Prince Charles blows his top over GM
BBC Radio played a journalist’s tape recording of an interview with the Prince of Wales this morning in which he is heard getting very angry over genetically-modified crops (GM).
Jeff Randall of the Telegraph, and formerly the BBC’s Business Editor, interviewed the Prince at the Castle of Mey in Caithness where Charles and Camilla are holidaying.
At one stage Randall asked him why he objects to “large corporations” making the running on GM, since only they can afford the investment for research and development.
Charles replied that large companies are conducting a “gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong. Why else are we facing all these challenges, climate change and everything? That would be the absolute destruction of everything, and the classic way of ensuring there is no food in the future.”
The Prince believes food security should be put above an unregulated race for food production.
He continued with considerable passion, “And if they think it’s somehow going to work because they are going to have one form of clever genetic engineering after another then again count me out, because that will be guaranteed to cause the biggest environmental disaster of all time.”
The phrase “Count me out!” is used at least twice to hammer home his point. Commentators are today speculating precisely what he meant by it.
My personal interpretation is that he means to go on as he has for 40 years, making his case strongly and, as he sees it, non-politically. However, currently he is boycotting the Olympic Games because of China’s activities in Tibet. He also refused to attend a State banquet for the Chinese President in London and met the Dalai Lama openly, flaunting political advice.
Clearly Charles is treading a fine line on these issues now that food and climate change have become hot political topics around the world.
His position could become serious once he is King. Going against the Government of the day on policy would create not just an unseemly row but a major constitutional crisis. Already the usual crew of grumbly Labour backbenchers are feigning outrage at his remarks.
With the phrase “Count me out!” could Charles be signalling that he will not preside over a country that has relinquished its control in these crucial areas to the European Union, which has significantly softened its attitudes to GM crops and research in recent years?
Might he be saying, I just can’t do this job, it would be against all my principles and life’s work?
Or was it just a rush of blood to the head in response to some shoot-from-the-hip questioning?
Jeff Randall’s background to the interview can be read here.
As long as Charles is the Prince of Wales I think it’s fine that he feels passionately about certain subjects & at times expresses those strong feelings. It shows he is a thinking man. That he’s done the research, talked to the experts, and has formed his view. Prince Charles and Al Gore were out in front on the climate change issue before it became in vogue with celebrities. They should both be applauded for their efforts in my opinion. However, it would be a problem for him to continue to speak out on these issues if he were to become King. The Monarch is supposed to be apolitical.
By lizzy on August 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
True, Charles was onto this back in the early 1970s, long before climate change or global warming came on the scene. He’s been proved right on so many of these issues. Maybe the politicians should listen to him.
By John on August 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Climate change is approaching being apolitical in many European countries, is it not? Perhaps by the time he is King, GMOs will be tarred with the same brush.
By ClassyCanuck on August 13th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
It’s a fast-moving scene, Classy.
Incidentally, what do you make of Canada’s sand-tar oil project? Ten years ago I was told by a Canuck that it would turn Canada into Saudi Arabia — with snow, of course.
By John on August 13th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
John, when you take the tar sands into consideration, Canada has the world’s 2nd largest oil reserves behind Saudi Arabia. As it is, Canada is the largest supplier to the US. Saudi Arabia comes in second.
I don’t think an opinionated King will cause a constitutional crisis. It will just make British government (which by then may be devolved to English government) more interesting. I can just picture Charles leaving out whole sections of the King’s Speech at the Opening of Parliament. At last, a reason to watch!
By Dan on August 13th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Dan, if a King refused to read parts of the King’s Speech, it would be the equivalent of refusing the Royal Assent, which hasn’t happened since good Queen Anne. Trust me, it would be a huge constitutional crisis.
Interesting about the tar sands. Canada is a lucky country.
By John on August 13th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
John, I believe the “Count me out” portion of Charles’ remarks reflects strong feelings, not a hint that he may choose not to be King in protest of changes in food production. Charles will be King unless he is no longer alive when Queen Elizabeth II dies, I feel certain. His entire life, nearly 60 years, has been devoted to preparing to be the Sovereign and I cannot believe he will shirk his duty. He will not be the only Sovereign to disagree with his ministers, after all. Both Charles and the Princess Royal take after their Father, Prince Philip, in their tendency to speak out and show their emotions in public. Queen Elizabeth II is far more self-disciplined and self-controlled than her husband. Charles will be a different sovereign from his Mother in many ways. Not all of those ways will be helpful, but we shall wait and see what transpires. Charles is a terribly frustrated heir who has spent his entire life waiting for the throne and this situation has been known to cause considerable pique in one’s personality. When he becomes King, those frustrations may pass away and we may see a very different Charles as a result. It has been known, after all.
By Gigi on August 13th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I don’t think Charles would renounce the throne over one issue. (Well, so long as it’s not an American divorcée he wants to marry next.) But if his past record on issues holds, by the time he becomes King, GM may no longer be an issue. The world will have come round to his point of view. Either that or perhaps we will have warmed ourselves or modified ourselves into extinction!
I was joking about the prospect of Charles editing the King’s Speech on the fly. But it would make for interesting television!
By Dan on August 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The Labour MPs who are on the opposite side of the GM debate have a right to their own opinion, but they should not dismiss Charles as not knowing what he is talking about. From the Telegraph interview, it appears he has thought about this a lot and is very informed about this subject. No need to claim he’s ignorant because he and the environmentalists have a different point of view.
By lizzy on August 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I just listened to his interview and it’s very much true. The scary part is guys we are living in a very uncertain world and the world is becoming over populated. The gas prices’s is rising but it hasn’t hit the country hard yet because if it did no one would drive their cars. GM crops is a very bad idea and if we continue to do things like this, it could wipe the human race out. Again we are living in a very scary world. You could clearly hear the anger in the Prince’s voice and he knows what he’s talking about.
By Claudius on August 13th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Thank goodness someone is willing to speak out about this, someone who is not under the thumbs of the almighty lobbyists who try to foist this scary pseudo-science upon us. It is brave indeed of the POW to speak out on this (even if I was a bit disappointed he never seems to choose the Balmoral tartan.)
Just look what failed attempts animal husbandry have brought us — and this is just involves mating funky animals togther; it involves nothing on the cellular level — shoats (sheep+goats), ponkeys (pig+monkeys) and the scariest of them all, the Chupacabra.
Gigi, the Chupacabra have been found down in your neck of the woods, and if you think the deer are a nusiance … I suspect Monsanto has something to do with this vile creature.
By alsgal on August 13th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I don’t know what a chupacabra, but if anyone hurts my deer, I am coming after them! Every night we have does and fawns coming up from the canyon, prancing across the street and into our garden where they dine on whatever flowers taste best and have the most moisture. The canyon is burned to a crisp by the 100 degree days and no rain and they have to eat somewhere, after all. We make sure everything is watered. We can grow more plants but no matter how good we are, we can’t grow a deer. Also, they are very beautiful with their huge eyes glistening in the moonlight.
It is not a good idea to be within a few yards of a buck, so we watch them from the upstairs deck. It’s the coyotes that make me crazy! They are ruthless predators and scary as the dickens. We hear their chilling howls almost every night when they have a kill. We also hear gunfire in the canyon, so someone is probably shooting them.
By Gigi on August 13th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Whenever MPs disagree with the Prince of Wales, they always assail his intelligence rather than debate the points of the argument. It’s an infantile approach, one that doesn’t inspire faith in the intelligence of the average MP.
By Dan on August 13th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Oh my heavens Gigi I must have been in the midst of another one of my alkie blackouts for the last time I visited the Austin area there was nary a canyon to be found.
It is delightful to hear that you are one of the few Texans not to make deer jerky out of these graceful creatures. I can still recall bursting into tears the first time I saw “Bambi” all those years ago; I did cry a river.
Dan, I agree the MP’s always seem to question the POW’s intelligence and from this side of the pond, I cannot understand why. The man went to Cambridge for goodness sakes! And not for a visit, but to take a degree. Question his opinions perhaps, but his intelligence? That is simply uncalled for.
By alsgal on August 13th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
The canyons are to the northwest of Austin proper, alsgal. When we moved there some 24 years ago, the canyon was not within the Austin city limits but it became so when our area was annexed by the city some 10 years ago. The canyon is camouflaged by heavy vegetation and people who have lived here for years often do not know the canyon is there unless they are shown it. It is deep and rugged and is the home to many snakes, armadillo, coyotes, deer and bobcats, plus native vegetation and many cactus. The canyon is there, I assure you. I am typing this on my laptop outside, facing the canyon and I can see the hawks circling far above the canyon, looking for dinner.
By Gigi on August 14th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Only canyon we made it to was the guest house on Toro Canyon — my friend Brig and I spent most of our time getting thrown out of some of the finer establishments on Sixth Street for lewd behavior. Austin’s a fine town, shame about the fire though.
By alsgal on August 14th, 2008 at 1:30 am
John,
There is a national election in England in 2010 and then the Olympics in 2012. Are those events a factor in the decision to possibly have the royal wedding in 2009?
By lizzy on August 14th, 2008 at 2:34 am
John,
Could the problems with Russia and Georgia affect a royal wedding announcement? Also, has anyone heard where William and Kate are? I haven’t read anything since they were supposed to return to London?
By kat on August 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
If they are going to wait until there are no conflicts in the world, they’ll have to wait for a while.
By dagga on August 14th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
You’re right, Dagga, a wedding only takes a day or two. To write off a whole year because of the Olympics or an election is a bit batty! It will take place when the two participants are happy to do so, never mind anyone else.
Incidentally, I’m on holiday till the first of September, but will post when I can from mobile devices.
I hope everyone’s summer is a lot better than ours.
By John on August 14th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Some would argue that when the world’s a mess, a Royal Wedding is just the ticket to brighten things up, at least for a day.
By Dan on August 14th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Well said, Dan! After WWII, there were still shortages and many evidences of austerity in Britain. The grand and regal Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip gladdened the hearts and lifted the spirits of so many in the Kingdom. Nothing spells hope and joy like a wedding, and a Royal Wedding magnifies that immensely!
By Gigi on August 14th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
John,
Thanks for posting this. Prince Charles (and his heirs) have a unique bully pulpit. They can express opinions unpopular with the current corporate climate; calling things as they are … or, at least, as they see them.
Very few persons have the forum to express opinions contrary to the prevailing corporate positions, but the English royals do. It seems to me, that the royals can carve out a role for themselves by expressing opinions unpopular with political parties and even with the “corporate overmasters” of us all.
If William and Harry expect to have any relevancy in the political discourse of their time, they would be wise to champion those causes and viewpoints overlooked by our corporatist culture.
That seems to be a role for royalty … and kingship … in the 21st century.
By Alicia on August 15th, 2008 at 1:07 am
John,
Have fun on your vacation.
By kat on August 15th, 2008 at 1:30 am
John, wishing you a relaxing break and hope you are able to see the glorious photos appearing today of Kate and William having a night out at Raffles.
Tall, tan, young and lovely — I’m almost bursting into the “Girl from Ipanema” here : ) — but they really do look stunning together.
By alsgal on August 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
William and Kate were out last night in Raffles nightclub in London. The DM and the Sun have pictures of them leaving. Kate wears a pretty colourful short summer dress. Both seem very tanned and relaxed.
By Isana on August 15th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
They do look great together! Too bad the Sun has to have their snotty comments…oh, well. It was nice to see them looking tan and beautiful.
By Julie on August 15th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I have no respect for The daily Mail. They couldn’t help themselves, could they? I really wonder what KM has done to deserve this campaign the paper is running to make her look bad.?
In the end the only ones that look bad are of course the people at Daily Mail. But I can’t help feeling sorry for KM.
By dagga on August 15th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I feel badly for Kate and Prince William and I am beginning to lose patience with the Daily Mail. What on earth ails these journalists?? It is too bad to behave in such a way. I am quite put out!
By Gigi on August 15th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
We could comment on the depravity of photographers—and their muckraking employers—who leer into car windows at 4 in the morning to take pictures of pretty girls.
They haven’t changed a bit since causing Diana’s death.
By Dan on August 15th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Exactly! It amazes me that they can hound them so that they feel they have to jump into a vehicle to get away and then have comments basically stating that KM and PW are the people behaving without class. WHO is without decorum?
By Julie on August 15th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
The DM wants to sell papers and KM and PW sell papers. They don’t care how they do it. Being sensational makes money. That is their business. Sensational news is choosing words that show PW and KM in a negative way. It talks about the vacations and the clubbing. They do not show the positive. It does not discuss PW trying to get a well rounded view of the military and the government so that he’ll make a good King. It does not include Kate working for her parents. The papers don’t look at how public these two have become in the last months. That might not sell as many papers. KM has done nothing wrong except maybe to fall in love with the future king of England. I was just glad to see them out together last night looking happy. I would like to see them begin a positive joint venture. To help with this, both could work on a new charity. PW and KM would be shown working with a group in a positive light. I was hopeful that they would head to Balmoral to enjoy being with the RF. I guess I am rushing things. I’ ll just leave it at that.
By kat on August 15th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I see both Prince William and Kate are confident as a couple and are becoming comfortable to public together.
By Mikado-watcher on August 15th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I mean ” they are becoming comfortable to be seen in public together”.
By Mikado-watcher on August 15th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Thank you for fixing that!
By alsgal on August 15th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
(Mikado-watcher, that isn’t directed at you but for someone graciously removing my previous boo-boo post.)
By alsgal on August 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Team Great Britain is rising to great heights in Olympic competition and winning many splendid medals! Congratulations to all Britains! ADVANCE BRITANNIA!!
By Gigi on August 16th, 2008 at 8:56 pm