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Publicação:
17-08-2007 23:28
| Última actualização:
17-08-2007 23:30
Activists destroy transgenic farm in Silves Owner in despair after invasion Around 100 anti-GM (genetically modified) activists destroyed around one hectare of transgenic corn in a Silves farm. The owner was brought to tears as he watched helpless his investment being destroyed.
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João Menezes, 56, the farmer-owner of Herdade da Lameira, told Lusa news he felt ‘outraged’ at the act of vandalism which destroyed his GM culture.
‘This is my wife and my sons’ keep. This is all I have for a living. If you cut my crop, I starve. Someone has to pay for this,’ said the farmer, assuring that everything was above board and inspected by the ministry of Agriculture.
The engineer responsible for overseeing his GM crop, Luís Grifo, expressed his ‘repugnance’ at the actions of the environmentalists assuring that Board of Crop Protection had inspected the crop.
‘The only reason why anyone knows that this is a GM crop is because everything was done by the book, everyone was notified and the neighbours were alerted,’ explained Luís Grifo.
The engineer said that in Portugal ‘corn can only be produced three months in the year’ and for the rest of the year it is dependent on imported corn, 90 per cent of which is genetically modified.
About 100 activists from Portugal and abroad invaded the property shouting ‘No to GM!’ They were finally expelled by the GNR police and the farmer.
The activists wore cloths around their faces, as they put it, to protect themselves from the transgenic pollen.
After leaving the razed property at about 1pm they marched on Poço Barreto village to raise awareness against transgenic products, always escorted by GNR police.
The activists carried banners which read ‘Transgenic danger of contamination’ and ‘No transgenics in the Algarve’.
The action was organised by the environmental movement Verde Eufémia, and was supported by some local residents and biological farmers who are against the use of GM crops. |
Publicação:
19-08-2007 23:07
| Última actualização:
20-08-2007 01:49
GNR investigated Home Office minister wants GNR inaction in farm destruction explained The Home Office minister has ordered an investigation into the actions taken by the GNR on Friday in Silves when it failed to stop a group of environmentalists from destroying a GM plantation. Rui Pereira said it was unacceptable to stand by and let property be destroyed.
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The ministry says that an investigation will be carried out by the proper authorities.
Yesterday, Social Democrats asked for the minister to explain the ‘passive and complacent attitude’ of GNR officers who witnessed the destruction of the crop.
Around one hundred activists against Genetically Modified Organisms, raided and destroyed around one hectare of transgenic corn that was being legally grown in Herdade da Lameira farm in Silves. The raid was organized by the environmental group Verde Eufémia. |
Publicação:
23-08-2007 17:13
| Última actualização:
23-08-2007 17:14
Minister defends himself After being told he cannot provide legal representation to private individual In the aftermath of the destruction of a GM crop in Silves the minister of Agriculture pledged he would provide the farmer, victim of a raid by environmentalists, with legal representation. The Law Order spoke out saying that such a move was illegal.
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But the minister of Agriculture, Jaime Silva, explained the help that he pledged would not involve getting a lawyer. The Ministry would merely provide the farmer withal the official documents he needed to explain the legitimacy of what he was growing on the farm.
Slightly different from what Jaime Silva said when he visited the farm and promised legal representation to the farmer.
‘The legal aides in my office and at the Ministry of Agriculture will support him in filing a complaint,’ he said at the time.
The Law Order found the offer ‘strange.’ It stated that for a ministry to provide legal aid was ‘illegal’, ‘incomprehensible’, and it created an ‘unworkable’ legal precedent.
‘You cannot name legal representation for someone, whether you are a private company or public institution. If that happened anyone would be able to demand legal representation from a government ministry,’ said the Order.
Silva told SIC news that his words had been taken out of context, and that the opposition was trying to get mileage from side issues such as this one, instead of coming up with ideas for the management of GM crops.
Left Bloc leader says minister lied
The leader of the Left Bloc, Francisco Louçã said in an interview with SIC news that he did not back the raid to the GM farm in Silves.
But he also accused the minister of Agriculture of lying when he said that the Left Bloc was behind the events that destroyed the GM crop on the Silves farm. | |
