28 October 2004
People’s Moratorium Enforcement Agency (PMEA)
One year on and resistance prevails
This Friday (29 October) marks the first birthday of the People’s Moratorium Enforcement Agency (PMEA), formed as the
moratorium on genetic engineering was lifted to resist the spread of genetically modified organisms in New Zealand.
“One year on and we are still determined to stop the contamination of New Zealand. People all over the country are still
fighting GE and are not about to show mercy,” said media spokesperson Felicity Perry.
In Wellington, much of the birthday will be spent at the district court as two activists arrested during the ‘tent city’
occupation at parliament this time last year defend charges of assault, resisting arrest, and possession of a weapon.
However, birthday ‘celebrations’ will take place both in Wellington and the rest of the country.
These celebrations will have a focus on the agencies that are supposed to preserve New Zealand’s special environmental
character, such as MAF and ERMA.
“New Zealand is in a unique position to stay GE-Free with the buffer zone of the pacific ocean. ERMA and MAF are failing
in their roles to protect New Zealand’s status as clean and green,” Felicity Perry said.
“The field trials are in the ground. Any contamination is too much contamination. We are not going to sit back and let
this pollution happen.”
“We are going to hold ERMA and MAF accountable for their actions, and ask them what they plan to do with the mess they
are making of our land,” said Perry.
Wellingtonians Against Genetic Engineering (WAGE) has already had a victory this week with wilful damage charges being
dropped against activists which labelled Nestle and Ingham goods with stickers warning customers that they may be
genetically contaminated.
“This is a victory for the shoppers of New Zealand who deserve to know what they are eating in the face of our
inadequate labelling regulations,” said sticker wielder Jess Sharp.
ENDS