Friday 13 April 2012

GE research trees destroyed

Another laudable act people who are completely fed up with the ERMA process which allows these trails to go ahead in the face of overwhelming opposition.

GE research trees destroyed
An anti-GE group is denying involvement in the destruction of genetically engineered pine trees at a research site in Rotorua.


13 April, 2012

Police are investigating the attack over Easter weekend which cut or pulled out 375 radiata pines at Scion's forestry research institute.

The vandals made it through two fences and tunnelled under a third to reach the plants.

Scion chief executive Dr Warren Parker told Radio New Zealand the "determined attack" was a deliberate attempt to stop trials into herbicide resistance and growing denser wood.

Those behind the vandalism had destroyed years of taxpayer-funded work and losing the trees would cost Scion at least $400,000.

"Here we were, undertaking a legal activity, it had been through extensive public consultation, then we have an outright act of vandalism that destroys the work."

Dr Parker would not say who he believed was behind it.

"We know that there are a number of groups that have been vocally opposed to the work," he said.

"This is democracy, people have avenues to make protests, but when you step over the line and deliberately vandalise and destroy property, disrupt people's lifetime of work, I don't think that's a fair go."

It was the second time GE-trees had been attacked at the site, and security had been boosted since a 2008 incident when similar damage was done.

GE-Free New Zealand president Claire Bleakley said the incident was not an act of vandalism, but rather Scion's research was "an act of ridiculousness".
She said she had "absolutely no idea" who was behind the attack and doubted it was anyone linked to her organisation.

Ms Bleakley believed the attack was carried about by someone disenfranchised by the Environmental Risk Management Authority process, who was angry that GE trees had been planted despite public opposition.

Scion is likely to replace the trees.



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