French police carrying a protestor.Greenpeace, Confederation paysanne and Faucheurs Volontaires activists occupy Monsanto seed production facilities in Carcassonne, France, demanding the french authorities to stop import and distribution of genetically engineered (GE) seeds.
"We are here to demand that the French authorities ban GE seed
andin the interim corporate conglomerate Monsanto must stop hiding
wherethese environmentally destructive maize seeds are to be grown.
Farmersand consumers have the right to know where GE seeds are
enteringagriculture and the food-chain, so they can protect
themselves againstgenetic contamination." Said Jose Bove from
Faucheurs Volontaires.
The 'GE free citizens inspection unit' consisting of over
100conventional and organic farmers, members of the public and
activistsfrom across Europe were welcomed by over 50 policemen,
including somewith police dogs. But over 75 activists managed to
occupy the facilityaffectively shutting it down. The protesters aim
to stop distributionof GE maize seeds, and to influence the new GE
law currently beingdiscussed in the French parliament. The new law,
if passed, would allowmassive genetic contamination of both organic
and conventional maize.(1)
"We are putting Monsanto on notice, along with each and
everyBiotech firm that is contaminating our fields and our food
supply now -or has future plans to introduce GE seeds - this is the
beginning, wewill not stop until France is
declared a GE free zone." Said Olivier Keller, national
secretary of the Confederation Paysanne.
"GE is harming the environment and is causing genetic
contamination of the
food-chain and agriculture, thus threatening the right of
farmersand consumers to grow and eat GE free food. Recently
thousands havetaken in to the streets in Vienna, France and other
countries aroundthe world to protest against these unjust
practices. Governments mustnow listen to their people and 'cease
and desist' on the importationand growing of GE seed." Said Geert
Ritsema, Greenpeace InternationalGE campaigner.
Yesterday the Slovakian inspectorate of environment published
adecision that states Monsanto will not distribute there GE maize
forthe 2006 growing season, effectively shutting out, sales of GE
maizefor the next year. The halt was put in place, due in part, to
pressurefrom Greenpeace on the Slovakian inspectorate to answer
growingconcerns about environmental damage and contamination caused
by GEmaize. (2)
"Resistance against GE in our fields and food has been growing
globally since
its release onto the market nearly 10 years ago. In Europe alone
172 regions
have declared themselves GE free, and around the world many
othergovernments, farmers and citizens are uniting to keep their
countriesGE free," concluded Geert Ritsema Greenpeace International
GEcampaigner.
Other contacts: For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:Geert Ritsema Greenpeace International GE campaigner in Trebes, France +31 646 197 328Arnaud Greenpeace France GE campaigner in Trebes, France +33 6 07 57 31 60 Adelaide Colin Greenpeace France communications officer in Trebes, France +33 6 84 25 08 25Olivier Keller, national secretary of the Confederation Paysanne in Trebes, France +33 626 451 948Christine Thelen, coordinator of the Faucheurs Volontaires in Trebes, France +33 672 980 613Suzette Jackson Greenpeace International communications officer in Amsterdam +31 646 197 324
Notes: Relevant DocumentGreenpeace International GE Maize briefing http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/BTMaizeBriefing2006 Notes to Editors(1) It is expected that a draft of the genetically modified organism law will have its final reading in the French Parliament soon. The draft law would allow the presence of 0.9 percent of GE maize in all maize fields in France. According to Greenpeace and independent lawyers this will not only lead to massive genetic contamination of the French countryside, but it will also undermine freedom of choice for consumers and farmers and violate current EU legislation.(2) On April 12th the inspectorate of environment in Slovakia published adecision halting - for the 2006 growing season - any commercial sales ofgenetically engineered (GE) maize seeds of the type MON810 produced by US based biotech giant Monsanto. GE maize variety MON 810 is the only genetically engineered crop that is allowed for cultivation throughout the EU.