Thousands in New Zealand Pledge
to Stop GE Field Trials

Anti-GE Maori occupy Erma office

NZ Herald

31.10.2001 4:30 pm - By PAULA OLIVER

Maori protesters today unfurled anti-GE banners at the Environmental
Risk Management Authority and refused to leave for more than half an
hour.

The central Wellington office occupation coincided with a march to
Parliament by an anti-GE hikoi (march) that had passed through much of
the North Island.

An Erma spokeswoman said about 15 Maori protesters entered the
authority's office at noon today, requesting information about research
that had already taken place.

Erma is responsible for evaluating applications for GE research
projects.

The protesters, which included activist Ken Mair, put out banners, sang
songs and put earth onto the office floor.

They would only speak Maori to Erma staff.

Security was tightened around the building, but the protesters left
peacefully about 35 minutes later.

Outside, they accused their Maori MPs of "selling out" in the GE debate
and expressed anger at the Government's decision to allow GE field
trials.

"We cannot afford to let the country go GE. The public want to know
what's going on, and many of them were not aware that GE was already
going on," said protester Angeline Greensill.

"We are unhappy with Helen Clark. She has denigrated Maori. She can
forget about getting back to Parliament on the backs of Maori."

Antoher protester said the Labour Party was kidding itself if it thought
Maori would not do anything about the GE decision.

GE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
TODAY - 3,000 NEW ZEALANDERS
PLEDGE TO REMOVE GE FIELD TRIALS

Three thousand New Zealanders have pledged to help remove genetic
engineering field trials and planning for action is underway, following
yesterdays pro GE decision by the government, which anti-GE campaigners
Say was a sad capitulation to genetic engineering interests. The
campaign is being launched today, in an Auckland park, together with a
demonstration of how environmentally-responsible trial destruction can
be done. The launch is a response to the Government's GE announcement
yesterday, "The Government has betrayed the majority of New Zealanders
who do not want GE field trials and preparation for commercial GE
releases", spokesperson Logan Petley said. "They sold out to the GE lobby.
That leaves the public no option but civil disobedience to protect our
country from GE accidents and contamination."

The non-violent direct action initiative, in which members of the public
have been invited to sign a civil disobedience pledge (attached) has
been dubbed "Green Gloves". "This is because people who pledge to join
the actions were given a pair of green gloves to keep ready for when they
are needed." The group has been organised by long-time environmental
campaigners and has no links to any political parties.

Field trial removal - in this case pine trees - will be demonstrated at
the launch by a group of Aucklanders including actor Danielle Cormack
who have signed the civil disobedience pledge. The launch and field
trial demonstration will occur at the Basque Park Gardens, Newton,
Auckland at 12:30 pm today, Wednesday 31st October.

Support for the pledge has spread like wildfire throughout the country
since being launched by anti-GE campaigners on 31 July, a few days after
the royal commission report was published, resulting in the 3000
volunteers in just twelve weeks.

"This is an astonishing number of New Zealanders prepared to make a
stand. It shows how wrong Helen Clark is when she denies there is
strong public feeling about genetic engineering. Each of those 3000
people represents many other people who also care deeply about the
issue."

"Some New Zealanders might think these plans are irresponsible, however
we believe we are acting to defend our country. If the first boat load
of possums were arriving in New Zealand tomorrow, and we could still
stop them, we would do the same. Keeping the New Zealand environment
GE free, before something goes horribly wrong, is a socially and
environmentally responsible act."

"This civil disobedience will not involve people breaking into GE labs.
Ourconcern is about GE organisms being allowed into the environment,
where it is irreversible. But anything coming out of labs into the
environment as field trials will be targeted."

Green Glove co-ordinators say that these kinds of actions may well
prove to be legal, based on precedents from Britain where environmental
campaigners have been cleared of charges for pulling out crops
because their actions were judged to be strongly in the public interest.

"The lists of Green Gloves volunteers include people in all regions of
NZ. There are mothers and fathers, doctors, business people and
students. They have indicated that if they must, they are prepared to
actively seek out And remove GE field trials, due to the risks they
pose."

"Green Gloves is announcing its plans openly so that GE companies and
research institutions are in no doubt about our intentions. These will
not be secretive activities, but rather open, colourful and
unstoppable."

Contact: Logan Petley 025 828028 or Fergus Wheeler
04 9056583.