Thursday 16th July 1998 Immediate release PRESS RELEASE - ADVANCED NOTICE - PHOTO-OPPORTUNITY More Genetically Engineered crops to be pulled up on Saturday 18th July 1998 On Saturday 18th July the second round of genetiX snowball, a campaign of nonviolent civil responsibility, will see seven men and women openly and accountably pulling up genetically engineered crops (GE) at a ‘test-field’ site in the Shire Counties. In the first round of snowball on Saturday 4th July five women were arrested after they pulled up almost 200 of Monsanto’s genetically engineered plants at Model Farm, 15 miles outside of Oxford [1]. Although the location of the second genetiX snowball action remains undisclosed, it is in one of the Shire Counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire or Warwickshire. 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 snowball participants will carry and leave at the site a personal statement explaining the reasons for their action. They will also carry a pledge committing them to nonviolence, accountability and respect for human life and the environment As an act of ‘civil responsibility’ the action expresses the participants’ conviction that GE plants 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. GenetiX snowball participants are willing to risk arrest and justify their actions in a court of law. These actions will happen on the first and third weekends 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 open and genuinely participatory and democratic. The GE plants will be placed in clearly labelled and sealed bags for disposal by the relevant 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 also been calling for a similar moratorium [2]. Phillip Pritchard, one of the participants in the second round of genetiX snowball said ‘The use of the British people as ginea-pigs and their countryside as a laboratory for the release of Genetically Modified Organisms is an act of sheer recklessness.’ He added ‘Its time the government listened to public opinion’ ENDS Contact details Andrew Wood (press liaison) 0973 953446 or page 07654 247502 Editors Notes [1]The women had openly declared their intention to pull up the crops. See press release from genetiX Snowball ‘Middle England to take direct action by pulling up Genetically Engineered crops’ (24 June 1998 and 1 July 1998); GenetiX snowball press release ‘First arrests in Britain for pulling up genetically engineered crop’ (4th July 1998). Also see Press Association wires of similar period. The GE crops pulled up on 4th July were reportedly GE sugar beet on a Monsanto trial site. The Thames Valley Police Press Info line reported the genetiX snowball action on July 4th as a “peaceful action”. Call the Info line on: 01426 932 012. [2] See English Nature Press release ‘Government Wildlife Advisor Urges Caution on Genetically Modified Organisms - The New Agricultural Revolution’ (EN/98/24) dated Wednesday 9th July1998. [3]The genetiX snowball campaign follows in the tradition of the peace movement’s Snowball campaign of the late 1980’s. Over three thousand people participate, there were two thousand arrests and one thousand people went to prison. [4] A recent MORI Poll reported that 77% of those surveyed didn’t want GE crops grown in Britain. Directions: Travelling north on the M40 leave after junction 7 signed posted A40/ Oxford. Follow the A40 until the Headington roundabout. Turn left onto the Eastern Bypass and follow the signs for the A34. At the A34/ Botley roundabout (see inset map) turn off and follow the signs for A420 Oxford/ Botley. Follow the signs to the Seacourt Park and Ride. At the Park and Ride look for the press meeting point at the telephone box next to the bus stop. Press Liaison for genetiX snowball, Andrew Wood will meet journalists at this location. Meet at 10.00am, photo opportunity by 11.00am. 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