Sunday 19th July 1998

Monsanto targets Genetic Campaigners

Monsanto, the £20 billion US biotechnology company has served injunctions on
five women[1] 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 [2]. The case will be heard in the High Court
on July 30th 1998. The campaigners are seeking legal advice from Kerr
Stammer, the barrister who provided legal advice for the defendants in the
so called ‘Mclibel trial’.

The injunctions granted by judge Mr Justice Jowitt on 16 July 1998 prohibit
the women from ‘uprooting, destroying or otherwise damaging or interfering
with any of the Monsanto plants or crops at their seventy test field sites
through out Britain. Monsanto are also pursuing unlimited damages against
the five women. Video, newspaper footage, campaign materials and
investigations by private detectives form part of the evidence presented to
the judge.

Monsanto is not currently pursuing charges for criminal damage against the
women. Campaigners believe that Monsanto’s decision to pursue a civil case
may be to prevent the use of a possible defence under criminal law. The
Criminal Law Act 1967 allows reasonable force to be used to prevent a crime.
The five women maintain that gene transfer from GE ‘test field sites’ by
pollination or other mechanisms represents criminal damage.

Monsanto’s action in targeting those launching genetiX snowball can be seen
as attempting to prevent further actions by the women and hence stopping the
campaign. However genetiX snowball seeks to inspire new and growing numbers
of people to remove GE plants as an effective means of political expression.
To date there have been more than 250 inquires to the genetiX snowball
office. Snowball participants pull up a maximum of 100 plants. They are
asked to find two other people to take part in the following waves of
genetiX snowball to ensure the campaign is genuinely democratic and
participatory. To date there has been no consultation with the British
people as to their desire for GE food or crops [3].Monsanto are currently
are engaged in a £1 million advertising campaign with the theme
‘Biotechnology is a matter of opinion … ’. in the broad sheet weekend colour
supplements.

Melanie Jarman, one of the five women said,
‘This is a David and Goliath situation. Monsanto’s bullying tactics are
being used to distract attention from their flawed science’
ENDS
Contact (press liaison): Andrew Wood 0973 953446 or page 07654 247502
Editors Notes
[1] See release dated July 4th, ‘First arrests in Britain for pulling up
Genetically Engineered crops’ from genetiX snowball.
[2]The five women arrested were Rowan Tilly, Kathryn Tulip, Zoe Elford,
Melanie Jarman, and Jo Hamilton. They are available for interview - please
call Andrew Wood, press liaison on 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247 502
[3] A recent MORI opinion poll showed 77% of respondents don’t want GE crops
in this country. The Independent newspaper reported on 7th July, (Home News:
‘Wheatfileds turn into War Zones’) that the same MORI poll says only 20% of
respondents want GE foods.
Picture Editor notes
[1]Pictures of the first genetiX snowball of July 4th available. Photographs
available from Nick Cobbing, respected freelance photographer whose work has
been published in the Guardian, Observer and Time Out. Call ISF or Image Net
on: 0541 522333 or Nick Cobbing: 0973 642 103. [2]Video footage of entire
action, including the women actually digging, on DVC format available from
Zoe Broughton, award winning film maker whose work has been broadcast
nationally. Call 0961 181 576

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