Right to protest

摘要

What makes a terrorist? Certainly flying a plane into the World Trade Centre qualifies, but it seems that these days all sorts of other things may do as well. The terrorism bill that came into force in February 2001 is not reassuring, it seems you can just as easily become a terrorist by rolling in a field of genetically modified (GM) maize. Both acts could be construed as causing 'serious damage to property', although only one causes 5000 deaths, and, who knows, the other might save a few. Now, after September 11 there is evidence of an attempt to stifle anti-globalisation and anti-GM protesters by insinuating that they may be in some way in league with terrorism. I don't want to sound alarmist but I have already seen a woman I know well and admire greatly accused of having 'blood on her hands', as Craig Sams has also pointed out in these pages, just because she dares to challenge the claims of the GM- producing multinationals. So, if we argue, as Vandana Shiva has successfully done, that genetic modification (GM) is unsafe, are we all to be branded as terrorists?