1st July 1998: Middle England takes direct action
against Genetically Engineered (GE) crops
Announcement of the intention by five women to openly and accountably pull up
genetically engineered plants
at a 'test field site' in the Oxfordshire, Berkshire or Buckinghamshire area on
Saturday 4th July 1998. The
names of the five women undertaking the launch action of genetiX snowball were
also released. This press
release was a re-issue of release dated June 22nd similarly headlined but less
detailed.
4th July 1998: First arrests for pulling up
genetically engineered crops in Britain
The five women were arrested by Thames Valley police after pulling up almost 200
GE plants at Model Farm,
Watlington in Oxfordshire. Monsanto, the owners of the demonstration site
decided not press charges and the
women were released near-by. Release re-issued on July 6th with additional
information.
7th July 1998: genetix snowball campaigners echo
Government body's call for Genetic Engineering
moratorium
Embargoed until 8th July 1998. On Wednesday 8th July, English Nature, the
statutory body for nature conservation in
England, released a position statement outlining concerns over the effect of
Genetically Modified Organisms on the
environment. This release re-iterated that these are concerns shared by the
five women who on July 4th openly dug
up a test field site of genetically engineered crops near Oxford. Both English
Nature and genetiX snowball are calling
for a moratorium on the release of GE crops.
16th July 1998: More Genetically Engineered crops to
be pulled up on Saturday 18th July 1998
Notice of genetiX snowball action on 18th July 1998 at a farm in
Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire or Warwickshire area.
18th July 1998: Farmer rejects Genetically Engineered crops
Six men and women who set out to openly and accountably pull up genetically
engineered crops on a 'test field'
site at Manor Farm, 3 miles south of Banbury in Oxfordshire, were delighted to
discover that the farmer had
cancelled the trial of oil seed rape when he found it was genetically
engineered.
19th July 1998: Monsanto targets genetic campaigners
Monsanto, the £20 billion US biotechnology company has served injunctions on
five women who were arrested
after openly and accountably pulling up genetically engineered crops on a
Monsanto 'test field site' at Model
Farm, Oxfordshire on July 4th 1998. The case will be heard in the High Court,
London on July 30th 1998.
The campaigners are seeking legal advice from Keir Starmer, the barrister who
provided legal advice for the
defendants in the so called 'Mclibel trial'.
28th July 1998: Monsanto to silence genetic protesters
with unlimited damages claim?
The preliminary hearing of a claim for unlimited damages against five genetics
campaigners by Monsanto will
take place on Thursday 30th July 1998 at the High Court, London. The
campaigners, all women, openly dug
up fewer then 200 genetically engineered plants from a Monsanto demonstration
site at Model Farm,
Oxfordshire on July 4th 1998. One of the women removed a single plant yet still
faces a claim for unlimited
damages.
30th July 1998: Monsanto fails to silence genetic
protesters with unlimited damages claim.
At a hearing in the High Court on Thursday 30th July 1998, injunctions issued on
July 16th against five genetic
campaigners, were renewed. Mr Justice Steel who heard the case granted the
campaigners additional time
for the preparation of their defences. The campaigners must file their defences
to the damages claim by Friday
September 4th 1998. The women are being represented by solicitors Leigh Day &
Co.
4th August 1998: GenetiX snowball not involved in
cutting of genetically engineered (GE) maize at Hood Baron farm,
Totnes on evening of 3rd August 1998
Press Association news wires regarding the cutting of GE maize on the 3rd of
August, at Hood Farm, Totnes,
Devon are inaccurate. Contrary to the PA report, those detained are not part of
the genetiX snowball campaign.
Police have now confirmed the twelve people held are not part of genetiX
snowball. The Press Association have
apologised for the inaccuracy of their earlier report.
7th August 1998: Oxford genetics camapginer featured in
'World in Action' programme of Monday 10th August
1998
Kathryn Tulip, an Oxford resident and genetics campaigner will appear in 'World
in Action' ITV's flagship
documentary programme on Monday 10th August 1998. The programme entitled 'Eat Up
Your Genes' will
feature Ms Tulip, one of five women who openly uprooted genetically engineered
(GE) crops at a Monsanto
demonstration site at Model Farm, 10 miles outside Oxford on July 4th 1998.
Similar releases were put out to
local media in London and Manchester for some of the other five women.
12th August 1998: Genetically Engineered crops to be
pulled up on Sunday 16th August 1998
Announcement that on August 16th at 11.00 a.m., the third genetiX snowball
action will see between five to ten
people openly pulling up genetically modified plants at a release site (12 km)
south of Lincoln. The release site
at Sharpes Plant Breeding Station, is being managed by Advanta Holdings Ltd for
Sharpe's Seeds International,
a subsidiary of Zeneca. The release site hosts genetically modified maize and
sugar beet.
16th August 1998: Local residents arrested for taking
direct action to uproot Genetically Engineered crops
Eleven people, including five local residents were arrested between 11.00 a.m.
and 11.20 a.m. today (Sunday 16th
August) as they attempted to uproot genetically engineered sugar beet at
Sharpe's Seeds Ltd, Boothby Graffoe,
12 miles south of Lincoln. Eight members of the local group, which is part of
the genetiX snowball campaign,
were arrested by the police, as they reached the release site. The remaining
three were successful in uprooting
genetically engineered (GE) sugar beet before also being arrested. This release
was re-issued on 17th August
with further details and local contact details. It was also released on the 17th
August to the local media as 'Louth
residents arrested for taking direct action to uproot Genetially Engineered
crops'.
20th August 1998: GenetiX snowball public meeting on
September 3rd 1998, Oxford
On September 3rd at 7.30 p.m. at East Oxford Community Centre, Cowley Rd, Oxford
campaigners from genetiX
snowball, a campaign opposed to genetically engineered crops, will present the
campaign 1998: it's aims, methods and
achievements to date. A film of the three snowball actions including the launch
action just 10 miles south of Oxford
will also be shown. It is hoped a local campaign group will be formed and join
the genetiX harvest action on
September 19/20th in Cambridgeshire.
31st August 1998: 1998 Largest open action to pull-up
genetically engineered crops on Sunday 20th
September 1998
This release was embargoed until 00.01 a.m. Thursday 3rd September 1998. It
announced that on Sunday 20th
September 1998, more than a hundred people are expected to participate in an
open and accountable action
called 'genetiX harvest' to uproot genetically engineered (GE) plants in the
Cambridgeshire area. The genetiX
harvest will be the fourth action in the genetiX snowball campaign and a
celebration of harvest festival. There
will be a press conference/briefing on the morning of the action, Sunday 20th
September 1998, in Cambridge.
More details to follow.
16th September 1998: Changed 1998: Largest open action to
pull up genetically engineered (GE) crops
on Sunday 20th September 1998 To 1998: Planting of organic crops on GE crop release
site
The 'genetiX harvest' action on Sunday 20th September 1998 has been changed from
one of pulling up
genetically engineered (GE) crops to a 'transformation' action. This will
involve the planting of fruiting trees,
organic seeds and vegetables as a vision of sustainable agriculture. The
location of the transformation action,
which will either be at a GE crop release site on a farm, in the grounds of a
biotechnology company or at a GE
research institute, will be disclosed at the press briefing. Meet press
liaison at 10.00am, Sunday 20th September
at Cambridge railway station entrance. The action will be complete by 11.00 a.m
and the site is within a 20
minute drive, possibly less.
18th September 1998: Monsanto gags genetiX
campaigners?
On Friday 19th September 1998 at the High Court in London, Monsanto were granted
further injunctions against
five women, genetics campaigners with the genetiX snowball campaign and also an
injunction against the
campaign's Press Officer, Andrew Wood. The terms of the injunction are so broad
that they threaten to close
down the campaign. Monsanto's action against genetiX snowball campaigners was
prompted by the campaign's
plans to transform a release site for genetically engineered crops on 20th
September by planting fruit trees, plants
and organic seeds. Which site and who owns the release site had not been
disclosed.
18th September 1998: Change of venue 1998: Planting of
organic crops on GE crop release site on Sunday 20th
September 1998
The location of the press meeting point for the transformation action on Sunday
20th September 1998 has
been changed to Kings Lynn railway station at 10.00 a.m. Meet Andrew Wood,
Media Liaison for genetiX
snowball at the station. The meeting point was previously Cambridge train
station at 10.00 a.m. The change
in venue follows the granting of a new injunction to Monsanto at the High Court
in London, Friday 18th
September 1998. The number of sites which the injunctees or anyone deemed a
'member' of genetiX
snowball is prohibited from visiting has been extended and includes additional
Monsanto sites in Cambridgeshire.
20th September 1998: Largest GenetiX snowball action
'transforms the land'.
Forty campaigners, under the banner of 'genetiX snowball' have trespassed onto
the UK's foremost commercial
testing ground for genetically engineered (GE) crops at AgrEvo, East Winch Farm,
near Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
The campaigners planted organic seeds and flowers as examples of
environmentally responsible farming.
They left the land symbolically 'transformed'.
26th November 1998: Parliamentary launch of genetics action handbook
On Thursday 10th December 1998, Melanie Jarman of genetiX snowball will
launch the 'genetiX snowball Handbook for Action - a guide to safely
removing genetically modified (GM) crops from release sites in Britain'.
Alan Simpson, Labour M.P for Nottingham South will speak at the launch in
the House of Commons (room W1). The launch starts at 11.15 a.m. and will be
completed by 12.00 noon.
10th December 1998: Labour M.P backs genetiX snowball’s call for a five
year moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops
Today, Thursday 10th December 1998 , at the parliamentary launch of the
genetiX snowball 'Handbook for Action', Alan Simpson, Labour M.P for
Nottingham South will support genetiX snowball's call for a five moratorium
on the deliberate release of GM plants in Britain. This renewed call for a
moratorium follows the wide spread confusion and mis-reporting in October of
this year that the government had announced a moratorium on the planting of
GM crops.
18th December 1998: Web site launched for genetiX snowball camapaign
19th January 1999: Genetic campaigners reject award for ‘Best
Political Campaign by an Environmental Organisation’
Today, Tuesday 19th January, at the Green Futures Awards Ceremony, attended
by Environment Minister Micheal Meacher, genetiX snowball rejected the Green
Ribbon award for 'Best Political Campaign by an Environmental Organisation'.
The campaign's Media Liaison read a statement saying that genetiX snowball
had rejected the award because they do not wish to be publicly associated
with the award's sponsors Norsk Hydro. GenetiX snowball maintains that the
company are not pursuing environmental sustainability and that the Green
Ribbon Awards are a 'Greenwash' opportunity.
21st December 1998: Web site launched for genetiX snowball
camapaign - Browse http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs
Today Monday 21st December 1998 genetiX snowball's web site officially goes
on-line. The web site not only documents the campaign to date but includes
resources for groups and individuals who wish to take nonviolent direct
action against genetically engineered crops including a complete copy of the
'Handbook for Action'. The genetiX snowball site is part of the
Environmental Activism Web site (http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp), which carries
many government documents that are normally difficult to access.
27th January 1999: Captured on film: First arrests in Britain
for uprooting Genetically Engineered crops
Today January 27th 1999, genetiX snowball releases 'Rolling the snowball...',
a film documenting the first genetiX snowball action on July 4th 1998 when
five women were arrested for uprooting genetically engineered (GE) plants at
a Monsanto trial site in Oxfordshire. The film, available as a video tape,
shows the women as they set out for the site; uproot the plants despite the
heavy police presence (including a helicopter); and their subsequent arrest.
The women share their hopes and fears for the action and describe their
motivations. The aim of the film is to inspire and inform.
29th January 1999: Monsanto brought to court by Genetic Campaigners
On Tuesday January 26th 1999 Monsanto, the giant biotechnology corporation
appeared at the High Court in London as six defendants sought to strike out
it's claim for an injunction and unlimited damages. Five of the defendants
are women, who on the 4th July 1998 uprooted genetically engineered (GE)
plants at a Monsanto demonstration site. Monsanto has responded by dropping
its claim for damages but is claiming permanent injunctions against the six.
Monsanto are also seeking to expedite the proceedings by applying for
summary judgment. Campaigners maintain that a full hearing is necessary for
justice to be served. They believe Monsanto wishes to avoid a full hearing,
which could be a public relations disaster, as the 'McLibel' trial was for
McDonalds.
15th February 1999: 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.
16th February 1999: Monsanto in the dock on Wednesday 17th
February 1999. -Photo- opportunity
On Wednesday 17th April 1999 at 9.45 a.m. genetiX snowball will demonstrate
its support for the prosecution of Monsanto at Caister magistrates court,
Lincolnshire. The prosecution, the first of its kind, relates to Monsanto's
failure to follow statutory procedures for the release of genetically
engineered (GE) oil seed rape at Joseph Nickerson's Farms, Rothwell near
Lincoln. The criminal prosecution of Monsanto supports the claim that
Monsanto will not come to court with 'clean hands' in its civil court
proceedings against genetiX snowball.
25 March 1999: GenetiX campaigners go shopping (without paying)
On Saturday 27 March 1999 two groups from genetiX snowball in London and
Manchester will openly "decontaminate" their local supermarkets by removing
genetically manipulated (GM) products without paying for them. They will
replace the GM products with organic alternatives and hand the GM products
in to the appropriate authorities reporting them as a "biohazard".
27 March 1999: GenetiX campaigners confiscate GM foods from supermarkets
Today four campaigners from genetiX snowball London openly confiscated
several baskets full of genetically modified (GM) products from a Tesco
supermarket in London. One campaigner was arrested for theft. She had
attempted to put organic products on the shelves as alternatives but the
supermarket declined to accept them. Another snowball group in Manchester
confiscated two trolleys full of GM goods from Safeways.
29 March 1999: GenetiX campaigners deliver biohazard food dump to MAFF
Today campaigners from genetiX snowball London delivered a biohazard food
dump to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). The dump
contained more than fifty genetically modified (GM) products which had been
openly confiscated last Saturday from a Tesco supermarket in London. They
reported the GM products as a biohazard and asked MAFF to take
responsibility for their safe disposal. MAFF accepted the biohazard dump.
5th April 1999: 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.
13th April 1999: AgrEvo/PGS follow Monsanto in targeting genetics campaigners
with an injunction
On Thursday 15th April at a hearing of the High Court in London, AgrEvo UK
Limited and Plant Genetic Systems N.V, will ask for an injunction against
'members' of genetiX snowball, including six named persons. The proposed
injunction will restrain the defendants from trespassing on AgrEvo/PGS land
or premises, uprooting plants at AgrEvo/PGS release sites for genetically
modified (GM) plants or procuring/ encouraging/ instructing/ inciting/
inducing or conspiring with others to do the same. Monsanto PLC already has
injunctions against genetiX snowball; a hearing on April 19th 1999 could
make them permanent.
14th April 1999: Monsanto set to lose court hearing on Monday 19th April 1999
On Monday 19th April 1999 at a SUMMARY HEARING in the High Court in London,
Monsanto PLC will ask for a permanent injunction against 'members' of
genetiX snowball, including six named persons. Monsanto are asking the
judge to order genetiX snowball to hand over details of all persons who've
received a copy of their 'Handbook for Action'. Monsanto's solicitors say
that they will send a copy of the injunction order to the Handbook
recipients so that they will also be bound by its terms. Fifty Handbook
recipients including Members of Parliament and Lord Peter Melchett of
Greenpeace will demand a right to speak in court. The defendants believe
they have a robust defence and will argue that a FULL TRIAL is necessary.
15th April 1999: Nonviolent direct action against genetically modified food and
crops on Saturday 17th April 1999
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'. 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.
16th April 1999: AgrEvo/PGS gain most wide-ranging injunction to date
On the morning of Thursday 15th April 1999 at a hearing of the High Court in
London, AgrEvo UK Limited and Plant Genetic Systems B.V. gained the most
wide ranging injunction to date against genetiX snowball. The Judge, Mr
Justice Douglas Brown awarded the injunction as set out by AgrEvo/PGS in
their application. He accepted their definition of a genetiX snowball
'member' as being anyone on genetiX snowball's mailing lists and ordered
genetiX snowball to provide a copy to AgrEvo/PGS "forthwith". The defendants
are taking legal advice and may request the order be set aside. The Judges
decisions could influence a hearing between Monsanto PLC and genetiX
snowball on Monday 19th April 1999.
17th April 1999: Local communities support peaceful action against genetically
modified food and crops
On Saturday 19th April eighty eight people at five different sites around
the country took part in 'Silent Spring - An action to make our food, our
land and our future free from genetically modified crops'. Three actions in
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE and NORTH YORKSHIRE involved Citizen's
Inspections of release sites for genetically modified (GM) plants. The other
two actions in BRIGHTON and STREET, Somerset involved the confiscation of
foods containing genetically modified organisims (GMOs) from supermarkets.
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.
20th April 1999: Campaigners celebrate as Monsanto loses; genetics goes on trial
On Tuesday April 20th, after a two day hearing in the High Court in London,
Monsanto plc lost its application for permanent injunctions against six
defendants from genetiX snowball. Monsanto's lawyers claimed it was
'inconceivable' that the defendants might have justification for uprooting
its genetically modified (GM) plants on the 4th July last year. The judge
disagreed and ordered that the case proceed to a full trial. The temporary
injunctions which Monsanto had already obtained against the six continue. A
full trial is expected within the next four months. Monsanto had asked for
an order that the defendants provide a list of all persons who'd received a
copy of genetiX snowball's 'Handbook for Action'. They dropped this demand
at the hearing.
16th June 1999: Genetically modified sugar beet uprooted at agricultural trade show
At 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday 16th June 1999, four people from Cereals '99
snowball peacefully uprooted approximately 400 genetically modified (GM)
sugarbeet plants at the opening day of Cereals '99 held at Vine Farm, Wendy
in Hertfordshire. The GM sugar beet, were planted last year and formed part
of an exhibit on the Monsanto trade stand. Farmers and Monsanto staffed
looked on as the uprooted plants were put in bags for disposal as a
biohazard. Security staff arrived after about twenty minutes but there were
no arrests and the activists were escorted off the site.
3rd July 1999: Genetic campaigners defy court order and face imprisonment
16th July 1999: AgrEvo acts to protect GM crop from "Stop the Crop" rally
At a hearing of the High Court in London, Claimants AgrEvo UK Limited/Plant
Genetic Systems N.V. were successful in extending their injunction against
six named defendants and 'members' of genetiX snowball. The new injunction
restrains the defendants from uprooting or damaging plants at additional
trial sites for genetically modified(GM) crops. This includes six farm
scale trials of GM crops (each up to 10 hectares/24 acres in size). In
particular 'The Claimants are extremely concerned that the demonstration
planned for 18 July at the Watlington site [a farm scale trial in
Oxfordshire] may get out of hand and the crops … will be damaged'.
Friday 23rd July 1999: genetiX snowball campaigners face imprisonment
at High Court trial on Wednesday 28th July 1999
On Wednesday 28th July 1999, at a hearing of the High Court in London,
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.
28th July 1999: genetiX snowball campaigners avoid imprisonment
at High Court trial on Wednesday 28th July 1999
On Wednesday 28th July 1999, at a hearing of the High Court in London, Mr
Justice Michael Burton found four people in contempt of a court order when
they uprooted Monsanto's Genetically Modified (GM) crops at the agricultural
trade show 'Cereals 99' on June 16th 1999. He ordered a suspended sentence
of one month on the organiser of the action Martin Shaw and ordered that all
four defendants be named on the injunction against genetiX snowball. This
injunction restrains the members of genetiX snowball from uprooting or
interfering with Monsanto's GM crops. Monsanto applied for the court hearing
and supplied evidence to the court.
3rd August 1999: 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 granted an
injunction restraining members of genetiX snowball from uprooting their GM
plants. Breach of the injunction carries a prison term of two years.
5th October 1999: Monsanto set for civil rights debacle?
On November 8/9th 1999 at the Court of Appeal, The Strand, London the
agrochemical company Monsanto will contest the right of defendants from the
genetiX snowball campaign to a trial. In April of this year Monsanto lost
its application for permanent injunctions and the judge ordered the case to
go to trial. Monsanto are now appealing that decision.
1st November 1999: BBC's 'Archers' GM court battle almost over, genetiX
snowball's court battle just beginning
In the Radio 4 soap 'The Archers' the jury retires to consider their verdict
upon direct activist Tommy Archer for cutting down a genetically modified
crop. Meanwhile five women who took similar action prepare for a hearing at
the Court of Appeal, London on November 8/9th. Superficially the court
dramas seem similar but the case of the 'Archer 1'and 'Snowball 5' are very
different: in one the prosecution is the Crown, in the other $24 billion
biotech giant Monsanto.
4th November 1999: Appeal Court may uphold judgement for
direct action on genetically modified (GM) crops November 8th 1999
On Monday 8th November, the Court of Appeal at The Royal Courts of Justice,
Strand, London will consider if five women who started the genetiX snowball
campaign should be granted a trial. The women claim they were justified in
digging up Monsanto's GM crops in July 1998. Monsanto claim there is no
defence under civil law, a trial is unnecessary and their temporary
injunctions should become permanent. The judges' decision may set a
precedent. The case will start not before 10.30 a.m. in Court No. 3.
(More details are contained in the press briefing)
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