GENETIC MODIFICATION DISASTER
The New Zealand Royal Commission on Genetic Modification recommendations to proceed cautiously is just about the worst outcome we could have expected and it must not be allowed to become government policy. This decision is extremely short sighted and if put into practice will almost definitely cause irreversible damage to our environment and future wealth creation potential. There has never been a more serious threat to our environment, we cannot afford to let this happen.There are many countries practicing Genetic Modification, some of which are already suffering irreversible negative effects why should we follow them down this path. I can not see any possible long-term advantage for New Zealand in allowing GE. We don't need it, we can become a wealthier nation without it. Let other countries that already endorse GE make the mistakes that we can learn from without destroying our environment. Lets face it , it is impossible for anybody to know what the results of release of GE species will have on our natural environment and if negative it is doubtful that its effects could ever be reversed. Life is to precious to be meddled with just for the sake of money.
It is obvious with the huge growth worldwide in the demand for organic produce that New Zealand's future does not lie with Genetically Modified products. If New Zealand's total output of foodstuffs were organically based we would become an extremely wealthy nation with full employment while enhancing our natural environment.
With our relatively ecologically healthy environment and geographic isolation New Zealand should be concentrating on building gene banks to stock pile genetically pure life forms as these will produce far more sustainable wealth than any GE product. We have the potential to become a new age Noah's Ark.
We surely should have learned from our past mistakes with introduced species. What scientist would now advocate the introduction of the possum, gorse, blackberry, rabbit, ferret, stoat, etc, I doubt if you could find one? And these were natural species that formed in a natural world not created in a test tube. We do not need GE here, we have far more important untapped wealth creating environmentally friendly opportunities that should be being investigated and developed which will benefit all people.