Media Release Tuesday, October 30th, 2001

GM decision the right one for now

The idea of a GM free New Zealand is based on misinformation, scare mongering, and is economically backward, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

Government's decision to allow field trials and the commercialisation of research two years on is therefore a good one for now, said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"Today's decision shows the Government recognises the importance of biosciences to New Zealand's future, and will work to outflank green extremists," Mr Thompson said.

"By trivialising the GM debate and by being very sparing with the truth, many so-called green supporters discredited their own cause.

"Wearing t-shirts with human heads painted on sheep bodies is emotional nonsense. Some submissions to the Royal Commission were completely false.

"New Zealanders have to realise our regulatory regime, under which GM trials are undertaken, is the most rigorous in the world.

"The decision today at least lets field trials go ahead. It's a victory for commonsense, and will allow New Zealand scientists and investors in biosciences to get on with work critical to developing our knowledge based economy."

Comments: Alasdair Thompson tel 09 367 0911 (b)

09 303 3951 (h)

025 982 024

© Scoop Media

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>>