GE Free New Zealand
www.gefree.org.nz

Press Release 8.10.01

Public reject Life Sciences lobby labelling teachers, students and concerned citizens as Taleban. Commercial interests deny uninsurable and incalculable risk from field trials, whilst scaremongering with hysterical talk of cholera epidemics.

As New Zealanders joined events around the country in support of keeping the New Zealand food-supply and environment " GE-Free", demanding the government stop contamination of the soil and environment from GE field-trials, Life Science Network Francis Wevers, finally overstepped the mark at a Wellington Resource Management Law conference, in a vehement speech against GE opponents, referred to as the ‘Eco-Taleban.’

“It is disgusting to liken the concerns of thousands of ordinary New Zealanders, young and old, to a terrorist regime, that the whole world has condemned," said Susie Lees, who spoke, at the conference, on behalf of GE Free NZ. “I am concerned if government funded CRI’s and Universities approve of such a debasement of discussion about an important issue. We are not anti-science, but are against the inappropriate use of irresponsible science.”

“It is unethical for commercial interests to use the public as guinea pigs, or the environment as an experimental GE play-ground, when commercial insurers have refused to insure. Biotech interests are denying there is an uninsurable and incalculable risk from field trials. Breaches of efforts to contain GE experiments, continue to put our export and tourism reputation at risk.”

Hysterical talk of cholera epidemics was also scaremongering, since sources at the Ministry of Health have acknowledged they would no longer need to rely on live GM vaccine, now withdrawn in New Zealand.

Solid evidence of the dangers of GE foods was also refuted, showing no understanding of a worldwide rejection of GE food products, even Bosnian refugees recently refused GE supplies 'donated' by the US. The Royal Commission has approved bodies like ANZFA who have for years allowed unlabelled GE foods to be sold, so denying the basic right of people to choose. GE foods are on the market, against the advice of leading scientists at the FDA, and many independent scientists worldwide.

ERMA’s CEO Bas Walker also spoke at the conference, ERMA, also, have been praised by the Royal Commission, despite approving human genes to be copied into cows during the so-called 'moratorium', resulting in scores of aborted foetuses. ERMA have admitted an investigation into the threat to our ecology from HGT-Horizontal Gene Transfer ceased, because the person looking into it 'has left'. HGT was identified by the Commission as a most serious issue requiring research before field trials or releases contaminate soil.

ENDS

For more information:-
Susie Lees 03-546-7966

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