"The idea that life is merely a manufacture...and hence tenable hasn't sunk into the human consciousness, it's still in the draft and propaganda of the corporations...it's not in our minds." Vandana Shiva, June 22, 2001
Hundreds were in attendance this weekend for Beyond Biodevastation, a teach-in discussing biowarfare, human genetic engineering, biopiracy, and farm and food issues. Beyond Biodevastation is the fifth in a series of international grassroots gatherings against the biotechnology industry. Last year, more than 4,000 people gathered in Boston in what was the largest gathering against biotechnology in the Western hemisphere. Activists, community members, concerned citizens, and NGOs are gathering in San Diego to protest against the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (bio.org) annual conference, which is the largest gathering of biotechnology corporations, scientists, and marketers in the world.
TV News reports as well as police statements are fueling community fears about events planned for this week in San Diego and around the world. Local media in San Diego were surprised by the pacifist crowd at the conference, but the police presence set an ominous tone that hampered the educational and discursive goals of the attendees.
For more information, visit Biodevastation 2001
