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GE Free New Zealand in Food &
Environment, 21st February 2004 Mr Bolger too late to save sheep or scientific credibility Comments by former Prime minister Jim Bolger criticising the wasteful destruction of PPL�s GE sheep are a welcome voice in support of GE Free NZ�s call for research samples to be taken. Unfortunately his comments come too late to save either the sheep or the credibility of the science supposedly served by the experiments. It is now some months since GE Free NZ in food and environment made similar calls for proper study of samples taken from these experimental sheep. This followed the statements by Associate Professor Peter Wills from Auckland University that the destruction of the sheep was also the destruction of one of the world�s largest data-resources for studying the actual effects of transgenic experiments. Mr Bolger is correct that there is a lack of strategic oversight on the kind of research best-suited to New Zealand's cultural values, ethics and market-image. However, the reality is that many scientists would question whether the creation of these sheep should have been approved in the first place. What is more concerning is that there has been NO research on the impacts on soil in the fields where the GE sheep are kept, and only now there is a grudging acceptance that huge gaps in research need to be filled. Even recently ERMA deliberately approved GE onion trial on the basis of scientific knowledge� when there is neither funding for the necessary research nor a clear methodology to deliver real scientific information. There is growing concern in the scientific community that commercial interests are compromising good science and the lust for profits is furthering unethical and unprofessional conduct. Recently a New Zealand scientist called for greater freedom to study embryonic stem cells whilst ignoring the more ethical opportunities for researching adult stem-cells to deliver benefits. The commercial pressure on scientists has prompted international efforts to protect good science from becoming terminally compromised (see below). �GE Free NZ in food and environment welcomes former prime Minister Bolger�s support for our calls for samples to be taken from the sheep before they are humanely destroyed,� says Jon Carapiet. The challenge for Mr Bolger and his organization is to prove that they can listen to the community needs and clearly-expressed values supporting a GE-free environment and at the same time deliver genuine scientific benefits to this country rather than compromised pseudo-science that only serves commercial speculators, and undermines good science.� Contact: Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370 Back to Press Release Directory SOURCES: |
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GE-Free New Zealandin food and environment (RAGE Inc.) |