A great peril looms

Since the EU-moratorium on agricultural genetic engineering was abandoned, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are being cultivated extensively in Germany for the first time.

By drifting pollen, genetically manipulated genotype spreads uncontrollably. It cannot be "taken back" and nobody is in a position to assess the consequences of genetically engineered agro-produce for people's health, nutrition and in nature. Globally, GMO - companies put the safety of nutrition and the free choice of seeds at risk, thereby forcing farmers more and more into a relationship of dependency.

Industrial genetic engineering tries to create irreversible facts. Scandalously, BT 10 corn, an unlicenced, illegal substance in Europe, has for instance been exported to Germany for years. This maize has an additional genetic resistance against an antibiotic which is also used in the treatment of humans! The Syngenta company, for its part, is in the meantime talking of "a harmless mix-up". Even more brazen are the licence fee requests which GMO-companies try to level on farmers who cultivate their fields in the neighbourhood of genetically modified plants. By drifting pollen and wind-dispersion of mature grains during the harvest, neighbouring fields get contaminated. To add insult to injury, the contaminated farmer has to pay licence fees!

The experience in Canada, the USA, South America and Asia shows that even generous gaps between fields cannot prevent the insidious spreading of genetically modified organisms. Any co-existence of genetic engineering with traditional agriculture which has brought sustenance to humanity over the millenia is not possible.

Now is the time. Wherever GMO-crops are sown, the only principle of action left to us is to ward off this new peril. As responsible citizens we will stop this fatal development - with determination, peacefully and in public.

We will not rely on politics and industry who want to lull us to sleep with talk of compensation and acceptance of liability. We will stir into action. Germany and Europe will remain GMO-free. Neither do we want our animal-based food contaminated with GM - feed. We want to preserve regional delicacies together with forms of productions that are geographically specific and deeply rooted in our culture. They contribute to our identity and shape our European food culture. We want to preserve and defend this unique treasure. We are taking action now.


We take action now

Farmers and beekeepers, cooks and housekeepers,ecologists, believer of all religions, people of the most different political streams, professions and of every age declare their will to show civil courage and to resist peacefully against the genetic seed.

We will make a definite statement against the propaganda of the benefit of genetic technics.


Chuck out genetic muck

With the voluntary liberation of fields we are outlawing agricultural genetic engineering. Voluntary liberation of fields are in general public and announced demonstrations. We are living in the one world. In many of the developing countries the government and the farmers are nearly forced to use GMO by canting promises or even corruption in administration. We are not the only ones who resist. In Africa, Asia, America and many european countries there are tenthousands of people taking similar action. We are acting together across nationborders and continents.

Agricultural genetic engineering endangers the survival of man.

We say no before there is caused irreversible ecological and social damage by the genetic industries and corrupted politicians. The campaign `Gendreck-weg` is to be continued as long as it needs to reach a political and social consensus about an immediate stop of GMO in agriculture which constitutes an interference to creation and to our basics of nourishment. This may take us some years. Therefore we would like to encourage You. Join us with your longlasting engagement.

Passages of this site had to be repealed on pain of penalties.


Civil disobedience

It is irresponsible to release genetic modified organisms that can not to be recalled but do have consequences on flora and fauna aswell as on our health today and for the future. It is an unjustness to treat farmers with seed-and-poison-packages, patent law, adhesion contracts or even the terminatortechnologie so that they cannot even use their own harvest for the next sowing.

We are encumbering this injustness. This is meant to be a conscious and obvious act of civil disobedience because we feel responsible for our agriculture, our food, the environment, our own conscience and the upcoming generations worldwide.

It belongs to the tradition of civil disobedience that we are prepared to face the conseqences of our actions. The actions of `Gendreck-weg` show faces and take place in public. We are responsible and courageous citizens who take that step because there is a great peril to avert.


What I can do

`Gendreck-weg` is an initiative of voluntary liberators of fields and their supporters. The first actions in July and September 2005 were just the beginning. There are still a lot of possibilities to join in.

There is no `Gendreck-weg` without liberators of fields. `Gendreck-weg` informs about and invites to nonvoilent publicaction against genetic modified plants. It is already possible to complete a declaration of purpose or a declaration of solidarity and to send it to gendreck-weg. There is no `Gendreck-weg` without lots of active supporters doing many different things:

A purpose like that to confront genetic engineering in a nonviolent but resolut manner can only succeed if there are many people giving their power to it, so that it can find its way into public discussion. We happily welcome everyone who can spare a bit of time and feels like supporting our work in public relation and education. People who go for writing or just help to make the problem and the resistance public are also very welcome. Just send an e-mail to: aktion@gendreck-weg.de Donations:

`Gendreck-weg` is a movement that is financed only by private donations. We need funds for preparation, printmedia and several other issues. Solidarity bonds:

To face possible court proceedings solidarity bonds are an important help. Together we can bear the costs and do not get daunted.


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.