ZAGREB, Oct 13 (Hina) - Members of Croatia's "Green Action" on Wednesday staged a rally in front of a Zagreb building housing the offices of "Pioneer", the world's largest producer of seed, protesting against the production and sowing
of genetically manipulated seed. Six activists wearing white overalls carried placards and stuck leaflets on the "Pioneer" building saying "Stop To Genetically Manipulated Food", "Your Profits Cannot Be Compared With Our Health", "Are You Playing God?", and "Eat Your Corn Yourselves". Today's rally marks the beginning of a series of actions which will continue with another protest rally in Zagreb on October 15 and a round table on the import and use of genetically modified food and seed, to take place on October 18. "Green action" president Toni Vidan said the rally was a symbolic action against "Pioneer" company whose genetically manipulated seed was sown this year
ZAGREB, Oct 13 (Hina) - Members of Croatia's "Green Action" on
Wednesday staged a rally in front of a Zagreb building housing the
offices of "Pioneer", the world's largest producer of seed,
protesting against the production and sowing of genetically
manipulated seed.
Six activists wearing white overalls carried placards and stuck
leaflets on the "Pioneer" building saying "Stop To Genetically
Manipulated Food", "Your Profits Cannot Be Compared With Our
Health", "Are You Playing God?", and "Eat Your Corn Yourselves".
Today's rally marks the beginning of a series of actions which will
continue with another protest rally in Zagreb on October 15 and a
round table on the import and use of genetically modified food and
seed, to take place on October 18.
"Green action" president Toni Vidan said the rally was a symbolic
action against "Pioneer" company whose genetically manipulated
seed was sown this year in Croatia. He explained that such seed had
been sown for two years without permission and despite a
parliamentary ban and this year the Agriculture Ministry allowed
the sowing of genetically manipulated corn for the third time.
Vidan believes that neither the Ministry nor institutions involved
in experiments with such seeds would have engaged in them if there
had not been for pressure by multinational seed producers, in this
case, by "Pioneer".
"Pioneer" general director Hans Karall said what company was
currently doing had nothing to do with genetically manipulated seed
because the Croatian branch worked exclusively with corn hybrids
which give higher yields and have better properties.
He said it was true that the company had imported a small quantity of
genetically manipulated seed, with the Ministry's approval, but
the seed was sown exclusively for scientific purposes on strictly
controlled areas. Karall said his company had no intention of
introducing any scientific novelties in Croatia if it was contrary
to the opinion of the Croatian public.
(hina) rml