Election Choice Billboards 22/07/02

GE free NZ has is erecting billboards initially at sites in Auckland and Wellington that highlight the crossroads facing us at this election.

"We rely on our pure and natural image in the overseas markets too sell our products," says Nelson GE Free NZ spokesperson Don Murray.

"Agricultural produce accounts for nearly half of our export income and this is five times the OECD average. Adopting GM agriculture, or in fact, any environmental release of GE organisms holds five times the economic risk for New Zealand, compared to those countries."

"They don't want to eat to eat GM food, no matter what level of testing has been applied", he says.

Mr. Murray notes that 71% of our agricultural products go to the European Union. He quotes Simon Vlaar of Skin Laminations in Holland saying 'Europeans are looking for a clean source of food. New Zealand has this image for many people here. I hope the New Zealand people will be forward-thinking enough to understand the long term consequences of introducing GMO's into their environment'.

'Seeds of Distrust' spells out big business involvement in decision making about our GE Free status. "Now is the time for New Zealanders to have their say about the direction we take for our future economic security," says Mr. Murray.

Don Murray Convenor
GE Aware Nelson
GE Free NZ Regional Representive

© Scoop Media