News: South Pacific Rim

» 2009

March 2, 2010

Farmers, exporters warn GM animals could damage 'brand New Zealand'
Organic farmers fear "brand New Zealand" will be damaged if plans proceed to expand the range of genetically modified animals. Farmers and exporters told a panel deciding whether to allow Agresearch to put human genes into goats, sheep and cows that overseas customers might stop buying New Zealand products if there were further trials.
Read article in the New Zealand Herald

February 27, 2010

The other drug war - the politics of big business
Big Pharma spends millions every year buying influence in Canberra. Adele Ferguson and Eric Johnston investigate the ruthless tactics, the money and the spindoctors behind the scenes.
Read article in the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

February 5, 2010

Australians “uncomfortable” with GM food
Australians remain uneasy about eating genetically modified (GM) foods, according to research from Swinburne University. The University’s fifth National Science and Technology Monitor found most people well informed about GM but still very mistrustful of the institutions that commercialise GM foods. “A major target of public mistrust is Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company that owns patents on over 90% of all commercial GM soy, corn, canola and cotton crops that are grown,” Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps asserted.
Read article on the Australian Food News website (Australia)

January 9, 2010

Chemical in plastic bottles 'poisoning us'
A leading toxicology scientist believes tighter regulations are needed to prevent chemicals leaking into the human body from common plastic drink bottles and packaging. University of Canterbury professor of toxicology Professor Ian Shaw says it is crucially important to decrease the amount of the chemical BPA from New Zealanders' diets. BPA, which leaches from food and drink containers into the body, has consistently been found in overseas tests in blood, urine and even the amniotic fluid protecting a foetus. Such chemicals are linked to health problems that can include reduced sperm count in men, early puberty in girls and increased incidence of breast and testicular cancers - and countries such as the US, the UK and Canada have become alert to potential risks.
Read article in the New Zealand Herald