his is a translation of a report by the Dutch action-magazine Ravage

(http://www.antenna.nl/ravage)



Amsterdam, June 25th 2001

ACTIVISTS ELIMATE FIELD TESTS

In the night of Sunday to Monday June 25 activists calling themselves

"Razende Hazen" (Enraged Hares) have sabotaged two field tests of

genetically engineered sugar beets in Brabant, the south of The

Netherlands. They made up a test of 'Roundup-Ready' sugar beets by

agro-multinational Monsanto."We removed the green of the plants,

making the test uncompletable," says the group in a statement

delivered to Ravage.

"The purpose of this action is to directly stop the spreading of

genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in our environment and food,"

state the Hares. The Roundup-Ready beets have been genetically

altered to be able to resist Monsanto's herbicide 'Roundup'. "This

way, Monsanto can sell both more seeds and more Roundup."

The fields are located in Heerle (Kepelstreet 12) and Rilland

(Damesweg 2). Both are 1152 square metres.

The Enraged Hares have in this way made a contribution to the

national debate on genetics and food. The activists say this debate

is "mustard after a meal [a Dutch expression], because the government

's allready decided to actively stimulate genetic technology. In the

so called public meeting that the government commission is organising

today, the public will not be allowed to speak. They will be

'educated', but there will be no debate," say the activists.

"Even though there's wide spread doubt on use of GMO food, the

biotechindustry keeps going on the road of social and ecological

destruction. Large companies and governents set the agenda to

globalise patent-laws, that privatise life as 'intellectual

property', selling science to motives of profit and power."

"Monsanto is a good example. Recently a Canadian farmer, Percy

Schmeiser, had to appear in court for breaking a Monsanto patent.

Unknowingly, he had Roundup Ready plants on his land. This was blown

over from a neighbouring field, but Schmeiser was found guilty. This

should alarm all farmers. Bringing GMO's into the environment is

irreversible and clearly conflicting with the precaution-principle,

which has also been incorporated in the Biosafety Protocol of the

United Nations."

Tonights actions were part of the second international day of actions

against the biotech-industry.



Ravage, actieblad

Van Ostadestraat 233n

1073 TN Amsterdam

telefoon 020-6761773

fax: 020-6730595

Internet: http://www.antenna.nl/ravage