Quote of the Week: Today's market is "totally manipulated" by the major economic and political powers, "is blind to the poor, who have needs but do not represent demand, blind to the future generations who are not present, and blind to creation, to life" ”” Jos' Lutzenberger, former environment minister of Brazil
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1.Eyre Peninsula fights GM canola
2.A GE free flag flies at the heart of New Zealand
3.KFC targeted by GP in anti-GE protest in NZ
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1.Eyre Peninsula fights GM canola
more oz resistance
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s240556.htm
The following is a transcript from the ABC National Rural News that is broadcast daily to all states on ABC Regional Radio's Country Hour and on ABC Radio National.
Eyre Peninsula fights GM canola Thursday, 1/02/01
On South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, the battle lines are being drawn over plans by the multinational Monsanto to trial genetically modified canola.
The Peninsula has already set up a GM taskforce, which is lobbying for a five-year moratorium on genetically engineered crops.
Spokesperson Brian Foster says its unique geographical position makes the Eyre Peninsula ideal for non-GM niche markets, and farmers don't want their reputation tainted.
Brian Foster: We're disappointed that they would want to introduce a trial now. We see it as a foot in the door. And I think it's not unreasonable in the light of consumer sentiment, to ask for some time for these issues to be looked at in depth.
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2. A GE free flag flies at the heart of New Zealand
Nelson Wednesday 31st January - Greenpeace today scaled a monument at the geographical centre of New Zealand and flew a GE free flag from its needle. On the same day GE Free Nelson presented a petition and map to the Mayor of Nelson calling on him to declare the city and surrounding district a GE free zone.
GE Free Nelson has collected over 7600 signatures on a petition and marked on a map the addresses of the petitioners with little green x's. "The picture is very clear" said Susie Lees of GE free Nelson. Thousands of citizens are saying no to GE and have made their mark on this map. We know that the Mayor, Paul Matheson supports the people of Nelson in their intention to declare that a GE free New Zealand starts here. Yesterday at the Royal Commission he stated on video that he saw the positive benefits of remaining GE Free, declaring that he felt in 2001 Nelson would be the first city to fly the GE Free flag."
"The world is watching New Zealand right now to see whether it will live up to its clean green image and go GE free. Genetically engineered crops are an unpredictable form of living pollution that nobody wants. That's why there is a world-wide movement of communities and countries declaring themselves GE free zones. Now, thanks to the concerns of thousands of Nelson citizens. there is a GE free flag fluttering at the heart of New Zealand too," said Jim Thomas, an international GE campaigner for Greenpeace.
Greenpeace, who is working with GE Free Nelson, has been running public information stalls whilst their flagship the Rainbow Warrior is undergoing repairs in Nelson dock.
For more information or pictures contact Jim Thomas in Nelson 021 1465477 or Tamsin 025 790 817. For more information about the petition and GE free Nelson contact Susie Lees on 03 5467966
NOTES 1. The flag will be raised at 9am on the hill that marks the geographical centre of New Zealand, just east of the city of Nelson. Greenpeace will have stills photos available. 2. GE free zones already exist throughout the world, including Rio Grande de Sol, in Brazil, Tuscany and Lazio in Italy, Tasmania and Waiheke Island.
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3. KFC targeted in anti-GE protest
The Nelson Mail, NZ, 30 JANUARY 2001, Online, NATIONAL NEWS
Greenpeace protesters dressed as chickens targeted customers at KFC's Tahunanui store yesterday as part of a campaign against the use of genetically engineered animal feed. The protesters handed out postcards addressed to the fast food chain's New Zealand head office in Auckland, calling on it to stop using chickens fed with GE soy meal. They also draped a large banner over the store's entrance and set up a giant mock-up of a KFC bucket with the label "KGE: 11 secret genes and splices", to drive their point home. Spokesman Jim Thomas said Greenpeace was concerned that the Tegel chickens KFC used were fed meal made from GE soybeans. KFC was allowing GE soy meal to enter the food chain without knowing what impact it might have, he said. Mr Thomas said Greenpeace had been lobbying Tegel and KFC to try to persuade them to go GE-free. Its campaign was intended to put further pressure on KFC via consumers. He said Greenpeace would be working with Nelson GE-free campaigners to highlight its message during the next few weeks.
Greenpeace's ship the Rainbow Warrior is in Nelson for repairs. Some of its crew were involved in the protest. KFC could not be reached for comment today. (c) You may not copy, republish or distribute this page or the content from it without having obtained written permission from the copyright owner. To enquire about copyright clearances contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [Entered February 1, 2001]