Greenpeace-Hooligans

[Copa]

Greenpeace protesters have broken into a CSIRO experimental farm in Canberra to destroy a crop of genetically modified wheat.

In the early hours of this morning a group of Greenpeace protesters scaled the fence of the CSIRO experimental station at Ginninderra in the capital's north.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-14/20110714-greenpeace-gm-protest/2794272

[Copa]

http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/07/australian_greenpeace_activist.html

Australian Greenpeace activists destroy GM wheat crop - July 14, 2011



Three Greenpeace activists broke into a scientific farm near Canberra overnight on 14 July and destroyed a crop of genetically modified wheat (see photo). The farm belongs to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Australian national science agency, and the crop was part of research into developing genetically modified crop plants with enhanced nutritional value.

Suzanne Cory, president of the Australian Academy of Sciences, issued a statement in which she condemned the attack. "For an organisation that claims to be dedicated to the protection of the environment, this is an unconscionable act," she said.

Greenpeace claims the research puts Australia's $4.7 million wheat industry at risk of 'inevitable' contamination. According to a Greenpeace Australia report published on 6 July, the CSIRO trials, which include consumption of the wheat by human volunteers, pose serious health, economic and environmental risks. The organisation says that the CSIRO had rejected their request for documents outlining the health, safety and ethical parameters of its human trials.

But the Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, which oversees experiments using genetically modified organisms, had already approved the trials and rated them as posing a 'negligible' risk to humans or the environment.

The wheat crop had been engineered to have a lower glycaemic index and higher fibre content. CSIRO chief director of Plant Industries Jeremy Burdon told ABC news the attack was "a setback to an important global food security program".

Other Australian scientists expressed their anger at Greenpeace Australia's actions via Twitter. They used publicity photos released by Greenpeace to accuse the organisation of hypocrisy, saying such attacks are far more likely to lead to the release of GM materials than controlled scientific trials. They asked whether Greenpeace disposed of the destroyed plants in compliance with government regulations. @GreenpeaceAustP has posted an FAQ on the action, and says it will hold a live Q&A session on Monday 18 July at 19.00 Australian Eastern Standard Time.

[Copa]

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/blog/4523/the-sad-sad-demise-greenpeace

The sad, sad demise of Greenpeace
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Greenpeace protesters

Greenpeace protesters in hazmat suits destroy a crop of genetically modified wheat at the CSIRO experimental station at Ginninderra.



by Wilson da Silva

GREENPEACE WAS ONCE a friend of science, helping bring attention to important but ignored environmental research. These days, it's a ratbag rabble of intellectual cowards intent on peddling an agenda, whatever the scientific evidence.

It was once the most active, independent and inspiring civilian group for the environment. Whether riding zodiacs alongside boats carrying barrels of toxic waste to be dumped in the open sea, or campaigning against CFCs and HFCs that were depleting the ozone layer, Greenpeace did admirable work. ...

Now it is a sad, dogmatic, reactionary phalanx of anti-science zealots who care not for evidence, but for publicity.

[Copa]

http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/393593/csiro_gm_crop_attacked_by_greenpeace_had_negligible_risk/

...Scientists speak out

Scientists have spoken out against the destruction of the GM crop and the disruption of an ongoing experiment.

"I am deeply disappointed at the news that Greenpeace has stooped so far in their desperate attempt to gain publicity for their campaign against genetically modified wheat," said Professor Mark Tester, a plant scientist at the University of Adelaide. "GM technology is not a magic bullet but it does offer new opportunities to improve the quality and quantity of wheat. Scientists are trying to reduce the environmental impacts of farming and so help farmers in the developing world and Australia," he said.

"We have been modifying the genomes of plants for thousands of years using breeding technologies and continue to do so, giving them the properties that we desire. Previously we have been crossing plants and hoping for the best – now we are able to selectively choose the genes that we want and discard the ones that we don't."

Dr Christopher Preston, Associate Professor in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide, also spoke out against the action by Greenpeace.

"As an active scientist, I am appalled that a fellow scientist's experiments have been destroyed through this action," he said.

"I would be extremely upset if a member of the public had knowingly interfered with and destroyed some of my own scientific research that aims to improve the sustainability of Australian farmers.

"The destroyed trial was a small research trial that had been approved after assessment by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR). The OGTR had assessed the trial to offer no significant threat to human health or the environment."

[rincewind]

Now it is a sad, dogmatic, reactionary phalanx of anti-science zealots who care not for evidence, but for publicity.

Kann man nicht schöner sagen.

[Copa]

The ''peace'' part of the word Greenpeace has become an oxymoron. A more appropriate term would be Greenjihad, or maybe Greenwar.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/letters/general/greenpeace-more-like-green-war-against-the-poor/2229603.aspx?storypage=0