Mr Bolger too late to save sheep or scientific credibility
Comments by former Prime minister Jim Bolger criticising the wasteful destruction of PPL’s GE sheep are a welcome voice
in support of GE Free NZ’s call for research samples to be taken.
Unfortunately his comments come too late to save either the sheep or the credibility of the science supposedly served by
the experiments.
It is now some months since GE Free NZ in food and environment made similar calls for proper study of samples taken from
these experimental sheep. This followed the statements by Associate Professor Peter Wills from Auckland University that
the destruction of the sheep was also the destruction of one of the world’s largest data-resources for studying the
actual effects of transgenic experiments.
Mr Bolger is correct that there is a lack of strategic oversight on the kind of research best-suited to New Zealand’s
cultural values, ethics and market-image.
However, the reality is that many scientists would question whether the creation of these sheep should have been
approved in the first place.
What is more concerning is that there has been NO research on the impacts on soil in the fields where the GE sheep are
kept, and only now there is a grudging acceptance that huge gaps in research need to be filled.
Even recently ERMA deliberately approved GE onion trial on the basis of “ scientific knowledge” when there is neither
funding for the necessary research nor a clear methodology to deliver real scientific information.
There is growing concern in the scientific community that commercial interests are compromising good science and the
lust for profits is furthering unethical and unprofessional conduct.
Recently a New Zealand scientist called for greater freedom to study embryonic stem cells whilst ignoring the more
ethical opportunities for researching adult stem-cells to deliver benefits.
The commercial pressure on scientists has prompted international efforts to protect good science from becoming
terminally compromised (see below).
“GE Free NZ in food and environment welcomes former prime Minister Bolger’s support for our calls for samples to be
taken from the sheep before they are humanely destroyed,” says Jon Carapiet.
The challenge for Mr Bolger and his organization is to prove that they can listen to the community needs and
clearly-expressed values supporting a GE-free environment and at the same time deliver genuine scientific benefits to
this country rather than compromised pseudo-science that only serves commercial speculators, and undermines good
science.”
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS LAUNCHES URGENT CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE INTEGRITY OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC POLICYMAKING
Across a broad range of public policy issues and on a scale that is unprecedented, the Bush administration is censoring,
suppressing and distorting science-based information when it does not meet their agenda. These activities have serious
consequences for your health, safety, and environment.
For example:
** Scientific findings on issues from climate change to nuclear weapons are being weakened or omitted in government
reports and websites.
** Highly qualified scientists have been dismissed from advisory committees and replaced by industry representatives,
while other advisory panels have been dismissed or disbanded entirely.
** The White House is proposing new rules that would bar government-funded researchers from serving as reviewers of the
science underlying new regulations, while allowing industry-funded scientists to participate in the peer review process.
This campaign is our top priority and we need your help to make sure it is successful. Without immediate action, abuses
of science will continue unchecked. Please make a donation today in support of the Restoring Scientific Integrity
campaign and our work to ensure a healthy environment and a safer world.
UCS is leading an ambitious effort to restore the nonpartisan manner in which science has traditionally entered into
policymaking
decisions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=53009
>
>Bolger attacks GM sheep killing
>NZ HERALD
>19.02.2004
>
>
>New Zealand scientists are on the verge of losing a significant scientific
>resource through the slaughter and incineration of the nation's biggest
>flock of genetically engineered sheep, says former Prime Minister Jim Bolger.
>
>The company has said this protein, refined from GM milk, could be used to
>research treatments for conditions such as cystic fibrosis and acute
>respiratory problems, although a vocal critic of the PPL project, New
>Zealand scientist Robert Mann, told regulators that preliminary trials
>overseas had proved very little.
>
>
>- NZPA