We always welcome a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below. This from Keith Taylor, Green MEP, South East England. Ed
This week the EU postponed the re-authorisation of the controversial toxic substance glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide. However, this does more than just kill weeds. The World Health Organisation confirmed last year that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic” to humans.
The postponement followed growing rebellion from EU governments. Italy, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands all opposed a new 15-year licence at a meeting which the European Commission had hoped would rubber stamp re-approval.
UK absent from opposition list
You will note the absence of the UK from this list. In fact, the UK government is a keen supporter of corporate agribusiness and has been leading the charge for deregulation, for which read: reduction of standards that protect public health.
Indeed former Environment secretary, Owen Paterson, was a cheerleader for GM crops. Glyphosate and GM are two sides of the same corporate coin. Agribusiness giant Monsanto produces both Roundup, the world’s leading glyphosate weed killer, and glyphosate-resistant GM crops. A marriage of convenience which enables corporate control of food production.
The blocking of re-authorisation of glyphosate is another example of why we are greener in the EU. As Greens, we see the EU as the place where we can battle corporate power most effectively. But as is patently clear, this is something we can only hope to do while the UK remains a member of the EU.
Image: chafermachinery under CC BY 2.0
