Pro tammy letter in todays age 6/12/07
Give us the facts
I WOULD like to publicly thank Tammy Lobato for her stance on GM crops. It takes a lot of strength to stand up to people in your own party, and as a farmer on the South Australian/Victorian border, I commend her. We have followed this debate for a number of years and we still have not seen any yields, costings or prices to compare GM with conventional farming. Where are the facts and figures?
Last week I spoke to farming friends in Canada who told me that their canola prices were $400 per tonne.
Interesting that our canola prices at the moment are about $600 per tonne. Farmers in Australia are having enough problems without the Government adding to them. We would like to keep our $200 per tonne premium, thank you.
Growing GM-free is our marketing difference with the rest of the world. As any good marketer will tell you, to compete in the marketplace you need a point of difference. If we follow the US and Canada and grow GM, will the Government also subsidise farmers in Australia as they do over there?
Wake up Australia, consumers still want GM-free food. Where will they get it if we give in to the multinationals that are pushing their products?
Jo and James Edwards, Wolseley, SA
As night follows day
IT APPEARS that pro-GM commentator David Tribe (Letters, 5/12) has confirmed what anti-GM groups have said all along, that GM contamination is inevitable.
When StarLink GM corn seed was approved for planting, the corn was supposed to be limited to animal feed out of fear that it might cause severe allergic reactions. In a stunning own-goal for the biotech industry, Aventis paid out $500 million dollars to food producers and grain handlers to reimburse them for losses after contamination was reported by consumers.
If such a robust regime can't even ensure separation of animal food from human food, what confidence can we possibly have that the system can ensure separation of non-GM and GM canola within the human food chain in Australia? GM contamination of our food is as assured as night follows day.
Greg Revell, North Warrandyte
Putin it on
WHAT do Zimbabwe and Russia have in common? Political leaders, Robert Mugabe and Vladimir Putin, who happily embrace the concept of a "one party" democracy. Spare me and the citizens of those countries from the shenanigans of megalomaniacs.
Michael J. Gamble, Belmont
Bah, humbug
NOW that we have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, and John Brumby is giving tips on more efficient use of air-conditioners, suggesting we are serious about the environment and global warming, will we see an end to the unnecessary and wasteful "tradition" of whole streets trying to outdo each other in lighting every part of their properties? Surely there are enough public Christmas displays with which to delight the children.
Luke Herring, Chadstone
Interesting that our canola prices at the moment are about $600 per tonne. Farmers in Australia are having enough problems without the Government adding to them. We would like to keep our $200 per tonne premium, thank you.
Growing GM-free is our marketing difference with the rest of the world. As any good marketer will tell you, to compete in the marketplace you need a point of difference. If we follow the US and Canada and grow GM, will the Government also subsidise farmers in Australia as they do over there?
Wake up Australia, consumers still want GM-free food. Where will they get it if we give in to the multinationals that are pushing their products?
Jo and James Edwards, Wolseley, SA
As night follows day
IT APPEARS that pro-GM commentator David Tribe (Letters, 5/12) has confirmed what anti-GM groups have said all along, that GM contamination is inevitable.
When StarLink GM corn seed was approved for planting, the corn was supposed to be limited to animal feed out of fear that it might cause severe allergic reactions. In a stunning own-goal for the biotech industry, Aventis paid out $500 million dollars to food producers and grain handlers to reimburse them for losses after contamination was reported by consumers.
If such a robust regime can't even ensure separation of animal food from human food, what confidence can we possibly have that the system can ensure separation of non-GM and GM canola within the human food chain in Australia? GM contamination of our food is as assured as night follows day.
Greg Revell, North Warrandyte