Background information:Background information:
Everything happened very quickly - a couple of days after receiving a draft of the
genetiX snowball 'Handbook for Action' I had a call from genetiX snowball about a
genetics debate in Louth. I wanted to start a group in my area, so it was good to meet
like-minded people as well as those who we were up against. The next day I was putting
up posters advertising a meeting at a local cafe for the snowball action, a week later. We
had a really good response from people who wanted to be involved directly, and by those
who wanted to offer support.
The day before the action we met at a community centre for some training. A van load of people from Manchester came as well and we all got on almost instantly. Role-plays helped to prepare for employees, the police and media who had been notified of the action. This day was really valuable - it brought the group closer together and got rid of any worries.
The following morning we met at the cafe and then drove to the site. When we arrived,
the media had already gathered; they conducted interviews and took photos. After about
half an hour we walked up to the site. It was a beautiful sky blue day with a strange
atmosphere of adrenaline and calm.
We were blocked by the police at our first attempt to enter the site - some were arrested
for intent to cause criminal damage. The rest of us found another way in, closely
followed by the police. We were all warned after we began to dig and were then arrested.
I think the police were shocked at our non-resistance, which definitely increased their
respect for us. After being booked in at Lincoln Police Station we were put into cells until
we were interviewed. I shared a cell with a close friend, which was a comfort. We were
in there for about four hours - it wasn't a bad experience. We had a lot of laughs. I gave a
'no comment' interview and read out my personal statement which I kept with me. We
were all released with no conditions other than to return to the station about a month
later, but they ended up sending us letters telling us not to return because everything had
been dropped.
The support group were brilliant. We had chocolate and cards sent to our cells, and they
waited at the station for us all to be released.
I don't think the weekend could have gone much better than it did. We got a lot of publicity and several GM sugar beets - which were as large as footballs, out of the ground. I still can't believe how thoughtful, calm and focused everyone was. It was a completely different experience to any other direct action campaigns I've been involved in.
Prior to the action at Boothby Graffoe, genetiX snowball entered into a dialogue with
Sharpe International Seeds, even disclosing the time of the intended action - hence the
awaiting police. Last year prior to the start of the campaign, genetiX snowball wrote to
all farmers hosting trial sites to inform them of the campaign, reassure them and invite
them to join. This year, prior to Silent Spring genetiX snowball will once again write to
all farmers. Unlike last year's letter which stated that actions would only occur on the
first and third weekends of the month, this years letter will lift that restriction. GenetiX
snowball actions can now happen at other times, see the Handbook for further
guidance.
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