Thursday 15th April 1999 Embargo until 00.01 Saturday 17th April 1999 PRESS RELEASE Nonviolent direct action against genetically modified food and crops on Saturday 17th April 1999 photo-opportunity On Saturday 17th April will there will be four genetiX snowball actions around the country as part of ‘Silent Spring - An action to make our food, our land and our future free from genetically modified crops’[1]. Two of the actions in CAMBRIDGESHIRE and WORCESTERSHIRE involve Citizen’s Inspections of release sites for genetically modified (GM) plants. The other two actions in BRIGHTON and GLASTONBURY involve the confiscation of foods containing genetically modified organisims (GMOs) from supermarkets for investigation by the police. GenetiX snowball actions are open, accountable and nonviolent. ‘Silent Spring’ actions foreshadow a High Court hearing on Monday 19th April between Monsanto and genetiX snowball [2]. Citizens Inspections of GMO release sites Citizens inspections are particularly important since the Health and Safety Executive has only a part time inspector for all 140 active release sites throughout Britain and only 1 in 4 sites was inspected last year. Worcestershire At 2.00 p.m. ten people from Genetics Action Bristol (GAB) will inspect release sites for GM crops at East Lodge Farm, Stanton near Broadway in Worcestershire (Grid reference: SP 058 347). Monsanto, Plant Genetic Systems and CPB Twyford have release sites for GM oil seed rape at East Lodge Farm. The group intend to check whether the release sites are safe and meeting the statutory regulations. They have written to the farmer and offered to meet with him. The local police have ‘brokered’ a meeting after GAB wrote to Chief Inspector Smithson at Cheltham Police station informing him of their intended ‘trespass’ on to the farmers land. No damage to crops or property is intended and the group hope to come to an understanding and build bridges with the farmer. On the morning of Saturday 17th April local residents will receive copies of a leaflet explaining the presence of a release site for GM crops near their community and be invited to join the inspection. Local bee keepers, organic farmers and allotment holders have also been invited. Attendees of a GMO public debate in Cheltham on Friday 16th will also be invited to the inspection. Press Liaison: Wilf Mound 0117 977 5601 and on-site liaison (Saturday 17th only) Lyndon 07801 061 247 (detailed press release available) Picture Editor Notes: Freelance photographer Simon Chapman will be on site (tel: 0589 747 916) Cambridgeshire At 11.00 a.m. twelve people from Cambridgeshire genetiX snowball will inspect a release site for GM oil seed rape undertaken for the biotechnology company CPB Twyford Ltd. The site at Abbotts Ripton, Huntingdon, in Cambridgeshire (Grid reference: TL 240 779) is owned by Lord de Ramsey who is Chairman of the Environment Agency. The release site will be marked out with biohazard signs and a survey of the flora surrounding the release site will take place to establish the likelihood of cross pollination. Samples of the flora may be taken for analysis. It is hoped a kite can be flown above the site to show the local community its location. The local community will be leafleted and a public meeting held post inspection. Cambridgeshire genetiX snowball have written to Lord De Ramsey expressing their concerns, reassuring him of their peaceful intention and requested a meeting during the inspection. The group have also contacted Inspector Roy Wildman of Huntingdon Police. Press Liaison: Lucy Fife 01223 331 629 (detailed press release available) Picture Editor Notes: Freelance photographer Alan Stevens 01603 764 083 will be on site. Video footage also available Supermarket actions Brighton At 10.45 - 11.00 a.m Criminal investigators from Brighton genetiX snowball will confiscate food products from a supermarket in central Brighton (of course there is no question of paying for them). Some of the products containing genetically modified organisms will be taken to Brighton Police station as evidence of the complicity by a major high street supermarket in aiding and abetting criminal damage and breaking the food safety act 1990. While two Investigators will whisk products away from the scene of the supermarket’s crime to Brighton Police Station in a bicycle trailer, another Investigator will deposit products in a ‘biohazard’ toxic waste dump immediately outside the supermarket. Customers will be urged to boycott the supermarket or conduct their own investigations. Statements written by the Investigators for their action will be handed to the supermarket in line with genetiX snowball’s accountability. The investigators and their supporters will sign pledges of nonviolence and are aware of the possible consequences of their action. A statement indicting the supermarket and the British government of: Breaking the Food Safety Act 1990, Section 14: ‘selling food which is not of the nature or substance or quality demanded by the purchaser’ a reference to the GMO content of food products and Section 15: ‘selling food which is falsely described’ a reference to GMOs like soya lecithin which need not be labelled under current labelling regulations for GMOs; aiding and abetting criminal damage as described in the Criminal Damage Act 1971 a reference to the damage to crops caused by cross pollination or horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified crops. Press liaison: Rowan Tilly and on-site liaison telephone 0780 1055 657 (detailed press release available) Picture Editor Notes: Photographs by freelance photographer Toby Adamson (tel: 0802 681 014) and video footage by freelance film maker will be available. Glastonbury At 10.30 a.m Prospective Green Party M.E.P for the South-West David Taylor will be taking part in this supermarket action similar to the Brighton genetiX snowball action with four other people including Shannon Coggins (also known as the ‘Beanfeast One’) who was acquitted in August 1998 of ‘intent to cause anxiety or alarm to person or persons’ by labelling Batchelor’s Beanfeast with GMO warning stickers. The other criminal investigators are Helen Connerton, a grandmother, Francois Joly, a documentary film maker and Jaine Belcher, a mother of two. Another ten people will be leafleting shoppers. A letter has been sent to the Chief Constable of Somerset Police informing him of the action, its peaceful nature and the relevant charges. Statements will be handed to the supermarket staff explaining the action. The food products which will be confiscated have been selected with a Daily Mail supplement on GM foods. They will be replaced in the store with organic alternatives. Press Liaison: Patrick Whitfield 01458 832 317, on site (Saturday 17th April only): 077 88 44 61 09 (detailed press release available) Picture Editor Notes: Video footage will be available. CONTACT: Andrew Wood Tel: 0973 953 446, page: 07654 247 502 ENDS Editors Notes [1] A second injunction has been applied for by biotechnology companys AgrEvo/PGS against the six defendants and ‘members’ of genetiX snowball in response to the impending day of action. See press release 13th April ‘AgrEvo/PGS follow Monsanto in targeting genetic campaigners with injunctions’. [2] See press release ‘Monsanto set to lose court case on Monday 19th April 1999’ from genetiX snowball. Picture Editors Notes [1] Photographs of genetiX snowball actions and previous court appearances 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 court appearances and the genetiX snowball action on July 4th 1998 available on all formats 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