INDEPENDENT NEWS

Strong Opposition Against GE Pine Trees In NZ

Published: Thu 31 Aug 2000 04:06 PM
Strong Opposition Against GE Pine Trees In New Zealand
Up to 700 submissions on GE pine trees were put forward to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) through an internet web site over the last three weeks.
The participatory democracy advocate web site http://www.context.co.nz together with Greenpeace New Zealand provided the public with a form and information on genetically engineered pine trees, encouraging people to make a submission to ERMA during the public consultation period, which ended last night. The application is from the Forest Research Institute (FRI) to field trial genetically engineered pine trees in the open environment.
Phil Doherty, the editor of context.co.nz said: “It is a great success that so many people decided to actively express their opinion on GE trees and took part in this process of direct democracy. We would very much like to see ERMA providing online forms themselves, to make it easier for people to make submissions. Until then we will provide the service.”
Out of the 700 submissions the vast majority are opposing the field trial, according to ERMA. The average amount of submissions to ERMA regarding field trials in the past is between 10 and 50 according to ERMA.
Mario Rautner, GE trees campaigner with Greenpeace said: This is a very strong statement that the public does not agree with the release of genetically engineered trees into New Zealand’s open environment. We are calling on the FRI to accept the public opposition to this experiment. We would like to see the FRI applying the voluntary moratorium and halting this field trial now. Genetically engineered trees could pose a very serious threat to the environment and we oppose this unpredictable experiment with nature.”
There are several submissions that were put forward by concerned people from overseas, including Great Britain and Japan. One submitter from Australia stated one of his reasons for opposing this application was: “Despite the rebuttals of issues and assurances of safety by the profiteering GE companies, scientists can't possibly understand the short and long term environmental implications of introducing these synthetic organisms into our incredibly complex global and local ecosystems..”
The submission period ended last night.
-Ends-
For further information contact
Phil Doherty from context.co.nz on 04 476 2829
Mario Rautner from Greenpeace on 09 630 6317
Note to the editors:
A Greenpeace briefing on GE trees is available
Mario Rautner Genetically Engineered Trees Campaigner Greenpeace New Zealand mario.rautner@nz.greenpeace.org
www.greenpeace.org

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media