(from PN January 1999)

Dumb, ill-informed arrogance

The power of the environmental movement is that it is diverse. In its diversity it mimics and replicates the very environment it is trying to protect.

To attack gXs because they are not destroying sites in their entirety is to miss the point of what they are trying to achieve. Yes, it is possible, though in reality doubtful, to destroy all the current genetically modified (GM) crops that are growing at over 300 test sites. The media response to such wanton criminal damage would be to concentrate on the criminality to the exclusion of all else. Support would be alienated.

It could be claimed that this does not matter if we eliminate all GM crops, but this would not happen and is simply to live in the fairytale world of the anonymous Agit-Wank. The likely response, and this is already happening, is that trials will take place at secret locations and government will limit the required test data and speed up trials.

The gXs approach pulls up a few token plants. Yes, technically criminal damage, but with the high media profile the issues are got across. No one would dispute that the damages claimed by Monsanto et al are ridiculous and simply a gagging suit, but this merely serves to highlight the injustices of what is happening, as McVomit found with the McLibel actions.

The only valid point raised by Agit-Wank, is that few people can realistically risk this type of action if they are putting at risk their home and personal assets.

What we are likely to see is an increase in both types of direct action as the public becomes increasingly dissatisfied with corrupt government in the pocket of big business.

Effective action can be taken by everyone simply by refusing to purchase products from those companies that are peddling GM food - Unilever (Birds Eye, Flora, Bachelors, Stork, Oxo, Ragu, Vesta, Colmans, etc), Safeway, Somerfield, Marks & Spencers, Holland & Barrett. The action snowballs: ask friends to follow your example, then pass the ball on.

Instead of launching divisive, counter-productive attacks on gXs, Agit-Wank would be best advised to channel their aggression at the real enemy, Monsatano.

Keith Parkins