Another City goes GE-Free
Thursday 15 November
Another City goes GE-Free. Labour Party members embrace a vision for New Zealand business.
Waitakere City has voted to become GE FREE IN
FIELD AND FOOD at a meeting of the Council on
Wednesday14th.
GE- Free NZ is welcoming the decision by
another major city to recognise the growing public support
for a GE-Free food and environment in Aotearoa/ New
Zealand.
The decision was supported 12-1 in a formal vote and was backed by former President of the Labour Party -Mayor Bob Harvey, Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone and Cr. Penny Hulse. The only vote in opposition was from Cr. Vanessa Neeson (wife of Brian Neeson, National Party M.P. for Waitakere).
"Clearly senior members of the Labour
Party are aware of the vision for New Zealand that people
are calling for but which the government seems slow to
embrace. The people are saying: of course responsible
science is part of our future but that does not mean
the
government should release GM organisms, instead of
science helping improve our clean, natural image" said a
spokesperson for the GE-Free NZ.
The National Party hiding
from the issues?
"Opposition from the councillor with the
strongest links to the National Party suggests National are
hiding from the issues and not dealing with the fact that
support for a GE-Free New Zealand cuts across party-lines.
Even the mother of the National Party's
leader is
reported to be supporting a GE-Free option. Bill English
should hear the message and 'listen to his mum!’
The strong support for a GE-Free Zone reflects the scientific, cultural and economic concerns that explain why GE applications outside containment represent a threat to New Zealand's future.
GE-Free makes economic sense.
The
Council also voted in favour of establishing an "ORGANIC
CLUSTER" of Organic enterprises in the City. " The economic
benefit from organics, and even conventional produce free of
GE-contamination is undeniable. The proposal that all New
Zealanders must accept up to 1% GE contamination to enable
GE crops to be released is unacceptable. The more places
that oppose that contamination by declaring a GE-Free Zone,
the better."