Friday 23rd July 1999 Immediate release PRESS RELEASE - ADVANCE NOTICE Photo-opportunity Genetic campaigners face imprisonment at High Court trial Wednesday 28th July 1999 On Wednesday 28th July 1999, at a hearing of the High Court in London[1], four defendants from 'Cereals '99 snowball' will defend themselves against claims by Monsanto that they have breached an injunction. The four defendants openly uprooted Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) sugar beet from a plot of land at the agricultural trade show Cereals '99 on 16th June 1999. The plants were part of a Monsanto exhibit at the show. Monsanto's injunction restrains members of genetiX snowball from uprooting their crops and breach of injunction may carry a penalty of up to two years imprisonment. The uprooted GM sugar beet, were planted last year at the site of Cereals '99 on Vine Farm, Wendy in Hertfordshire. On the morning of the opening day of Cereals '99 the four defendants peacefully uprooted the GM plants and bagged them up for disposal as a biohazard. The four defendants were not arrested, they stayed at the site to account for their action until security staff escorted them away. Four other people from Cereals '99 snowball distributed information and explained the action to farmers and Monsanto staff who witnessed the action. The four defendants are: Jill Bee, an art teacher; Martin Shaw, a genetics campaigner; Alex Potts who is undertaking teacher training and Rod Melia who is seeking work as a gardener. Their ages range from 21 to 52 years. Monsanto initially obtained an injunction against five women who launched the genetiX snowball campaign on July 4th 1998. The injunction restrains the defendants from uprooting, interfering or damaging Monsanto's plants or encouraging or conspiring with others to do so. Monsanto's injunction was extended in September 1998 to include a sixth person, the campaign's media liaison and the members of the 'unincorporated association of genetiX snowball'. In April of this year the defendants were granted a full trial after a day and half hearing. Since then Monsanto have secured an appeal hearing which may prevent a full trial. It is uncertain whether the participants of Cereals '99 are included in Monsanto's injunction. They are not named on the injunction but the judge may decide that they are members of genetiX snowball. The injunction defines a member of genetiX snowball as 'any person who actively supports that organisation or who campaigns on that organisation's authority or behalf'. Martin Shaw, one of defendants said "Genetically modified food will not feed the world but lead instead to control of the entire food chain by corporations like Monsanto" CONTACT: Andrew Wood Tel: 0973 953 446, page: 07654 247 502 ENDS Editors Notes [1]. The hearing will take place, not before 10.30 a.m. at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL. Look for case number 991031 Monsanto PLC vs Jill Bee and others. The hearing is expected to last one and half hours. Picture Editors Notes [1] Supporters will gather by the steps of Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London from 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday 28th July and there will be a photo-opportunity at 9.45 a.m. The four defendants will appear with placards reading 'Corporate power imprisons us all'. [2] Pictures of the Cereals '99 snowball action are available from photographer Rob Todd, telephone: 07977 275 563 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