Cologne Cathedral Symbol of Protest Against Genetic Manipulation

["Greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

Greenpeace campaign: Cologne Cathedral as a symbol of protest against
genetic manipulation of plants and animals. 

Cologne, 26th 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 ethic duty to support the opponents of genetic engineering. 



Information: +49 - 40 - 306 18 395

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.