With the cost of food recently skyrocketing – hitting not just shoppers but the poor and hungry in the developing world – genetically modified (GM) foods are once again being promoted as the way to feed the world. But this is little short of a confidence trick. Far from needing more GM foods, there are urgent reasons why we need to ban them altogether.
Posted Thu, 04/02/2010 - 11:34
The Northland Age Thursday, 28 January 2010
GMOs seen as a risky business - Make users legally responsible: poll
The majority of Northlanders and Aucklanders want strict controls over any genetically-modified (GM) plants and animals grown in their areas, according to a Colmar Brunton poll conducted late last year.
The poll, commissioned by the Inter-Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options, found that two-thirds or more of respondents favoured regulation of at least a strength that would make users of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) legally responsible for any environmental or economic harm, either by way of local regulation or changes to national legislation.
Posted Thu, 04/02/2010 - 11:08
The results of the Colmar Brunton GE poll are out- the vast majority of
Northlanders are with us in opposing GMO land use on our patch.
Come party and celebrate all the hard work and victories we have achieved.
Sunday, 28th February 2010
GE FREE NORTHLAND Celebration at Parua Bay Tavern (3pm-8pm)
featuring Guest artist
BIG BELLY WOMAN (Hokaianga reggae sounz)
www.bigbellywoman.com/
Big Belly Woman for a Positive Future and Global Unity
Surprise Local talent - Sink and Swim,
including: David & Claudia Meredith
Kids entertainment: Louis the Circus entertainer, face painting
plus:
Organic sausage sizzle
Delicious GE free food
available at the Parua Bay Tavern
Tickets available from:
Musicor- Cameron Street Mall
Putiputi Ra Organics- 79 Walton Street
Posted Mon, 18/01/2010 - 15:26
letters to editor:
editor@northernadvocate.co.nz
******p. 6, Friday, 15th January 2010 RURAL ADVOCATE
"Big 'no' for GM food"
by Zelka Grammer, spokesperson
GE Free Northland
The results of a Colmar Brunton poll, commissioned by local authorities from Auckland north to Cape Reinga because of growing concerns of about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), was released just before Christmas.
The poll was remarkably consistent, showing significant opposition to GMO land use from both rural and urban dwellers.
Posted Thu, 14/01/2010 - 17:34
Posted Mon, 21/12/2009 - 22:06
"Councils take action after poll reveals GE concern" 21 December 2009 NORTHERN ADVOCATE by Mike Barrington
Whangarei and Kaipara District councils have begun moves to tighten controls on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Both last week adopted recommendations from the Inter-council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options, which commissioned a Colmar Brunton poll that showed most Northlanders were concerned about the risks associated with genetically modified plants and animals.
Posted Mon, 14/12/2009 - 11:29
Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Bayer CropScience AG is responsible for financial damage sustained by Missouri farmers when their rice crops were contaminated by genetically modified seeds, the growers’ lawyer told a federal court jury in St. Louis.
Their trial is the first of a series the Bayer AG unit is defending against farmers from five states making similar claims. More than 1,200 such cases have been filed.
Posted Sat, 12/12/2009 - 10:27
Public Give "Thumbs Up'"for Ban on GMO's
Most people across the Auckland and Northland region want companies using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) to be held strictly liable for damage, and in some areas most want a ban.
A poll conducted by a multi-council working group on regulation of GM organisms found that all communities strongly favour making users of GMOs legally responsible for any economic or environmental harm that may result.
Posted Sat, 12/12/2009 - 10:24
GE FREE NORTHLAND (NZ) Press Release l0 December 2009
LOCAL COMMUNITIES REJECT THE RISKS OF GMO LAND USE
Posted Sat, 12/12/2009 - 10:21
www.wdc.govt.nz/xml/ps.aspx?fn=/resources/13722/Communities-seek-stricter-regulation-of-GM-plants-and-animals.html
Communities seek stricter regulation of GM plants and animals
WHANGAREI DISTRICT COUNCIL Media Release - (9 December 2009)
Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff says it’s time the Northland Regional Council woke up to the fact Northlanders have major concerns about the risks associated with genetically modified plants and animals.
The regional council refused to support or fund a poll on the issue, but the poll results show significant community concern and a demand for local government action.
Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 08:58
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/northland/local-news/bay-chronicle/3095066/Inghams-slapped-for-TV-adverts
Inghams slapped for TV adverts
The Bay Chronicle , Northland
Last updated 26/11/2009
NORTHLAND/NZ ALERT: Zelka Grammer who questioned the claims.Relevant offers
Claiming to be GM-free might have worked for poultry producer Inghams if GE Free Northland spokeswoman Zelka Grammer hadn’t been alert and persistent.
Inghams last week received a warning from the Commerce Commission that it risked breaching the Fair Trading Act by claiming that its chickens contained no genetically modified content.
Posted Tue, 24/11/2009 - 20:58
call for letters to the editor: editor@northernadvocate.co.nz
www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/zelka-takes-on-chicken-giants-and-wins/3906838/
Zelka takes on chicken giants and wins
NORTHERN ADVOCATE
by Rosemary Roberts
24th November 2009
DETERMINED: Zelka Grammer, whose complaint to the New Zealand Commerce Commission helped force Inghams Enterprises (NZ) Ltd to stop claiming its chickens contain no genetically-modified ingredients.
She's not crowing, but Whangarei's Zelka Grammer is quietly pleased to have instigated action that led to frozen chicken manufacturer Inghams being rebuked for claiming that its chickens contain no genetically-modified ingredients.
"It took time but it is certainly very gratifying," she said.
Posted Sat, 21/11/2009 - 15:44
Support for Inghams from an Unlikely Source (GE FREE NZ Press Release 18 November 2009)
Chicken-producer Inghams, under fire for misleading consumers is being offered support from a most unlikely source: GE free NZ (in food and environment).
GE Free NZ has offered support to the manufacturer in living up to its promise of a GM-free Policy, and keeping faith with its customers, even though there is still the risk of accidental GM contamination in future.
Posted Sat, 21/11/2009 - 11:15
www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/commission-ruling-highlights-need-proper-ge-labelling
GREENS PRESS RELEASE
18 November 2009
COMMISSION RULING HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR PROPER GE LABELLING
Posted Fri, 20/11/2009 - 18:29
call for letters to editor: in support of the complaint laid with the NZ Commerce Commission (by Zelka Grammer of Northland and also Soil & Health) against Inghams chicken company
letters from Aussies welcome!
(200 words maximum, pls provide your full contact details for the NZ HERALD editor)
email: letters@nzherald.co.nz
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610085
Inghams warned over GM claims
NZ HERALD
11:30 AM Wednesday Nov 18, 2009
The Commerce Commission has warned poultry producer Inghams Enterprises over its claims its chickens contained no genetically modified (GM) ingredients.
Posted Thu, 12/11/2009 - 11:36
Institute of Science in Society
www.i-sis.org.uk/HighLysineGMMaize.php
ISIS Press Release 11/11/09
High Lysine GM Maize Withdrawn, Safety Concerns
***********************************************
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A much touted second generation “nutritionally enhanced” GM
crop bites the dust, as company fails to address serious
health concerns; but don’t suppose that regulation will
triumph Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Peter Saunders
Monsanto withdraws maize from regulatory approval citing
commercial reasons
Posted Thu, 12/11/2009 - 11:34
Authority ignored corn risk - expert
The Press
(Christchurch) 12/11/09
Trans-Tasman food regulators knew nine years ago of the adverse effects of heating genetically modified (GM) crops, but still approved for human consumption a GM corn now withdrawn from Europe.
A Canterbury University research centre says Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) was aware of the consequences of heating to a certain temperature a high-lysine DuPont-Pioneer GM soybean before its approval in 2000.
Posted Thu, 12/11/2009 - 11:33
www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/national/3020246/
Europe balks at GE corn in NZ
By PAUL GORMAN - The Press 02/11/2009 (Christchurch)
A genetically engineered (GE) corn authorised as safe for New Zealanders to eat has been withdrawn from commercial development in Europe because of safety concerns there.
Monsanto's high-lysine LY038 corn - intended as feed for animals - was approved as safe for human consumption in New Zealand in December 2007 after a six-month government delay.
Posted Mon, 26/10/2009 - 19:00
Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson needs to ensure a comprehensive review of the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food ingredients and GE food safety in New Zealand, now that 40 different GE food applications have been approved for use in New Zealand, including foods derived from 61 GE plant lines (1), according to the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand. Soil & Health says the latest approvals (2) have gone through despite an increase in evidence of the health risks from GE food.
Posted Thu, 22/10/2009 - 15:45
Thursday, 22 October 2009 19:48
GM food can cause cancer
Down to Earth, October 31 2009
http://downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20091031&filename=inv&sec...
French scientist Gilles-Eric Seralini unmasked the dangers of genetically modified brinjal, almost approved for commercial production in India. He shared with Savvy Soumya Misra his findings on Bt brinjal and Roundup Ready soybean
*On the data submitted on Bt brinjal by Mahyco for approval from the Indian government
The data submitted to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (geac) of the Union environment ministry is not valid; it has not been signed by the scientist who conducted the tests. What is more scandalous is that the studies on the effects of Bt brinjal were conducted for just three months.
If the product is to be consumed by humans, the tests should have been for a period of at least two years—the lifespan of a rodent.
Posted Mon, 19/10/2009 - 12:09
- Animals have become seriously ill or died from Genetically Engineered (GE) foods
- Hazardous genes from GE foods that you eat can become inserted into your own genes
- An unexpected poison killed 37 persons eating a food supplement produced by GE bacteria. This disaster was not coincidental:
- Top researchers confirm that genetic engineering is inherently unsafe and unpredictable.
Posted Tue, 25/08/2009 - 16:54
www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=1058992...
Jon Carapiet: AgResearch proposals tantamount to economic suicide
4:00AM Tuesday Aug 11, 2009
NZ HERALD
Jon Carapiet says flirtations with genetic modification put our clean-green brand at risk.
The recent opinion piece by Federated Farmers' John Hartnell painted an inaccurate picture of concerns about genetic modification. It also failed to appreciate why it is vital for New Zealand to protect its genetic modification-free production system.
Posted Tue, 18/08/2009 - 16:50
NZ FARMERS WEEKLY "GE free status big plus for NZ" 18 August 2009, p. l4
New Zealand's GM-free status is worth potentially huge money for us says John Bostock.
The Hawke's Bay-based entrepreneur and food exporter said he made a significant premium on export maize to Japan and Korea compared with maize from the US which is now impossible to guarantee as GM-free.
He exported both conventional and organic food grade maize to these markets, where it is used for human consumption, making starch or animal feed.
Posted Sat, 15/08/2009 - 20:33
GE TELEPHONE POLL IN AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND PENINSULA (COLMAR BRUNTON)
Posted Mon, 15/06/2009 - 19:00
GE FREE NORTHLAND Press Release
15 June 2009
GE FREE NORTHLAND applauds a High Court ruling that has overturned ERMA's (Environmental Risk Management Authority) decision to accept applications from AgResearch to release GM animals throughout New Zealand.
The Auckland Regional Council's (ARC) elected representative on the Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Options, Cr Brent Morrissey, said in the ARC's 11 June 2009 Press Release
Posted Thu, 11/06/2009 - 19:00
11 June 2009:
Auckland Regional Council Media release
A High Court ruling overturning the government’s Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) decision to accept GMO applications from AgResearch is applauded by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).
In 2007, the ARC adopted a precautionary position in relation to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in response to both concerns expressed by a significant number of communities and individuals, as well as some serious questions around local government liability should things go wrong.
Posted Sun, 07/06/2009 - 19:00
GE FREE NZ Press Release 7 June 2009
In a precedent setting case, the High Court has upheld the appeal by GE Free NZ in Food and Environment against ERMA and AgResearch.
After 12 weeks of deliberation, Justice Clifford found that ERMA erred in receiving the applications from AgResearch and has declared them invalid. The decision sets aside the decisions by ERMA to proceed with the applications. ERMA is to take no further steps toward hearing and assessing the applications.
Posted Tue, 14/04/2009 - 19:00
Tuesday, 14 April 2009, 9:19 am
Press Release: GE Free NZ
GM Crop Failure Offers a Cautionary Warning For Farmers
New Zealand farmers must learn from the experience of farmers overseas and resist pressure to weaken regulations around the safety of genetically engineered organisms (GEO’s), from groups promoting their release.
Posted Mon, 13/04/2009 - 13:36
It is a scientifically well recognized fact that genetic engineering can cause the appearance of unexpected very harmful substances. Therefore a very careful procedure is necessary for establishing the safety of GE foods. However this is not the case.
