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ACTIVISTS SAY NORTHLAND CAN LEAD ANTI GMO FIGHT
by Denise Piper
l4 April 2011
WHANGAREI LEADER
A grassroots movement against Genetically Modified Organisms could start in Northland, activists say.
Councils can now restrict or prevent the outdoor use of Genetically Modified Organisms under the Resource Management Act.
Clarification from Environment Minister Nick Smith means GMOs could be banned entirely if the community wants.
Previously councils were warned that if they got involved in controlling the organisms they could assume some of the liability for any future problems caused by GMOs.
The Northland Regional and Whangarei District Councils are part of an Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Management Options.
The Working Party has now commissioned a report to identify the optimal wording for any rules in the council's District Plans or Regional Policy Statements.
Working Party Chairman Dr. Kerry Grundy will be giving Whangarei councillors more information at their Environment Committee meeting tomorrow.
GE Free Northland spokeswoman Zelka Grammer says there is an opportunity for Whangarei and Northland to lead the rest of the country agains GMOs- the same way New Zealand's nuclear free movement started at a community level.
The situation in Japan shows that there is are damn good reasons why there's prohibition of nuclear reactors and I would say there's damn good reasons to prohibit GMOs.