions of years of natural evolution. Then they are releasing these novel organisms into our environment with no means of recall, whatever their consequences.

If that makes "the future sound frightening", it should. What is being done in the pursuit of profit for the genetic engineering corporations is utterly irresponsible.

The supine attitude of the current New Labour government is little better.

We need a greener approach both in the UK and in Europe. A sufficient moratorium on releases of these organisms is the essential first step.

JOHN NORRIS

London TW9

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in