sainsburys distribution depot blocked 30.9.04

The last nationwide blockade of Sainsburys distribution depots cost them a fortune. In the early hours of this morning in St Helens Merseyside we've done it again.

more news to follow.

Press release

SAINSBURY’S DEPOT BROUGHT TO A STAND STILL AGAIN BY GM PROTESTERS

One of Sainsbury's biggest UK distribution centres has been shut down tonight as part of a concentrated campaign to stop Sainsbury's selling milk from cows fed on GM products.
People are chained together through steel tubes, blocking the depot gates.

This action is blocking entrances normally used to distribute the supermarket’s dairy products that come from cows fed GM animal feed. The protest follows Sainsbury’s failure to provide non-GM fed milk as standard, despite rivals like Marks and Spencer and the Co-op doing so.

A protester explained:
“Neither farmers or consumers want GM in our food chain. Sainsbury’s must keep their promise to phase out its use, and pay farmers properly so they can do so”

A farmer added:
“We are paid less for our milk than it costs to produce. GM is only adding to the crisis in our industry. We want an end to the exploitation of foreign farmers through GM, and an end to the exploitation of us by the supermarkets.”

The protesters intend to stay until GM fed products are taken off Sainsbury’s shelves. The police have been called but any arrests are likely to be seriously delayed by the demonstrator’s chains and equipment.

NOTES TO EDITORS

GM fed milk is currently unlabelled. The effects of GM on both cattle, and the people who then eat products from them, have never been tested by independent scientists.
In the face of public concern Sainsbury’s pledged to phase out the use of GM in animal feed three years ago, but are now claiming they cannot for economic reasons.
Prof. Bob Orskov OBE, director of the International Feed Resource Unit in Aberdeen has said “As a scientist, I wouldn’t drink milk from cows fed GM with the current state of knowledge”.

for more information see  http://www.geneticsaction.org.uk/resources/alliancesainsburys.pdf.
The location of the depot is-

Haydock
Haydock Industrial Est
Haydock
St Helens,
Mersyside
WA1 9WB