Swedes arrested for creating human shield at BASF warehouse to thwart GM potato plantings

Saturday, May 28, 2011 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: BASF, GM potatoes, health news

(NaturalNews) A group of brave Swedes recently decided to hold a sit-in at a BASF warehouse in the northern part of the Scandinavian country to protest the planting of illegal, genetically-modified (GM) potato crops. Greenpeace reported that the individuals had been blocking the entrance to the warehouse in order to stop the biotechnology giant from planting its GM potato, Amflora, which was scandalously approved in the EU without any legitimate, independent safety studies -- however, more recent reports indicate that local police eventually intervened and arrested each individual involved.

Last year, Greenpeace protesters went to the same warehouse to block plantings after it was discovered that BASF had illegally planted a different, unapproved variety of GM potato, Amadea, in addition to Amflora. Both Franken-potatoes had no business ever being planted in the first place, and outspoken citizens had decided to do whatever it takes to stop any further plantings, including literally chaining themselves to a barn and blocking the planting of this year's crop, which will be contaminated with the unapproved variety if planted in the same field.

After failing to convince the Swedish government to destroy the contaminated field and instigate a moratorium on GM crops after the initial discovery was made, the group decided to take up the task itself. After all, the Swedish government made it clear that it had no intention of fining or otherwise properly regulating BASF and GM crops as it should have, so concerned citizens felt they had no choice but to take matters into their own hands to prevent the widespread contamination of conventional crops with dangerous GMOs.

But those efforts appear to have failed, as the plantings can now take place unhindered. According to Greenpeace, no environmental risk assessment has ever been conducted on Amflora, nor have any studies been conducted proving the crop to be safe for humans or animals. Regulators also flat-out ignored the fact that Amflora is directly responsible for causing antibiotic resistance, which will cause further propagation of "superbugs."

"It is tragic that the Swedish state uses the police to let the company carry on with the planting of this hazardous GM-potato while other countries ban the crop," said Patrik Eriksson, head of the Greenpeace campaign, in a recent statement.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/n...