Posted 6th July 2001

G Day

12 noon, Friday July 27, at YOUR town hall On Friday July 27, the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification will deliver its report to the NZ Government. The Government will then have just one month to decide whether we become a GE-Free (environment) nation or whether genetically engineered organisms are released into our environment and their introduction into the food chain continues.

IT REALLY IS NOW OR NEVER

Many of you have been involved in the petition to get a Royal Commission, in writing submissions, in organising the Green MP Tour and in sending off postcards. We need to keep the pressure up for the next few weeks, as the Government makes a decision on the place of GE. At 12 noon, July 27, New Zealanders across the country will congregate at their town halls to usher in our GE-Free future. Let's make it nationwide. The Auckland Greens have set this in motion. A number of environmental and organic agriculture organisations, among them Soil and Health, Bio-Gro, Greenpeace, GE Free NZ, ECO are supporting a nationwide rally for a GE-Free nation..

-- Presence, no matter how small, is important --

Of course, it's good to get as many people along as possible, but even if you have 6 people outside YOUR town hall at that hour, that counts. It's just as much the fact that across the country, in as many towns and cities as possible, people went to their town hall to show the Government they want a GE-Free environment and food chain.

-- Be a local contact. There's not much to it --

At each town, we need a local contact, who will do local advertising, a local ring around and ensure that there is a visual presence (for example, banners) at the town hall, so that it is clear that the people congregating are not waiting to contest their parking fines!

It will be up to you to decide what happens in your town. Some might be able to organise a band or street theatre. Some might decide on everyone bringing GE free food to go to the local foodbank or hospital. In some places it may be just a couple of you with a banner. Everyone counts.

Contact by email or call Stephanie Howard at 04-4706767 to be a local contact and organiser for the day. --

What does GE-Free mean?

GE-Free means that no genetically engineered organisms are released into our environment or the food chain, and that any experimentation or product development of genetically engineered organisms is confined to the laboratory.--.