Paris 14 January 1998
Dear friends,
ACTION ALERT
French farmers destroyed transgenic maize : trial pending
On January 8th, about 100 farmers from the 2nd largest french
farmers union, Confederation Paysanne (CP), attacked a Novartis'
conditioning and storage plant. After 'looking around' they finally found 5
tons of transgenic maize which they immediatly destroyed. Shortly after 3
of their representatives were arrested and jailed for few hours.
Their judgment will take place on February 3rd in Agen (Aquitaine).
Novartis is claiming 1 million Us Dollars of loss (the five tons of seeds
destroyed were apparently 'total seed' kept in cold storage). The sum is
probably under estimated so as to turn this into a political trial.
The opponents, environmentalists, consumers groups, farmers,
scientists,etc... to genetic engineering will organise a demonstration in
front of the court of the city. Furthermore, the lawyers of the CP are
asking scientits who oppose commercialisation of GMO to come and express
their views in front of the judges, as expert-witness.
This trial will therefore become the trial of GMOs, it is the opportunity
not to be missed to forced the press to give full coverage.
As you all know on November 28th the Prime minister authorized the growing
of the first genetically engineered plant, maize, in Europe. This season is
the first planting season for this crop. Therefore, we need strong
opposition from everybody.
Please :
Send a letter-message of support.
Make advertising of this action in your country
Send somebody of your orgnaisation if possible, or give us names of people
who could come, so that we can contact them
Deadline for support by 30th january 1998
Thanking you in advance
Etienne Vernet
Ecoropa-France
Frits v/d Laan
Biologische boomkwekerij/
Organic horticulture
Gouda - Netherlands
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/F.vd.Laan/
f.vd.laan@inter.nl.net
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