GE-FREE
NAMBUCCA CAMPAIGN
Strategies & Successes
NVCA’S GE-FREE NAMBUCCA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
At the NVCA Annual General Meeting in
February 2006, campaign co-ordinator, Kelly Tudhope, launched NVCA’s GE-Free
Campaign. The launch focused on the scope of the campaign and the strategies to
be adopted.
It was decided our main objective was to make Nambucca Shire GE-Free!
Part of becoming GE-Free means lobbying council for GE Policies to be adopted.
The other side of the GE-Free Campaign coin
is to support organics and biodynamics.
By polishing both sides of the coin we will hopefully seed the information
needed to create a successful and ecologically sustainable alternative
agricultural sector in the Nambucca Valley.
Public education is the key to a successful campaign. Community workshops, forums and educational sessions in schools will help to inform the public about the potentially serious and irreversible harms of genetic engineering and the benefits of organics and biodynamics.
We have great ideas for awareness raising as well as fund raising, including True Food Fairs, where local organic and biodynamic produce will be available for purchase, a True Food Dinner serving delicious locally grown organic food, Film Nights, a GE-Inspired Art Exhibition and an Organic Music Festival.
THE FIRST SMALL STEP . . .
At the first council meeting after the GE-Free Nambucca Campaign launch, Paula Flack (Nambucca Council councillor) was successful in getting a motion through council to the effect that from now on any notifications or correspondence from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator will be brought to council's attention.
This should avoid a repeat of a previous event where council was notified of, and given the chance to comment on, Monsanto’s application for the unrestricted commercial release of 2 strains of GE cotton south of latitude 22° (Nambucca is latitude 31°). Councillors were not informed so council did not make a submission, and Monsanto has recently been granted a licence which allows for the cotton to be grown, the seeds to be used for stock feed and, potentially for the lint to be used in human food!
The campaign is sure to be worthwhile, challenging and exciting. If you would like to join our committed team and help realise a GE-Free Nambucca Shire, email gefreenambucca@yahoo.com.au