Hundreds of protesters have
destroyed a field of genetically modified maize in south-west
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/3924623.stm
Published: 2004/07/25
The
activists were led by radical French farmer Jose Bove, who said the protest was
being taken in the interests of consumers.
About
15 policemen watched the destruction and took photographs of those involved, but
did not intervene.
"We
observed the protest, took down the identities of some of the participants and
took photos after warning the organisers that it was illegal and that the
information would be forwarded to the Haute-Garrone region's prosecutor,"
an officer told Reuters news agency.
Serial
action
Mr
Bove said the protesters were prepared to face the consequences.
"This
protest is legitimate and we did it to protect the consumer. We will assume the
legal risks."
It
was the latest in a series of protests by opponents of GM crops across
In
May, a French court fined three people 600 euros (£396) each for destroying
test fields of GM crops in 1997.
There
have been about a dozen prosecutions of anti-GM activists in
Also
in May, the European Commission lifted a six-year moratorium on GM foods,
permitting companies to sell maize known as Bt-11, packaged as tinned sweetcorn.
Critics
say GM plants and foods have not been properly tested and it is too soon to say
if they are safe.
