French Court Validates Anti GM Activists' Action

international | environment | other press Monday December 12, 2005 17:33 by pat c

Three cheers for the Orleans Court! They have recognised that the destruction of GM crops was a justified action. Full article at the link.

French Court Decides Activists' Destruction Of GM Crops Was Justified


Orleans, France (AFP) Dec 9, 2005
In a judgement expected to send a chill through companies growing genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe and embolden their opponents, a French court Friday acquitted 49 activists who destroyed GM plants after ruling their actions were justified.

The court in the central city of Orleans dismissed the criminal charges of organised vandalism against the 49, who had uprooted GM maize in the region planted by the US biotechnology group Monsanto in two incidents, one last year and the other in 2005.

"The defendants have shown proof that they committed an infraction of voluntary vandalism in a group to respond to a situation of necessity," the court said.