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GE crops fail to deliver food to the hungry

25 June 2013/in Food, GE, Media Releases

New research from University of Canterbury researchers proves that genetically engineered crops have lower yields and use more pesticides than GE-free crops. The research, led by Professor Jack Heinemann, compared North American staple crop production to Western Europe over the past fifty years.
The world’s population is currently 7 billion but by 2020 it is forecast to reach 8 billion.
“Feeding the world’s hungry is a catchcry used by big agri-tech, but it is nothing more than an emotive rant appealing to our compassion, when these companies have none themselves,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ. “We can feed the world’s hungry now – we choose not to.”
Forty percent of food is currently wasted and whilst a billion people on the earth are starving, a billion people are overweight. Research shows that in developing countries, home to many of the world’s hungry, and where drought is common, not only can organic production increase yields by 100-200% it is also affordable for the people.
“The deplorable situation in many developing countries is that farmers are sold GE crops which they cannot afford and cannot grow in the traditional ways they are used to. The cost of having to buy patented seed each year and the need to buy more pesticides and herbicides to deal with resistant insects and weeds has made growing GE crops
increasingly unsustainable. Since the introduction of GE crops in the mid 1990s, more than a quarter of a million subsistence farmers in India have committed suicide . Big corporations that treat our global citizens in this way are committing a crime against humanity and this must stop,” says Swanwick.
“What we need to do is produce crops that consumers can afford, that provide good nutrition and are environmentally sustainable. Consumers worldwide do not want to eat GMOs. The movement to eradicate GMOs or at the very least label them is now at a tipping point that will see the demise of a practice that should never have been rubber-stamped by governments, whose remit is to represent people not corporations. People deserve real food,” says Swanwick.

Recently Hungary burnt all their GMO crops, and last month the Connecticut senate was the first US state to introduce a bill demanding labelling of GMOs. At least twenty other states are following their lead.
“The US market is set to fall and justice will finally prevail when these crops are banned by consumers – who will vote with their wallets,” says Swanwick. “Big agri-tech knows this. It is the reason why they spent US$45 million last year to defeat a bill that would have seen mandatory labelling of GMOs in California. The bill was narrowly lost by
3%.”
Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/687

References

(1) http://ideas.repec.org/p/fpr/2020br/5.html
(2) http://nz.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=aaplw&p=suicide+and+indian…
(3) http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/22/40-of-u-s-food-wasted-report-says/
(4) http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genet…
(5) http://now.msn.com/hungary-burns-1000-acres-of-gmo-corn-crops
(6) http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/06/connecticut-lawmakers-vote-…
(7) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1306/S00052/gm-a-failing-biotechnology-…
(8) Heinemann, J.A., Massaro, M., Coray, D.S., Zanon Agapito-Tenfen, S. and Wen, J.D. (2013) Sustainability and innovation in staple crop production in the US Midwest. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability (early access online)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2013.806408

Proposed changes to Food Bill welcomed

17 June 2013/in Food, GM, Media Releases

“Proposed changes to the Food Bill to take into consideration public concern regarding genetic engineering and unnecessary regulation and compliance on community and fundraising groups is a welcome relief. It appears that the same is true for small-scale producers” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Food Safety Minister, Nikki Kaye, announced the changes last week which include reinstating the reference to GM foods to make it clear that the Government has the ability to make New Zealand-only standards relating to GM food in the exceptional circumstances set out in the Food Treaty with Australia. Further changes have been made so that gifting, donating and swapping food in non-commercial exchanges is permissible and that fundraising and ‘Kiwiana’ activities such as sausage sizzles and school fairs will not be regulated other than to ensure food is safe and suitable. Nor will it be mandatory that low-risk and very small-scale activities have Food Handler Guidance.

Th Food Bill will replace the current legislation and regulation including the Food Act of 1981 and 34 separate sets of food safety bylaws around New Zealand.

The Bill will now go back to a Select Committee hearing with changes expected to be effective by summer of 2013. It is expected that there will be further public consultation by the Select Committee.

“Kaye’s ability to cut through the dross on this Bill which could impact the charitable activities of our communities is commendable as too is her insight that GM foods should remain a food safety issue and be reinstated. This is especially topical following the recent announcement of a new groundbreaking report analyzing the effects of GM feed on animals. Scientists have found that pigs fed a diet of GM corn and soy experienced numerous adverse health effects, including sever stomach inflammation and an enlarged uterus which can negatively impact fertility. It is likely that all animals in NZ now, unless organic, are given GM supplementary feed” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References

(1) http://www.nikkikaye.co.nz/2013/06/12/food-bill-changes-better-balance-l…

(2) http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/food-bill-changes-better-balance-legislat…

(3) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10890019

(4) http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2013/06/hard-hitting-report-pigs-fed-gm-…

Toxic fracking waste entering food supply?

6 June 2013/in Farming, Food, Health, Media Releases

”The practice of dumping toxic oil drilling and fracking waste on farmland is compromising the ability of New Zealand farmers to grow good food,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Her comments follow recent media attention that 12 farmers in Taranaki practicing so-called ‘land farming’ are providing milk to Fonterra.

Land farming allows toxic waste from oil drilling and fracking which may include arsenic, lead and mercury to be dumped on land in the hope that it will be neutralized by providing pollution-eating organisms with fertilizer, oxygen, and other conditions that encourage their rapid growth.

”Whilst big oil would have you believe this is effective it really isn’t rocket science that it is not. Their profits should not come at the expense of human health,” says Swanwick. “Fracking wastes have already contaminated groundwater in the US and elsewhere and we need to learn lessons from this.”

Oil companies are giving dairy farmers the same returns for land that would be used for milk production to instead dump this waste, and are also paying for pasture renewal.

With 140 new oil wells in the region forecast in the next two years more land is being demanded.

”To grow good food you need good soil that is contaminant free. Dumping fracking waste on farms is compromising the 100% pure NZ brand and it must stop,” says Swanwick.

”The only way New Zealanders can be assured that our food is free of GE, pesticides, additives and contaminants is to grow or buy organic. Look for the organic certification labels of BioGro, AsureQuality, Demeter or OrganicFarmNZ,” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water that is free of GE, pesticides and additives, and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References

http://ei.cornell.edu/biodeg/bioremed/

Hamilton joins 30 other councils who don’t fluoridate

6 June 2013/in Health, Media Releases, Water

Hamilton Council’s announcement yesterday to become fluoride free has attracted praise from Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
“Hamilton joins the 30 other regional councils in New Zealand out of a total of 75 that do not fluoridate,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Eighty-eight percent of the 1567 submissions received from the public and interested parties advocated for fluoride to be removed from Hamilton’s water supply.

”Fluoride has been linked with underactive thyroid and therefore weight gain, lowering IQ levels, and dental and skeletal fluorosis,” she says.

The Fluoride Action Network states that most developed nations in the world do not fluoridate their water supply. Only 11 countries in the world have more than 50% of their population drinking fluoridated water: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Guyana, Hong Kong, the Irish Republic, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and New Zealand. Sixty-two percent of drinking water in New Zealand is fluoridated and ninety-six percent of toothpaste sold nationwide is as well.

”The biggest secret about fluoride is that it only works topically; ingesting it causes harm not good, says Swanwick.

Science supports her concerns. In 2001, the Union of Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Headquarters Office in Washington D.C. stated: “we hold that water fluoridation is an unreasonable risk.”

”It is about time that New Zealand fell into line with the rest of the world and stopped this practice. It’s as simple as turning a tap off at our public water works. Whether or not people believe in the science, our government should allow people to make their own choice on this matter, not mass medicate without their consent when many members of the public are ill-informed on the subject,” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References

(1) http://www.fluoridealert.org/issues/health/
(2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88pfVo3bZLY
(3) http://www.fluoridealert.org/issues/health/
(4) http://www.healthfreedom.co.nz/latest-news/113-fluoridation-free-nationa…

Food co-operatives in NZ on the rise

31 May 2013/in Food, Media Releases, Organic Community

“The increase in food co-operatives in New Zealand is enabling communities to take back control of their food supply, improve relationships between community members and achieve better health outcomes” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
Food co-operatives provide better quality food, mostly organic, at a cheaper price.
“Stories of the average New Zealander’s desire to remove contaminants in their food (GE, pesticides and additives) by establishing an organic food co-operative in their region will feed the next generation well. New Zealander’s seem to have picked up on this worldwide trend at a great rate” says Swanwick.
Franklin’s recent success with The FROOB LTD (The Franklin based Real and Organic Organised Buyers co-operative) is a testament to the effectiveness of the societal model that is growing local economies. Franklin is one of Auckland’s largest food bowls that grows most of New Zealand’s onions, potatoes and green vegetable crops.
The Froob is dedicated to buying organic produce, preferably locally grown, that is Fair Trade at a price slightly higher than wholesale and re-selling it to their 300 members at a less than retail price. It is forecast that their turnover this year will exceed a million dollars. “The impact of this on the local economy is huge” says Debbie. Backyard growers are also encouraged to sell their excess produce to the co-op which is encouraging the development of gardens in the region.
Debbie Swanwick will be speaking at the Green Living Show, ASB Showgrounds Greenlane West on Saturday 29 June at 3pm. The subject will be ‘How New Zealand Communities are taking back control of their food supply’ and she will discuss how you can establish a food co-operative in your region. The board of The Froob will be available to answer questions.
Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ
References
1) http://www.growtogether.org.nz/community-gardens-and-other-projects/food…
2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/your-world/7910705/B…
3) http://good.net.nz/magazine/7/features/good-food-no-worries
4) www.thefroob.co.nz

Jannai Tantrum CEO of The Franklin Real and Organic Organised Buyers (The Froob) says “Real People deserve Real Food”

New Zealanders protest for better food for world citizens

27 May 2013/in Farming, GE, Media Releases, Organic Community

New Zealand was one of 52 countries around the world that protested on Saturday against genetically modified food that big agritech giant Monsanto produces.
The worldwide “March against Monsanto” is the first global protest against genetically modified food.
“The level of participation in New Zealand in these marches is evidence that New Zealanders want what we offer – real food for real people,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.
Thousands of concerned citizens marched in Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington, New Plymouth, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.
“GE is but one issue that compromises the nutritional value and goodness of real food – pesticides and additives are others. In addition to protests consumers are voting with their wallets” says Swanwick. “Last year organic sales in New Zealand increased 8% and between 2007 and 2012 the total land area in New Zealand under organic certification increased by 67%.”
Genetically engineered plants are designed to resist insecticides and herbicides and it is suggested they increase yields but the 2009 Failure to Yield report by the the Union of Concerned Scientists proves they do not. They are also producing super weeds and super insects who have developed a tolerance and increasing the use of dangerous chemicals. Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million pounds of herbicide on GMOs. Last year 80% of American corn was also compromised when the BT rootworm, that attacks it, developed a tolerance to the insecticide.
“GE crops always cross contaminate. Having only one crop is agricultural suicide if it fails, as America experienced last year with their BT corn crops, and US farmers have learnt from that experience. Many are choosing not to replant this year, but by far the greatest danger of GE crops is the threat they pose to human health,” says Swanwick.
“People need nutrients in their food, not chemicals,” says Swanwick “and it is long overdue that we took a stand against companies that breach our code of human ethics. If your policy is to compromise the food that we feed our children our policy is to compromise your profits by buying organic. Thankfully New Zealanders have never been afraid to speak their truth in that way. We made world history when we declared ourselves nuclear-free and yet again, we are setting the benchmark for the rest of the world who already admire us for our clean, green image,” says Swanwick.
No GE crops are grown commercially in New Zealand.
Soil & Health – Organic NZ is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

References (Links accessed May 2013)
1) http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/1…
2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/8719648/Protesters-join-…
3) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=1088…
4) http://www.oanz.org/casestudies/OANZ-full%20report%202012.pdf
5) http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/food_and_agriculture/failure-to-y…

Toxic time bomb could blow apart our health and wealth

8 May 2013/in Health, Media Releases, Organic Community

A toxic heavy metal we have been putting on our farms for decades could jeopardise our agricultural exports and our health. The Soil & Health Association is calling for maximum residue levels of cadmium in fertilisers.

“Sooner or later our export markets will start rejecting our dairy products because of unsafe levels of cadmium,” says Debbie Swanwick, spokesperson for Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

“Furthermore, the health of Kiwis will get worse and our public health bill will increase unless we switch to organic and more sustainable farming methods.”

Two million tonnes of superphosphate fertiliser containing 30 to 40 tonnes of the heavy metal cadmium is put on New Zealand soils every year. Standard farming practice over the past 70 years has involved the use of superphosphate, especially in dairy farming, which has resulted in dangerously high levels of cadmium in our soils and consequently our food.

In the Waikato for example, 160,000 hectares should now be officially labelled as contaminated were it not for the fact that changes to legislation in 2012 removed agricultural land from any contamination classification.

Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys and liver, and is linked with breast and testicular cancer. Kidneys from sheep older than two and a half years are not permitted for human consumption because of the cadmium levels, but may be used as offal in products such as blood and bone to be used in home or market gardens or in pet food.

“Your children and family pet may be paying the ultimate price for New Zealand’s desire to continually increase farming productivity” says Swanwick. “Cadmium levels in NZ soils are far higher than what is allowed under European standards. Levels here are what Europeans would deem dangerous for children,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Organic farms don’t use superphosphate, but often use reactive phosphate rock (RPR), which also contains cadmium, albeit in lower levels than superphosphate. There are chemical methods to reduce cadmium levels but they also reduce the effectiveness of the RPR. Researchers are trialling various bacteria and plants to clean up or accumulate cadmium and remove it from soil. But the most effective measure that must be taken as soon as possible is to introduce maximum residue levels, as other countries have done.

“It is imperative that regulations are introduced to reduce cadmium inputs on our farms in order to remove dangers posed to human and animal health, the threat to our export markets and to ensure that land values do not drop if land is no longer viable because of cadmium contamination” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Pagehttp://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/652

References
1) http://www.3news.co.nz/The-dangers-of-Cadmium/tabid/367/articleID/293891…
2) Organic NZ Magazine May/June issue
3) http://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/60810/opinion-long-term-poisoning-o…

“The high incidence of renal failure, especially in cats, suggests that cadmium may to be blame” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ featured with her chocolate burmese – Bailey.

Better food in hospitals will save money in the long term

19 April 2013/in Food, Health, Media Releases

“It is about time hospitals in New Zealand administer the basics well. Food is medicine and it needs to be better in New Zealand, not cheaper,” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Her comments follow the recent announcement that the government is considering outsourcing hospital food to save ten million dollars.

“If they do, NZ taxpayers will end up paying the price in both their health and out of their back pocket,” she says. “Last year each New Zealander paid $2,500 to support the sick in this country. (3) We forecast that a government directive to put food on the menu of NZ hospitals that is over a week old and not locally sourced would increase those costs,” (4) says Swanwick.

In 2012 14.2 billion dollars was spent on healthcare in New Zealand (1).
In the latest OECD Health Data 2012 report, 83.2% of health spending is funded by the taxpayer. This is well above the average of 72.2% in other OECD countries. (2)

“We need a holistic approach to these problems. Taking money from one department whilst increasing the overall expenditure every year to care for our sick is short-sighted. Your diet should always be the first place you look for good medicine and the NZ public should have the best available, especially when they are sick. That food should be fresh, GE-free, pesticide and additive free and labelled organic, and locally sourced where possible. We call that good healthcare. It is also responsible management of taxpayer funds,” says Swanwick.

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food subscribe to their Facebook Page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/623

References

(1) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10808180

(2) http://www.oecd.org/newzealand/BriefingNoteNEWZEALAND2012.pdf

(3) http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/tools/population_clock.aspx

(4) http://www.3news.co.nz/Concern-over-hospital-food-plans/tabid/1607/artic…

Organic certification labeling the best available for consumer

12 April 2013/in Media Releases, Organic Community, Organics

In New Zealand ‘certified’ organic food is the best labelling system available for the consumer,” says Debbie Swanwick, spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

Her comments follow recent media attention around food labelling.

Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye signed off changes to legislation this week that producers cannot claim health or nutritional value on their labels unless they meet standards set by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The change is designed to help consumers make healthier food choices.

Two hundred pre-approved standards will be the only health claims allowed by producers, under the new system. (2)

“Whilst we agree that many producers have misled consumers in the past by making bogus claims of their products, and legislation around this needs to improve, these changes don’t go far enough,” says Swanwick.

“In New Zealand the best food labelling system is ours – organically certified products guarantee that a product is free of pesticides, synthetic additives and genetic engineering,” says Swanwick. Non certified products, conventional and GE products cannot claim this. (3) For consumers who do not wish to introduce contaminants into their bodies via their food, certified organic products are their guarantee that this is so.

The four organic certification bodies in New Zealand are BioGro, Demeter, OrganicFarmNZ and AsureQuality and their products are labelled as such. These certification agencies provide rigorous third party audits that meet international organic standards, and consumers can have confidence that organic products with their logos are healthy, environmentally friendly and have high standards for animal welfare.

A study published this month by Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab researchers showed that an organic label can also influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labelled “organic”.

One hundred and fifteen people were asked to evaluate three pairs of identical products – yoghurts, cookies and potato chips – but one of each pair was falsely labelled organic. Consumers rated the labelled organic products better on many counts even though the product was identical. (1)

“That is what we would expect and proves that the consumer is aware that organic products taste better are healthier and often lower in calories,” says Swanwick. “Consumers seem to be well aware that organics that are labelled and certified do have merit. It is a disgraceful however that Cornell have misled the public to prove the point.”

“We would have question who is funding such research. It is also ironic that despite the millions of dollars that big agritech companies (such as Monsanto) spend each year in trying to sway the public that organics have no merit, they refuse to label their own GE products,” says Swanwick. Big Agritech is currently spending US$1 million a day to stop GMO labelling in the US (4) and in the past two years Monsanto alone spent $279 million on advertising and public relations to denounce organics and promote GMO’s. (5)

Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai, oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food visit our Facebook page and subscribe _http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ_

Photo caption: “AsureQuality is one of the four organic certification labels in New Zealand, the others being Demeter, Biogro and OrganicFarm” says Debbie Swanwick, Spokesperson, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

To view online click here http://www.organicnz.org.nz/node/649

References
(1) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401121506.htm
(2) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876085
(3) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=108…
(4) http://riverhead.patch.com/blog_posts/label-gmos-a-million-a-day-and-77b…
(5) http://truth-out.org/news/item/15512-the-monsanto-protection-act-a-debate-on-controversial-new-measure-over-genetically-modified-crops

GMOs pose $59 billion threat to NZ economy

9 April 2013/in GM, Media Releases, Organic Community

Inevitable cross contamination by GE crops, if released in NZ, pose a 59 billion dollar threat to the NZ economy and ratepayers whose councils have failed to protect them against risk,” says Debbie Swanwick, Soil & Health – Organic NZ.

That is the total dollar value of our agricultural, forestry, fisheries and tourism sectors, agriculture being worth thirty billion dollars, forestry, five billion, fisheries, four billion and tourism twenty billion. (8) (9)

“Auckland Council is one council who has failed to protect ratepayers , despite an InterCouncil working party (ICWP) recommendation that suggests they adopt a plan change to include a precautionary approach to GMO release in their Unitary plan. (1) In contrast Whangarei District Council adopted the ICWP recommendations,” says Swanwick. (2)

The ICWP is made of up of Auckland Council, Far North, Kaipara, Whangarei District Councils and Northland Regional Council (who did not participate in this project). (4)

Based on eight years of public engagement, a section 32 analysis and legal opinion, the ICWP identified a total lack of liability provisions under current legislation. (4)

“Under Whangarei’s plan change, GE applicants who would easily clear the hurdle of the EPA in Wellington will have to prove financial fitness, post a substantial bond and be personally and financially liable for”unintended or unforseen” adverse impacts of EPA approved GE experiments,” says Swanwick.

“Auckland ratepayers will pay the ultimate price on behalf of councillors who have made this decision based on an issue (GMO’s) rather than a process. It is their remit that they protect ratepayers from risk regardless of the issue. That kind of decision making is not impartial or considered but leaky buildings all over again,” says Swanwick.

A 2010 Price Waterhouse report estimated between 42,000 and 89,000 homes in NZ would be categorized as ‘leaky homes’ costing between 11.2 and 22 billion to repair. (6) Roger Levie of the Home Owners and Buyers Association says they expect these figures are light and forecast that as many as 150,000 homes will be affected, costing over $35 billion. “That equates to around $8,300 coming out of the pocket of each New Zealander because Government and Councils failed to protect them against this risk,” he says. (5)

A case currently pending in the Western Australia Supreme Court involves an organic farmer, Steve Marsh, who lost his organic certification in 2010 when 70% of his farm was cross contaminated with his neighbors GE canola. Marsh’s legal fees are expected to cost $250,000 and he is requesting compensation for his economic loss in perpetuity. The case is expected to be decided in the next few months and could set a precedent in NZ law(3)

“As Monsanto are funding the GE farmer in this case (it is probable big Agri-tech will always fund these defences), and with the recent legislative change in the US dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act’, in future councils and governments will be the only organizations that can be sued. (11) This behavior has already begun in Europe,” says Swanwick. (7)

In 2011 the legal organisation Justice & Environment sued the EU Commission over the release of the Amflora GM potato. (10)

In March President Obama signed H.R. 933, a continuing resolution spending bill that gives immunity to biotech coporations such as Monsanto, from litigation should their GE crops every be proved unsafe. (12) Senator Roy Blunt drafted the rider, the pro-Monsanto “Farmer Assurance Provision, Section 735” of the bill, in consultation with Monsanto. (14)

Says Zelka Grammar of GE Free Northland “We salute the strong leadership that Whangarei District councillors have shown in their decision. It’s unfair for those who want to experiment with GMOs to expect others to “carry the can” for the harm caused to other farmers, the environment or the public health.”
Soil & Health is one of the oldest organic organisations in the world and advocates for the consumer’s right to have fresh, healthy, organic food and water free of GE, pesticides and additives and their right to know what is in their food and water. Oranga nuku, oranga kai oranga tangata. To learn more about what is really in your food and/or find guidelines on making a submission opposing Auckland Councils decision to not protect the region against GMO release visit our Facebook page and subscribe http://www.facebook.com/OrganicNZ

Submissions close on 31 May 2013.

Photo caption: A Supreme Court ruling in October 2012 opened the way for commercial property owners to sue councils for leaky building syndrome.

The judgment was delivered in the Supreme Court in Wellington, holding the Court of Appeal shouldn’t have struck out a claim by the owners of the building Spencer on Byron in Takapuna, that the-then North Shore District Council only had a duty of care to residential buildings. The body corporate claimed the city had been negligent and was liable for the cost of repairs.
Chief Justice Sian Elias and Justices Andrew Tipping, John McGrath and Robert Chambers found in favour of the body corporate. (13)
To view online click here www.organicnz.org.nz/node/647

References

(1) http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/plansstrateg…

(2) http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/bay-chronicle/84488…

(3) http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201107/s3279923.htm

(4) http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/newseventsculture/OurAuckland/medi…

(5) http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/tools/population_clock.aspx

(6) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=1084…

(7) http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2011/02/03/monsanto-vs-australian-organic-farm…

(8) http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Fisheries+at+a+glance/default.htm

(9) http://www.mpi.govt.nz

(10) http://gmwatch.eu/latest-listing/1-news-items/12854-eu-commission-sued-x…

(11) http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2013/apr/04/monsanto-protecti…