Pro-GM group rallies troops for final effort

By PAULA OLIVER

Key politicians and top Beehive staff will be the targets of a last-minute lobbying campaign from a worried pro-genetic modification community.

In an e-mail obtained by the Herald, the pro-GM group Life Sciences Network this week urged its members to promote the benefits of GM to a carefully selected list of MPs.

Admitting that the Green Party had "successfully sidelined" the report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, the group in its call-to-arms offers a glimpse of its growing concern that the Government will decide this month to turn its back on GM field trials.

A cabinet meeting on October 29 is expected to be the setting for the Government's signing off its decision on the GM debate.

It is now considering the report of the royal commission, which recommended a "proceed with caution" approach.

Since the release of the report, intense lobbying from the Green movement has attracted huge attention.

Public marches, events like organic dinners and the "world's biggest GM-free sandwich" have hogged the spotlight.

The Green Party and the Alliance have already pinned their colours to a moratorium - putting immense pressure on their coalition partner, Labour, to do the same.

Sensing that the debate is slipping from its grasp, the pro-GM team now plans to push the consequences of New Zealand's turning its back on GM, particularly on business and the economy.

Topping the list of campaign targets is Prime Minister Helen Clark. Her senior staff members Heather Simpson and Mike Munro are also targets.

Commerce Minister Paul Swain, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and several Opposition MPs are also on the list, as well as Labour Party president Mike Williams.

The pro-GM group plans to seek meetings with them and to push key economic messages.

The network's executive director, Francis Wevers, said yesterday that despite the Green Party's being in a strong position, all was not lost.

But it had to be remembered that the Green Party would at least be matching the group's lobby campaign.

"To be honest, we didn't expect the royal commission report to be sidelined in the way it has been," Mr Wevers said.

"We knew there would need to be a political presentation after it was released, but we didn't expect the debate to go back to ground zero. But we can't ignore that everything says the world economy is in trouble.

"What we are saying is that the last thing they [the Government] need to do is cut down their options."



Meanwhile, members of an anti-GM hikoi [march] that began at Cape Reinga on Monday will join protesters at the Auckland Town Hall today.

Events in main centres around the country will call for a GM-free New Zealand.

The national day of action includes a midday ceremony at the town hall, where banners signed by thousands of people will be wrapped around the building.

A spokesman for the Auckland GE-Free Coalition, Jon Carapiet, says it wants a stop to what it says is soil and environmental contamination by GM field trials.

The day of action is a chance for people to show their support for a GM-free New Zealand.

Mr Carapiet says independent scientists are warning that GM field trials are contaminating New Zealand soils and the environment.

"The market for GE is collapsing," he says.

"The most up-to-date economic reports show that New Zealand business and our national interest are best served by going GE-free."

nzherald.co.nz/ge

Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification

GE lessons from Britain

GE links

GE glossary