FIRST GRASSROOTS GATHERING ON BIODEVASTATION Submitted by

rwolfson@pop3.concentric.net on October 11

The First Grassroots Gathering on Biodevastation took place July 17-19, 1998 in Saint Louis, Missouri, the home of the biotech giant Monsanto. There were over 120 conference participants from Europe, Asia, and North America. The conference was organized by the local Green Party (Gateway Greens) and the Edmonds Institute. International environmental activists at the conference included Dr. Vandana Shiva from India, Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher from UK, and Brewster Kneen from the Canadian Environmental Network. Participants emphasized that genetic engineering was primarily for financial gain for the biotech industry, and does not serve the interests of the public.

Mr. Kneen said a panel of four women scientists (Ms. Steinbrecher, Martha Crouch from Indiana, Elaine Ingham from Oregon, and Sonia Shmitz from Vermont) was a highlight of the conference. One by one, the women told their personal stories of why they had broken ranks with their professional colleagues and what their particular critique was of biotechnology.

"I have to keep wondering if there are not at least a few men somewhere who have seen through and turned against the macho, violent culture of genetic engineering," said Mr. Kneen.

Brian Tokar, Professor of Social Ecology at Goddard College, said "We need a powerful political movement to counter the claims of the biotechnology industry." "We are at the crossroads of history with one road (leading to) Monsanto and multinational corporations and industrial agriculture," said Ronnie Cummins, director of the Pure Food Campaign. "If we don’t organize a mass movement to go down the other road (of sustainable agriculture), in 30 years the next generation is going to curse us." Mr. Kneen suggested that while "good rebels" in Europe and the UK decontaminate trial plots of genetically engineered crops, Canada should join the Japanese in action at the supermarkets and in construction of alternative food systems.