Monday 21st December 1998 PRESS RELEASE Web site launched for genetiX snowball camapaign Browse http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs Today Monday 21st December 1998 genetiX snowball’s web site officially goes on-line. The web site not only documents the campaign to date but includes resources for groups and individuals who wish to take nonviolent direct action against genetically engineered crops including a complete copy of the ‘Handbook for Action’[1]. The genetiX snowball site is part of the Environmental Activism Web site (http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp), which carries many government documents that are normally difficult to access [2]. The genetiX snowball site features several sections including: Media: A comprehensive set of over thirty press releases from the launch of the campaign on July 4th 1998 when five women openly and accountably uprooted genetically engineered crops at a Monsanto demonstration site [3]. Personal Statements:. A selection of personal statements detailing individuals reasons for risking arrest and prosecution by taking action. Copies of these statements were left at the site of the genetiX snowball actions. Hand book for Action: The web version includes the complete text together with photographs and illustrations from the 115 page Handbook for Action. It describes the motivation and inspiration for the genetiX snowball campaign; setting 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’. Discussion forum: Discussion of different methods of taking action; accountable actions, like genetiX snowball and covert action (previously published in Peace News). Articles and personal accounts: From the four genetiX snowball actions to date, written by journalists or those taking part. Gallery of photographs: Photographs taken from the first four actions as well as photographs of campaigners at the High Court. Legal: Includes the text of the injunctions obtained by Monsanto, the damages claim and the snowballer’s defence. The genetiX snowball website occupies almost 3 megabytes of disk space and currently there are about 30 megabytes of data on the Environmental Web site. The ‘Handbook for Action’ may be downloaded and is designed to fit a single 1.44 megabyte floppy disk. The Environmental Activism web site was one of the first to include details from the ‘UK Genetically Modified Organism Release Application Atlas' the public register which gives the location of GMO releases to the environment. Press liaison: Andrew Wood telephone: 0973 953 446 or page: 097654 247 502. Web site designer/administrator Paul Mobbs: 01295 261 864 ENDS Editors Notes [1] See genetiX snowball press release of November 26th 1998 entitled ‘Parliamentary launch of genetics action handbook’ and subsequent release dated December 10th 1998 entitled ‘Labour M.P backs genetiX snowball’s call for a five year moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops’. [2] The Environmental Activism Web Site started up in May 1996. It aims to empower people by showing how and where to find environmental information for campaigning. The site is designed for those with limited budgets and older slower equipment; software and hardware requirements are low. There are few graphics, and every page is manually 'tuned' to keep it as small as possible. The Environmental Activism Web site consists of: 'THE DATA CENTRE' which puts large quantities of data online. Items vary in size from the 'hazardous materials transport identification codes' at just over 100 kilobytes to the 'UK Genetically Modified Organism Release Application Atlas' and the 'UK Radioactive Waste Inventory' which occupy 650 and 770 kilobytes respectively. The Data Centre contains current information in an area called ‘The Source’ and an extensive archive. The following issues are covered: Access to Information: How to access government and local government information in particular; Environmental Activism and Philosophy: 'How to' guides, information on campaigns, and ideology underlying environmentalism; The Environmental Backlash: Analysis on those who oppose environmental and community campaigns for business and political reasons; Economics and Energy: The traditional and the green side of economics and energy issues; Genetic Engineering: Genetic engineering in the UK and abroad; Government Information: Government and government agency publications; Hazardous Materials: Hazardous materials use, storage and handling; Health and Safety: Information on public health, food safety, occupational Health and Safety, toxicology and epidemiology; Law: Extracts from UK, European and International law; Nuclear Issues: Nuclear power, weapons and the use of radioactive materials; Town & Country Planning: The planning system and how to use it; Pollution: The pollution of all media - water, air, and soil - and the legal controls over it; Freedom and Privacy: Your rights, the police, and privacy, etc.; Radioactive Waste: Radioactive waste management - including the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory 1994; Transport: Transport campaigns and transport planning; Waste Management: Waste management information - landfill, incineration, recycling, etc.; Wildlife and Countryside. CAMPAIGN PAGES. This section includes: Mobbs' Environmental Investigations - Results of various environmental investigations; Paul's Internet Hotlist - originally made for his own convenience to help in research work, this is one of the most comprehensive hotlists giving direct access to UK-relevant information for campaigners; genetiX Snowball; Friends of Cardigan Bay - Protecting the natural beauty and biodiversity of Cardigan Bay; ARROW based in Skelmersdale ARROW works for better waste management systems in Lancashire; NUKEWATCH - database of the movement of nuclear warheads and nuclear materials across the UK; 'Earth and Fire' - Virtual exhibition of 'intuitive’ abstract paintings; Public Interest Consultants - Environmental consultancy for the public interest; Blewbury Environmental Research Group - BERG campaign consultancy in south Oxfordshire; Llandeilo Greenhouse/Dinefwr Green Group - Information on the Llandeilo 'greenhouse' shop and Dinefwr Green Group ; Banbury Friends of the Earth - Information and campaign resources in North Oxfordshire; 'The Tory Record' - Detailing the consequences of the past 18 years of Conservative rule in the UK [3] See genetiX snowball press release of July 4th 1998 entitled ‘First arrests in Britain for pulling up genetically engineered crops’. 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