It was great to see associations like the Confédération Paysanne, the Faucheurs Volontaires, and Greenpeace, and I learned about a new association called the Sea Shepard conservation society which takes on the threats to sea wildlife and their natural habitat.

The members of Sea Shepard showcased an interesting and inventive product called the Moulibox (35-40 euro), a mini composter that can be kept inside and used to recycle food and other organic waste. The box comes complete with 150 worms to get you started. This 100% made in France wonder product was invented with the intention of getting people involved not only in composting but, as their site says, "an act of citizenship....that could become a way of life".

With the exception of the beer and probably some other home products that I didn't get to because I had to break from the crowds at some point, I'm not sure that you can find a ton of things at the Salon Marjolaine that you couldn't just find at your local biocoop, but it was nice to see the masses come out and celebrate organic living. If I were to urge someone to go visit the Salon, it would be because of the food vendors. You should definately go on an empty stomach and most certainly taste freely of all that is offered.

I love it when vegetarian food is the norm and not the exception and that is certainly the case at the Parc Floral for the next two days. I noshed on vegetarian spring rolls (with tofu) and salivated when I saw seitan pot roast on the menu. There were also lovely looking pumpkin fries and soups and all kinds of veg-friendly sandwiches with veggie paté and tofu spreads. Yum!

I'm still looking forward to getting tipsy and hanging out with some huge bunnies when the Salon de l'Agriculture rolls around, but I found the Salon Marjolaine to be satisfying in that it validates a lifestyle choice and brings it's followers together to eat, drink, and all the rest...

Libellés : compost, Confédération Paysanne, Faucheurs Volontaires, Greenpeace, organic, organic booze, Salon de l'Agriculture, Salon Marjolaine, Sea Shepard, vegetarian

In reaction to the event, environmental activist and Vice-President of the Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development for the European Parliment, José Bové commented, “the grapevine fanleaf virus is an agronomical problem...which can be addressed by innovative solutions arrived at through participatory research which the farmers can benefit from... [the research] should be oriented towards the multiple alternatives and the many possibilities that need to be further pursued, notably the alternatives that are the result of the know-how of the farmers themselves.”

The government, however, “firmly” condemned the act in a press release issued on August 16 saying that they “insist upon the necessity of scientists to be able to work in serenity, especially given that the modes of testing the GMOs were the product of a large consensus.” The authors of the press release, which included the Minister of Research and Higher Education Valérie Pécresse and the Minister of Food, Nutrition, and Fishing Bruno Le Maire vowed to “continue to support research in biotechnology, which is indispensable for the future of agriculture”.

Les Faucheurs Volontaires must be used to these mixed reactions and accept them along with the legal fees and punishments that come along with their special brand of agricultural activism. Fines and prison sentences are often the aftermath of their protests, which have taken place in French regions such as Nonette, Avelin and Poinville.

The price of their actions pales in comparison to the cost to the environment and our health that results in the use of GMOs and the Faucheurs are dedicated to eradicating the use of chemicals in France's vineyards. The website Amis de la Terre sums up the groups mission statement and justifications for civil disobedience explaining “what the Faucheurs denounce is the out in the open experimentation on crops which lead to the irreversible contamination of vegetable species. They stand up for humanity's heritage. What they denounce is the patenting of living organisms which places farmers from both the North and South under the domination of biotechnology companies which, rather than reducing hunger in the world, risks to increase it.”

Given the group's charter, it's no surprise that their enemy number one is the American biotechnology giant, Monsanto. In his 2005 article Monsanto, Dr. Raoul Marc Jenner calls Monsanto a “transnational company which, from agent orange to “Terminator” seeding, not to mention the production of PCB, pesticides and highly toxic herbicides, along with carcinogenic growth hormones and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), has sought out higher profits through the manufacturing the most noxious products.” Jenner cites Aldous Huxley and George Orwell's theory that total control of our food chain is the ultimate objective of international agricultural companies and notes its validity and eventuality writing, “the manufacturing of GMOs and patenting living organisms are the technical means [to this end]. The European Union and the World Trade Organization provide the legal framework.”

The Faucheurs Volontaires represent a movement to stop the control and inotoxication of our food chain and, regardless of fines, prison time and governmental condemnation, we all reap the benefits of their actions and their activism. This was recognized by the courts in Orléans and later in Versailles which acknowledged in 2005 that the Faucheurs' scything of a crop of Monsanto's transgenic corn was an act that was motivated by a “necessary state” of concern for the detrimental affects of GMOs.

If you live in France, you can support the Faucheurs Volontaires by buying their wine (see biocoop entry, Day 4) you can also support by donating money in order to defray legal fees, or you can sign this petition.

The least you can do is buy some organic booze and raise your glass to some of France's favorite saboteurs: the Faucheurs.

Libellés : civil disobedience, Faucheurs Volontaires, GMO/OGMs, José Bové, Monsanto, organic booze

which is much more priced than at Naturalia. You can pick and choose microbrews that hover around 1,80€ a bottle- just be sure not to pick up a non-alcoholic brew by mistake, they are deceptively mixed in with the adult beverages. Our personal favorite is the "Vin des Faucheurs" which is sold for 5,50€ a bottle. This absolutely delightful red is sold to support the faucheurs- activists that cut scythe genitically modified crops (OGM in French)- with the proceeds going to paying these scofflaw farmers fines and legal fees. The bottle explains that, "No insurance can cover the environmental and public health risks linked to OGMs, simply because these risks are incalcuable and irresversible". It is a pleasure to support the civil disobedience of those engaged in the fight against food facism- and the wine is really, really good!

Libellés : 75017, biocoop, cooperatives, Faucheurs Volontaires, Naturalia, organic booze