Press  Release
Immediate release: Thursday 25th September

PILGRIMAGE FOR A GM-FREE BRITAIN

Opponents of GM crops are taking to the road over coming weeks with
some 20 individuals from around the country embarking on a journey to
London as part of pilgrimage for a GM-free Britain. Campaigners from
around the country will journey by foot, bicycle and tractor to the
capital where they will join together with hundreds of people in a
Tractors and Trolleys Parade on Monday 13th October to demonstrate
their opposition to GM crops and food.

The GM-free Britain pilgrimage follows the publication of the results
of the Government's GM Nation debate, released yesterday, which showed
high levels of opposition to GM crops and food among the general
public.  The Government, under pressure from the United States and
from the biotech industry, must soon decide on the future
commercialisation of GM crops in the UK.

The event, organised by Friends of the Earth, the Five Year Freeze,
GM-free Cymru and Genetic Engineering Network will highlight
opposition to the activities of the biotech industry, and support for
sustainable alternatives to GM crops and industrial agriculture.  The
journeys will take in significant locations en route including GM crop
test sites, biotech company offices, organic farms and local farmers
markets, and will be supported by local activities and send-off
actions. [2]

Travelling alone or in groups, the campaigners for a GM-free Britain,
are all undertaking the journey to illustrate their deep opposition to
the introduction of GM crops in our countryside and in our food.  They
include:
. Two cyclists travelling from north east Scotland, one towing a
coffin representing the death of organic agriculture;
. A organic farmer travelling from Pembrokeshire by tractor,
. A tractor towing a GM-free carnival float travelling from Coventry
. A founder member of Scarborough Against Genetic Engineering (SAGE)
travelling on foot from North Yorkshire to London.

Organic farmer and GM-free Cymru member Gerald Miles, who is
travelling from Pembrokeshire by tractor, said:
"As a farmer I am concerned that no-one knows the impact of GM on our
health or the environment. I believe planting GM crops on a commercial
scale is not a risk we should be taking especially as consumer demand
for non-GM food is overwhelming. GM crops, whether planted
commercially or as trials, will inevitably contaminate both non-GM and
organic crops.

"If the Government does go ahead with the commercialisation of GM, it
will put our seed purchases and chemicals under corporate control and
it will be another nail in the farming coffin. I am planning to drive
my tractor all the way from Pembrokeshire to London to join the
Tractors and Trolleys Parade to draw attention to our concerns".

Friends of the Earth regional campaigner Mike Birkin, who is cycling
from Land's End, said:
"I want to express the wishes of a diversity of people who want to
produce and consume food with respect for nature and ethics. This
choice could be denied us because of the machinations of a handful of
very unscrupulous, very rich corporations and a prime minister who
appears unwilling to listen."

Rowan Tilly from Brighton, who is travelling to London from
Herefordshire, said:
"I am bound on a pilgrimage to a GM free Britain.  A journey to bear
witness to the land that has already been contaminated by crops,
engineered out of greed and delusion.  A journey to celebrate the
communities of resistance that have sprung up in response, wherever GM
crops have been planted."

Notes:
[1]  For more information go to www.tractorandtrolley.com
[2] Pilgrims' itineraries and biographies are available from the press
office at Friends of the Earth.

Contact:
Press Office  020 7566 1649





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Helen Burley
Media Officer
Tel: 020 7566 1702
Press office: 020 7566 1649
Mobile: 07778 069930
Email: helenby@foe.co.uk