Monday 5th April 1999 PRESS RELEASE Monsanto extends injunction against genetiX snowball On Friday 22nd March 1999 at the High Court in London, Monsanto applied to amend it’s current injunction against genetiX snowball. They sought to increased the list of sites for genetically modified (GM) plants at which genetiX snowball actions are restrained. The Judge, The Honourable Mr Justice Eady, also accepted an application by Monsanto that it should not be required to provide a list of any future GM test sites to the defendants, but the Judge did order Monsanto to promptly confirm details of their testsites when questioned by genetiX snowball. The hearing foreshadows a critical summary judgement application which is due for hearing on April 19th at the High Court. Monsanto obtained temporary injunctions last July against five women from genetiX snowball who openly dug up almost two hundred GM plants at a demonstration site at Model Farm, Shirburn in Oxfordshire. Immediately prior to the fourth genetiX snowball action in September last year, a sixth defendant, genetiX snowball’s press liaison, was added to the injunction as were all ‘members’ of genetiX snowball, despite the fact that the campaign has no members. The latest application by Monsanto PLC was prompted by genetiX snowball’s day of action of 17th April entitled ‘Silent Spring - an action to make, our food and our future free from genetically modified crops’. Monsanto’s injunction restrains the six defendants [1] and all other ‘members’ of genetiX snowball, from: trespassing on Monsanto’s land and premises listed in the injunction; uprooting destroying or otherwise interfering with any of Monsanto’s plants or crops listed on the injunction or other Monsanto sites which have the consent of the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR) or other government agencies to release genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and from attempting or conspiring with or encouraging others to do likewise. However the Judge added the following proviso to the injunction: The defendants shall be at liberty to make an enquiry sent by fax to Monsanto’s solicitors, Rowe & Maw not less than four working days before the date of any intended action stating the address of any site at which the Defendant intends to take action. Monsanto must, if it wishes to rely on the injunction, confirm whether it holds a consent for the release of GMOs at that site, not later than the third working day thereafter. The judge refused Monsanto’s request for the defendants to pay it’s costs of the application, totalling £7,500. Monsanto are represented by solicitors Rowe & Maw. The defendants are represented by Daniel Bennett of solicitors Leigh, Day & Co. Press liaison: Andrew Wood telephone: 0973 953 446 or page: 097654 247 502. ENDS Editors Notes [1] The six defendants are: Rowan Tilly, Jo Hamilton, Kathryn Tulip, Melanie Jarman, Zoe Elford, Andrew Wood. The case number is 1998- M-No.1180. Breach of injunction can carry a prison sentence of two years. [2] For a synopsis of the legal action to date contact Press liaison Andrew Wood. 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. 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