Thursday 10th December 1998
 
PRESS RELEASE

Labour M.P backs genetiX snowball’s 
call for a five year moratorium on 
genetically modified (GM) crops

Today, Thursday 10th December 1998 , at the parliamentary 
launch of the genetiX snowball ‘Handbook for Action’ [1], Alan 
Simpson, Labour M.P for Nottingham South will support genetiX 
snowball’s call for a five moratorium on the deliberate release of 
GM plants in Britain [2].  This renewed call for a moratorium 
follows the wide spread confusion and mis-reporting in October of 
this year that the government had announced a moratorium on the 
planting of GM crops [3]. 

Press liaison: Andrew Wood telephone: 0973 
953 446  or page: 097654 247 502. 

Alan Simpson: 0171 219 4534 Tuesday - 
Thursday

ENDS

Editors Notes

[1]The 115 page Handbook for Action describes the motivation and 
inspiration for the genetiX snowball campaign.  It sets out the 
campaign's ground rules of safety, nonviolence, openness and accepting 
the consequences of direct action.  A legal briefing includes arrest 
procedures, possible charges, trial, financial and custodial penalties.  
The differing roles of participants are documented in the handbook 
with advice and guidance e.g. police and farmer liaison, media liaison, 
action observing etc.  How to find GM crop sites and identify crops are 
also covered. Inspiring poetry, over eighty illustrations, photographs 
from three of the four genetiX snowball actions to date make the 
handbook a ‘pleasure to read’.  The Handbook for Action costs £3.50 
and is available to the public from the genetiX snowball office or to 
press via Media Liaison.  The Handbook is also on the genetiX 
snowball website.

[2] genetiX snowball is calling for:

1). A five year moratorium on the deliberate release of GM plants in 
Britain, except for government sponsored ecological health and safety 
tests (in enclosed systems) and;

2). the removal by government agencies, farmers or the biotechnology 
companies of all GM plants already existing.

The five year period will allow for the completion of health and 
ecological tests and for public consultation.

[3] See Central Office of Information press release #877 dated 21 
October 1998 ‘Government announces fuller evaluations of growing 
genetically modified crops’ which reported ‘new’ measures about 
growing genetically modified (GM) crops announced by Environment 
Minister Michael Meacher and Food Safety Minister Jeff Rooker to the 
House of Lords Select Committee. 

Picture Editors Notes

[1] Contact freelance photographer Rob Todd for photographs of the 
launch which show Melanie Jarman of genetiX snowball and Alan 
Simpson M.P. holding an A1 size copy of the front of the Handbook 
and various gardening tools similar to those used on genetiX snowball 
actions.  Video footage on Hi-8 also available.

[2] Photographs of genetiX snowball actions are available on ImageNet 
under the David Hoffman or ISF sections. David Hoffman: 0181 981 
5041. ISF: 01628 542 554.  The David Hoffman photo library carries 
copies of photographs from the first genetiX snowball action on 4th July 
1998.  Video footage of the first genetiX snowball action on July 4th 
1998 by five women in Oxfordshire available on DVC /Beta/ VHS 
format 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
Browse: http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs 	       Press liaison: Andrew Wood 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247502