permission pending from www.tao.ca/~ban/1299nighttimegardener.htm
*This page was done by a student as an assignment for Biology 362
All comments and questions can be directed to Kevin Saunders.
Responses to RTS Attacks
The “direct actionist” group, RTS, has elicited a response from students, politicians, and fellow activists. Other activist groups, such as Future Farmers of America are teaming up with RTS to do nighttime gardening. The response from students at the University of California (UC-Davis) has been in line with that of California politicians. Their response collectively has been one of disgust. RTS demonstrations have been called ecoterrorism and labeled as the new threat to biotechnology (http://www.tao.ca/~ban/500ARrts.htm).
A doctorate student at UC-Davis testified at a California Assembly hearing that there was a need for laws to punish nighttime gardeners. This student had her research destroyed on the fifth visit of RTS to UC-Davis. She said that her research was not on genetically modified organisms, but rather on mutated plants (www.cfbf.com/agalert/1996-00/2000/aa-0524c.htm). RTS stated in their communiqué that if UC-Davis did not keep their research secret, RTS would not destroy the wrong crops. RTS feels that if they do not know which crops are genetically modified, then they must be cautious and destroy all the crops to be sure to get their target (http://www.tao.ca/~ban/500ARrts.htm ).
permission pending from www.xs4all.nl/~mke/gmfood.htm
The California government has passed Assembly Bill 2510 (www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/45leg/1r/summary/h.hb2481_3-07-01_aspassedthehouse.doc.htm). This bill makes anyone that destroys crops pertaining to any government agency or university liable for twice the crops value (www.cfbf.com/agalert/1996-00/2000/aa-0524c.htm). The bill received backing from students and Deans of UC-Davis. AB2510 was the first bill in California to address issues of anti-genetically modified crop destruction (www.cfbf.com/agalert/1996-00/2000/aa-0524c.htm). Similar laws have been passed throughout the United States since the passing of AB2510 (www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/45leg/1r/summary/h.hb2481_3-07-01_aspassedthehouse.doc.htm ).
Reclaim the Seeds maintains that it is looking out for the greater good. One member explains, “Our actions are motivated not by hatred, but rather a passionate love of life and respect for its incredible diversity” (http://www.tao.ca/~ban/500ARrts.htm ).
This site is maintained by Kevin Saunders, a student at Davidson College.
Last updated February 4, 2004.