reviews 'Fleids of Gold' (Alan Rusbridger and Ronan Bennett) BBC2 watch "Fields of Gold" snatched time to sit down and watch the reviews that appeared before it was shown but also those printed afterwards. What saw on screen was a much more complex story than The reviews, be they supportive or damning concentrated on one single aspect possible for genes to transfer from genetically modified crops to humans. I don't such questions but I do recent and virulent strains of chickens. Then there are theories about HIV mutating from a virus amongst chimpanzees and of course the troubled relationship between CJD and BSE.
T much greater leap well as imaginatively speaking to than from other relatively complex animals to humans. But as 1 understand it, the disease in the wheat was something that could develop amongst Homo sapiens in the first place And we know that GM technology is dependent on transferring traits from one species to another - between bacteria and crops for sure. expressed concern that anti. bouc resistant gencs taat are usually used in the process of making GM crop: could enter the genes of bacteria - and .om there have a devastating effect on our Then there has been the development of GM crops that produce their own pesticides. These are only supposed to kill the pests that feed on that particular crop.
Howerer in 1999, researchers at Cornell University toune that the pesticide produced by generkilled 50% of the caterpillars ning - Monarch butterfly.
There is also condevelopmeur of -superbugs willbe •peste becosse Besiltaniduced by GM crops. T6B D more likely to happen cven sive farming because the use of pesticides is more intensive.
At any rate, the point that the environmental movegenetically modified food is not that they are sure that it is a danger to human health, but that it must be to be down to those who advocate its use to prove that it is not a tarcat. waen ocre 1s to proof, then we have to apply ine precautionary princupicThis is even more true in terms of genetic modification than most other issues. The only parallel that 1 can As the going gets rosigh, Friel (below) gets going gramme pulled. The Science Media Centre, which promotes GM companies and is Tunaco by companies suca as Dupont, MerlinPowderJet and Smith & Nephew pushed hard that the BBC, which had run a for the series, withdraw it at the last moment. In particular they trumpeted the views of Doctor Mark Tester of Cambridge University who had been used as a scientific adviser during the making of the programme. ester, who apparently calls himself a Green socialist, subsequently rubbished the scientific credibility of the thriller, full of "ridiculous errors of tact to inflame unitormed anti-GM hysteria". He conceded that what was shown claimed it was rare and difficult to transmit. For a former worker for the Green Party, it is remarkable tat Dr lester didn't ever find it necessary to address mectings held throughout the precautionary principle. the country this summer. Needless to say he also It will be down to the made no concessions to tac movemeat to casure idea that fiction will treat that this is less of a pious exercise playing science in a different way than a theoretical paper... to the cameras than most of this government's Some strange Green socialist methinks... previous debates and consul• tations. At the same time, Ronan No wonder there was a Bennett's republican views furious reaction from the were also raised in order to establishment and media - suggest that the programme must be off the wall. After Guardian of course - who all, its fine to have people biased in favour of establisheven tried to have the proment views putting them in those who are critical... not a secondary issue to the film - cither at the level of plot or message but it was by no means the totality. In lact waat & tougal was most impressive was the way treat the wider social context government and big corporations most obvious v, It is impossible to think that the cer is modelled on anything CHUCT CHAH COC ONC TC AHUW and love...The whole cynical way that "Feed the World" used their supposed concern about famine in Africa in order to boost profits rang loud bells close to home.
In fact you could see the whole script as a rewrite of 1984 - perhaps set only 20 years later...
T of the drama 1 143 BU about. There CEC HO HA DE BRE resistance to this nightmare. The plot is peppered with ex-members of the SWP in various positions from cabinet minister, newspaper editor and past-it reporter.
OK, so it's not unrealistic that many of those who were involved in the far-left in trary positions in later life -in terms of the final plot twist. Then there is the desperate environmentalist wanting to shock the world into saving itself.
But there is no movement ol any kina -justify this all he likes - as of the programme, but as well as defving reality, actually it makes for a less powertul story.
Contrary to much of traditional literary theory, people acting in groups open up far more dramatic possibilities than individuals on their Then I didn't like the fact that the only black woman is probably the only major or moment though the main black man is more ambivalent.
The acting was compelling from the completely belierout hack. Anna Friel's role as the young photographer was in many ways less chalengins, out ner portrayal had depth. Friel has also made clear that she sees the issues explored in the piece as being ones she personally sces as important.
M Most of tac cin was crisp and well framed • with the irritating exception of the crucial final seauence... I could forgive the melodramatic twist - which I won't share in case you haven't yet got to because it seemed the only way of getting to a redempBut the power of this was undercut for me by the fact by thinking no one would but that fire doesn't behave coughing and why dom they remain pristinely clean despite the smoke?
Despite these reservations, Fields of Gold was one of the most compelling pieces of TV drama I have scen in a long time - and one that compelling manner. diseases, diabetes, hor-