Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 3:38 pm

On the peaceful bank of the Oderbruch, Germans celebrate the ban on GM crops, and the destruction of a field trial in the vicinity that saw 52 arrested. Not far away, in Düllstadt, activists destroy the last remaining field trial of GM maize in Bavaria. A bit further south, in Switzerland, activists hurl a "lethal cocktail" into a field trial of GM wheat, while another Swiss field trial is enclosed by a double fence, patrolled by a guard and a dog. This all happened in the last few days. Europe isn't looking civilized.

In Leuenberg, Germany, activists gathered on the river-bank for a 'Summer Festival' to memorialize their earlier destruction of research. "It's natural that we meet here to celebrate our political victory", said an un-named member of the group, "and that we help support and build the network of opponents to genetic manipulation."

In Düllstadt, Germany, activists carefully avoided damage to a "buffer zone" of non-GM maize in the course of destroying the remainder of a field trial of three versions of MON810 maize. By leaving the buffer zone intact, the attackers were shielded from view during the destruction. The attempted research is acknowledged to be a total loss.

In Pully, Switzerland, the activists hurled an "unkown liquid" into a field trial of GM wheat. In the past, the liquid of choice for field-trial attackers has proven to be diesel oil, which so thoroughly pollutes the soil that nothing thereafter will grow, for years. A note posted on indymedia in French claiming responsibility for the attack described the substance as "lethal".

If this attack can be traced to the Confédération Paysanne, it will mean that the attack was funded by the European Union.

Meanwhile, a field trial of GM wheat at Reckenholz, Switzerland, has gained another fence. With two fences, and a guard and dog patrolling the area between the fences, this is thought to deter activists. But will these new measures suffice? In Germany, it's a crime to interfere with activists intruding on a field trial.

Advice to the guard: if the activists show up, take the dog and run. And don't stop until you reach a civilized country.