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Posted on 23-12-11 Like Homegrown Food, Sign This
By Jodie Bruning, Tauranga, 22 December 2010
There is a piece of legislation going through NZ parliament at the moment
called the Food Bill. There is not much information in the media because the
media aren't or can't talk about it. It will be snuck through faster than a
greasy pig while we are on holidays in January. We need action now to get
50,000 signatures - already nearly 13,000 have signed - not enough and we potentially have less than TWO WEEKS.
Some parts of this bill involve change that is good. But some parts are
completely insane/horrendous and have the potential to compromise your
health in the future, because they reduce the ability for small food
producers produce and give away/sell seeds and food. And it would be policed
by Food Officers, not needing a warrant, not government employees, &
apparently having immunity from civil or criminal prosecution! This is in
the legislation!
And what is different about this legislation as it comes under an
international rule called 'Codex' or ''Codex Alimentarius'. If we go along
with Codex NZ then CAN'T CHANGE the legislation in future. This is what is
really apalling about this. It is not Common Law, it is Napoleonic Code. It
hasn't happened before with food and is a quiet part of Codex that most
people don't realise. We would actually have to get out of the W.H.O. to
change this legislation if we didn't like it - which is just not a thing
governments do. We would be stuck.
So we need to take time on this legislation, not fast track it through at
Christmas time.
What's really shocking about this is that these rules are developed to say
we need 'food safety'. (Because we all know home grown veggies are worse
from us than mass produced stuff?!?) But what they really mean is to get rid
of little producers, little growers and keep the growing of food in the
hands of the big companies. Codex wasn't designed by governments and
independent think tanks it was developed by mega corporations - pharmacy,
agribusiness, chemical. These laws were NOT initially drafted by the NZ
government, but by lawyers employed by big international corporates.
We need to stop this legislation as parliament want to sneak it through
while people are on holidays in January (which is what they do when
legislation is controversial). At a later date it can then be reviewed and
amended.
Main problems with Food Bill 160-2 :
1. Home & small growers who grow small amounts of food and sell locally NEED
to be exempt - they are not.
2. Seeds for cultivation and food seedlings NEED TO NOT BE within the
definition 'food' under the Bill. (This is huge - imagine you not being able
to produce seed and give away!!). This sounds crazy but seeds will be
'explicitly controlled substances' (like drugs) - seriously. Why? Not sci-fi
- in time whoever controls the food chain protects their own interests.
(This is so unbelievable that I believe this is why we are not acting.)
3. Under the Food Bill, Police acting as Food Safety Officers can raid
premises without a warrant, using all equipment they deem necessary -
including guns (Clause
265 -1) (What is the precedent for this? Why is this necessary?)
4. Members of the private sector can also be Food Safety Officers, as at
Clause 243.
Eg. Monsanto employees can raid premises - including marae - backed up by
armed police. (This has never happened before or needed to happen).
5. AND Food Safety Officers have immunity from criminal and civil
prosecution. What is the precedent for this?
Go here:
ood-bill-160-2/1301
These petitions are internationally recognised and your details are safe -
email addresses WILL NOT be passed on.
It has been under the radar as the media won't talk about it. Advertisers
won't let it in and anyone trying to write an opposing view is lobbed off as
'weird hippies'
or whatever. Professionals who are deeply anxious about this legislation
won't/can't write/talk about it because their careers/integrity could be
undermined. Quite disturbing This needs attention and thought. You make up
your own mind.
Treat it like some conspiracy theory and don't necessarily believe what I
say. Be cynical, look this up, research it, please be informed.
Why didn't I do anything earlier? Because I simply didn't realise all the
implications. Because it is just so complex. And I couldn't believe it all.
But please - don't sit on this like I did - act quickly.
More information at
tarius-incarnate-food-as-commodity-not-nourishment/
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