[Pil-pc-oceania] URGENT GM online poll alive: correction; Vic lab MP's fight GM canola

[Deb Guildner]

Correction folks,

The price of NON-GM Canola went up $20 per tonne last Friday,
not GM Canola (as was erroneously posted in yesterday's email).

The SMH poll is still in progress, see link below.

http://www.smh.com.au/polls/national/form.html

Cheers
Deb

Farmonline is carrying three articles this am re GM.
Here's the most encouraging one:

GM crops: Vic Labor MPs fight to keep ban
By DAVID ROOD - Australia
Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Vic State Labor MPs have expressed "grave fears" that lifting the Vic 
Government's controversial ban on genetically modified (GM) crops would harm 
Victoria's environment, economy, and green image.
Newly elected MP, Martin Foley, has joined four caucus colleagues from 
across Labor's factions in calling for a continuation of the ban on GM 
canola crops.

But Premier John Brumby has been a supporter of GM technology and in a 
recent interview with The Age, flagged that the moratorium will be lifted.

The current Victorian moratorium is due to expire next February.

State Cabinet was briefed today by Sir Gustav Nossal, who chaired a 
scientific panel on the economic impact of removing the ban.

His panel's concludes there is no great health or environmental risks, with 
great economic benefits likely to be derived from lifting the ban.

But just two days after being sworn in as the member for Albert Park, 
replacing John Thwaites, Mr Foley wrote to Vic Agriculture Minister, Joe 
Helper, arguing that lifting the ban would harm Victoria's grain and dairy 
industries.

Mr Foley was chief-of-staff to former Agriculture Minister, Bob Cameron.

"I hold grave fears that the move towards lifting the current moratorium on 
the commercial release of GM canola - and possibly, by extension, other GM 
commercials - will disadvantage Victoria's relative position in regards to 
both its international export competitors and our status as a trading 
partner," he writes in his letter, sent to the panel.

The Age has revealed that Mr Brumby is facing a backlash from his Labor 
caucus over the GM issue, with one MP attacking the Premier's "arrogance" 
and "crash-through style".

In a display of dissent last week, a special meeting of caucus, attended by 
about half of Labor's 74 MPs, criticised the decision making process and put 
concerns directly to Mr Brumby about the health, environmental and economic 
impacts of lifting the ban.

Labor MPs with seats in regional areas and those with a large number of 
Greens supporters have also expressed concern at the political impact of 
lifting the ban.

The other MPs to make submissions to the review were Tammy Lobato, Christine 
Campbell, Carlo Carli and Jenny Mikakos.

In his submission, Mr Carli proposed that the moratorium be extended for at 
least four years.

"The risks of lifting the moratorium are greater than the risks associated 
with keeping it," he said.

Upper house MP, Ms Mikakos argued that the introduction of GM crops posed a 
major threat to Australia's reputation as a producer of clean and green 
agricultural products.

Yesterday, Mr Brumby said the Government had received the report from Sir 
Gustav, and that it would be considered by cabinet, with a decision to be 
made on the moratorium before Christmas.

Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan said GM crops would advance 
Australia's position in world markets, and there was no longer the need for 
the moratorium.

"There is simply no basis to the assertion that GM crops will do damage to 
the state's clean, green image," he said.

Removing the ban has the support of the Liberal and National parties.

SOURCE: The Age, Melbourne, a Fairfax Media publication.






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Deb Guildner" <bocor at bigbutton.com.au>
To: "permacultue discussion list" 
<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 6:14 PM
Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] URGENT GM online poll (Sydney Morning Herald)


> Please take a few seconds to vote against GM crops in this online poll.
> The media has been running hot with items about GM, as NSW takes a step
> towards lifting the anti GM crops moratorium.
> The price of GM canola went up $20 per tonne last Friday, so this move 
> makes
> little sense.
>
> Visiting US author and executive director of the Institute for Responsible
> Technology, Jeffrey Smith, said in Adelaide two weeks ago that
> "GM crops yields are lower, and there is a 38% greater use of herbicides".
> He anticipates that in 3 years the US will be aware that GM has been a
> mistake.
>
> Where are the benefits for anyone other than Monsanto shareholders?
>
> Q> Why would a chemical company promote seeds that reduce its profits?
> A> They don't!!
>
> Thanks for voting in the Sydney Morning Herald poll (link below),
>
> Cheers
> Deb
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Gene Ethics
> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:31 PM
> Subject: Urgent: GM poll in Sydney Morning Herald
>
>
>
> Reader Poll
>
>
> Genetically modified crops
>
> For or against?
>
>
>        http://www.smh.com.au/polls/national/form.html
>
>
>
>
> News Media Release - November 27, 2007
> Premiers sow the seeds of destruction
>
> Premiers John Brumby and Morris Iemma are trashing Australia's GM-free
> advantage, by allowing the state's GM canola bans to expire. Their 
> renegade
> action will commit the whole nation to GM contamination.
>
> "The premiers' arrogance over Genetically Manipulated (GM) crops and foods
> ignores the majority support for GM-free among farmers, shoppers, the food
> industry and state governments," says Gene Ethics Director Bob Phelps.
>
> "Thousands of citizens supported GM-free in their submissions to the state
> inquiries but the reports haven't even been released. With the bans not
> expiring until February next year there is plenty of time for further 
> debate
> on the inquiry reports.
>
> "Hundreds of large and small businesses also support Australia's GM-free
> status. Goodman Fielder, Tatiara Meats and Coles Supermarket are among 
> those
> who support GM-free.
>
> "Ending the GM bans is a national, permanent and irreversible decision as 
> GM
> canola pollen and seed will cross borders. The new ALP federal government
> should urgently convene the Gene Technology Ministerial Council (GTMC) 
> that
> sets GM policy for the nation - the proper forum for deciding these GM
> issues. The GTMC should seek a national consensus before any ban is 
> lifted.
>
> "The WA, Tasmanian, SA and ACT governments agree with most Australians, 
> that
> the market, environment and health impacts are not worth the promised
> benefits.
>
> "Both the NSW and Victorian governments say they support a national 
> uniform
> decision but are now GM rebels for Bayer and Monsanto. No governments 
> should
> go it alone on GM.
>
> "There are also many outstanding threshold issues that must be resolved
> before any commercial release is allowed.
>
> "Gene Ethics will continue the public campaign to extend the ban on GM 
> food
> crops until February 29, 2013, at least," Mr Phelps concludes.
>
> More comment:
> Bob Phelps Gene Ethics 0408 195 099; Scott Kinnear Biological Farmers of
> Australia 0419 881 729; Louise Sales Greenpeace 0438 679 263
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
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