time for your council to be gm free?

Do you want your council to be GM-free?

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Me and Bob Phelps, Director, GeneEthics Network at a recent forum on GM Canola in Montrose

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GeneEthics are holding a workshop on GM-free Zone Councils. I will be speaking at the workshop to provide advice to people who want their municipalities to be GM free.

Free organic lunch and teas
$s to help you travel if you are far away

When: Saturday May 17, 10am - 4.30pm
Where: 60 Leicester Street, Carlton 3053
Melway ref: Map 2B D10

** RSVP essential: call 1300 133 868 or email info@geneethics.org **

Please attend this free workshop, to help you organise your local GM-free council and learn from the successes of others.

Your strong support is needed to encourage your council to adopt the GM-free policies that Gene Ethics advocates in letters and petitions. Councils will only listen and act if your voices - local ratepayers and residents - are behind GM-free policies.

Already many councils have responded to local GM-free Zone activities, but even these councils can do more! For instance, the Bass Coast, Hepburn and Macedon Shires and the Maribyrnong, Greater Bendigo, Ballarat, Moreland and Yarra City Councils are all reviewing their GM-free status.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges has asked State and Federal Ministers to extend the GM bans and label all GM foods as well as ask the Premier to declare our municipality a GM free zone. see posting Tuesday, February 26, 2008 for wording of council's resolution

Come to the GM-free workshop and find out how to get GM-free activities really moving in your area. Volunteer to be your local contact. Gene Ethics can link you with others in your area who share your concern.

Call 1300 133 868 or email info@geneethics.org to join the local GM-free Zone campaign and to attend this exciting workshop!

am: gm - pm:logging

Thursday 28th February

The GM Free rally outside parliament house.

I attended the GM rally at the steps of Parliament House, many concerned citizens where there lamenting Premier Brumby's decision to lift the moratorium on GM Canola.

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Bob Phelps from GeneEthics and Greg Barber, Greens MLC both address the rally.

The Rally was well attended by members of the upper and lower house, the public, concerned advocacy groups, chefs, the slow food group, organic farmers, the list goes on and on.

I had the great pleasure of speaking at the rally. I urged the people there to talk to their local councillors about becoming GM free municipalities. It is not too late to turn this around.

On the 26th February, I moved a motion (which was supported unanimously) to ask Premier Brumby to make the Shire of Yarra Ranges GM Free, lets hope he fulfills our request.

The symbolic release of GM canola pollen into our environment, we all know that pollen knows no bounds, once it's out its everywhere.

That night I attended a public meeting in Warburton to discuss the implications of logging in Melbourne's water catchments. The meeting was very well attended with around 200 people packing the memorial hall. The Central Highlands Alliance and Wilderness Society talked the science, I spoke of the political imperative.

Me, Sarah Rees (The Central Highlands Alliance) and Luke Chamberlain (The Wilderness Society).

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Warburton's past was as a timber town, but that industry has been well and truly eroded by the woodchipping industry, local mills do not get work pulping our native forests.

It was a very positive meeting with locals, environmentalists and loggers more understanding of the issues around logging in water catchments. The community now understands that this an issue is about Melbourne's water supply into the future.

we want to be GM free

In a response to the lifting of the GM Canola Moratorium this week (29th Feb) I proposed the following motion, I'm pleased to say it was supported unanimously by Yarra Ranges councillors, (Cr K Smith absent).

Resolved on the motion of Crs Dunn and Keane

That Council write to:

1. The Premier to ask the State Government to:

(a) Extend the ban on commercial GM canola for at least another five years.
(b) Use its powers to create GM and GM-free areas and to declare our municipality a GM-free Zone (a policy principle made under Section 21 of the Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000 gives all states these powers).
(c) Establish a public on-line register (including maps) showing all GM release sites – both experimental and commercial – so those who want to stay GM-free can avoid those sites.

2. The Commonwealth and State Health and Agriculture Ministers, advocating that:

(a) No government allow its GM crop ban to expire without all states agreeing.
(b) All foods made using GM technology and processes are to become fully labelled.
(c) Strict liability laws are enacted to hold GM companies fully responsible for GM contamination.
(d) All animal feed be fully labelled as to its GM or GM-free status so that farmers can exercise their choice to remain GM free.

Let's hope the Premier takes our request seriously and declares Yarra Ranges a GM Free zone.

brumby's backward gm decision

YARRA RANGES condemns government gm decision - below is a media release issued 28/11/07 in response to Premier Brumby's decision to lift the moratorium on GM Canola.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges has condemned the state government’s decision to lift a ban on the growing of genetically modified canola, with deputy mayor Samantha Dunn (that's me) calling on the new federal government to convene a meeting of the Gene Technology Ministerial Council to consider the matter nationally.

Cr Dunn criticised the decision, during a council meeting last night (27/11/07), saying it would open the flood gates for other genetically modified crops to be grown in the state, destroying Victoria’s clean and green image.

“This is the most retrograde decision I've seen from the Brumby government to date,” Cr Dunn said. “The assertion from the Premier that the lifting of the moratorium is of economic benefit to Victoria is misguided. The majority of farmers, consumers and the food industry do not support genetically modified crops being grown in Australia; yet the Premier has chosen to disregard this.

“Ending the GM bans is a national, permanent and irreversible decision as GM pollen knows no borders. It threatens the entire organic farming industry in Australia and weakens our market position as a clean and green primary producer.”

In pushing for federal government intervention, Cr Dunn also criticised the lack of transparency around the decision.

“The submissions to Sir Gustav Nossal's review are not publicly available. This is poor process and fails the test of open and transparent government,” she said.

Cr Dunn said the council and the Yarra Ranges community had been vocal in saying not to GMO’s. Just last year the council collected more than 1000 signatures on a petition calling for a ban on a trial to grow a genetically modified blue rose in the shire.

The council adopted a policy in February 2001 opposing the introduction of GM crops into the shire. “Yarra Ranges’ agricultural produce is regarded as some of the finest in the world. This decision threatens our agricultural and horticultural producers and the region’s precious biodiversity.”

Cr Dunn said horticultural production in the shire was worth an estimated $710 million per annum with the nursery and cut flower sectors worth about $390 million and the orchard and berry fruit industries about $110 million (source Centre for eBusiness and Communications Swinburne University).

“The council’s objection to GMOs is not just based on philosophical concerns; we have major concerns on scientific grounds and the potential impact on our farmers and horticultural industries.

“Not enough is known about the potential effects of genetically modified crops on insect life including native and exotic pollinating insects, its potential for recombinant viruses and the level of gene flow between other crops,” Cr Dunn said.

WHAT’S AT STAKE Some of the state’s most significant biodiversity with important flora and fauna. A thriving agricultural sector renowned for its premium quality food and produce and a major employer of the region’s people.

Yarra Ranges Agricultural Sector Stats
The agricultural sector employs about 4000 people on a permanent basis with a further 6000 seasonal employees. It is a major generator of jobs and money in the local, state and national economies.
Nursery sector 93 businesses generating a Gross Value of Production of $290M per annum (“Farming Real Estate” Centre for eBusiness and Communications Swinburne University)
Cut Flower sector 73 businesses generating GVP of $100M per annum
Orchard Fruit Industry 50 businesses generating GVP of $50M per annum (industry sources)
Berry Fruit Industry 93 businesses $60M per annum (industry sources)
Wine grapes 113 businesses generating approximately $150 to $200million per annum
Vegetable Growers 47 businesses $10M per annum

Sources: Centre for eBusiness and Communications Swinburne University 2000 and ABS Shire of Yarra Ranges Economic Development Profile 2005.

genetic manipulation....

Samantha says - "with an issue as critical as this it is important that you vote 1 Greens for the Senate to hold the balance of power".


Genetic Manipulation: a nation in conflict - from Bob Phelps at GeneEthics

The political parties are polarised on Genetically Manipulated (GM) crops and foods according to Gene Ethic's scorecard of party policies. This reflects the contest between the GM giants and citizens that rages in the wider community.

Voters should heed this divide when voting."The Greens topped the poll, with proactive plans to deal with GM's environment, health and economic risks on global, national and state levels," says Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps.

"Both The Greens and Democrats are responsive to the views of most farmers, food processors and shoppers, reflected in opinion poll results." For instance, these parties back full labelling of GM foods which has always had over 90% support from Australians.

"But under rules set by the Howard government, with ALP agreement, the law exempts most GM foods from any labeling."

In stark contrast to the Green and Democrats, the Coalition has sought to rule out the GM-free future that most Australians want, for the past 11 years."

The Coalition remains firmly committed to promoting the spread of GM crops and foods around the world and in Australia."This only serves the interests of foreign governments and companies."

But hundreds of Australian businesses have said they want the safety, simplicity and certainty of GM-free. Mr Phelps says: "The biggest disappointment with our survey was Labor's repeated refusal to answer our questions, leaving voters in the dark on their intentions for GM."

Despite the ALP's promise to announce a GM policy, Kevin Rudd was silent on GM when he launched their campaign ." And there are no good signs that the ALP would adopt progressive policies if it wins government on the 24th.

"Statements by Shadow Agriculture Minister Kerry O'Brien show the ALP would not even try to lead state governments toward a consensus on extending their GM food crop bans.Without national leadership and a uniform policy approach, the ALP's claim to be an honest broker on GM issues is meaningless."

The products of Genetic Manipulation technologies are dangerous to public health and the environment."Gene Ethics hopes that voters will consider our GM versus GM-free future, along with other key issues, when casting their votes this weekend," Mr Phelps concludes.