GM crops and voracious caterpillars

The main news dominating the headlines today is the rejection yesterday of a law supporting genetically modified crops which the right tried to pass in the assembly but which was thwarted by the left. People here in general are suspicious of genetically modified crops and not wholly convinced of their benefit. It is also not known what effects on the environment in the longterm these crops might have which adds to the public's reluctance to adopt suh practices. Here they are less advanced with the production of these crops as they are in UK where laws were slipped in without much publc consultation. Part of the left's opposition is the belief that the french public should be given a vote as to whether they want genetically modified crops or not.

Oher headlines more pertinent to local affairs was the unity of teachers who congregated at Poitiers with parents at the proposed cuts to local schools and colleges. Many small village schools are under threat and many local teaching posts are set to be culled. This will have a disastrous effect on education in the area.

Finally an even more local story which reports of the return of a voracious leaf eating caterpillar called la chenille bombyx disparate which last year managed to deleaf 3000 hectares of woods mainly around Chauvigny and including our local commune of Antigny!! He's hairy and scary!!