Wednesday 12th August 1998  	   				Immediate release

PRESS RELEASE - ADVANCED NOTICE

Genetically Engineered crops to be pulled up 
on Sunday 16th August 1998 
photo-opportunity

On Sunday August 16th 1998 at 11.00 a.m., the third genetiX snowball action[1] will see 
between five to ten people openly pulling up genetically modified (GM) plants at a release 
site eight miles (12 km) south of Lincoln. The release site at 
** farm is being managed by Advanta Holdings Ltd for Sharpe’s Seeds International, a 
subsidary of Zeneca. The release site hosts genetically modified maize and sugar beet.

Sharpe’s Seeds International are undertaking trials of GM maize at other sites including the site at Hood Barton 
farm, Totnes in Devon. On the evening of Monday 3rd August the crop was cut down reportedly by 30 people. 
Twelve people were detained and two women have been charged with criminal damage of £605,000. 

Members of the local community are expected to be involved in the action on 16th August. They have met over the 
past two weeks to form an affinity group to support each other and to explore various issues including the possibility 
of arrest. The third genetiX snowball action is the most open to date. It is believed that this openness will lead to 
maximum dialogue with the various stakeholders involved with the release site. A representative from genetiX 
snowball has meet with Mr ** of Sharpe’s Seeds to explain why they are opposed to the release of genetically 
modified plants and to persuade them to remove the plants at the release sites. GenetiX snowball is keen to develop 
a sense of trust and security with the various stakeholders. The participants of the first and second genetiX snowball 
wrote to the farmers hosting release sites in the county and neighbouring counties where the snowball action was to 
occur. However they did not disclose the final location of the action in advance, unlike this, the third genetiX 
snowball action. 

Each of the snowball participants will carry and leave at the site a personal statement of reasons and intent plus a 
signed pledge committing them to non-violence and accountability bearing their name and address. The style of the 
action expresses the participants conviction that GM crops are an unjustified assault on the human food chain. In 
some cases GM crops may damage other crops through cross pollination or horizontal gene transfer. The 
participants are therefore willing to risk arrest and to justify their actions in a court of law. Each participant is 
committed to persuading two more people to participate in the further snowball actions, so that numbers potentially 
increase exponentially - hence the name ‘genetiX snowball’. No participant will remove more than 100 individual 
GM plants to ensure that the genetix snowball is genuinely participatory and democratic. Plants will be placed in 
clearly labelled and sealed bags for disposal by the appropriate authorities. Participants will wear protective clothing 
and adopt measures to ensure genetic pollution will not spread from the site. Genetix snowball are calling for a five 
year moratorium on the release of GE crops into the Environment pending further research and public consultation. 
Many non-governmental organisations including the Consumers Association, Towns Womens Guild, RSPB and the 
governments own statutory body English Nature have been calling for a similar moratorium.

** , who lives 2 miles from the release site at ** farm said,
‘As responsible members of the local community we’re decided to excercise our responsibility to safe 
guard the health of the local community and environment by removing these crops’
ENDS 
Contact: Andrew Wood (Media liaison) 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247502. 
On-site media liaison Friday 14th to Sunday 16th August 1998 only: **Joe 
Hamilton on: xxxxxxx**


Editors Notes
For directions to the ** farm see below.
[1] The first genetiX snowball action took place on 4th July 1998. See genetiX snowball press release ‘First arrests 
in Britain for pulling up genetically engineered plants’. Also see press release of 18th July entitled ‘Farmer rejects 
genetically engineered crops’

Picture Editor Notes
There will be a photo opportunity of those participating in the third genetiX snowball at 10.50 immediately outside 
the ** farm entrance. Those involved will be wearing their protective clothing and carrying gardening tools which 
they may use to uproot the genetically modified crops. See below for directions.
[1] Freelance photographer Andrew Testa will be covering the third genetiX snowball. Andrew Testa received the 
Nikon Award for photography in 1997. A wire facility is available. Contact Andrew Testa on: 0973 284 367
[2] Video footage shot on DVC format will be available from Zoe Broughton, awarding winning film maker, whose 
work has been broadcast nationally. Contact Zoe Broughton on: 0961 181 576

Directions
From Lincoln take the A15 heading south towards Sleaford. When you leave the village of Bracebridge Heath then 
take the turning on the right for the A607 to Waddinton/Navenbury and Wellingore. Continue down this road until 
you reach Bothby Graffoe. ** insert final directions here.

** Insert map here
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  
Media liaison: (Andrew Wood) 0973 953 446 or page: 07654 247502