Test Sites Start Tumbling
April has been another busy month in the struggle to keep the mutants at bay.
Covertly. Another five sites were destroyed in the dark this month. Two of the sites were in Norfolk and three on the same farm in Tadcaster, Yorkshire. Don’t forget to let GEN know if you hear of any more. 0181 374 9516
In the Open at a GM site in Loanhead in the Lothians during a public site visit. Despite the pleadings of the Green Party members that they did not enter the GM field, many people took action and climbed the barbed wire fence protecting the mutant crops. About 30 people were ripping the plants from the ground, and six people were arrested. All were released the same day after all being charged with vandalism,one for obstruction, and one was even charged with the theft of a GM plant! Contact Fife EF!
Accountably. Genetix Snowball campaigners targeted 3 sites for their Silent Spring weekend on April 16/17. However, the weekend was somewhat silenter than hoped. AgrEvo was successful in gaining an injunction against six named snowball activists the day before the planned actions. Two of the three targeted sites were heavily guarded by police, the third one had already been covertly decontaminated a few days before by persons unknown. More successfully, an ethical shoplift was carried out in Manchester.
April 19th was another date in the long list of Monsanto’s PR balls-ups when their attempt to extend their injunction against the Snowball campaign was rejected by the jury in the London trial. The injunction, if granted, would have prohibited any person who had ever ordered a Snowball handbook to go near any of their fields. The handbook can now be downloaded from the web address http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/dc/backlash/
Inspections A number of local campaigns have sprung up against specific test sites. In Nottingham a ‘walk the beet’ site visit to the local test site at Ruddington took place, A group in the Borders is meanwhile rallying against a trial of oilseed rape in their area. Find out more in the Green Shop in Berwick-on- Tweed, or ring 01289 330 879 or 0141 946 2257
Prevented A farmer in Suffolk has withdrawn from GMO testing, due to "protester risk'. Mr Reeve of Riding farm, Walsham le Willows Near Bury St. Edmonds, had a licence to grow GM crops the year, but decided against it because "...I am sure they would have been pulled up."
Up and coming: The first farm size GM trial of oilseed rape has been approved now, on the land of Captain Barker, chum of Prince Charles. The man owns 3000 acres near Hannington, Wiltshire, of which he is offering 100 to the experiment. 23 acres in the centre will be the GM crop. “I don’t want to destroy anything, but if I can grow food half price I must look at it” is Mr Barkers justification. Well of course nobody wants to destroy anything, but…can anybody look at it please?