The Guardian, UK / Wednesday April 5, 2000
Lord Melchett, executive director of Greenpeace, told Norwich crown court yesterday that genetic modification of crops was one the most frightening things he had come across, and he was convinced the government was keen to pursue the technology.
Melchett criticised chemical company scientists for "not living in the real world". He is accused with 27 other supporters of the environmental campaign group of criminal damage and theft after a trial GM crop of maize in Lyng, Norfolk, was destroyed last July.
The former Labour minister said that meetings with Tony Blair in late 1998 and early 1999 had left him feeling that the prime minister was determined that GM crops would be grown.
All 28 defendants deny the charges and argue that they had a lawful excuse to destroy the crop because they genuinely believed that neighbouring organic crops were in immediate need of protection.
"GM is one of the most serious issues Greenpeace has ever tried to tackle," said Melchett, 52, a farmer of Hunstanton, Norfolk. "GM means putting things into the environment which are alive. You cannot recall it."
The case continues.
(posted without permission)
