18 October 2008

New Zealand Not ‘Pure’ With Ge Biohazard Suits Issued To International Arrivals Quarantined

Genetically engineered ‘farm animals’ grazing on the grassy knoll at Christchurch International Airport will form an alarming backdrop, as international visitors are issued with biohazard suits at noon today.

The audacious action, staged by twenty anti-GE campaigners from the national animal advocacy organisation SAFE, serves as a cautionary warning of a future New Zealand without the nation’s all important clean, green reputation.

Tourism New Zealand has spent over $10m promoting New Zealand to the UK, USA and Australia as ‘100% Pure New Zealand.’ SAFE believes New Zealand can no longer promote itself as ‘100% Pure’ if proposed genetic engineering experiments on animals by AgResearch are approved next month by ERMA.

“AgResearch threatens to conduct highly contentious and cruel GE experiments on animals that include field trials of genetically modified farm animals. If approved, New Zealand can no longer be ‘100% Pure’,” says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.

A Colmar Brunton Omnijet survey last month of over 1000 people, commissioned by SAFE and the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand, found that only 27 per cent of New Zealanders support genetic engineering (GE) of animals.

“New Zealanders have overwhelmingly rejected genetic engineering of animals. Previous GE animal experiments conducted in New Zealand resulted in shocking mutations and deformities. SAFE will make a submission strongly urging ERMA to not approve the GE experiments and trials proposed by AgResearch”

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