Balls-Up In Genoa

On May 25th, representatives from 21 countries tried to use Genoa as a biotechnology showcase. But the event backfired, ending up ringed by 5,000 Italian riot police, disowned by the city authorities, dumped by the government and besieged by protesters. A group of councils (including Genoa's!) which had banned genetically modified food, sent their mayors to the demonstrations! The protesters united under the slogan 'Rebellion is Natural'. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth had earlier pulled out of the rallies because they were billed as a "mini-Seattle".