This action comes only a few days after protestors in the Uk disrupted a nanobusiness conference as angels and is at least the fifth nanotech action this year. Grenoble is regarded as the leading techno-town in France (home to nuclear, chemical, GM, micro-computing and now Nanotech industries). A large group of grassroots campaigners under the banner of PMO (piecesetmaindoevres) have been questioning the hi-tech industries for some time and recently held a succesful counter conference called "Objection de conScience" objecting to the takeover of their city by the military-scientific-industrial complex - of which teh building of Minatec is the latest stage.

details of previous nanotech actions inc:
1) protests in Berkely (california) against the opening of :"The molecular foundry"
see  http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=13950
2) naked protest by THONG (Topless Humans Opposed to Natural Genetics) at a nanobusiness conference in chicago. see  http://www.chicagothong.org/nanocommerce.php?photo=061
3) Protest at Nanobusiness conference in Leeds Royal Armoury.
see  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/leedsbradford/2004/11/301222.html
4) Angels protest by THRONG (The Heavenly Righteous opposed to Nanotech Greed) at nanobusiness conference in Buckinghamshire
see  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302565.html

Full details of the Minatec occupation can be found (in french) on Grenoble Indymedia at:
 http://www.indygrr.ouvaton.org/index.php?page=article&filtre=1&numpageA=1&id=177&PHPSESSID=a60375583a400c3b71ab2abc50108adb

do sweat the small stuff...

molly..