GE Decon-Fest

Recently, many of the country's genetically engineered pollution sites have been decontaminated. In Aberdeen, concerned citizens scythed a large X across a field of GE oilseed rape, highlighting the many Scottish release sites and the lack of public debate. This crop is likely to be the first to get a commercial license here, which would mean that a huge area could be planted with it. Oilseed rape has a high cross-pollination rate, fertilising normal (non-GE) plants up to 2.5 km away - you may have witnessed its familiar yellow flowers recently beside roads, and in fields of other crops.

During the night of 4th June, 7 Frankenstein rapeseed fields were destroyed across Derbyshire (3 sites), Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire. Days later, the Lincolnshire Loppers struck at the only dough the companies really care about: a demonstration GE wheat field was subject to wanton destruction' (so said one Professor, so now we know!) the night before the Cereals 98 trade fair viewing. Half a week later, at a minute to midnight, a field of GE oilseed rape at Penicuik in Scotland was no more (with campaigners also visiting the second field only 4 days later). Once the genetic genie is out of the bottle, it will be impossible to put it back in again.

In the last month, other sites cleaned up have been rape in Norfolk and near Ponteland, and 2 sugar beet fields in Norfolk. Aliens visited Essex just before a Farming Futures show, using a green ray to decontaminate the site of oilseed rape, and warn humankind of the dangers.

With majority public opinion on our side (according to recent polls), Brookside, and Prince Charles on board (hoorah, bless his cotton, or silk, socks), no wonder that Monsanto has launched a L1 million PR offensive. For further details, or how to find your local GE release site, try Fife EF! (north of the border), or GEN for your local group.

Coming to a field near you...the genetiX snowball will be rolling from July 4th (independence from US multinationals and all that). It will spread open accountable nonviolent resistance to GE crops by encouraging people to safely pull up a small amount of crops, then get more people to join them every fortnight. See enclosed flyer, and contact genetiX snowball for more to distribute.