Greenpeace activists put Braila island, on the Danube river, under quarantine, after Greenpeace field investigations revealed that illegal Genetically Modified (GMO) Soya, is being grown and harvested there.
Bralia Island in Romania is normally a quiet farming area on the
Danube river but now it is the site of a huge environmental
contamination by soya that has been genetically modified by the
agricultural-chemical company, Monsanto.
The peaceful action in Romania began early in the morning when
30 Greenpeace activists from across Europe set up a
'decontamination station' at the ferry harbour area on Braila
Island.
All vehicles leaving the island were decontaminated by being
thoroughly washed to prevent the genetic contamination from
spreading further.
It is illegal for member states of the European Union (EU) which
includes Romania, to cultivate GMO Soya. Greenpeace is calling on
the Romanian government and the European Commission to act
immediately to locate and destroy all of the illegally cultivated
GMO Soya.
"We have taken action to protect the rest of Romania from
contamination by these illegal GMO crops, which pose massive risks
to the environment, biodiversity and human heath. Romanian people
have overwhelmingly rejected GMO," said Gabriel Paun, Greenpeace
Romania, GMO campaigner.
"This is not the first time Greenpeace has discovered illegal
GMO production in Romania, the situation is out of control. The
Government must immediately locate and destroy all of the crops
before they enter the food chain."
At the same time as activists were decontaminating Bralia Island
in Romania, more activists were busy taking action against another
site of GMO contamination in France. 20 volunteers painted a field
of illegally grown GMO maize (corn) bright red, in order to expose
its location.
The GMO maize, known as MON810, is another genetically modified
product being pushed onto consumers by Monsanto. The GMO maize is
being illegally grown, as either the farmer, or the French
government have failed to inform the public of its presence as
required under French law.
"By failing to take control, the Romanian and French governments
are allowing biotech companies such as Monsanto, to run riot over
their environment and ignore the wishes of European people;
contaminating their food and their fields" said Myrto Pispini,
Greenpeace International GMO campaigner.
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