Posted on 14-6-2002

Helen Clark Takes GE Debate To New Low

Friday 14 June, Auckland. Political posturing is further degrading the
quality of debate on genetic engineering said Greenpeace today.

“The Prime Minister’s reported comments at the Agricultural Field Days
regarding GE were misleading and scientifically ignorant,” said Annette
Cotter, GE Campaigner for Greenpeace. “To imply that opposition to GE in
food and the environment is anti science is like saying that opposition to
nuclear weapons or energy is anti-science. “The assumption that agriculture
can only advance through the use of genetic engineering reduces science to
one poorly understood discipline. “The canvas on which science and
agriculture meet is vast. Genetic engineering is only a small potential
part of that canvas and one that has proven very problematic
environmentally and is losing market share around the world. “The Prime
Minister’s comments are not based on good science, or economic insight,
rather they are political gainsaying. However, the Labour Party has
underestimated the level of concern about GE that exists in the public
domain. “Supporters of political parties across the spectrum are opposed to
GE in their food and the environment. The Prime Minister is wrong to treat
GE as an issue for people of one political affiliation. “It is time that
the issue of GE was addressed, and people’s concerns acknowledged. For too
long, it has been ‘business as usual’ with field trials and GE food allowed
in NZ. If all political parties want to be truly representative of the
population, calling for a GE free NZ is the only position to take.”