GE Free Rodney Would Be Dangerous
Thursday, 9 August 2001, 10:26 am
Press Release: ACT New Zealand
ACT Rodney MP Penny Webster today described Sue Bradford's
call for the district to become GE-free as 'ill conceived
and dangerous'.
"The Greens asked for the Royal Commission
- the most comprehensive inquiry into genetic engineering
ever conducted into the world - and now they don't like the
outcome. The Greens were burnt by the result, which didn't
support any of their dogmatic beliefs.
"Now they are
trying to turn New Zealand GE-free, district by
district.
"Is Sue Bradford saying that if a cure for MS or
diabetes was created using biotechnology, we wouldn't be
allowed to use it in Rodney? If there is a disease-resistant
strain of vine, we couldn't use that either?
"We are
reliant on dairy, beef, forestry and growing tourism as well
as a burgeoning boutique wine industry. We cannot afford to
miss out on the opportunities that biotechnology provides -
in medicine and in our industries. We do not want to become
peasant farmers," Penny Webster said.
Ends
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