May 17, 200 / Reuters / David Brough
ROME -- Environmentalists were cited as saying on Wednesday that thousands of people are expected to join a protest against genetically modified crops at an international biotechnology conference in the north Italian city of Genova next week.
The conference, organised by the Genova Trade Fair from May 24-26, is, the story adds, likely to draw speakers from leading life sciences companies and will discuss plant biotechnology, agricultural, health care and environmental issues.
Ivan Verga, spokesman of a prominent Italian environmentalist group "Green Environment and Society," was quoted as telling Reuters that, "We expect thousands of people to join a sit-in in front of the conference building on May 25. We have been mobilising support for this protest in cities across Italy over the past three months. We want a transgenic moratorium and a five-year halt to experimentation and marketing of GM products."
Greenpeace, which will have a stand at the conference, planned to join the protest with other environmental groups and expected thousands to attend, spokeswoman Monica Pepe said.
The story adds that Greenpeace put up a giant condom-covered corn cob in front of the Rome Health Ministry in August last year to protest against GM foods it said were unwanted and risky.
(posted without permission)
