"New terrorists" protest in front of Parliament
alien8 | 19.02.2001 16:03
The redefinition of direct action, which the new act is bringing about, was today attacked by those who may soon be redefined terrorists.
Parcels containing genetically modified crops (GM 'time bombs') were delivered to the relevant offices of the instruments of state in the morning. Later, people gathered in front of Parliament, hung up banners and issued the following statement:
This action is taking place because today, as the Terrorism Act comes into force, political dissent has been redefined as terrorism. We wanted to show you a real terrorist cell, so we are returning these genetically modified timebombs here, to expose those who are causing a physical risk to the health and safety of the public - contradicting the very act of parliament they intend to use against us.
In Canada, the Royal Society - the leading scientific body of that country - has warned that GM foods could pose "serious risks to human health, of extensive,
irremediable disruption for the natural ecosystems, or of serious diminution of biodiversity". It declared that a key testing standard used in Britain to assess GM food should be abandoned as it offers inadequate protection to
health. Yet a three year European moratorium on commercial planting has now ended, torpedoed with the active support of our government against the wishes of the public.
We have already seen the interests of the oil industry put before the reality of climate change. Now the profits of the biotech industry are being given priority over nature. The biotech industry is attempting to claim the creation
of life itself as another new market to be exploited.
The Terrorism Act is designed to stop people taking direct action, to make us all powerless in the face of government and business. The severity of sentencing under this new act will not persuade the public to accept GE nor will it suddenly make them blind to human rights abuses or environmental injustice. The people working towards social and ecological justice, in defense of their lives, their communities and their environment will not be stopped by this legislation. It will mark the escalation of an audacious global movement to reclaim the world as a common treasury for all.
Parcels containing genetically modified crops (GM 'time bombs') were delivered to the relevant offices of the instruments of state in the morning. Later, people gathered in front of Parliament, hung up banners and issued the following statement:
This action is taking place because today, as the Terrorism Act comes into force, political dissent has been redefined as terrorism. We wanted to show you a real terrorist cell, so we are returning these genetically modified timebombs here, to expose those who are causing a physical risk to the health and safety of the public - contradicting the very act of parliament they intend to use against us.
In Canada, the Royal Society - the leading scientific body of that country - has warned that GM foods could pose "serious risks to human health, of extensive,
irremediable disruption for the natural ecosystems, or of serious diminution of biodiversity". It declared that a key testing standard used in Britain to assess GM food should be abandoned as it offers inadequate protection to
health. Yet a three year European moratorium on commercial planting has now ended, torpedoed with the active support of our government against the wishes of the public.
We have already seen the interests of the oil industry put before the reality of climate change. Now the profits of the biotech industry are being given priority over nature. The biotech industry is attempting to claim the creation
of life itself as another new market to be exploited.
The Terrorism Act is designed to stop people taking direct action, to make us all powerless in the face of government and business. The severity of sentencing under this new act will not persuade the public to accept GE nor will it suddenly make them blind to human rights abuses or environmental injustice. The people working towards social and ecological justice, in defense of their lives, their communities and their environment will not be stopped by this legislation. It will mark the escalation of an audacious global movement to reclaim the world as a common treasury for all.
alien8