Tuesday 3rd July 1999
Immediate release
PRESS RELEASE


Genetic campaigners defy court order and face 
imprisonment


At 6.00 a.m. on Tuesday 3rd August 1999 Jo Hamilton, 
Rowan Tilly and Martin Shaw from genetiX snowball 
defied the court injunction against them and pulled 
up genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape at a trial 
site at Chishill Orchard Farm, Royston in 
Hertfordshire. The trial site and GM plants are owned 
by AgrEvo UK Ltd. Three large bags of GM plants were 
removed, one of which was then delivered to AgrEvo 
UK's headquarters at East Winch Farm, Kings Lynn in 
Norfolk. In April of this year AgrEvo were grant an 
injunction restraining members of genetiX snowball 
from uprooting their GM plants. Breach of the 
injunction carries a prison term of two years.

In the spirit of openness and accountability, the 
three wrote to AgrEvo prior to the action informing 
them of their intention to break the injunction [1]. 
The three also left personal statements at the GM 
trial site explaining their reasons for taking such 
action [2].

The trial at Chishill Orchard Farm is part of the 
'National Seed List' trials, which are necessary for 
the commercialisation of GM crops. There is no 
environmentally useful data being collected from this 
trial.  The variety of oilseed rape being used at the 
farm is the same as that being tested in farm scale 
trials [3].

To highlight what they believe are the oppressive and 
wide ranging terms of the injunction one of the 
activists, Martin Shaw, has not removed any plants 
but simply planted wild flower seeds that should be 
found locally and placed biohazard symbols in the 
remaining GM crop. Both acts are prohibited by the 
injunction. [4] They say they have taken this action 
primarily to resist corporate bullying and 
manipulation of the legal system for the benefit of 
multinational corporations.

Martin Shaw (34) from Manchester said
"The use of civil court proceedings amounts to a 
privatised legal system.  AgrEvo are corporate 
bullies, it's vital that we stand up to these 
agrochemical companies".

Contact Kathryn Tulip (press liaison) 07990 516 372 
or
on site Martin Shaw 07930 529 024


ENDS


Editors Notes

[1] The open letter to AgrEvo is available on request 
or on the web at 
http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs/event.htm . 

[2] The three snowballer's personal statements 
explaining their actions are available on request or 
on the web.

[3] A press briefing about the release and some of 
the problems of herbicide tolerant oilseed rape is 
available on request or on the web site.

[4] AgrEvo's injunction is on the web site.


Picture Editor Notes

[1] Photographs of both the crop pulling and delivery 
to AgrEvo head quarters are available from Nick 
Cobbing, respected freelance photographer call 0973 
642 103.

[2] DVC footage of the action including uprooting the 
plants and handing them over at the company HQ 
available from Hugh Warwick 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