Thanks to Jo Hudson for sending this to me.
Tom

> FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE Monday, March 27, 2000
>
> Boston, MA --  Activists from the Native Forest Network, today joined with
> the World Rainforest Movement in Uruguay,  ACERCA (Action for Community and
> Ecology in the Regions of Central America), and Rainforest Action Network
> to publicly announce the launching of a major international campaign
> against genetically engineered trees.
>
> This announcement was made at a press conference following attendance of
> Biodevastation 2000, a counter-conference and protest to BIO 2000, the
> International Biotechnology Meeting and Exhibition, occurring through
> Thursday.  The announcement was also made simultaneous to the beginning of
> "New Trees Grow Closer:  The Ecological, Ethical and Scientific Issues of
> Forest Biotechnology", BIO's major Symposium this morning at BIO 2000. "The
> next 50 years will see a forestry endeavor worldwide profoundly shaped by
> biotechnology," the BIO agenda reads.
>
> "Genetic engineering of trees poses a real threat to forest and their
> ecosystems," said Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher, a genetic scientist who works
> with the University of Liverpool.  She continued, "Proper risk assessment
> is impossible; we neither know the stakes nor the odds."
>
> Public relations experts for the biotech industry have said genetic
> engineering is no different from efforts to breed plants and animals to
> meet human needs, except the outcomes can be achieved more quickly.  The
> truth is genetics can alter structures of life in ways that could never
> occur in nature, the consequences of which are unknown.
>
> "GE trees present a tremendous threat to forests around the world," stated
> Patrick Reinsborough (in a statement from San Francisco read at today's
> Press Conference), Outreach Coordinator for the Rainforest Action Network.
> "RAN is especially concerned about the threat of these designer trees to
> the world's rainforests, which is where many of the test plots of these
> trees are located," he continued.
>
> Mick Petrie, NFN's campaigner on GE Trees, went on to say, "Additionally,
> because GE trees are still very close to their wild relatives, they are
> extremely susceptible to genetic pollution.  Many of us see forests as
> diverse habitats providing the last refuge for the earth's declining
> biodiversity.  The risks of genetic pollution in our remaining native
> forests are unknown, irreversible and potentially one of the greatest
> threats to biodiversity ever."
>
> Another key concern is the growing dominance of a few corporations with the
> power to affect all life on earth.  This seems especially threatening when
> biotech and chemical giants are partnered with some of the world's largest
> landowners.  Some of the principal players involved in Agbio, such as
> Monsanto, are also involved in forest biotechnology.  In addition, ForBio,
> International Paper, Fletcher Challenge Forests, GenFor, Canada Interlink,
> Silvagen, the Chilean Development Agency, Shell and Toyota have all
> initiated GR tree research.
>
> "We are at a crossroads.  The threat of a future where all life, trees,
> animals, food, and even humans are engineered to maximize the profit of a
> few trans-national corporations is upon us now," said Orin Langelle of
> ACERCA and the Native Forest Network.  "It is the height of arrogance to
> believe we can manipulate genes, the very building blocks of life, without
> risk to our forests and our futures on this fragile planet."
>
> "Terminator trees, genetically engineered never to flower,
> could ensure a silent spring in the forests of the future.
> Such trees will grow faster than before,
>  but will be devoid of the bees, butterflies, birds and squirrels
> which depend on pollen, seed and nectar."
> --London's Daily Telegraph
>
> NATIVE FOREST NETWORK
> Eastern North American Resource Center
> POB 57, Burlington, VT  05402  USA
> (802)863-0571  FAX: (802)864-8203
> EMAIL:  [log in to unmask]
> http://www.nativeforest.org
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
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