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GM setback in UK

Action against GM maize in Spain, August 2003 Enlarge Image

GM crops flunk the test

The debate on Genetically Modified (GM) crops is often a polarised one with environmentalists and the majority of sceptical consumers against the crops and powerful corporate interests attempting to steamroller all opposition. Now those companies may be in for a serious setback, as scientific tests devised by the UK Government and GM companies look set to say that GM crops are environmentally unsafe.

Greenpeace activists harvest 1 ton of transgenic Novartis maize. Enlarge Image

GE crops take a double hit

Eagerly awaited scientific studies published by the UK Royal Society have substantiated warnings that genetically engineered (GE) crops can be harmful to the environment. The studies expose the risks of GE crops to the environment and challenge the benefits promised by the GE industry. Monsanto, the GE industry leader has at the same time announced a withdrawal from Europe for "strategic reasons."

Greenpeace removing genetically engineered maize from trial farm. Enlarge Image

British GM maize plan 'disaster'

Planting genetically modified (GM) crops is a risk that isn't wanted or needed anywhere in the world. The general public in the UK and even the UK Government's own scientists and economists have all said no to GM.

Ronald McDonald quits in protest when he learns that his hens are fed on GE chicken feed Enlarge Image

Ronald McDonald resigns

Ronald McDonald entered the Queen Street branch of McDonald's in Auckland, New Zealand, today and handed in his resignation. The dramatic action was taken by the infamous fast food clown in protest at McDonalds' use of chicken fed on genetically engineered (GE) soy meal.

Derek Nicholls, (left) captain of Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior, was arrested when the ship anchored to prevent the departure of the MV Rhein carrying genetically engineered soya. Enlarge Image

Rainbow Warrior captain arrested

It took eight hours, a powerful tugboat and the specialist division of the water police to end the Rainbow Warrior's blockade of the The Rhein, a ship transporting Genetically Engineered (GE) soya in Port Kembla Harbour. Despite the arrest of the Warrior's captain, our campaign against GE soya didn't slow down.

Greenpeace activists today occupy the cranes of the "Winner" to prevent its cargo of GMO soya from Argentina, reaching Spain. In the foreground Hungarian activist Atilla Soos. Enlarge Image

Esperanza takes action in Spain

This morning our 'Gene Detectives' from the Esperanza intercepted and boarded the 'Winner' a ship carrying thousands of tons of GE soya where it is anchored just off Malaga in southern Spain.

A Greenpeace activist chains himself to the anchor chain of bulk carrier 'Global Wind', a ship carrying GM Soya from Argentina planning to "top-load" with GM-Free soya from the state of Parana, which has declared itself a GM-Free state. Enlarge Image

Greenpeace defends Brazil's right to remain GE free

Greenpeace activists from the Arctic Sunrise have prevented the entrance of the 'Global Wind' ship into the port of Paranagua, Brazil. The ship is carrying 30 000 tons of Genetically Engineered (GE) soya from Argentina.

GE camaigners target warehouses in Ravenna, Italy Enlarge Image

GE soya importers targeted in Italy

This morning 70 international Greenpeace activists uncovered thousands of tonnes of Genetically Engineered (GE) soya in warehouses in the Italian port of Ravenna. Recent samples taken from one of the warehouses have proven to be GE positive. Activists are currently preventing any GE soya from leaving the facility and are taking further samples.

Monsanto announced that it has suspended further development and open field trials of its genetically engineered, Roundup Ready wheat Enlarge Image

Victory: Monsanto drops GE Wheat

There's a reason to celebrate today: Monsanto has caved at last and given up on further development or open field trials of its genetically engineered "Roundup Ready" wheat. Monsanto won't admit it has bowed to overwhelming market rejection, but that's clearly behind their decision. It's a hard-won victory for every environmental group, every consumer, every cyberactivist who has said "no" to genetically engineered foods. The decision fits a pattern of industry retreat set last month by Bayer CropScience's decision to withdraw GE maize from the UK.

Greenpeace canoeist arrested by the Guadia di Finanza during an action to prevent the offloading of 40,000 tonnes of Argentian GE Soya from the bulk carrier Keoyang Majesty. Enlarge Image

Italian Job Ends

Our marathon action in Chioggia, Italy came to an end last night after three days of protest when Italian police intervened to end our blockade of the Panama-registered bulk carrier, Keoyang Majesty, which is carrying 40,000 thousands tons of Argentine Genetically Engineered (GE) Soya.

Activists at the World Food Business Summit in Rome, Italy say no to GMOs Enlarge Image

Ge activists make themselves heard in Rome

Attendees of the World Food Business Summit in Rome, Italy were 'welcomed' today by hundreds of audio messages from consumers in all 25 EU nations saying that they didn't want GE in their food.

Monsanto has been fined for bribing senior Indonesian environment ministry official to try and avoid an environmental assessment on its GE cotton. Enlarge Image

Monsanto pays fine for bribery

What do you do if you're trying to plant genetically engineered cotton in a hurry, but the government wants to make sure there won't be any environmental damage from doing so? If you're the giant Monsanto corporation, one answer might be: bribe somebody to skip over that pesky environmental assessment. Who knows how many times this tried and true practice has worked before? This time, they've been caught red-handed in Indonesia, and fined US$1.5 million.

Anti-GE campaigners in front of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Enlarge Image

EU retailers won't sell GE

What do the major European food retailers and producers think about genetically engineered (GE) food? In a new Greenpeace report, we asked them. Of the 60 top companies we contacted, 49 of them won't use GE in their own brands, and they've gone on record saying so.

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