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TechnoratiPrince Charles Sees Red Over GM Crops
LONDON - Prince Charles drew criticism with an outspoken attack on industrial farming Wednesday, warning genetically modified food could be the "biggest disaster environmentally of all time."
Charles said millions of small farmers around the world could be driven off their land into "degraded and dysfunctional conurbations of unmentionable awfulness" by the rise of global conglomerates.
The heir to the throne is a long-term supporter of sustainability and locally produced food and often speaks out on environmental issues.
He has an organic farm on his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire and set up the Duchy Originals brand, which sells exclusively organic produce, in 1990.
But his latest comments have drawn criticism that he is a "Luddite".
The Daily Telegraph journalist who conducted the interview wrote that Charles "let rip" and started "jabbing his finger" and "bouncing in his chair" when asked whether large-scale food production was the future.
"What, all run by gigantic corporations? Is that really the answer? I think not. That would be the absolute destruction of everything and... the classic way of ensuring that there is no food in the future," Charles told the paper.
He added that "clever" genetic engineers had put the world on course for the "biggest disaster environmentally of all time."
The world should be working "with nature. We have gone working against nature for too long," Charles said.
Labour lawmaker Des Turner, who is on the House of Commons science and technology select committee, criticised the comments, telling London's Evening Standard paper that Charles "has got a way of getting things absolutely wrong.
"It's an entirely Luddite attitude to simply reject them (GM crops) out of hand," he added.
Another Labour lawmaker, Ian Gibson, told the paper: "Prince Charles should stick to his royal role rather than spout(ing) off about something which he has clearly got wrong."
But the future king attracted support from environmental groups including Friends of the Earth.
"Prince Charles has hit the nail on the head about the damaging false solution that GM crops present," said its campaign director Mike Childs.
"GM crops will not solve the food crisis -- and forging ahead with an industrialised farming system will continue to fail people and the environment around the world."
The comments come amid rising concerns worldwide over rapidly rising food prices.
The World Bank estimates that food prices have almost doubled over the past three years, and its president Robert Zoellick has said two billion people are affected by the food crisis.
© 2008 Agence France Presse
16 Comments so far
Show AllIt is absolutely amazing how many "liberals" feel the need to viciously and rather personally attack HRH the Prince of Wales, even though he made comments that would have been lauded by many of them had they originated from the likes of Hugo Chavez and other assorted scoundrels. The Prince of Wales has for many years championed sustainable farming and a respectful treatment of both nature and traditions. Because he is not beholden to a fickle and often intellectually challenged electorate his outlook and concerns can be much more long-term than those of any elected politician. In fact, this independent advocacy for his people, his country and our planet is one of the most elemental and important functions of a hereditary monarch!
The last time a British Royal named Charles tried to be a part of the British Government, they chopped off his head.
They then had a ten year civil war, followed by ten years of puritan dictatorship.
The absolute last thing the UK needs is Royalty playing at being Government.
If you are asking me to choose between Royal privilege and corporate fascism, I will always be forced to select the "NONE OF THE ABOVE" option.
GM IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO HUNGER EITHER
Charles George is wrong to claim GM will take away agricultural land from farmers BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING!
Go to, www.markcurtis.info , and scroll down to the report entitled, "Precious Metal: Anglo Platinum in South Africa":
"Thousands of poor people in rural areas have lost agricultural land – their main means of survival – due to mining activities undertaken by Anglo Platinum."
Also, click on "Reports" at the top of the page for more reports. One that covers the IMF and World Bank's role in creating hunger is:
"Deadly combination: The role of Southern governments and the World Bank in the rise of hunger"
In the spirit of British vernacular and the attack hounds that attempt to disparage Prince Charles, I have an accurate term to describe them:
c*nts.
...didn't realize the House of Commons is just as torridly bought and sold as our Congress, but apparently so. At least on this issue.
** CORPORATE OWNERSHIP OF LIFE! **
"But his latest comments have drawn criticism that he is a 'Luddite'".
-
GM IS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF LIFE AND TOTAL CONTROL OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY. Seeds can now be patented in order to become the property of corporations, seeds NATURE created, NOT a CORPORATION.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GM, THE FACT THAT ANIMALS AND PLANTS ARE NOW BECOMING THE PROPERTY OF CORPORATIONS.
If you ignore this issue, then all corporations have to do is say, where's your evidence GM is dangerous, and they are in. Even if GM was entirely safe, I'd be against it. GM is NOT about giving farmers or consumers what they want, it's about giving corporations control of our food supply.
As for Charles George (I refuse to call him Prince Charles, as such titles are utterly meaningless), I'm no fan of his, he shoots animals for sport, maiming some, which escape and die in pain, and he supports his son going off to kill Iraqis in support of corporate globalization.
However, being anti-GM has nothing to do with being a Luddite.
From a previous post of mine:
...a book I bought a few years ago: "Progress Without People" by David F. Noble:
"...David Noble goes to immediately to provide a detailed analysis of the effects of automation. He knows how history has been distorted so that the term 'LUDDITE' can be used to target any who try to save their jobs and control conditions of life in industrial, office, retail, or service jobs." (Eric Hobsbawn).
I think its funny how the big corporations have it so wrong. The food is there, its the people to pick it and plant it that we have the problem with. So many of the foods we eat and use are right there in nature. So you ask who is going to pay for that food? Who is going to pay the labor? I retort.
Charles is the first and only so called "royal" that did or said anything smart. also he's the real thing- he is invited to speak at meetings of the finest small farm/anti corporate/global forum people. . He even contributed a piece to Vandana Shiva's "manifestos on the future of food and seed". good on ya mate. no wait that's australia. go get 'em charlie
Way to go, Charlie! Why you ever dumped a lassie for a cow, I'll never understand but you got it right on genetically modified foods. Creeping corporatism at its worst.
Think about it: Royalty attacking the Establishment. Yet more proof life is stranger than fiction.
screw your racist conservative larouche links.... thaddeusstephens, you're an attack dog paid pundit. get out of here.
What's doubly ironic is that the royal family has so much of it's almost $600 mil from a food processing giant.
http://www.larouchepub.com/other/1995/2249_windsor_food.html
Ten to twelve pivotal companies, assisted by another three dozen, run the world's food supply. They are the key components of the Anglo-Dutch-Swiss food cartel, which is grouped around Britain's House of Windsor. Led by the six leading grain companies—Cargill, Continental, Louis Dreyfus, Bunge and Born, André, and Archer Daniels Midland/Töpfer—the Windsor-led food and raw materials cartel has complete domination over world cereals and grains supplies, from wheat to corn and oats, from barley to sorghum and rye. But it also controls meat, dairy, edible oils and fats, fruits and vegetables, sugar, and all forms of spices.
Guess Prince Charles is taking a page from Al Gore.
Al did more to destroy the environmental soundness of the planet than anybody since James Watt-Reagan's hatchet guy.
Look up amazon.com and search for Born Under a Bad Sky by Jeffrey St. Clair
As beneficiary of and heir to a private fortune stolen at public expense, Charles Windsor does surprisingly well on a host of progressive causes.
Unfortunately, dissolution of monarchy isn't among them.
Maybe, if ever and when he becomes King, his conscience will better integrate on the monarchy question -- and he'll do the right thing.
Meanwhile, more power to him for staring down the worst crazies who dominate his thieving class.
It's too bad that one of the richest people in the world (or at least heir to the royal fortune) is apparently unwilling to put his money where his mouth is and help out by funding initiatives to require labeling of GMO foods. This one simple change could end GMO crop production. Also the farmers need legal funds to fight the GMO perveyors.
When pollen drifts from a GMO field into a natural field, the GMO company should be liable for polluting the genetic stock of the natural farmer. The natural farmer should not be forced to destroy his crop and/or pay royalties to the GMO company for "stealing" their intellectual property.
C'mon, Chuck, do us all a favor and make the world save for natural farming.
Prince Charles authored a book on eco-guardening which I checked out but, unfortunately, didn't have time to read. I've been reading books like, Hell and Highwater by Joseph Romm, or Heat by George Monbiot, or Big Coal by Jeff Goodell and so I had to let this one fall by the wayside.
Clearly Prince Charles is passionate on the subject of GMOs and those of us who eat to survive.
Notice that it was a couple of MP's from Tony Blair's/Gordon Brown's New Labour Party that attacked Charlie.
It's really a sad and strange thing when people of the world have to depend on royalty to speak up against the perversion and destruction of the human food supply by corporatization and GMOs.
And of course he must be demeaned and ridiculed with phrases like these - "... let rip" and started "jabbing his finger" and "bouncing in his chair ..." for speaking the truth.
It is too bad, as Rebel Farmer says, that the prince isn't part of the UK government.
Too bad Prince Charles isn't part of the UK government. At least if he were, maybe he could show some leadership and get all of Europe out of the WTO. And let's add the withdrawal from The World Bank and the IMF while we're at it!