Spanish Protesters Invade GM Corn Fields

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Misty L. Trepke

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Spanish protesters invade GM corn fields

Tuesday, September 16, 2003 Posted: 9:28 AM EDT (1328 GMT)

 

 

ARANJUEZ, Spain (Reuters) -- Spanish farmers and ecologists invaded

fields of genetically-modified corn to protest against cultivation

of the crop in the only European country where it is grown on a

commercial scale.

 

Around 80 protesters, some dressed in white suits that mimicked the

protective outfits scientists wear to clear up biological hazards,

picked corncobs, cordoned off GM plants, unfurled banners and spray-

painted slogans on walls at three GM trial sites throughout Spain.

 

The weekend protests were timed to coincide with demonstrations at

the World Trade Organization meeting in the Mexican resort of

Cancun, where agriculture has been one of the main sticking points.

 

Organizers said this was the first time farmers have risked arrest

by interfering with GM crops at a protest in Spain, where 20,000

hectares of genetically modified maize were cultivated in 2002, out

of a total of 460,000 sown to all maize.

 

" I'm here to demonstrate my repulsion at genetically modified

crops, " said one 24 year old co-operative member. " We want to spark

a debate on GM crops, because in Spain there is silence on this

issue. "