Monday 15th February 1999 Embargo until 00.01 February 16th 1999 PRESS RELEASE - ADVANCE NOTICE Genetically engineered (GE) crops to be uprooted on Saturday 17th April 1999 On Saturday 17th April 1999, genetiX snowball[1] will host ‘Silent Spring - An action to make our food, our land and our future free from genetically modified crops’. On this day of ‘civil responsibility’ or nonviolent direct action, ‘snowballers’ will openly and accountably pull up genetically engineered crops at trial sites in Britain. The ‘Silent Spring’ action pays tribute to Rachel Carson’s 1962 book ‘Silent Spring’ and is intended to draw parallels between pesticides and their consequences for the environment and human health, and genetically modified crops. The genetiX snowball campaign began on 4th July 1998, when five women openly and accountably dug up Monsanto’s genetically engineered plants at a demonstration site in Oxfordshire [2]. So far there have been four genetiX snowball actions. The biotechnology company, Monsanto, has temporary injunctions against six named individuals and also against the ‘members’ of genetiX snowball to prevent the removal of crops from their trial sites. They are currently seeking permanent injunctions [3]. As in the previous year, farmers who host trial sites will be sent letters prior to Silent Spring to inform them of the campaign, reassuring them and inviting them to join. The trials of the GE crops are principally for agronomic and regulatory purposes. The few trial GE crop trials undertaken for environmental reasons will not be part of Silent Spring. Uprooted GE plants will be sealed in bags and marked as a bio-hazard for disposal by the Environment Agency. All Silent Spring participants will wear protective clothing to ensure genetically engineered material is not spread from the site. Like the farmers, biotechnology companies and the police will also be informed of Silent Spring and its peaceful nature. All Silent Spring participants in will sign a pledge of nonviolence. genetiX snowball takes its inspiration from the peace movements 1980’s ‘snowball’ campaign. The campaign name is derived from the obligation of the participants to invite others to take action. Participants in genetiX snowball actions remove no more than 100 GE plants. The campaign aims to encourage as many people as possible to participate thus acting in the spirit of democracy. To date there have been almost forty public meetings with genetiX snowball speakers. An estimated seventy people have taken part in genetiX snowball actions to date. There have been over a thousand enquiries to the genetiX snowball office. A genetics group ‘London genetiX snowball’ has also been meeting regularly and has had a number of actions. On the 10th December 1998, Alan Simpson MP hosted the parliamentary launch of the genetiX snowball ‘Handbook for Action - a guide to safely removing genetically modified plants from release sites in Britain’. genetiX snowball have also produced a six minute film of the action on the 4th of July 1998, available on video tape. There is also a comprehensive web site (see http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs). Media liaison: Andrew Wood telephone: 0973 953 446 or page: 097654 247 502 ENDS Editors Notes [1] genetiX snowball is a member of the Genetic Engineering Alliance which is calling for a FIVE YEAR FREEZE on genetic engineering and patenting of food and farming. Since its launch, the aim of the genetiX snowball campaign has been to secure: 1) A five year moratorium on the deliberate release of GE 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 GE plants already existing. Further details are given in the comprehensive 115 page manual called the genetiX snowball ‘Handbook for Action - a guide to safely removing genetically modified plants from release sites in Britain’. [2] See release ‘First arrests in Britain for uprooting genetically engineered crops’ dated 6th July 1998. [3] There will be a summary judgment hearing at the High Court in the week beginning April 19th 1999. The hearing will last no more than one and half days. Monsanto are no longer seeking unlimited damages but claim only an injunction against the six defendants. It is believed Monsanto wish to avoid the publicity of a full hearing and have therefore reduced their claim. The defendants will be seeking a full trial where the issues can be fully examined and experts brought to court. Picture Editors Notes [1] 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. Broadcast quality footage shot on DVC is available on all formats. Contact 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