4 items
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1. Munlochy - more news
Fri, 24 Aug 2001 08:14
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I have just heard on the news that the field is only half seeded, i.e. 50 acres done, 50 acres to go. The 6 people arrested after me last night have been charged with breach of the peace and will appear in court at Dingwall tomorrow.
Pam
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2. Munlochy update
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After a lovely sunny morning with no sign of tractors on the field, the police called all the protesters together and announced that sowing would be starting again immediately. Protestors were welcome to hold a peaceful protest ON the field but if they obstructed the tractor in any way they would be arrested.
Within minutes the tractor appeared on the horizon. Nancy and Rhona walked in to the field and sat in the tractor's path. They were arrested and removed from the field. The tractor carried on sowing. Quick phone calls were made to bring more supporters to the field. People began to arrive over the next hour or so.
At 4:45pm myself, Pete and Gavin decided enough was enough and we sat in the tractor's path. Tractors seem to be moving very quickly when they are bearing down on you! (Don't worry - we were at a safe distance!)
We were, of course, arrested. We were taken to Dingwall police station and spent 5 hours in the cells. I think I was charged with obstruction but I'm not 100% sure - I was tired and just wanted to get out of there. I expect I'll hear soon from the procurator fiscal. The five of us were released at about the same time.
In the meantime back at the field... The number of protestors was approx 50.
This was matched by police numbers! They now have a control centre based at the field. The fairly friendly approach of the police changed. Six more people were arrested including Donnie MacLeod; they are all being held overnight.
I haven't been able to establish if the sowing is finished yet. Whether or not it is, we would like to continue our vigil at Munlochy, so please carry on supporting us. Drop in to OUR control centre any time or phone our hotline just to say hi or for more info - 07719 584 417 (apologies if the line is not available due to temporary discharge of batteries!).
Thank you to everyone who has given us gifts of food and words of support!
Look forward to seeing you!
Love, Pam
Directions to field: Going north on the A9 from Inverness, take the first turning for Munlochy; go through the village; at the crossroads go straight on (it's a staggered crossroads so it's a right and first left); the field is approx 1 mile along this single track road on the left; there is a layby on the right - you will see supporters' cars and our control centre!
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3. Protesters held after GM crop demo
18:00 Thursday 23rd August 2001
www.ananova.com
Five protesters have been arrested at a site where GM crop trials have been given the go-ahead. Up to 30 people protested at the trials of genetically-modified oilseed rape at Roskil Farm at Munlochy on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands.
Three women, aged 38, 43 and 56, and two men, aged 31 and 54, have been arrested. Police said they were all members of the Highlands and Islands GM Concern group, which has raised fears about the effects of a herbicide to be used in the Black Isle trials.
Chief Superintendent Ramsay McGhee, who is in charge of the police operation at the scene of the GM crop trials, said: "A total of five people have been arrested so far today in connection with alleged breaches of the peace and a police presence will remain in the area until we are satisfied that there are no further breaches to public safety." About 10 police officers are still at the scene of the protest which is continuing tonight.
Story filed: 18:00 Thursday 23rd August 2001
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_381764.html?menu=
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4. Furor over GE Crop Test Sites in Scotland
Aberdeen Press and Journal (Scotland)
August 22, 2001
GM go-ahead on the Black Isle ignores mass protest
By: Les Parker, Sarah Bruce, and Nathaniel Anderson
PROTESTERS who had staged a huge anti-GM crop rally in Inverness reacted furiously last night to the announcement that two trials are to go ahead. The news broke only days after Scotland's biggest such protest and has provoked unprecedented legal moves.
Opponents of the decision to run trials of GM oilseed rape on a Black Isle farm are preparing to take the Executive to court to overturn the decision.
The convener of Highland Council warned the Executive it faced a backlash.
The decision to host the trials at Roskill Farm, Munlochy, was not confirmed on Monday as expected, after more than 500 protesters had marched on Inverness on Saturday. It came only a day later.
Two fields of GM rape will be grown at Munlochy with a further two on Aberdeenshire farms at Daviot and Rothienorman. All are in traditional growing areas for autumn-sown rape, said the Executive.
The environmental group Highlands and Islands GM Concern gave warning it was seeking legal advice on blocking the trials on the Black Isle. Its concerns centre on the effects of a herbicide to be used.
Officials insisted that the variety of oilseed rape in the North trials had been grown under research conditions for 10 years without detriment. GM Concern chairman Kenny Taylor said: "There has essentially been no public consultation on this, other than one advertisement placed by the company several weeks ago.
"We've discovered that there could be a case for the Executive to answer on this.
"We're now seeking to find other like -minded individuals and partner bodies to join with us in taking this to court."
Highland Council convener David Green also appreciated local feeling. He said: "I have absolutely no doubt that attitudes will now harden.
"I relayed the strength of the local concern to the rural affairs minister recently when I underlined the council's view that no further trials should be approved until the Agriculture and Environmental Commission had reported on their findings of the first trial . . . this advice has been ignored." David Alston, Black Isle North councillor, in whose area the trials will be held, said: "For over a year, the council has campaigned for greater openness and accountability on GM crop trials.
"We went to the Court of Session to try, unsuccessfully, to bring crop trials within the planning process; we brought the Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) to the Highlands to take evidence on the trial at Munlochy last year; and we have established, through a Highland-wide survey, that the majority are opposed to both the crop trials and to future commercial growing of GMOs.
"In fact, even if there were additional safeguards, only 21% would support further trials.
"We have a clear position based on the precautionary principle." Mr Alston added that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) had raised specific concerns.
"Ross Finnie (Rural Affairs Minister) has repeatedly said that he can only act on the scientific advice given to him. This appears to be clear advice, from his scientific advisers, that there are concerns, specific to this site, which have not been addressed."
An MSP reacted furiously to the Aberdeenshire green light. The Scottish National Party's North-east member, Brian Adam, said the Government's approach was shrouded in secrecy, describing the public consultation as a sham.
"There doesn't appear to be any will in Government to back the overwhelming public view on GM crop trails. Their consultation is just a joke." The Executive stood by its decision.
"Approval was granted following detailed advice from a variety of bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Food Standards Agency," said a spokesman.
"All deemed the crops to pose no threat to the environment or people living near . . .
"All four sites will take place under closely supervised and regulated conditions. Should any potentially harmful effects be identified, the trial will be stopped and the crop destroyed."
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check out the HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS GM CONCERN website:
http://www.gmconcern.freeserve.co.uk/