June 2015

New wave of GE free activism

New wave of GE-free activism

New wave of GE-free activism

17 June 2015


Pressure from the biotech industry for the government to relax laws on genetic engineering will result in a new wave of GE-free activism, the Soil & Health Association predicts.

This follows comments from some GE companies, and from the Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf in a speech at Fieldays that New Zealand is missing out on opportunities.

GE Free Northland July 2015 PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS

                                  July 2015
            GE FREE NORTHLAND new PUBLIC APPEAL FOR FUNDS
Help protect our democratic right to be GE-free!

One of the most important Environment Court decisions this year is the finding that councils can control the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under the Resource Management Act.
We won in the Environment Court against Federated Farmers of NZ.  
But Federated Farmers has now lodged an appeal in the High Court, attempting to overturn this valuable decision.  Your donation now will help us prevail in the High Court against Federated Farmers latest vexatious appeal (and help stop GE trees).

GE Free Northland requests your help in paying the cost of upcoming High Court action (including the cost of legal counsel) involved in protecting our Northland new Regional Policy Statement's precautionary GMO provisions.

Background:

PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO BE GE-FREE

 
OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO BE GE-FREE 

Media release from GE FREE Northland...and the Soil & Health Association NZ

13 June 2015

One of the most important Environment Court decisions this year is the finding that councils can control the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under the Resource Management Act.

GE Free Northland, along with Taitokerau mana whenua and New Zealand’s oldest organic organisation (the Soil & Health Association), supported the Whangarei District Council in a successful defence of the right of local authorities to manage the use of GMOs in their regions, after Federated Farmers sought a ruling that Northland Regional Council had acted outside the law in taking this approach.

Since comprehensively losing the appeal (which it initiated) on all points of law, Federated Farmers has now filed an appeal against the Environment Court’s decision with the High Court.

In May, Principal Environment Court Judge L. Newhook found that there is jurisdiction under the Resource Management Act for regional councils to make planning decisions about the outdoor use of GMOs in their regions.

“Soil & Health was delighted to have our view confirmed by Judge Newhook,” said Marion Thomson, co-chair of Soil & Health.  “We’re disappointed, however, that an organisation that supposedly represents farmers has decided to appeal the decision.  Why does Federated Farmers want to deny Northlanders the right to manage what happens in their own region? Is there an application in the wings for a GE field trial or GMO release in Northland?”