(Portuguese movement of civil disobedience against GMO)*
One year ago, the Movimento Verde Eufemia (MVE) went into an action of
civil disobedience. In a symbolic but determined act they destroyed less
than 1 hectare of the first field of genetically modified corn in the
region of the Algarve, previously declared GMO Free Zone by local
authorities.
One year later, we decided to launch soliMoVe, Solidariedade com o
Movimento Verde Eufémia. soliMoVE is a group providing an international
platform for anyone that wishes to morally and politically support MVE
and the act of civil disobedience they performed.
A solidarity petition with the action of Movimento Verde Eufémia is also
available online. This petition aims to give moral and political support
to all the people, movements and organizations who suffer or can suffer
legal, political or personal consequences as a result of the action of
Movimento Verde Eufémia. *The petition can be read and signed at
http://gopetition.com/online/21252.html
<http://gopetition.com/online/21252.html>*
Your solidarity with the action and the activists is essential to
continue the struggle against the release of GMO in Portugal and the world!
*Visit our website and join the group at: http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/
<http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/>*
*Contact us at: solimove@googlemail.com <mailto:solimove@googlemail.com>*
........................................
The action of Movimento Verde Eufémia
* English <http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/taxonomy/term/1>
On August 17th 2007, around 150 people went to Herdade da Lameira, near
Silves, in the GM Free Region of the Algarve, in Portugal, to make a
protest against the cultivation of GMO (genetically modified organisms).
During the symbolic action 1 hectare was mowed.
The Algarve was the first region in Portugal to be declared a GMO-Free
Zone by the local authorities. This property, the first in the region
which cultivated GM corn of the variety MON810, violated the declaration
and disrespected the will of the citizens.
The activists publicly offered to recultivate the 51 hectares of
transgenic corn with organic corn. The proposal was rejected by the
owner, which continues to use GM corn, also in this year.
In the days following the action, the wide media attention MVE received
instigated a large polemic, resonating into layers of the general
public, the environmental movement itself, academics and even the
government. Never did any environmental action achieve so much attention
in the recent history of Portugal. The initial media highlights were not
so much on the subject of the action, the presence of GMO in Portugal,
but rather on the spectacular nature and the illegal aspect of it.
However in a second phase attention shifted as well to the debate on
GMO, and its dangers. For that reason alone, the action of MVE was
considered by many people with environmental concerns as a great success.
Because of that success, the current Portuguese government responsible
for a policy in favour of GMO has responded strongly in an attempt to
isolate the activists of MVE and other environmental organisations
struggling against GMO, through a strategy of criminalization. *This
strategy came to the point of even labeling the action as a terrorist
act* (Europol EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2008
<http://www.europol.europa.eu/publications/EU_Terrorism_Situation_and_Trend_Report_TE-SAT/TESAT2008.pdf>).
*Some people that have been brought in relation to the case by the
police are therefore facing the risk of being prosecuted.* In general,
it became harder to act against GMO in Portugal. Individuals or
organisations who attempt, run a high risk of being under suspicion and
surveillance by authorities.
* Action video
<http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/content/english/action-video>
* Press releases of Movimento Verde Eufémia
<http://solimove.liveinfo.nl/content/english/press-releases-movimento-verde-euf-mia>
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