GM maize

GM quarantine in Romania

Posted by jamie — 5 September 2007 at 5:30pm - Comments

A Greenpeace volunteer sprays a car leaving Braila island, Romania

How's this for a creative and exciting example of direct action - it's a blockade but with a difference. Earlier this morning in Romania, Greenpeace volunteers quarantined a whole island where GM soya crops are being grown, which is illegal under EU law. Vehicles leaving Braila island were hosed down by people wearing white biohazard suits to prevent genetic contamination spreading to the mainland. Even a donkey and cart were washed and made GM-free!

Article tagged as: direct actions, EU, france, GM, GM crops, GM maize, GM soya, romania

EU bans US maize imports

Last edited 18 April 2005 at 8:00am
18 April, 2005

The European Union has today (Friday 15th April) decided to prohibit all imports of US maize gluten feed which cannot be guaranteed free of Bt10, an illegal GM maize variety that has recently contaminated US farms and been imported into the EU. This decision is likely to mean a de facto ban on all US maize imports, since the GM company Syngenta, which produced Bt10 maize, has been unable to provide a method to detect for its presence.

Greenpeace warned that without more coherent action by EU governments Europe will remain exposed to high-risk imports of illegal GMOs, in wheat, rice, soybeans and rape seed, as well as maize.

Article tagged as: EU, GM, GM imports, GM maize, press releases, USA

GM ruling win

Last edited 9 November 2004 at 9:00am
GM activists boarding the MV Etoile

GM activists boarding the MV Etoile

Thirteen Greenpeace volunteers who stopped a shipment of genetically modified (GM) crops from entering the UK have had a charge dropped against them.

The charges alleged that our volunteers endangered the safety of the MV Etoile when they stopped it docking at Bristol to unload a cargo of GM crops in June. However, South Wales Magistrates Court decided that there was not enough evidence for a crown jury to consider the charge.

Article tagged as: animal feed, ASDA, bristol, direct actions, GM, GM maize, safeway, sainsburys, tesco, trials, wales

Greenpeace volunteers win GM ruling

Last edited 8 November 2004 at 9:00am
8 November, 2004

A South Wales magistrates court today ruled that 13 Greenpeace volunteers who stopped a shipment of GM crops from entering in the UK do not have to face charges under the Merchant Shipping Act.

Article tagged as: animal feed, contamination, direct actions, GM, GM maize, press releases

Bush suppresses GM crop warnings

Last edited 19 October 2004 at 8:00am
Greenpeace activists intercept ship carrying contaminated maize to Mexico

Greenpeace activists intercept ship carrying contaminated maize to Mexico

Monsanto and the US government have been telling the world that genetically modified crops pose no contamination threat to natural indigenous species. But we have learned from a leaked report that NAFTA disagrees and is recommending steps to avoid a genetic threat to natural maize in Mexico.

Article tagged as: george bush, GM, GM contamination, GM maize, mexico, monsanto, NAFTA, USA

GM maize rubber stamp spells disaster for UK wildlife

Last edited 13 January 2004 at 9:00am

The Government's statutory adviser, ACRE (the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment), has released its interpretation of the results of the GM crop farm-scale evaluations (FSEs).

These four-year tests examined the impact that growing GM crops in the UK might have on wildlife. They specifically compared damage to wildlife caused by weed control in GM crops fields, with weed control associated with conventional crops. In essence, the tests examined the impact of different chemical herbicide use, rather than the GM crops themselves.

Article tagged as: ACRE, farmscale trials, GM crops, GM maize, press releases

Greenpeace statement on the Southern African food crisis

Last edited 1 November 2002 at 9:00am
Crop: maize

Crop: maize

November 2002

Greenpeace's position on the potential food crisis in Southern Africa is clear: if it comes down to a choice between people eating GM maize or facing starvation we would urge affected states to distribute milled GM maize. To take any other position would be morally unjustifiable.

Greenpeace has never lobbied African countries to reject GM food aid or offered any advice on agricultural affairs. However, some countries have consistently voiced their concerns over GM food. We believe that even in emergency situations, international relations cannot be based upon a rule of

Article tagged as: famine, GM crops, GM maize, hachette

Government announces location of more GM crop trials

Last edited 14 March 2002 at 9:00am
A field of organic crops

A field of organic crops

Article tagged as: farmscale trials, GM, GM maize, GM trials, oilseed rape, sugar beet

Greenpeace calls for real solutions in agriculture -

Last edited 3 September 2001 at 8:00am
3 September, 2001

Greenpeace today accused the world's governments of failing to fulfil their commitment to reduce world hunger (1) while ignoring the methods of agriculture that are environmentally sound and proven. Nutritious, high-yielding crops are already being grown. It is the commercial power and political influence of the chemical companies promoting GM farming that prevent proper investment in these real solutions.

Article tagged as: agriculture, bread for the world, DfID, future of farming, GM, GM maize, press releases

GM on trial

Last edited 7 November 2000 at 9:00am
Publication date: 
7 November, 2000

On 26 July 1999, 28 Greenpeace volunteers were arrested for their part in peacefully removing a crop of genetically modified (GM) maize. At the subsequent trial for criminal damage, the legal defence was that those involved had a 'lawful excuse' in removing the maize. This book brings together the statements submitted to the court by scientific experts, demonstrating that the defendants beliefs about the risks from GM were reasonable. The scientific case supporting their beliefs was never challenged by the prosecution, so these statements were never aired in court.

Download the report:
Article tagged as: farmscale trials, GM crops, GM maize, reports, trials