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CNN Live Sunday

About 1,000 Protest San Diego Biotech Conference

Aired June 24, 2001 - 18:06   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of people are protesting the annual Biotechnology Industry Conference in San Diego, California. Attendees are discussing progress towards finding cures for disease, and also agricultural improvements, but, among other issues, demonstrators have a beef with genetically-altered food. CNN national correspondent Frank Buckley joins us live from San Diego with more.

Frank, good evening again.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening.

The protesters are still gathered here outside of the San Diego Convention Center to demonstrate against Bio 2001, billed as the world's largest biotech event.

The demonstrators are building their counter convention as Biodevastation 2001. They took to the streets here in San Diego, downtown San Diego this afternoon in a sometimes colorful parade with people dressed up as -- in costume. There were some colorful puppets. Upwards of 1,000 people converging at the Convention Center at one point, far fewer than police were expecting actually. They were expecting upwards of 5,000 people.

The sometimes amusing outfits of the protesters were used to draw attention to what they considered to be serious issues related to genetic research and development being discussed in the convention. One of the main areas of concern, as you mentioned, the genetic engineering of crops and food (UNINTELLIGIBLE), have protesters complaining that there are not proper protections or tests taking place of the genetically engineered foods.

They also are concerned about the affects of this on family farmers. They say that there is globalization taking place in the food industry that will hurt the small farmer. The biotech industry saying that some of these advances will help the malnourished of populations around the world.

So far, it's been a peaceful protest. Police have reported no injuries, also no arrests reported. The protests are expected to continue here as long as the Bio 2001 convention continues here. Police are promising a very strong presence in downtown San Diego throughout the week.

Frank Buckley, CNN, reporting live from San Diego. FRAZIER: Frank, thank you.

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