Five Greenpeace volunteers were arrested at 1am this morning (Saturday) after successfully occupying the bulk carrier 'Ioclos Grace' for seventeen hours. The vessel carrying 60,000 tonnes of GM soya owned by US grain exporter Cargill, is bound for a processing mill at Gladstone Docks, Liverpool. The ship is currently anchored off the north coast of Wales.
Police used bolt cutters to remove three of the volunteers who had barricaded themselves into the anchor chain locker. The five volunteers, all from the UK are Kate Davison, Richard Watson, Al Baker, Amber Whitehouse and Andy Broadley.
Jim Thomas, Greenpeace campaigner speaking from Anglesey said, "Greenpeace has exposed the hidden route through which GM is being smuggled into our food chain. The GM soya will mostly be used for animal feed, which will end up in meat and dairy products for human consumption. The Government should listen to the public and turn these GM ships back."
Greenpeace has written to the Government questioning the legality of importing GM soya as animal feed and has asked the Environment Minister. Michael Meacher to stop any further imports of GM crops for animal feed.
Greenpeace volunteers have received a huge response from Liverpool and Anglesey residents.
"Cargill's plant at the Gladstone Dock in Liverpool has been the gateway for GM pollution into the UK. Now is the time for Cargill to do what everyone is demanding - go GM free", added Thomas.
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Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255
