Ex Greenpeace Leader in UK
Joins Monsanto's PR Firm

UK: Ex-Greenpeace boss joins Monsanto PR firm
09 Jan 2002
Source: Reuters

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Lord Melchett, the former head of environmental group
Greenpeace, is to join a public relations firm which
includes controversial genetic food (GM) firm Monsanto
Co among its clients, his new bosses said on
Wednesday.

Eton-educated Melchett, who once led Greenpeace's
campaign to stamp out genetically modified crops, is
to advise Burson-Marsteller's Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) unit on environmental issues, the
PR company said.

A hereditary peer who was axed from Britain's House of
Lords under the Labour government's constitutional
shake-up, Melchett was once charged with criminal
damage following an attack on a field of genetically
modified maize.

He and 28 other protesters were later cleared of the
charges in what Melchett hailed as a legal landmark
and a vindication of the organisation's policy on
genetically modified crops.

He retired as Greenpeace executive director in 2000
after more than 10 years at the helm.

Burson-Marsteller said it hoped Melchett's extensive
experience from his Greenpeace days would help
environmental lobby groups and companies in the
agricultural science sector communicate better.

"In my time at Greenpeace I saw the best and the worst
of corporate sector's activities and intend to put
that experience to good use in this new role,"
Melchett said in a statement.