[Sdpg] "Stop Playing with our Food!!" The Rutabaga Circus Bicycle Caravan]

[Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: "Stop Playing with our Food!!"  The Rutabaga Circus Bicycle Caravan
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:58:10 -0400
From: John Lozier <john.lozier at MAIL.WVU.EDU>
Reply-To: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group 
<SANET-MG at LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU>
To: SANET-MG at LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU

Saneteers, does anyone know what is happening with the Rutabaga Circus
bicycle caravan from Saint Louis to Washington, DC?

By way of review, back on about May 17, we saw reports of a protest against
genetic engineering which was foiled by police.  The circus folks were
arrested and detained for a while, and when they got their bikes back the
tires had been slashed.

For the background, go to http://www.biodev.org/caravan/ and/or google for
Rutabaga Circus Bicycle.

Here's what they were saying back in April, when hopes were high:

(start copy-paste)
April 07, 2003
Welcome

We are a group of concerned bicyclists, puppeteers, musicians, farmhands,
clowns, cheerleaders, activists, eaters of food and drinkers of water. We
are united in a quest to seek out food (thats our fuel) that is not
tampered with by biotechnology corporations. We ride for diversity, organic
farming, and biojustice everywhere!

And our mission is to CARAVAN ACROSS THE CORNBELT!

DEPARTURE: May 19, World Agricultural Forum, St. Louis, MO.
ARRIVAL: June 19, Biotechnology Industry Organization Convention,
Washington, DC

Lets make one thing clear, this is not a ride for sport. This is transport.
We will move approximately 40-50 miles a day, while carrying loads of
puppetshows, musical instruments, and other gear that we will need for
survival. But most importantly, we are carrying a message to the people and
to Washington to say to say, "Stop Playing With Our Food!" Everyone knows
that Monsanto's former execs now sit pretty in the FDA. We challenge them
to a food fight!

Did we mention we are also a circus? YES!

The Flying Rutabega Circus Review!

We are members from the Puppetual Motion Cycle Circus, Liberty Cabbage
Theater Revival, and a few more clown coalitions, who together comprise a
rag-tag ensemble of circus acts, puppet shows, jugglers and musical
numbers. Join in on the low-tech, high-energy, rough-and-tumble action that
will spring up in unlikely places: street corners, farmers markets, farms,
community centers, the steps of your city hall, or the National Mall. We'll
also offer lectures, debates, panel discussions and workshops for the heady
and information hungry.

Want to Get Involved? Contact us at: caravan at ifairtrade.net

We are looking for bike riders, performers, farmers, and activists to join
our merry caravan!

We also need contacts in the places we'll be passing through. If you are
between St. Louis and DC, let us know how you can help with housing, food,
or arranging a performance.

We propose to help farmers along the way, as well as connect with bicycle
groups and help advocate the internal combustion that comes from happy
digestion.

Lets Ride for Real Food!

(end copy-paste)

Is this project going ahead?  If so, is there anyone else out there
(besides me) who might want to "run away and join the circus?"  It would be
very tempting.  Their itinerary brought them right through here
(Morgantown, WV).

Peace.
John Lozier



--
L.F.London
lfl at intrex.net
http://market-farming.com
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech


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