Two arrests at Wellington GE Food Action
Two arrests at Wellington GE Food Action.
2 GE Free campaigners were arrested during a GE Food education exercise at an inner city Wellington supermarket yesterday.
Around 25 opponents of GE food provided consumers at Wellington City New World on Wakefield St with vital information about foods containing genetically engineered ingredients.
A banner was unfurled from the roof outside the store. Inside, mad scientists and activists dressed in decontamination suits handed out information, labeled GE food and informed shoppers about the dangers of GE via megaphone.
Sections of the store containing Inghams Chicken products were also cordoned off. Inghams is New Zealand’s biggest importer of genetically engineered products, and are a company that shoppers should be wary of.
A number of police cars and a paddy wagon were called to the scene and a handful of trespass notices were issued. The majority of customers were supportive of the activists message.
“We’ve been charged with a crime, but most New Zealanders would support what we’re doing. The real crime is having unlabelled GE foods in shops. No one deserves to be an unwitting lab rat in a genetic experiment.” Said GE Free campaigner Duncan Eddy, who has been charged with wilful damage.
The protesters have
been bailed to appear in Wellington District Court on Monday
the 15th of March at 9 am on charges of wilful damage.