Tuesday 7th July 1998 						Embargo until 00.01 on 8 July 1998 
PRESS RELEASE

genetix snowball campaigners echo Government body’s call for 
Genetic Engineering moratorium

Today, Wednesday 8th July, English Nature, the statutory body for nature conservation in 
England, released a position statement outlining concerns over the effect of Genetically Modified 
Organisms (GMOs) on the environment [1].  These concerns are shared by five women who 
last weekend openly dug up a test field site of genetically engineered crops near Oxford [2].

The women, supporters of genetiX snowball [3], were calling for a five year moratorium on the release of GMOs 
into the environment pending further research and public consultation. They claim that despite significant public 
opposition, and a previous call by English Nature for a moratorium, the government and regulatory bodies have 
failed to act to protect people and the environment [4].

Melanie Jarman, one of the women arrested said

“English Nature’s call for a moratorium is once again falling on deaf ears.  When the government fails to 
follow the advice of its own experts then responsibility falls on the people of this country to act”.

Genetix snowball campaigners go a step further than English Nature in arguing that there should be a complete 
understanding of genetics before any GMOs are released into the environment.  Their demand includes that crops 
that are currently growing should be disposed of safely. 

ENDS
Press liaison: Andrew Wood mobile: 0973 953 446 or page: 07654 247502

Editors Notes
[1] English Nature press release (EN/98/24) entitled ‘Government Wildlife Advisor Urges Caution on Genetically 
Modified Organisms - The New Agricultural Revolution’. Contact English Nature Press Office on 01733 455190
[2] On Saturday 4th July five women pulled up genetically engineered plants at a test field site at Model Farm, 
Watlington in Oxfordshire. All were arrested for criminal damage.  See release from Genetix Snowball ‘First arrests 
in Britain for pulling up Genetically Engineered crops’ dated Monday 6th July 1998.  Also see Press Association 
wires of similar period.
[3] Genetix Snowball is a campaign of nonviolent civil responsibility which involves members of the public in 
safely removing genetically engineered plants which have been released into the environment at ‘test field sites’. 
There are over 200 test field sites in Britain.
[4] ‘There are moments and issues in history where parliament is inadequate and it falls on the people themselves to 
act. With the case of genetic engineering and the granting of patents on life I believe we have reached one of those 
historic moments‘ Alan Simpson, M.P for Nottingham (April 1998)

Picture Editor notes
[1]Photographs by Nick Cobbing, respected freelance photographer published in the Guardian, Observer and Time 
Out.  Call photo library Imagenet on 0541 522333 or Nick on 0973 642 103.
[2]Video footage of action, including the women actually digging, on DVC /Beta/ VHS format available from award 
winning film maker Zoe Broughton on 0961 181 576  

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
Press liaison: Andrew Wood 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247502