The Bottomless pit
non-genomix - 27.11.2003 21:44
Activists Expose Genomics Investment Conference.
Today, the second annual meeting of Genomics, a project conceived by the Dutch biotech industry and the Dutch government to promote the use of genetics research, was confronted by activists with banners, fake paper money and chocolate coins. Participants at the conference were invited to throw the money into a constructed well, symbolic of the bottomless pit of genetech investments, sucking up resources but producing nothing of value to society.
The Genomics meeting gathered business, scientists, government and public institutions such as universities with the aim to present biotech projects and finding partners to further develop their ideas. Critical organisations were supposed to take part in the Genomics project but have never been seriously involved, and the meeting had as focus to find new investors from the private sector but also from the public sector.
The meeting was set up mainly as a networking event and brokered meetings between companies and venture capitalists. In the presentations given in the morning, one thing was made quite clear: One can only successfully start up a company, if one can be able to protect the future product, if one can patent it. Venture capitalists said quite clearly that they will only fund research where intellectual property (IP) can be “secured”.
Until now 300 million Euros of public money from the Dutch state has been channelled into the biotech industry without support or knowledge by the general public. Despite public distrust towards genetic engineering, particularly in the food chain, the government continues to support a business that has shown little, if no return on the massive investments it has received.
The action intended to expose how the Dutch government not only disregards the environmental and social risks of genetic engineering, but also the financial risks, by propping up the biotech industry with public money. Moreover, the action was also aimed at investors to explain that biotech is a bad investment. In a time of declining confidence in biotechnology research, with many corporations including Advanta and Syngenta pulling out of the Dutch biotech research market, surely the money can be spent more wisely (for example on organic agriculture, holistic medicine etc).
The banners read Genetech = slechte investering zelfs voor kapitalisten (Genetech = bad investment even for capitalists), Blijf van onze genen af (Stay away from our genes) and No Patents on Life. After the action, a people's 'masterclass' was given outside the conference venue, as opposed to the uncritical masterclasses given during the conference. Presentations by different speakers on the pitfalls of investment in genetics, the exploitation of patents on life and the disastrous consequences of genetics in agriculture were given. The masterclass was joined by some of the Genomics participants which ensured a lively debate.
www.genomics.nl
www.xminy.nl
www.aseed.net
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