During the early hours of Sunday morning, 29 June, almost sixty members of the public broke into the grounds of GM giant Syngenta's reasearch station at Jealott's Hill near Bracknell, Berkshire. They pulled up a 600 sq metre research plot of experimental wheat.
Syngenta had government consent to plant upto 35 by 20 metres of genetical modified wheat. In a press release, protesters claimed that if allowed to pollenate, it would have spread GM material into the surrounding countryside...
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Syngenta had government consent to plant upto 35 by 20 metres of genetical modified wheat. In a press release, protesters claimed that if allowed to pollenate, it would have spread GM material into the surrounding countryside...
For Photos [updated]Click Here
For Video [latest edit]Click Here
During the early hours of Sunday morning, sixty members of the public entered the grounds of Syngenta's Jealott's Hill Research Centre and decontaminated a trial of Wheat 1[1] by pulling up the 35 by 40 meter plot...
Date: Sunday 29 June 2003 Time: 8:30 a.m.
PRESS RELEASE
DAWN RAID ON GM RESEARCH STATION, BRACKNELL
During the early hours of Sunday morning, 29 June, sixty members of the public entered the grounds of Syngenta's Jealott's Hill Research Centre near Bracknell, Berkshire and decontaminated a Research and Development trial of Genetically Modified Wheat 1[1] by pulling up the 35 by 40 meter plot.
The group of people, from all around the country, had to evade a 6ft barbed wire fences and constant security to make the site safe. They were not challenged by security or police. The crop was just about to pollinate and spread GM material into the surrounding countryside. This decontamination is the culmination of a series of co-ordinated actions which have removed all 10 of this year’s National Seed Listing trials2 [2].
One of the protesters Liz Snook commented
“It’s like wandering into an episode of the X files out there. Syngenta3 [3] are using our land as a laboratory, despite the courts repeatedly upholding the position that these crops are a very real threat to property and the environment.”
The action took place against the backdrop of the government’s GM Public Debate, which has widely been dismissed as meaningless.
“The government claims it wants a debate on whether to grow GM crops in this country, but by allowing outdoor trials to take place, it is presenting us with a fait accompli. The public has said a resounding ‘No!’ to GM crops but the government isn’t listening. Taking direct action to decontaminate trials ourselves is the only way we can stop GM before it’s too late” said Pipa Gallop, another of the protestors.
Picture Editors Notes Freelance video footage of the action is available from: Hamish Campbell 07931 165 452. Freelance photos are available from: Ben Leary 07956 334 831
Editors Notes [1] The wheat is modified to be resistant to fusarium fungal diseases . GM wheat is proving to be the most controversial GM crop so far in the US and Canada, with consumers, farmers’ unions and large processing companies saying that they will not use it. It would be the first GM crop to be eaten in large quantities by humans, and any problems with it would therefore be particularly serious. [2] National Seed Listing trials must be carried out for every plant variety which will be supplied commercially in the UK. They test for Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability (DUV) and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) but not safety, and represent a source of genetic contamination in themselves. These actions have delayed commercialisation of certain varieties as well as preventing contamination. [3] Syngenta is one of the main companies promoting GM crops In Britain, along with Bayer and Monsanto. It is the world’s largest agro-chemical company and has produced such toxic pesticides as paraquat. More information on Syngenta can be found at www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/syngenta/syngenta1.htm
Date: Sunday 29 June 2003 Time: 8:30 a.m.
PRESS RELEASE
DAWN RAID ON GM RESEARCH STATION, BRACKNELL
During the early hours of Sunday morning, 29 June, sixty members of the public entered the grounds of Syngenta's Jealott's Hill Research Centre near Bracknell, Berkshire and decontaminated a Research and Development trial of Genetically Modified Wheat 1[1] by pulling up the 35 by 40 meter plot.
The group of people, from all around the country, had to evade a 6ft barbed wire fences and constant security to make the site safe. They were not challenged by security or police. The crop was just about to pollinate and spread GM material into the surrounding countryside. This decontamination is the culmination of a series of co-ordinated actions which have removed all 10 of this year’s National Seed Listing trials2 [2].
One of the protesters Liz Snook commented
“It’s like wandering into an episode of the X files out there. Syngenta3 [3] are using our land as a laboratory, despite the courts repeatedly upholding the position that these crops are a very real threat to property and the environment.”
The action took place against the backdrop of the government’s GM Public Debate, which has widely been dismissed as meaningless.
“The government claims it wants a debate on whether to grow GM crops in this country, but by allowing outdoor trials to take place, it is presenting us with a fait accompli. The public has said a resounding ‘No!’ to GM crops but the government isn’t listening. Taking direct action to decontaminate trials ourselves is the only way we can stop GM before it’s too late” said Pipa Gallop, another of the protestors.
Picture Editors Notes Freelance video footage of the action is available from: Hamish Campbell 07931 165 452. Freelance photos are available from: Ben Leary 07956 334 831
Editors Notes [1] The wheat is modified to be resistant to fusarium fungal diseases . GM wheat is proving to be the most controversial GM crop so far in the US and Canada, with consumers, farmers’ unions and large processing companies saying that they will not use it. It would be the first GM crop to be eaten in large quantities by humans, and any problems with it would therefore be particularly serious. [2] National Seed Listing trials must be carried out for every plant variety which will be supplied commercially in the UK. They test for Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability (DUV) and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) but not safety, and represent a source of genetic contamination in themselves. These actions have delayed commercialisation of certain varieties as well as preventing contamination. [3] Syngenta is one of the main companies promoting GM crops In Britain, along with Bayer and Monsanto. It is the world’s largest agro-chemical company and has produced such toxic pesticides as paraquat. More information on Syngenta can be found at www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/syngenta/syngenta1.htm
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
What's the alternative to the GM crop in this case?
05.07.2003 15:51
This probably includes resistance to the fungus Fusarium graminearum, which produces deoxynivalenol a vomit-inducing toxin [vomitoxin]. Vomitoxin, while not fatal, can cause severe vomiting. This is something I'd like protection against, thanks Syngenta! But no - someone destroyed the research crop...consequences...
OK - so now our weetabix will speed up the morning exodus from all orifices. Now, I like the regularity which I can rely upon 'bix to produce, but I really don't want to vomit before work.
What's the alternative to the GM protection, well perhaps a chemical application - I guess that might be quite toxic too. Well - if farmers weigh up the risk to their own health from the fungicide and decide it would be safer to use Syngenta's fusarium-resistant what, the wild-life around their fields will be safer, the birds nests won't get sprayed, the farmer will burn less fuel to carry out the spraying, people living near by might not have to breath so much crap.
Did you ever read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson? We will reduce chemical applications by using GM crops, but we should use our voice to promote only those crops which reduce chemical applications - not trash useful crops like these. It strikes me as anti-environment to mindlessly pull up crops - and the video shows a lot of people having fun, it ain't heartfelt, otherwise the whole field would have been taken to the ground. The so-called justification is left to the very end of the article, and is no logical justification for the article. Why not read up on fusarium, fungicide toxicity and...
Fight against wars, not technology.
But hey - I've never heard any well informed anti-GM discussion on Indymedia or elsewhere, and I don't expect to because once you are informed you won't be anti-GM.
Pieter Wulf
we did another action the same day
07.07.2003 13:08
Forest Row, East Sussex
Alternative to non-GM is quite obvious - non-GM!
19.07.2003 22:07
While on the subject of alternative to 'GM', it is funny that you speak of GM being an alternative to chemical application when in fact most of the companies involved in GM are chemical giants with an obvious interest in maintaining sales of their chemicals. Monsanto, who are responcible for over 90% of the world GM crops, also produce the worlds best selling herbicide. They are also responsible for such environmentally benign products as agent orange, ddt and dioxin.
In the USA and Canada (which along with Argentina, account for about 90% of the world GM acreage) studies by the US Dept of Agriculture show that in many case, chemical use is UP on GM crops and yields are down. Further more, markets for GM crops are rapidly closing around the world. Canadian farmers, having experienced the problems of contamination first hand with maize and oil seed rape, are now trying to prevent Monsanto from introducing GM wheat.
Looks to me like stoping GM wheat is a very sensible thing to do. Wheat is a very common allergen and unlike soya, cotton and fodder maize (the main GM crops currently being crown) wheat is eaten directly as a staple food by humans and so any resulting allergic responses could affect millions of people.
Phil