Winter oil seed rape, which has recently been planted, has only just starting to germinate. The transformation will be at a site at which GE crops were harvested this year and where they are due to be replanted next season. Farmers hosting GE release sites, research institutes and biotechnology companies who may have their sites transformed have been contacted by letter to inform them of the campaign, it s peaceful nature and to invite them to join. There is a risk of arrest on this action for participants. As an act of civil responsibility , as opposed to civil disobedience the genetiX snowball action expresses participants conviction that there are viable alternatives without the need to resort to GE crop technology.
Participants are willing to risk arrest and justify their actions in a court of law.
The campaign puts the emphasis on involving many people to ensure the genetiX snowball is genuinely participatory and democratic. GenetiX snowball is calling for a five year moratorium on the release of GE crops into the environment pending further research and public consultation. The government s own statutory bodies have been calling for a similar moratorium. Material provided by nationally published or broadcast freelancers. Several freelance photographers and video operators will be attending the genetiX harvest.