Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
New Zealand's leading source of information on Organics & Sustainable Living
Help protect New Zealand from genetic engineering now!AgResearch will be putting New Zealand at risk. It’s NOT OK.
YOU can write a submission against the application.
Please write and send it now. Applications close Friday 31 October 2008. Here's what you can do...Help protect New Zealand. Please add your support against AgResearch’s applications.
New Zealand doesn’t need GE animalsThere are other ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals and other ethical uses of biotechnology to benefit New Zealand. Many people and organisations including GE Free NZ, SAFE, the Green Party, The Soil and Health Association, Greenpeace, and most members of the public oppose the “GE” vision for New Zealand’s future. Government research institute ‘AgResearch’ has applied to develop genetically modified (GM) animals and commercialise their products.
This move could pose the single biggest threat to farm animals and New Zealand’s cultural identity. If approved, AgResearch will be able to conduct broad-ranging genetic experiments on cows, goats, sheep, pigs, deer, llama, horses, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens. They will even use cells taken from humans and monkeys. The intention of AgRearch is to mix genes from different species to make transgenic animals. The process creates animal deformities, and new risks to human health, the environment and our reputation. It's NOT OK...It's not OK for overseas biotech investors to exploit New Zealand as an experimental playground when the public is liable for costs of clean-up when things go wrong. It’s not OK to create deformities and suffering in animals in order to make ‘cheaper’ pharmaceuticals, when other production methods are available. It’s not OK to undermine New Zealand’s reputation and brand-image as a producer of safe, natural, clean food the world wants. It’s not OK to genetically engineer animals with human genes and have no respect for the integrity of species, just to make ‘healthier’ nutriceutical milks. It’s not OK to deliberately create sick animals as ‘models’ of human disease when the Bioethics Council has called for an ethical review of such practices. It’s not OK to risk creating new diseases by experimenting on NZ animals when they are currently free of Mad Cow Disease and Scrapie. It’s not OK for GE animal waste to be used as compost or sprayed onto fields and to then refuse to monitor the effects on the environment. Use this information to write your lettersGM undermines the New Zealand brand Genetic Modification (also called GE: genetic engineering) is experimental and has raised safety and cultural issues all over the world. Most consumers do not want it. We cannot afford to compromise New Zealand's clean, green reputation, cause widespread animal suffering and put New Zealanders at needless risk for the sake of greed and wishful thinking. AgResearch’s four applications to ERMA are extremely vague, and leave the public liable when things go wrong. Increased animal suffering The development of Genetically Modified animals makes them prone to increased levels of suffering. Previous experiments show GM newborn calves, for example, are more likely to be born with serious deformities. GM cows can experience gangrenous udders, mastitis and are highly susceptible to respiratory and septic conditions. AgResearch seeks to use recipient animals as surrogate mothers to carry GM embryos. Recipient animals are often aborted at around 60 days and the foetus cells harvested to produce new embryos. Harm to our environment AgResearch plans to have research or testing facilities around New Zealand, including in the Waikato, Canterbury and Southland regions. The risk of a breach in biosecurity or site contamination can never be eliminated and would jeopardise New Zealand reputation for clean, safe, natural food. Animal waste from GM animals will be used as compost or sprayed onto fields without any adequate monitoring of the environmental effects. Unethical conduct AgResearch will genetically engineer animals with human genes. They will deliberately create sick animals as ‘models’ of human disease despite the Bioethics Council calling for an ethical review of such practices. Risk of disease New Zealand animals are currently free of many highly contagious diseases such as Mad Cow Disease (BSE) and Scrapie (Foot and Mouth) making it an attractive testing ground for overseas biotech investors. Genetically modifying animals risks creating new diseases in animals or in people consuming milk and other products made from the animals. Under the law the public pays if unexpected problems arise. Visit www.giantexperiment.co.nz for other points to make. For more GE information visit www.gefree.org.nz and www.greenpeace.org.nz Soil & Health thanks the folk at GE Free NZ and Giant Experiement for providing information to inform the public on this issue. ------ ------ ------
Please... take action today. ------ ------ ------ |
|
Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
