GREENPEACE STOPS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SOYBEAN DESTINED FOR
EUROPE ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, LOUISIANNA, NOVEMBER 19TH 1996
Today , the Greenpeace ship 'MV Greenpeace' sailed up the
Mississippi River to confront food industry giant Cargill at their
grain facility in Laplace , 60 miles outside of New Orleans.
Activists in inflatable boats identified a ship being loaded with
Monsanto's genetically engineered soybeans and "branded" the ship
with bright yellow posters tha t read 'X - Genetic Experiment'.
Meanwhile six other activists climbed onto the grain facility,
preventing the loading of the genetically engineered soybeans.
"Consumers are refusing to buy genetically altered soybeans
because of the risks to their health and the environment. By
refusing to keep separate the genetically altered soybeans,
companies like Ca rgill are putting U.S. markets at risk," said
Greenpeace International spokesperson Michelle Sheather onboard
the MV Greenpeace.
Soybeans are the United States' second largest agricultural
export, with approximately 40% of the crop exported to Europe.
Over one hundred European retailers, food manufacturers, and food
processor s have refused to accept Monsanto's genetically
engineered soybeans due to concerns of health hazards and
environmental safety. Monsanto is the chemical company responsible
for the creation of the g enetically altered soybean. Cargill is
one the main companies responsible for the export of the
genetically engineered soybeans.
Last week in Louisiana, Greenpeace and representatives from the
National Family Farm Coalition and National Family Farm Defenders
came together to protest at a Monsanto facility on the Mississippi
ri ver and jointly demanded that Monsanto take the genetically
altered soybeans off the market. Also last week, Greenpeace
activists blockaded the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) grain
facility in Destreh an, Louisiana and called for the grain
facility to ensure separation of the genetically altered soybeans
from natural soybeans. On Friday, ADM lawyers served Greenpeace
with notice of a court injunc tion and a restraining order that
would prohibit any further protests at ADM facilities.
Last week in Europe, Greenpeace blockaded shipments of soybeans
being imported by Cargill as they arrived into Antwerp and Ghent
in Belgium. The protests were both ended following court
injunctions f ining Greenpeace 30 000 dollar for every hour that
the protests continued. Over the weekend Greenpeace activists
painted 'No X-soya' on both sides of another Cargill vessel, just
before she entered B elgium waters. The Greenpeace ship the Sirius
has been impounded in Belgium since last Thursday.
Greenpeace has complied with all of the court orders but said its
campaign would continue. Greenpeace believes genetically
engineered organisms pose a serious risk to the environment, human
health and the future health of the U.S farm economy.
GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS RELEASED FROM JAIL
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANNA, NOVEMBER 20TH 1996
Five Greenpeace activists arrested yesterday at the Cargill grain
terminal for protesting the companies export of genetically
engineered soybeans were released today. The activists (Peter
Bradley, Anibal Rivera, Monica Rhode, David DeRosa, Tanya
Whitford) have been charged with criminal trespass and were held
over night at St. John the Baptist Parish and were released with
$3,000 bond.
In the past week Greenpeace has escalated its campaign against the
new genetically engineered soybean created by chemical giant
Monsanto and exported by grain companies Cargill, ADM and others.
Last week in Louisiana, Greenpeace and representatives from the
National Family Farm Coalition and National Family Farm Defenders
came together to protest at a Monsanto facility on the Mississippi
river and jointly demanded that Monsanto take the genetically
altered soybeans off the market. Also last week, Greenpeace
activists blockaded the Acher Daniels Midland (ADM) grain facility
in Destrehan, Louisiana and called for the grain facility to
ensure separation of the genetically altered soybeans from natural
soybeans. On Friday, ADM lawyers served Greenpeace with notice of
a court injunction and a restraining order that would prohibit any
further protests at ADM facilities.
On Thursday the European Parliament voted to call for the
segregation of the genetically engineered soybeans from the normal
soybeans. Cargill has refused to separate the soybeans sparking
protests in Europe and the United States. Greenpeace believes
genetically engineered organisms pose a serious risk to the
environment, human health and the future of the U.S. farm economy.
Greenpeace vowed today to continue its international campaign
against genetically engineered soybeans
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tzeporah Berman or Terri Johnson, Greenpeace, (504) 566-9500 or
(504) 421-5262 or (504) 421-3285.
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