Protest Targets 'Erma' Over New Genetic Engineering Trials

A public protest demanding insurance cover for Genetic Engineering field trials is set to deliver a message at a lunchtime meeting tomorrow (TUESDAY 18th ) of ERMA (The Environmental Risk Managament Authority) in Auckland

The protest from 12.30-1.30 is at the Corner of Symonds St with Whitaker Place, Auckland Central

The protest follows the government decision to continue G.E. field trials, and hot on the heels of last week's biosecurity disaster with bee-mite infestation threatening millions of dollars of damage.

"GE contamination from research experiments in the field is an even greater threat to the economy" said a spokesman for the protesters.

"It is New Zealand taxpayers right to demand ERMA gets private insurance to cover such biosecurity risks, or the GE trials must not continue", says Jon Carapiet, one of the protesters.

The coalition of groups represented at the protest are angry at government failure to address the current situation where the public are secretly left to act as a "Clayton's" insurance company, for private biotech firms.

"The lack of insurance is a subject for the Royal Commission to investigate, especially as public sentiment is saying Stop and Wait", says Jon. "ERMA allowed the trials to start with no proper insurance, and now they have to stop treating the public as some kind of Lloyds of London and halt the approvals, at least pending the commission's findings"

For further information on G.E. Risk liability:

ERMA : Karen Cronin, Communications Manager 09 307 7093

Media Liaison for Protest: Jon 09 815 3370

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