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Four Activists Arrested
In Blockade of GE- Feed Processing plant
Auckland, New Zealand, December 21, 2000 – Today police
arrested four Greenpeace activists who stopped the production
and distribution of genetically engineered (GE) animal feed
by Tegel Foods Limited, the country's largest supplier of
chicken feed.
Eighteen activists, ten of whom were dressed as chickens,
entered Tegel’s feedmill in Takanini, South Auckland
at 6.30am this morning.
Two ‘chickens’
chained themselves to a clamped trailer carrying a billboard
that blocked the entrance to the factory. The clamped trailer
caused considerable delay in the operations of the Tegel feedmill.
The billboard read, “Tegel don’t be chicken, say
no to GE”. Two other activists locked onto equipment
to disrupt the production of the animal feed and they were
also arrested.
The activists
involved in the protest included international crew members
from the Greenpeace flagship, Rainbow Warrior II, which arrived
in Auckland on Dec 20.
The action
today followed Greenpeace’s discovery that Tegel uses
GE contaminated soya meal in its animal feed.
Greenpeace
condemned Tegel for using GE soya meal in animal feed and
met with Tegel officials on site and asked them to source
GE-free soya meal.
“Tegel
can easily follow the commitments that have been made around
Europe and agree to using only GE free soy in animal feed”,
said Sarah Duthie, Greenpeace Campaigner. GE free soy is already
available from Brazil, a country that bans the growing of
GE crops. “Greenpeace is calling on Tegel to make a commitment
today to source GE-free soy,” said Duthie.
When the
activists entered the mill they labelled animal feed bags
with ‘Genetic Experiment, Warning: Contains Genetically
Engineered Soy’. Climbers hung a banner off a mill silo
reading ‘Tegel Chicken Feed Not Wanted.’
“Tegel
Foods Limited uses genetically engineered soya meal grown
in the United States. The soya meal is used in animal feed
which is supplied to Tegel poultry farmers,” said Duthie.
“Consumers in New Zealand have expressed their concern
about GE animal feed and it is time Tegel listened to them.(1)
Independent tests on the imported soy confirm it is contaminated
with Monsanto’s Round- up ready GE soy.(2)
“Greenpeace
opposes the irreversible release of genetically engineered
organisms into the environment. As long as companies like
Tegel continue to use GE ingredients in their animal feed
the environment is exposed to the risks associated with GE
organisms,” said Duthie.
FOOTNOTES:
1 A TV3/CM
Research Opinion Poll recenlty asked 1000 New Zealanders,
“In New Zealand poultry and pigs are being fed soy meal
imported from the United States, some of which is genetically
modified. Are you concerned or unconcered that New Zealand
poultry and pigs are being fed genetically modified foods?
– 69% of the total were concerned, of which 46% were
very concerned and 23% were somewhat concerned.
2 Samples
of the soya meal were sent for testing to Hong Kong DNA Chips
Limited in October, November and December 2000. Results revealed
the presence of Roundup Ready Soyba produced by multinational
Monsanto. Photocopies of results can be obtained by phoning
025 790 817 in New Zealand.
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