'GE' poster

item details

Name'GE' poster

ProductionMAdGE (Mothers Against Genetic Engineering); publisher; 2003; New Zealand
Alannah Currie; designer; 2003; New Zealand

Classificationposters

Materialspaper, printing ink

Materials Summaryprinted ink on paper

Techniquesprinting

DimensionsOverall: 596mm (width), 422mm (length)

Registration NumberGH014901

Credit lineGift of MAdGE (Mothers Against Genetic Engineering), 2005

Overview

This provocative poster of a woman being milked was produced by MAdGE (Mothers Against Genetic Engineering).

MAdGE was a prominent activist group which was against the genetic engineering of food. Along with other groups, MAdGE lobbied the New Zealand government to retain the moratorium on releasing GE into the New Zealand environment. The GE Moratorium Bill was defeated in March 2005, but the moratorium remains in force.

MAdGE had substantial funds to mount a sophisticated and provocative campaign, including huge billboard versions of this poster, which created a public furore and brought the anti-GE debate to the front pages.

MAdGE was founded by former pop star Alannah Currie in May 2002, with mothers from around New Zealand and high- profile supporters from the fashion and entertainment industries. Their focus was on the safety of food, and the group initially held protests at supermarkets.