Gene Arrests
11 people were arrested as they attempted to uproot GE sugar beet just south of Lincoln, as part of a genetiX snowball action. 8 new members of the local group were arrested by the waiting police, as they reached the release site. The remaining three were successful in uprooting 10 beet before also being arrested for criminal damage, attempted criminal damage and going equipped to cause criminal damage with gardening tools; no charges have yet been pressed. The police and farmer were notified in advance of the time and place. A letter to the Environment Agency asked them to safely dispose of the GE material. The Monsanto injunction against the first 5 snowballers lists all their release sites.
13 people were arrested after the decontamination of a genetics release site in Totnes, Devon, two charged with criminal damage of L605,000, curfews and daily reporting to a cop-shop imposed. The others are awaiting the results of forensic tests. The site was the subject of a high-profile court case, in which a farmer was fighting to retain his organic status, threatened by nearby GE cross-pollination. Over thirty people, many local, uprooted maize before it flowered. The site had 24 hour security guard surveillance following an abortive attempt. Properties in Somerset, Devon, Bristol, Sheffield and London were raided by police after the arrests. Locals held a public meeting, and a 300-strong demo at the court case of the 2 "should be seen as a community response to the corporate assault on our land".
Despite Mutanto slapping injunctions and recent arrests, actions continue to grow. 5 people openly pulled GE oilseed rape near Dundee. They were arrested and charged with aggravated trespass and malicious mischief, but charges were dropped after 50 hours, just before they were due in court. There have been conflicting reports as to whether the crop was GE.
One Sunday a group of about ten local residents decided to go to church. But instead of attending a religious service they decided it might be more useful to dig up some Monsanto sugar beet at Church Farm, in Norfolk. It took place in broad daylight, though it's still unclear if anybody other than them saw God!
Potatoes with the inserted genes of chickens, jellyfish, sunflowers, viruses and bacteria to name but a few, were all too much for one group who decontaminated 20 of Leeds Uni's GE plots.
Their lookouts spotted hare shooters in a pick-up truck with a powerful spotlight, but they weren't going to be caught in the headlights, no siree.
In the last month there have been seven decontaminations (including one only partly). Actions have varied in style, with stealthy nocturnal raids, daylight decontaminations, and accountable snowball actions; the important thing is that the job is getting done. The biotech multinationals are finding that their scheme to turn our land into a giant laboratory will not be easy. Although 35 ex-sites is impressive, there's still over 300 British test sites - loads left to do. Contact GEN on how to get involved, or for help on finding your local GE sites.