Andrew Grace

Submission from Andrew Grace

September 2nd 2011

Dear Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig,

My primary concern about food safety in Australia is the use of Genetically Modified Organism’s in production of food.  Secondly and not in any way less important is the risk to agriculture from Coal Seam Gas Fracking.

GMO’s

Generally, if nothing were detrimental about GMO foods then people would not complain, protest, disagree or argue against.   Just because the world’s most powerful food corporation is behind it and the resources they have to promote it are limitless doesn’t rectify the huge risks to food safety.  GMO’s are a ZERO sum equation, there is no middle ground!

It is your civic duty to consider in depth and without prejudice, or consideration of financial benefit over human consumption and environmental safety to fully investigate and act in accordance with the mandate you have been given to secure Australia’s food future.  It would be nothing less than a criminal act to not fulfill your duty as a representative and servant of the Australian people.

It is in your personal, family, community and national interests to consider every risk. So I urge you to demand your analysts to read through all of the 200 plus articles and comments listed on this website. Likewise watch the documentaries ‘the Future of Food’ and ‘Food Inc.’ with your family and ask your children what their opinion is.

It is your job and obligation to make an unbiased and informed decision using independent research (not research funded by the seller of GMO’s or people on their payroll) and not a decision based on securing investment or campaign funds or any financial benefit. You are responsible for the health and future of the lives of every Australian now living and yet to exist.  Once GMO is here you cannot retract it. You cannot say we were uninformed or mislead., the buck stops with you! You will not have the capability to reverse approval of GMO’s in food and if your decision allows GMO;s into the Australian food cycle wrong then there will be blood on your hands and conscience. You will personally be responsible for the greatest disaster in Australian’s livelihood, health and safety.  This is not a threat, but you must be aware of what is at stake in your decision on GMO’s . There is no room for risk, doubt  or uncertainty in this case.

Learn from the mistakes and the greed that has caused irrevocable damage in the United States and do not allow under any circumstances the use of GMO’s to make food.   Be aware that the decision to use GMO’s and grant patentability to a seed was made by one man in a split decision of the Supreme Court, Justice Clarence Thomas. He was Monsanto’s chief legal counsel in the 1970’s.  If that is not a conflict of interest then I don’t know what would be.   The issue is whether Australia will be subject to the subversive tactics of Monsanto and the answer is absolutely 100% yes.

Yes I am concerned, I have lived in the United states for more than 8 of the last 20 years and witnessed first hand the forced consumption of GMO foods without consent or even awareness as there exists no obligation to label GMO foods in the USA.

Supporting GMO insults the intelligence of many of the most advanced nations in the world who have banned it from their agricultural industries and food supplies. There is only one choice and that is to not allow GMO’s in Australia.  If GMO’s were beneficial then why would nations ban them?

Finally, consider just how valuable will Non GMO food become when most of the world’s production comes from GMO food.  Particularly when we see the long-term effects of GMO on human digestive disorders increasing proportionately to the consumption of GMO foods.   This evidence is already becoming available and many countries have banned GMO for reasons of safety. I warrant that Non-GMO food, as an export will be considerably more valuable than GMO food as the deadly truth about GMO is revealed in the future as the deadly truth about GMO is revealed.  Particularly given that many of the countries Australia exports foods to require the labeling of all foods with GMO’s in their ingredients.. Does Australia need to prosper off the plight of countries that are so desperate for food they will accept GMO food? Besides the fact that when science indisputably proves the correlation between GMO’s and digestive diseases / disorders,  how will you reverse the GMO infected food system. You can’t! Risk far outweighs reward. No to GMO!

Coal Seam Gas Fracking
 
If you do not watch the film “Gas Land” then you are failing to be informed of the risks and disasters that have occurred from fracking.
I’m sure you do not have to be bored with basic science and a law of nature however it helps to reiterate. Definition of a gas is a substance such as air that expands infinitely.   It fills every available space in both liquid and other gas spaces. 

RISK: if coal seam methane gas gets into any artesian water basin then the entire artesian water system is compromised.   Once the gas is released you cannot unreleased it, block it, stop it from moving into open spaces and the source may be infinitely replenished.

Damage: The water table is irreversibly damaged. There is no recourse or remediation possible. If this occurs you needn’t worry about GMO foods as nothing will grow (including animals) on land irrigated by methane gas filled water.

If it would be possible to 100% guarantee that this RISK doesn’t exist then and only then would there be a place for fracking.  The simple answer is it cannot. The logical deduction is do not allow fracking to occur. 

I apologize for any preaching in my submission but I will not stand idly by and watch, just as I expect you as the elected and chosen representative for the citizen’s of Australia to make full and complete due diligence arising to a fully informed decision in the most vital investment in our country’s future.

Thank you for your consideration.
Can you please advise by email if you were able to personally read this letter or if it was read by an aide,

Regards,
Andrew Grace
Sydney, NSW.