John Ward and Jim Reiher, Green Party candidates in the upcoming local elections, vow to fight for the health of our community and make the City of Greater Dandenong a Genetically Modified (GM) Free Zone.

 

 

“There is a lot that local councils can do to protect their residents from the potential dangers from GM food,” say John Ward. “This is a serious health issue that local councils cannot afford to ignore.”

 

 

“As the scientific evidence of harm to experimental animal mounts, many independent scientists are challenging the food industry’s claim that GM foods are safe,” say John Ward. “We know very little about the long term impact of these foods. Greater Dandenong is a community defined by families with children. We need to fight together as a community to ensure the healthy future of our children.”

 

 

Essentially speaking, genetic technologies cut and paste DNA from one organism to another. Often, this cut and pasting would not happen naturally. For example, one experiment attempted to remove the anti-freezing gene from an Artic flounder and place it into tomatoes. The aim was to develop tomatoes that can grow in very cold climates, with no thought for the ethical or health implications of combining the genetics of a fish with those of a vegetable.

 

 

Jim Reiher points out that many local councils around Australia have already moved to protect their residents from GM foods. For example, the City of Greater Bendigo, East Gippsland and Bass Coast Shire have passed wide-ranging GM-free policies. “This issue is so important to the future of our children. I do not understand why Dandenong councillors have been so slow and silent,” say Jim Reiher.

 

 

When elected to local council, Green Party Candidates will fight to protect families from the potential dangers of GM foods by declaring the City of Greater Dandenong a Genetically Modified Free Zone.

 

“In so doing,” says John Ward, “the Green Party will help reduce the risk of potential food allergies, unanticipated toxicity, resistant bacteria, cancer, and nutrient deficiencies.

 

For more infomation contact John Ward on 0421 241 342

or Jim Reiher on 0425 752 358