Pictures
Press Statement, Sunday 4th Sept 05, 2 pm
Opponents of agro-genetic engineering proclaim the liberation of fields and announce further actions in the near future
The platform of the opponents of seed manipulation was overflowing with a colorful harvest, while in front of it a person dressed as a beekeper was unloading a whole heap of genetically manipulated corn, freshly harvested. "Stop genetic food now! volunteers of field liberation here and everywhere" said a huge banner, describing the demands of the opponents of genetically manipulated agriculture. The campaign "Gendreck-weg" ("off with genetic dregs") had erected a stage in front of the Brandenburg Gate. On Sunday, over two hundred people took part in the event.
They are not alone in their criticism of genetic engineering in agriculture. The majority of people in Germany does not want GMO's, and yet politicians are giving in to the urges of the agro-chemical companies! Since spring the cultivation of genetically manipulated plants is permitted in Germany.
"The resistance against GMO's is international: In Canada and in France, in India and in Southern Africa people defend themselves against genetic engineering and its consequences", explained Jürgen Binder, one of the initiators of "Gendreck-weg". In Canada even the farmers union is taking a stand against agro-genetic engineering.
The Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser, was present on the platform. His story became famous internationally: For fifty years, he had developed his own hardy Canola seed stock, and adapted it to the climate of Saskatchewan province, but his fields had become contaminated by seeds which had fallen off trucks of the genetically manipulated seed of his neighbour. What followed was incredible: The multinational Monsanto took court action against him and tried to charge Percy Schmeiser with licence fees! Then a six-year epic struggle through the courts followed, which Percy Schmeiser won on appeal to the Canadian supreme court, but which cost him $400.000 in court and legal fees. Now Mr. Schmeiser warns and informs about GMO's. "Once you start with genetic engineering, there is no going back. In Canada there is now no more rapeseed(Canola) and no more soya which is not contaminated with genetically manipulated organisms." Genetic techniques and the straightjacket-type contracts of the corporations deprive farmers of the right to sow their own seeds.
In France, opponents of GMO's directly take on the genetically contaminated fields. A whole movement of over five thousand "volunteers of mowing" ("collective des faucheurs") has come into being. One of their founders, Jean-Baptiste Libouban, encouraged the participants in front of the Brandenburg Gate to be absolutely determined in confronting genetic engineering, and to include methods of civil disobedience. "It is bad and difficult to break the law - but it is worse to do nothing when the law protects the strong against the weak." In this undertaking, the labour of cutting down GM-plants was relatively "small", while the larger challenge consisted in changing the laws and in strengthening democracy.
Jürgen Binder, a professional bee-keeper, then lifted the secret of the origin of the GM-crop which had been brought to the Brandenburg Gate: He confessed in public to having cut down part of a field in Brandenburg, the harvest of which he had brought along. Following a public announcement, "Gendreck-weg" had destroyed corn from a GM-field near Strausberg on July 31st - together with about three hundred farmers, beekeepers, organic bakers, cooks and consumers. These public actions of civil disobedience are to be continued.
After this "confession" by this volunteer of field liberation, several dozen people joined him in proclaiming their determination to lend a hand in the coming season - should any replanting of GM-seeds be attempted. Each person threw a genetically manipulated cob of corn into a huge rubbish bin and left a balloon with a signed declaration to take part in the liberation of fields from genetic dregs.