Expansionary Institute

Greenpeace blocks ship in French protest,

Greenpeace blocks ship in French protest

BORDEAUX, France, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Activists of the Greenpeace environmentalist group prevented a ship on Monday from unloading a cargo of soybeans which they said were genetically modified.

The activists occupied two unloading cranes and sailed rubber dinghies around the freighter Polidefkis P. as it reached a port near this southwestern city.

French radio said the ship flew a Greek flag and had arrived from New Orleans in the United States. Greenpeace said it was carrying 22,000 of soybeans.

The activists initially said they planned to prevent the ship from docking, but later relented amid fears that the ship might have been grounded during the low tide.

Greenpeace wants to prevent genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from reaching Europe. GMO crops are commonplace in the United States but France remains highly reluctant to sanction new genetic technology in agriculture.

07:16 12-11-00

Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Fri Dec 15