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COLOGNE CATHEDRAL: PROTEST AGAINST GENETIC MANIPULATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS.26 March 1997
50 activists from the environmental protection organisation Greenpeace today demonstrated in and around Cologne Cathedral against genetic manipulation of living creatures. Greenpeace members climbed up the exterior of the two towers of the Cathedral, attaching a banner with the words
"Man is not God - down with genetic manipulation".
Greenpeace considers the numerous genetic engineering projects to constitute a threat to biodiversity, ecological systems and hence also creation. "We do not want to attack the Catholic church," says Joerg Naumann, genetic engineering expert at Greenpeace, "we merely want to show that we have reached a cross-roads. If we don't do something now, genetic engineering will pervade our entire lives and not just our food." Greenpeace has been fighting for months to prevent the introduction of genetically engineered soybeans in food.
As recently as on 21st March, Toblerone chocolate in Switzerland was found to contain genetically engineered soybeans, forcing the producer to withdraw roughly 500 tons of chocolate from the market. Greenpeace is also attempting to prevent the cultivation of genetically engineered maize in Europe, contending that Europeans must be given the choice between genetically engineered and natural food.
Most of the genetic engineering projects in the agricultural industry do not have any benefits for consumers. All they do is boost the profits of chemical companies such as Monsanto or Novartis (Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz). The cloning of Dolly the sheep proves that there are no limits to the experiments performed by scientists on genetic material. Dolly merely involved the transfer of genetic material in sheep.
However, researchers in Poland are already experimenting with human growth genes in carp, while scientists in Scotland are implanting human genes in cattle. These super-animals and plants pose a threat to agricultural biodiversity and the wealth of life in natural ecological systems. The chemical companies will not abandon these projects unless they are unable to sell any genetically engineered products, e.g. in the food area. To this end, the concentrated resistance of our entire society is necessary. Here as well, Greenpeace sees the church as having an ethical duty to support the opponents of genetic engineering.
For more information contact:
Greenpeace Germany tel: +49 40 306 18 395
Greenpeace International James Gillies tel: +31 20 524 9548.
A message from Greenpeace:
Dear visitors to Cologne Cathedral and citizens of Cologne,
The international environmental organisation Greenpeace is at Cologne Cathedral today to demonstrate against the genetic manipulation of living creatures. Genetic engineering is becoming increasingly prevalent particularly with agrochemical companies. Imports of genetically manipulated soybeans from the USA to Europe and the planned cultivation of genetically engineered maize are just two examples of this.
We trust that you will appreciate why we are here today: The Greenpeace campaign is not directed against the religious feelings of Christians. We respect the Cathedral as a place of faith, peace, reflection and repose. Under no circumstances will we disrupt your visit to the Cathedral. Instead, we will remain outside.
We also respect Cologne Cathedral as a historical and cultural heritage. Accordingly, all precautions have been taken to prevent any damage to this valuable building. All Greenpeace activists stationed here today have been instructed accordingly. Even so, we consider our campaign to be important as genetically manipulated organisms represent irreversible interference with nature. Altering animal and plant genetic material is an affront to creation, disturbing the intricate balance which has developed over million of years and which ensures that genetic information is passed on from living creature to living creature. This problem concerns all life on earth and all people, Christians and Nonchristians.