genetiX snowball
A campaign of nonviolent civil  responsibility

One World Centre, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS      Tel: 0161 834 0295           Fax: 0161 834 8187

Wednesday 1 July 1998			      			Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE
 
Middle England takes direct action against genetically 
engineered crops on Saturday July 4th 1998
photo-opportunity


On Saturday July 4th 1998, five women will launch the first round of ‘genetiX 
snowball’, a campaign of mass nonviolent ‘civil responsibility’, when they will openly 
pull up genetically engineered (GE) crops at an undisclosed ‘test field site’ in the home 
counties.  Taking its inspiration from the peace movement’s ‘snowball’ campaign of the 
1980’s, in which more than 2,000 people were arrested, each snowball participant will 
invite two others to join the next round of action, potentially increasing participation 
exponentially.

Although the location of the launch action remains undisclosed, it is in one of the home counties of  Berkshire, 
Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire. Farmers hosting test field sites in these counties have been contacted by 
letter to inform them of the campaign, reassure them,  and invite them to join. The test field sites are rented by 
agrochemical companies. It is hoped the companies or farmers will engage in dialogue and voluntarily remove 
the crops. The police are also to be informed as to the peaceful nature of the action.

Each of the women will carry and leave at the site a personal statement explaining the reasons for her action.  
As an act of ‘civil responsibility’, as opposed to ‘civil disobedience’ the action expresses the women’s 
conviction that the GE crops are liable to cause criminal damage to other crops, through cross pollination or 
gene transfer and therefore people have the obligation of pulling them up. The women are willing to risk arrest 
and justify their actions in a court of law. These actions will happen on the first and third Saturdays of the 
month and each person will remove a maximum of one hundred plants. The campaign puts the emphasis on 
involving many people to ensure the  genetiX snowball is genuinely participatory and democratic. The GE 
plants will be placed in clearly labelled and sealed bags for disposal by the authorities. Participants will wear 
protective clothing and take safety measures to ensure genetic pollution will not spread from the site.

GenetiX snowball is calling for a five year moratorium on the release of GE crops into the environment 
pending further research and public consultation. The government’s own statutory bodies have been calling for 
a similar moratorium.

Rowan Tilly, one of the five women snowballers said,

“These GE crops are an assault on our food and the environment. In the face of all responsibility 
being waived by those in a position to wield it, the responsibility falls on us”

ENDS


Editors Notes
Press liaison: For onsite liaision contact Andrew Wood on 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247 502
[1] Press will be met at the Thornhill Park and Ride, Oxford at 10.00 a.m. and be escorted to the test field site. 
The Park and Ride is clearly signed as you approach Oxford on the A40 about 6 1/2 miles from the M40/ A40 
junction. At the Park and Ride look for the telephone box immediately next to the bus stop.  Andrew Wood, 
press liaison for the first genetix snowball action will be meeting press at this point with further details and 
escort them to the site. The photo-opportunity will be complete by 11.00 a.m. See map below for directions
[2] The five women undertaking the action are Rowan Tilly, Jo Hamilton, Melanie Jarman, Kathryn Tulip and 
Zoe Elford. They are available for interview prior to the action by arrangement.
[3] The test field sites vary in size but are generally 300 sq. metres  and are rented by agrochemical companies 
such as Monsanto. There are 10 test field sites in the three home counties and over 300 in Britain.
[4] There has been no public consultation with the British people as to whether to allow genetically engineered 
crops to be grown in Britain. A recent MORI poll commissioned by the Observer showed 76% of those 
surveyed didn’t want GE crops in this country. Monsanto, one of the largest GE agrochemical companies has 
recently started a £1 million advertising campaign promoting GE crops. 
Meeting point