Welcome
Biotechnology has made important advances adding much of value to our scientific heritage. However, the technology of genetic engineering is seriously flawed.
Moving genes between species is changing the shape of our world. It, and the patenting of plants and animals, has extended property rights into biology, providing the potential for direct control over much of the world's agricultural production and thus its food supply.
2015 Letter to NZ Councils February 2015
10 February 2015
Mayors, Councillors and CEOs of all Regional, District and City Councils in New Zealand,
cc Local and Community Boards, and CEOs and Board Members of all District Health Boards
Submission to Councils Future Community and Regional Plans
The Trustees of PSGR thank Council for their response to previous correspondence.
We ask that you accept and consider the following as a submission, with feedback, when establishing your planning and budgeting documents and in so doing support a sustainable future for your district and a healthy community, and in doing this draw support from members of District Health Boards and Community and Local Boards.
Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility is a Charitable Trust established to provide independent scientific assessment and advice on matters relating to genetic engineering and other scientific and medical matters.
We accept many Councils have already taken steps to meet public demand in matters of genetically engineered organisms released into the environment and thank them for doing so. While other Councils leave such concerns to central government, it is important to consider the impacts at local levels extending beyond the timeframes and jurisdiction of central government authorities like the Environmental Protection Authority.
2015 Appendices to Letter to New Zealand Councils 10 February 2015
Why New Zealand should not release genetically engineered organisms
into the environment
Appendices to letter to New Zealand Councils 2015
NB genetic engineering, genetic modification and transgenic are synonymous
Only a very small percentage of biotechnology is given to genetic engineering
What is genetic engineering and what problems does the technology present?
The application of genetic engineering technology alters the DNA of a living organism in ways which are much more radical than what occurs due to the generally incremental, slow processes of natural evolution. It does this in a way that is inevitably disruptive to some degree as a result of the essentially random insertion of transgenic (or cisgenic) DNA into the functional DNA of a host organism. It may cause noticeable changes in the appearance of the organism and/or differences in the biochemistry and physiology of the organism. These changes are unpredictable and may result in the production of new proteins within the transgenic organism with potential toxic effects,[1]
2014 Letter to all NZ Councils
15 February 2014
CEOs, Mayors and Councillors of all Regional, District and City Councils in New Zealand,
cc Local and Community Boards, and CEOs and Board Members of all District Health Boards
Submission to Councils Future Community and Regional Plans
The Trustees of PSGR thank Council for their response to previous correspondence. We ask that you accept and consider the following concerns as a submission when establishing your planning and budgeting documents and in so doing supporting a sustainable future for your district and a healthy community, and in doing this draw support from members of District Health Boards and Community and Local Boards.
Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility is a Charitable Trust established to provide independent scientific assessment and advice on matters relating to genetic engineering and other scientific and medical matters. We offer the following:
Genetic engineering
Field trials of transgenic canola took place in Tasmania in the late 1990s and 2000. Observing the effects, the Tasmanian Government decided to pursue agriculture that is free of genetically engineered organisms. Management issues of the former trial sites included seed persistence. Consequently, an annual audit of sites has taken place. The most recent was in May 2013, with all 53 sites inspected. Four sites had canola volunteers. In 2008, volunteers were found at twelve of the 53 sites,[1] twelve different sites to the 2013 audit. During audits, nearby roadsides and other areas are inspected to ensure containment is being achieved. This policy has been maintained and strengthened with a recent decision for an indefinite moratorium on release of GMOs to protect their brand and export economy.[2]
Over half the 2013 sites had not involved recent soil disturbance and it was acknowledged that these will have dormant canola seed in the soil that will not germinate until soil disturbance takes place. The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) advises canola seeds can be viable for up to 16 years.[3]
Australian farmers growing conventional canola have regularly secured a higher price for their crops. Exporters can check a list of countries that ban transgenic crops and require food labelling for any transgenic element on http://naturalrevolution.org/list-of-countries-that-ban-gmo-crops-and-require-ge-food-labels/.
