The biotechnology industry met in San Francisco from June 6-9th, to "celebrate the benefits of biotech to health, agriculture, the economy and the environment." BIO 2004 was countered by an alternative gathering called Reclaim the Commons, from June 3-9th. Although BIO's website claims that the Bay Area "is the world's leading bioscience corridor," the Bay Area is also renowned for its recent resistance against global capitalism, protests against destruction of the environment, and the US war on Iraq.
On Friday, 6/4/2004, a press conference was held to announce the opening of the Convergence Space and Welcome Center, which was located at 960 Howard Street, adjacent to the 6th Street neighborhood, and around the corner from the IMC media lab at 6th Street Books. The new, anti-GMO Radical Family Collective provided fun and educational activities for children during the mobilization (mailing list). Food Not Bombs and Seeds of Peace served food at many of the events.

Events: Reclaim the Commons held a teach-in from June 3rd through 5th. On Saturday, June 5th, a Reclaim the Commons contingent participated in the anti-war march and a temporary autonomous zone was set up in at the entrance of Golden Gate Park later in the day. New College held a film festival to benefit Reclaim the Commons on June 6th. Events on June 6th also included Really, Really Free Market (Report Photos: 1 | 2) and a Food Fight to show third world responses to GMO food aid. There was a Racial Justice Day of Action on June 7th. Direct actions took place as part of a planned shut-down of the BIO conference at Moscone Center early on June 8th, and a mutant Reclaim the Streets party took Market Street later in the day. Arrests at the RTS continued until nearly midnight. The week closed with eco-actions on June 9th (Photos: 1. The week also included a variety of trainings and action spokescouncils so affinity groups could help to make decisions about the actions.
On Channel 29 in San Francisco, StreetLevel TV aired an exclusive interview with Professor Ignacio Chapela, whose scientific findings on the transferrence of transgenic materials have raised the ire of the biotech industry. Photos and Video from RTC's May 19th Press Conference. Radio public service announcement
Read a list of events on the Reclaim the Commons Calendar. For more info: Biotech IMC | BioDev | West Coast G8 Protests