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  • From: Lucy Goodman <goodows AT infinet.com>
  • To: market-farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Agroterrorism
  • Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 10:54:31 -0500

I pulled this off of the organic consumers website.

Watch Out for People Against Biotech, says FBI

Report Unusual Activities, FBI Agent Tells Farmers

The Enterprise Patrick County, Virginia

If your neighbor hates genetically modified corn, and he experiments
with explosives in the backyard, you probably should report him to local
police, an FBI agent told farmers.

Reporting unusual activities is a key to fighting agroterrorism, said
Jerry Lyons, an FBI special agent who serves in the weapons of mass
destruction countermeasures unit. "You might have one piece of the
puzzle that could solve the case."

Lyons and former Lt. Gov. John H. Hager, now assistant to the governor
for commonwealth preparedness, addressed farmers and agriculture leaders
on December 2, during the three-day annual convention of the Virginia
Farm Bureau Federation.

When asked for clues that someone might be interested in engaging in
terrorism, Lyons said a potential bioterrorist might strongly oppose the
consumption of milk or the use of genetically modified crops. However,
it's difficult to put together a profile of a domestic or international
terrorist, he noted.

In assessing potential threat, it's appropriate to look at the resolve
of the person or group, Lyons said. "Do they have the means" to carry
out a terrorist act? "Is it practical or worth their time?" to carry it out?

The Internet has made it easy for extreme environmental groups to post
information on terrorism methodology. Hager said "The goal of terrorists
is to undermine our faith, economy, government and confidence in our
food supply.

We'll never know how vulnerable we are to terrorism, "Hager said. "We
have to do all we can to reduce our vulnerability and do all we can to
continue this way of life in America and in Virginia"


Lyons noted that an extreme environmental group said on its Web site
"Fire is a tool. Arson works." However, it's a federal crime for anyone
to engage in teaching methods of terrorism, the agent added.

Tip sheets produced by the Virginia Cooperative Extension suggest that
farmers have only one entry/exit point per farm and consider using
security lights and controlled gate access. Extension also recommends
the use of electronic security devices such as motion detectors, door
alarms, video cameras and alarms linked to an off-site security system.

Other tips include posting signs that tell visitors where to report;
maintaining a record of visitors' names and companies, arrival and
departure times, and reasons for visiting; using visitor badges or ID
cards; and explaining disease control to visitors.

It also is recommended that farmers ask local law enforcement to patrol
a farm's perimeter at irregular times if threats occur. Additional
information is available online at www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/farm-security and
www.commonwealthpreparedness.state.va.us


Lucy Goodman
<br>New Paris, OH
<br>Boulder Belt Organics
<br>http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/boulderbeltcsa
<br>Looking for local food? Check out
<br>http://www.localharvest.org
<p>We have, I fear, confused power with greatness
<br>Stewart I. Udall</html>




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