I applaud Dr Ian McLean's Green Scene column in The Weekend Sun last week (February 8) on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). He accurately points out the impossibility of containing GMOs once they are released into our environment and the considerable liability risks of such release. Given the considerable uncertainty and risks of GE technology, last week's report of the Northland & Auckland Intercouncil Working Party produced valuable advice to all councils: not only do they have jurisdiction over such activities but councils were urged to prudently protect themselves with precautionary policy against liability. They also have a duty to protect farmers, their local economies and ecosystems from the considerable risks of GMO release.

Until the giant biotech companies promoting and profiting from GE accept liability for potentially expensive catastrophes from GMO release into the environment then it is entirely appropriate for territorial councils to formulate sensible protective policies if not ban GMO release entirely.

Scion is involved in risky taxpayer-funded GE experiments at Rotorua. Scion opposed a BOP Regional Council (BOP RC) move to insert a sensible precautionary clause in its draft Regional Policy Statement. But in an outrageous, expensive and anti-democratic move, Scion is now using more of our taxpayers' money to take our BOPRC to the Environment Court over the inclusion of a precautionary clause in their Proposed BOP Regional Policy Statement.

There is a disconnect between the actions of Scion opposing our precautionary policy on GE and taking BOPRC to the Environment Court on one hand, and the published comments of Scion's CEO, Dr. Warren Parker, claiming to support a precautionary approach to GMOs, on the other! Coincidentally, a public meeting about GE will be held this Sunday 17 at the Wesley Centre at 7:30pm. It includes the screening of a documentary thriller on GE followed by discussion with GE Free NZ speaker Zelka Grammer (see What's On column in this issue for further details).

Dr Ron Lopert, Welcome Bay