Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Protests Gather in San Diego for Biotech Conference

Aired June 24, 2001 - 16:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Protesters are already gathering in San Diego today for the annual Biotechnology Conference. And genetically-engineered foods are among the issues that they'll be demonstrating against.

CNN national correspondent Frank Buckley joins us now from the scene for a look at what's happening -- Frank?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right now, protesters are marching on the streets of San Diego in a permitted march, moving in this direction; a much smaller group than police here were expecting. They were expecting upwards of 5,000 demonstrators today -- instead, some 750 to 1,000 demonstrators are on the streets, according to official police estimates.

They are moving in this direction, toward the convention center, where Bio 2001 is getting underway. Inside the convention center, they are billing this as the world's largest biotech event. Some 15,000 people, who are members of the biotech industries here for discussions on genetic research and development, in the areas of health care, agriculture, and environmental management. Keynote speakers will be talking about the human genome research.

Outside of the convention hall, however, there is a counter- convention underway. They are calling that Biodevastation 2001. Among the issues of concern among this group of people, genetically altered foods.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN TOKAR, PROTEST ORGANIZER: We are calling for end of commercialization of genetically engineered foods. The industry has not demonstrated that these products are safe. There is absolutely no independent research saying that it's safe to consume these products. And more and more research that is coming down the line is proving that these products are harmful to the environment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DUANE ROTH, ALLIANCE PHARMACEUTICALS: This is the most highly regulated industry ever. And as I said, when it comes to drugs, the Food and Drug Administration has proven to be the platinum standard globally, in terms of safety and efficacy. In terms of food products. Plantings are reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Also, food products are reviewed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and ultimately, if there is any change of nutrition, or any implication of allergenicity, an ability to cause an allergic reaction, or health problem, it's reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: So that is a sense of some of the debate that will be taking place inside the convention center. Again, outside, a protest underway. A very relatively small march taking place compared to what police were expecting, of about 750 to 1,000 people moving in this direction.

Frank Buckley, CNN, reporting live from San Diego.

NELSON: Thank you, Frank.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com