No faith in Redman
I BELIEVE Mr Redman protests too much (AMR Mail Wednesday, March 7) to those of us who do not want to eat genetically modified foods or have these crops grown in our state. It’s the same old story – as Minister for Agriculture he says he is responsible for giving “a large number of WA farmers, predominantly in broad acre agricultural areas” a choice. What about the rest of the farming community and 80 per cent of consumers who do not want these crops to be grown in our valued agricultural areas?
Mr Redman as Minister for Agriculture has set up WA as the first in the world to grow genetically modified wheat. Trials are already underway in Merredin and Corrigin. What kind of a reputation will our state have now?
Out with the clean and green and in with GE, contamination and herbicide and pesticide doused products.
Office of Gene Technology does not do any independent testing and only accepts the test results done by Monsanto. Well, we know about that company and its record over the years of diabolical treatment of farmers and the public. See www.gmwatch.org/gm-firms/10595-monsanto-a-history.
It seems he also wants to give Monsanto a choice, to participate in introducing more genetically modified products to our food chains and agricultural area. With no independent studies being carried out, no animal feeding studies or investigations into the effects of so much Round Up being poured on our soils there is much to be concerned about.
Tracy Skippings, Margaret River
GM facts debatable
IN his letter (Mail, March 7) Minister Redman claims to provide the facts on Genetically Modified crops in order to justify their introduction into WA.
One fact he did not give was any peer reviewed studies showing GM food to be safe. Why not?
When the British government funded research in 1995 to set up a protocol for GM foods the research convincingly showed GM food to be unsafe. Instead of doing further research as one would have expected the scientist was sacked.
Further studies revealed similar alarming results yet the only response from the GM proponents is to quote the Office of Gene Technology and FSANZ, both departments of governments which openly support GM. They find in favour of every GM crop which Monsanto has sought to introduce into Australia – based on Monsanto’s data.
Another fact not given by Mr Redman was the number of farmers petitioning for GM crops to be introduced.
One thousand people marched, and 26,000 people signed a petition, opposing lifting the ban on GM crops. A large number of wheatbelt shires declared themselves GM free. How many farmers and consumers petitioned the government to lift the moratorium on GM crops?
Another fact Mr Redman does not reveal is who profits the most from allowing Monsanto to buy into our Department of Agriculture?
Mr Redman does not mention that despite more than a decade of hype, the biotechnology industry has not introduced a single GM crop with increased yield, enhanced nutrition, drought-tolerance or salt-tolerance. What is evident with all GM crops is that biotech corporations are able to piggyback on conventional improvements in seed research, insert their genes, then claim a vastly improved seed which they patent.
Doug Gurian-Sherman, author of a 2009 study for the Union of Concerned Scientists, concluded “Even on a shoestring, conventional breeding outperforms genetic engineering.”
So Mr Redman has parachuted Monsanto into a ringside seat in our Agriculture Department. Monsanto will be in the enviable position of staking a claim on any superior seed developments, then inserting their genes, while claiming to have designed seeds suited to the WA environment.
Mr Redman stated categorically that GM and non GM crops could coexist. This has been proven totally incorrect to the point that the Minister is suggesting non-GM growers should lower their standards to accommodate this contamination. Mr Redman, which facts are we to believe?
Sally Wylie, Margaret River
Thanks for film help
AS a producer of TV commercials - and a South West resident - I actively promote the Capes region to eastern states and international production companies and was recently successful in having Sydney production company, Prodigy Films, bring a major production to Margaret River and Dunsborough.
The production was for Mt Franklin Water, which is owned by Coke, and is a national campaign which features Jennifer Hawkins. The job involved a week of pre-production with the Sydney crew of 20 based in the region, followed by two days of filming with an additional 20 crew members from Perth.
Seven locals were also hired to help with general production and art department roles. One exceptionally successful day of filming was carried out at Boranup Forest and a good part of the reason for that success was due to the assistance from local DEC staff.
Andrew Sandri at the Kirup office and ranger Peter Simmonds were amazing in the level of professionalism, guidance and help they offered along the way. I am truly grateful to them.
I feel very proud to have been able to promote an area I love so much and have such incredible support along the way. Thank you to you both.
Shelley Guy, Dunsborough
Trees mourned
I’VE tried to hold back on writing in about issues on the Woolies site and how devastating it is to see now the trees are gone, the only shade at times when going to the post office, specially with the dog in the car, man’s best friend.
Now I see they have cut the beautiful gums which were affecting nobody or any danger to humans. The trees I refer to were on Wallcliffe Rd before the skatepark. We know that the doctor’s surgery carpark can be full, so cars park on the verge out the front, which is a hazard on its own. So I chose, and many others, to park under these magnificent shady trees with my dog, and so too doctors.
This shire is so intent on destroying this town, cutting and sometimes killing beautiful native trees and they are so badly manicured. We need to know what is the budget and what’s spent on these tree loppers as they’re going all day, every day. It must run into hundreds of thousands. Maybe cleaning up our walkways and drains and spending more in areas in need would be handy. I wonder if our CEO will ever shed a tear when his kids ask him where the history and landscape have gone. Wake up now before – sorry, it’s already too late.
Terry McGill, Margaret River