Nether Compton Rally
The anti-GM crop rally held in Nether Compton was a fantastic day - positive, peaceful, non-violent and extremely well supported by a broad cross-section of the community. 300 people heard speeches including, in the interest of impartiality, the Grim Reaper speaking on behalf of the biotech corporations.
Post picnic, music and speeches a strolled through the beautiful Dorset Countryside. On arrival at the site, 3 Grim Reapers led about 100 people onto the field, where they focused on decontamination. This lasted for 45 mins before police entered the site and arrested 7 people.
One gave a temporary name "for the future", in solidarity with future generations who do not have a voice in the present. "Future" was charged with criminal damage and was able to submit a personal statement including 27 scientific papers and briefings as "evidence at the scene of their crime". She was given numerous messages of support from police including "How much of the crop did you manage to do? I wish I had the guts to do it". The police eventually traced her and she was bailed (see rowantilly@gn.apc.org. for her statement). The other six arrestees, were released on bail and are due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court at mid-day on 11 August.
An estimated 15% of the crop has been destroyed, which is a significant dent in the fifty acres of maize.
Many enthusiastic people, who had been empowered by their first experience of direct action wanted to know when the next "picnic" is... Everyone is invited to visit Over Compton again! Please bring your strimmers next time, scythes can only manage so much!
* A new web site has been set up by Corporate Watch. It has regional maps showing each UK site involved in GMO’s, from offices to stores to ports to fields. Find out what’s happening near you! www. gm-info.org.uk
* Consent for Aventis to go ahead with a farmscale trial of winter sown oil seed rape has been sneaked through without anyone having an opportunity to object. It's at TF 207 968 nr. Thorganby, Lincolnshire.