Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today she was disappointed that distinguished scientific organisations would rather be part of a public relations campaign lead by the LifeSciences Network, than participate in an honest debate about genetic engineering.

"Biotechnology chairman Ian Warrington from the Crown Research Institutes Association said in a press release on Sunday that 'discussions of the issues is often obscured by misrepresentations aimed at manipulating public opinion'.

"I wonder if he includes in that category the evidence given to the Royal Commission about the risks of genetic engineering by scientists like Professor Traavik, Professor Regal, Dr Ann Clark, Dr Doreen Stabinsky, Dr Max Turner, Dr Neil MacGregor, Dr Michael Antoniou, Professor Puzstai and his research team, and Dr Judy Carman," she said.

"The Green Party's position that genetically engineered organisms should be kept in the laboratory is based on well-researched scientific facts and supported by eminent scientists," said Ms Fitzsimons.

"The Royal Commission report accepted that there is a fundamental lack of knowledge about the environmental effects of releasing genetically engineered organisms into the environment, and said that we don't even know enough to do a proper risk assessment.

Ms Fitzsimons said she was saddened that it appeared that respected scientific organisations such as the Grassland Association, the Royal Society and the Association of Crown Research Institutes would rather spin the facts about genetic engineering than debate them.

"It might be a strain for some of these scientists to realise that ordinary people have the right to have their say too, but the decision on whether genetically engineered organisms should be released into the environment is one which will affect everyone in this country.

"The kind of patronising and aggressive attitudes taken by these organisations will only make people more wary about where our scientists are heading with this technology."

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>