fr
Last events
Scientific and cultural events on GMOs in Languedoc-Roussillon
In 2007 GMO crops were grown on close to 100 million hectares in the world and the figure keeps growing. In France and the rest of Europe public opinion is alarmed and is opposed to finding GMO on their plates and in their fields. European directives and national laws are adopted with the mixed feeling of distrust and powerlessness to come to grips with question considered too complicated and whose attendant stakes are still fuzzy.
In the European Union there are regions such as the Languedoc Roussillon that voice their opposition and have signed the Florence Charter to declare that they are free of GMOs.
In France, following agreements on environment-related policies set out in the Grenelle de l'environnement, the safeguard clause suspending cultivation of GMO maize (MON810) in Europe became operational in February 2008, thus freezing GMO crops at least for this year. But in May 2008 a highly controversial law was voted in after roudy political episodes that showed the complexity and importance of the subject.
BEDE for several years has been developing a programme to make the debate on GMO, long considered the private domaine of specialists, more democratic. This was the background to the scientific and cultural events that BEDE organised on the GMOs, with support from the Languedoc-Roussillon region and local associations. Three events were held on the same day and the same place: Questions on GMOs for secondary school students, a conference/debate and a comedy stage play called "sinning with GMOs" with professional actors from the Carpe Diem & Cie troop.
Some 100-200 people participated in the events which reached a large audience: January 2007 together with the Castries town hall, with elected officials in attendance; in Olargues in August 2007 together with the Cebenna Association as part of the Sceno'vertes festival , in September 2007 in Montpellier the public was supportive and the Confédération Paysanne (farmers' union) with focus on a court case in which Monsanto executives were being accused of illegale, voluntary contamination of genetically modified seed.
In Clapiers in May 2008, when the Assembly was voting, the local associations (ATTAC Pic Saint Loup, Stop OGM 34) decided to debate the consequences of the law.
Each conference dwelt on different subjects of interest to the coorganisers and the public.
The exhibit, prepared together with the Académie de Montpellier, was meant specifically for the secondary school students. It presented far-reaching information in an appealing matter. A quizz was held at the end to test the students' knowledge.
The stage play was the hit of the day. It was funny, readily understandable and presented complex subjects in an entertaining, forceful manner.
Reference: "le Péché Ogémique"
A play of the company "Carpediem et Cie".
Contact: Theatre Pêle-Mêlle - 171, rue Jean-Michel Savigny - 69400 Villefranche sur Saône - France - Tel. 04 74 07 16 19
e-mail: info@theatrepelemele.fr