Sun, 30 Jan 2005

Stopping the GE Trees in Rotorua

Media Release: Stopping the GE Trees in Rotorua FROM: The People's Moratorium Enforcement Agency Date: Sunday, January 30

Four people were arrested today while attempting to decontaminate the field trial of Genetically modified trees, all in the Forest Research Institute, Rotorua.

People from all over New Zealand gathered at the site of FRI’s Genetically Engineered pine tree field trials in Rotorua today, demanding an end to the triail.

“People from Northland to Christchurch are here today representing greater NZ who want Aotearoa to be GE-Free,” said Felicity Perry, spokesperson for the Peoples Moratorium Enforcement Agency

“The public has a right to know where these trees are and how close they are to their homes and families,” said Ana Navidad, spokesperson for GE Free Rotorua.

“There is no guarantee that the field trial will not contaminate our environment with Genetically Modified Organisms,” Navidad said.

“The experiment includes the use of antibiotic resistant marker genes and viral promoters which is a risk to the health of all New Zealanders,” said Perry.

“Using a field trial to evaluate the environmental risks is akin to starting a bushfire to find out how badly it burns,” Felicity Perry said.

“How is it possible that New Zealanders have been saying ‘No!’ to G.E. for more than five years, yet this project is being funded with taxpayers’ money?” said Ana Navidad. “This is being driven against the wishes of the New Zealand public, for corporate profit.”

“This is not just about Rotorua. Once Genetically Modified Organisms contaminate the environment it affects all of New Zealand with irreversible damage. There is no going back,” Felicity Perry said.

ENDS

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