VOICE is happy to be supporting GM Free Ireland in their efforts to ensure Ireland is keep Ireland free from genetically modified organisms. Below is an article that appeared in the Irish Daily Mail on 11 April 2011 about the campaign. You can find out more at their website.We don’t want to see Frankenfoods by the back doorYvonne TarletonIrish Daily Mail, 11 April 2011Farmers and doctors are increasingly alarmed over the new government’s ‘confused’ stance on GM food.Representatives from farming, food, health and environmental bodies met yesterday to discuss the uncertainty surrounding Ireland’s future with GM foods.The meeting, which was hosted by the lobby group GM-free Ireland, voiced concerns that the Fine Gael / Labour coalition might allow GM crops to be grown in Ireland for the first time.Fianna Fáil and the Greens failed to ban field trials and the cultilvation of GM crops, and they didn’t bring the promised GM-free labels.Since then the new government has been unclear on their position on the so-called Frankenfoods. Farmers, chefs, doctors and GM-free Ireland called on the Government and the Northern Irish Assembly to implement a five-year moratorium on field trials and cultivation of GM crops in Ireland, with immediate effect.Celebrity chef Darina Allen spoke at the event, which was held at the Dublin Food Coop. She urged the people of Ireland to make their voice heard on the matter. “I am calling on consumers to please take up your pen and phone, get on to your local press and radio, and contact TDs and MEPs to convey your concerns about GM food. Go to the GM-free Ireland and Slow Food Ireland websites for more information, and mention the ten reasons for your concern about the risks of GM food.”GM-free Ireland claims the last government’s U-turn was due to intense lobbying from the U.S. Government. Two weeks before leaving office, outgoing agriculture Minister Brendan Smith voted to weaken the EU’s GM safety rules and claimed that Ireland would now vote in favour of new GM approvals at EU level, without a mandate from the Irish people.Last night, GM-free Ireland said that although the Government has made no public declaration, contradictory pre-election statements by the coalition partners ‘have revealed ignorance and confusion.’ According to GM-free Ireland, some Fine Gael TDs and MEPs want Monsanto to be allowed to grow its patented GM maize in Ireland. Teagasc, which got €10 million for GM crop research under the previous government wants to carry out field trials of GM potatoes.Dr. Elisabeth Cullen from the Irish Doctors Environmental Association said at the meeting: ‘GM is one big uncontrolled experiment.’Tipperary farmer Richard Auler said: “The Government’s possible introduction of GM crops is the single biggest threat to the future of farming on this island.’ Last night a government spokespan said three departments have responsibililty for GM food.The Danger of GM productsGenetically modified organisms include viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, seeds, crops, trees, crustaceans, fish, poultry, cattle, sheep and pigs whose genetic codes have been ‘engineered’ in a laboratory.GM first began to appear on the marke in the early Nineties, and between 1997 and 2009 the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs increased from 17,000 km to 1,340,000km. Initially GM crops were grown in North America but in recent years there has been rapid growth in developing countries.The Committee for Research and Independent Information on Genetic Engineering has called for all GM feed and food products to be taken off the market. There has been scientific evidence of liver and kidney damage, pre-cancerous lesions, allergies, inflammatory responses, antibiotic resistance, reduced immunity and the danger of new diseases.yvonnne.tarleton@dailymail.ie----Keep food naturalIrish Daily Mail (Comment), 11 April 2011Our food, from beef to cheese, enjoys an enviable reputation worldwide.Indeed, there are many who believe the agri-food sector offers our only real hope of recovery. That hope, however, will not be helpled by the confused signals the government is sending out over genetically modified foods.Pressure to lift the moratorium is coming in large part from global pesticide and animal feed cartels, which have an enormous vested interest in GM foods.But the reality is that nobody, least of all the scientists who have produced these Frankenfoods, knows what long-term impact they will have on the environment and consumers.Our hard-earned reputation as a producer of wholesome, healthy food of the highest quality could be set at nought by one rogue gene in an ear of wheat or a slice of beef. Nor is there any need for us to attempt to improve on Mother Nature.Blessed as we are with fertile soil, plentiful rain and adequate sunshine for most crops and with the finest grassland in the world for rearing livestock, we are doing just fine as we are.