Letter: Campaign fare

CONGRATULATIONS on printing Richard Balmer's criticism of your GM foods campaign (Letters, 9 May) - a refreshing instance of editorial fair-mindedness. Unfortunately, in an imperfect, dumbed-down world, popular campaigns are often a matter of mobilising prejudices. What the people are usually offered is a choice of prejudices - and Mr Balmer has made his own choice clear.

But more thoughtful debates do occur. The important one is between the cock-a-hoop enthusiasts for technological change, who believe that all will turn out for the best in the best of all possible worlds, and those, like a number of contributors to your letters column, who question our right to complete mastery of the environment - who believe that life is something bigger than ourselves, which must be cherished and revered for what it is: a gift from God. That sort of disinterestedness is rare, but it is vital if we are to have a decent future.