The Sunday Tasmanian http://www.news.com.au/headlines/ Tassie to debate risks of genetic engineering By LIBBY SUTHERLAND 23may99 WIDESPREAD debate on the controversial issue of genetic engineering is set to erupt in Tasmania. In an effort to enlighten the State's population on the rapidly growing science, its applications and implications, the Tasmanian Environment Centre will hold a forum in Hobart on June 5. Dubbed "Genetic Engineering - Opening the Debate", the forum at The Friends' School Meeting House will be followed by two scientific symposiums this year organised by the Royal Society in conjunction with the CSIRO and the University of Tasmania. Environment centre co-ordinator Margaret Steadman said the forum - coinciding with World Environment Day and supported by the local United Nations Association - was needed to promote knowledge and information instead of hysteria. "There is a lot of diffuse anxiety about genetic engineering and it needs to be aired," she said. "I think it is happening to a much larger degree than we are aware. "There has been very little discussion about it in Tasmania. "There are some really big questions to be asked. We need evidence and facts and knowledge. We should be making decisions based on knowledge." Geneticist and CSIRO researcher Stan Robert agreed. "I think that this term 'genetic engineering' is very broad," he said. "There is not one type of risk that will apply to everything. "A lot of the health risks and environmental risks have been blown out of proportion. "It is unfortunate the debate is so polarised. A balanced type of debate is needed." Guest speaker at the Hobart forum will be Bob Phelps, director of the Melbourne-based GeneEthics Network and perhaps the nation's most vocal opponent of "mutant food". This month Mr Phelps accused the Australia New Zealand Food Authority, health ministers and the food industry of betraying public trust on the issue of genetically modified food. New laws that took effect on May 13 require companies to seek safety assessments for GM foods and label those which are substantially different from their traditional counterparts. But companies were so slow to lodge assessments that Australian and New Zealand health ministers decided to permit foods with modified ingredients to remain on supermarket shelves while tests were conducted, provided applications were lodged by April 30. Mr Phelps accused the authorities of effectively giving GM food producers a regulation-free year. In Hobart, he will discuss the contentious area of food labelling, crop and food modification, ethical issues, environmental impact, plus the health and medical benefits and risks. Ms Steadman said many of the questions raised would be passed on to scientific experts at the Royal Society's events, to be held on September 7 and October 5 at the university's Stanley Burbury Theatre. Symposium organising committee member and CSIRO marine biochemist Shirley Jeffrey said the first event would focus on genetically modified plants and animals for use in food. The second symposium will discuss medical aspects and bioethics. "There is a lot of jargon associated with the development of the science," Dr Jeffrey said. "We are aiming to introduce all the facts so people can decide for themselves." ************************************************************************* This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
