Friday 18th September 1998
PRESS RELEASE

Monsanto gags genetiX 
campaigners?

Today, Friday 19th September 1998 at the High Court in London, 
Monsanto were granted further injunctions against five women, 
genetics campaigners with the genetiX snowball campaign and also 
an injunction against the campaign’s Press Officer, Andrew Wood 
[1].  The terms of the injunction are so broad that they threaten to 
close down the campaign.  Monsanto’s action against genetiX 
snowball campaigners was prompted by the campaign’s plans  to 
transform a release site for genetically engineered crops on 20th 
September by planting fruit trees, plants and organic seeds [2]. 
Which site and who owns the release site has not been disclosed. 

The case was heard at the High Court today at 2.00 p.m. by the 
Honourable Mr Justice Timothy Walker.  Solicitor Sally Moore of 
Messrs. Leigh Day and Co. represented the defendants. The injunctees 
are seeking further legal advice to challenge the breadth of the terms of 
the injunction. The five women who were injuncted today have 
previously been subjected to injunctions preventing them from  
uprooting genetically engineered plants on Monsanto release sites or 
encouraging others to do the same [3].  The women launched the 
genetiX snowball campaign by openly and accountably uprooting 
fewer than 200 GE plants at a GE site, 10 miles south of Oxford on 
July 4th 1998[4]. 

The new injunctions significantly extend the terms of the previous 
injunctions.  Now not only the six named defendants but any person 
who may be deemed to be a ‘member’ of genetiX snowball, will be in 
breach of the injunction order if they: trespass on Monsanto’s land and 
premises; uproot, destroy or otherwise damage or interfere with any of 
Monsanto’s plants or crops at Monsanto sites; plant or insert into the 
land or leave any crop or other article at a Monsanto site; or attempt or 
conspire with another or others to do any such act.  In addition the six 
named injunctees will be liable for any damage caused at Monsanto’s 
sites by ‘members’ of genetiX snowball.  GenetiX snowball is an 
unincorporated association that has no membership list. The name 
‘genetiX snowball’ is not copyrighted and could be used by any person 
unknown to the campaign. 

Monsanto’s action against the Press Officer who’s role is principally 
one of reporting, is seen as a tactic to silence a campaign critical of GE 
crops and is clearly at odds with the public interest.  At no time has 
genetiX snowball’s press officer uprooted Monsanto’s GE crops or 
encouraged others to do so.

 Press Officer for genetiX snowball, Andrew Wood said: 
‘Is it in the Public Interest that events or forthcoming events 
should not be reported for fear of imprisonment?’.  He 
continued: ‘Dissenting voices should be heard; democracy is 
stronger for it’

ENDS

Press liaison: Andrew Wood 0973 953 446 or 
page 07654 247 502

Editors Notes

[1]The claim for unlimited damages and an injunction were issued in 
the Queens Bench Division, Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, 
London, case number 1998-M-No.1180. 

[2]See release dated September 16th 1998 ‘CHANGED: Largest open 
action to pull-up genetically engineered (GE) crops on Sunday 20th 
September 1998 TO: Planting of organic crops on GE crop release site’

[3]See release dated July 30th 1998 ‘Monsanto fails to silence genetic 
protesters with unlimited damages claim’  

[4]See release dated July 4th 1998 ‘First arrests in Britain for pulling up 
Genetically Engineered crops’ from genetiX snowball. The five women 
arrested were Rowan Tilly, Kathryn Tulip, Zoe Elford, Melanie Jarman 
and Jo Hamilton. 

Picture Editor notes

[1]Pictures of the first genetiX snowball of July 4th available. Call 
David Hoffman on: 0181 981 5041. Video footage of entire action, 
including the women actually digging, on DVC format available from 
Zoe Broughton, award winning film maker whose work has been 
broadcast nationally. Call 0961 181 576

[2]Pictures of the five women on the steps of the Royal Courts of 
Justice are available from ISF on Image Net or call photographer Rob 
Todd: 0467 420 283. Video film of the women outside the High Court, 
including interviews, on DVC format available from Zoe Broughton. 
Call 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