--- begin forwarded text
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 19:15:51 -0600
Subject: GE Activist Network: Chicago Feb. Program Planning Conference
Call Notes
From: Ericka <[log in to unmask]>
To: Jim Riddle <[log in to unmask]>, "Janice W. Neitzel" <[log in to unmask]>,
Theresa Carbrey <[log in to unmask]>,
Cassandra March <[log in to unmask]>,
Tom Taylor - OCA <[log in to unmask]>, "[Green Ag]" <[log in to unmask]>,
Iowa Nader Field coordinators/contacts <[log in to unmask]>,
Marjorie Fisher <[log in to unmask]>, Cecilia Bowman <[log in to unmask]>,
Lucy Goodman-Owsley <[log in to unmask]>,
Mark Knapp <[log in to unmask]>,
"Long, Cheryl" <[log in to unmask]>, Marseille <[log in to unmask]>,
INCA-LS <[log in to unmask]>, "'CSA-List" <[log in to unmask]>,
"Rex L. Bavousett" <[log in to unmask]>
X-Priority: 1
This will be a duplicate (or triplicate) for some, apologies!
E.
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From: "Renske van Staveren" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 17:24:39 -0600
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Conference Call Notes, Chicago Program Planning
Hello everyone,
Following are my notes from today's conference call about the planning for
the Chicago conference. Thanks to those of you who were on the call:
Beth Burrows -- Heather Albert-Knopp -- Linda Setchell -- Christina Cobb --
Kristin Dawkins -- Herb Barbolet -- Joe Mendelson -- Dave Henson -- Christie
Phillips -- Susan Davdison -- Mark Smith -- Juliana Jones -- Paul Bermanzohn
-- Tom Taylor -- Hannah Strange -- Carolyn Mugar -- Brent Maness -- Gregor
Wolbring -- Julie Miles -- Phil Bereano -- Bob Gronski -- Jessica Hayes --
Sarah Bantz -- Jean Halloran (did I miss anyone?)
We discussed the overview of the weekend as it is currently being planned.
Feedback from the New York event was that the sessions that were open to the
public but were also activist oriented were confusing.
For Chicago, then, we have planned the Friday night to be the public forum,
which will be held at the Apparel Center/Merchandise Mart's conference
center in downtown Chicago (http://www.merchandisemart.com/apparelcenter/)
350 N. Orleans, just North of the Chicago River.
This venue seats 300, and suggestions were made to video tape the event, and
investigate the options for overflow seating and viewing/listening.
We discussed the current line up of speakers for Friday evening, which is
currently as follows:
** Dr. Samuel Epstein from the University of Illinois on rBGH and health
affects (http://www.preventcancer.com)
** Ms. Chaia Heller from the Institute for Social Ecology
** Dr. Marsha Darling, with the Center for African American and Ethnic
Studies, at Adelphi University
** Gregor Wolbring, of University of Calgary and the International Network
on Bioethics and Disability.
The suggestion was made to have Percy Schmeiser who is currently embroiled
in a lawsuit against Monsanto -- (for details visit
http://www.gene.ch/gentech/1999/Oct/msg00187.html) and with the help of Dave
Henson we managed to confirm Percy within hours.
The suggestion was also made to have someone provide an overview,
contextualizing the various speakers, etc. and Brian Tokar was suggested,
and invited.
Tables will be available for literature at the public forum. If you wish to
send your materials in advance, you can do so to:
GEAN Chicago Conference
c/o Sustain
920 N. Franklin Street, Suite 206
Chicago, Illinois 60610
Some people had logistics suggestions for those planning on coming to
Chicago which include:
-- Plan plenty of time for delays into Chicago, as it is a busy airport and
it IS winter.
-- Consider Midway Airport as an option, as it is accessible via public
transportation into downtown Chicago.
-- Both the public forum venue and the Hostel (the location for the Saturday
& Sunday sessions as well as where reserved housing is located --
www.hichicago.org) are located on subway stops.
One thing I did not add, but should note, is that Sustain has agreed to
sponsor the event with their time and energy towards graphics work for
publicity, etc.
Dr. E. Ann Clark was suggested as another potential speaker. It was noted
that the Council of Canadians teach-in in Ottawa is happening at the same
time, and to the extent possible should be publicized together.
We then went to a discussion about the workshops and sessions for Saturday &
Sunday. There was incredibly lively conversation and if that's any
indication of what Chicago will be like ... !
I ran through the list of current workshops session ideas. We then
brainstormed about missing ideas, which sessions have holes, etc. I will be
working with the local host committee on scheduling the weekend's sessions
and we will be attempting to not have any sessions overlapping. A quick
think through this indicates that if we have 1.5 hour sessions, plus breaks
and meals, we can have 10 sessions. If anyone is interested in helping with
the scheduling, please get in touch.
Some ideas that were brought up for other sessions or concepts to be woven
into current ideas include:
** The art community and genetics, and organizing among artists and what are
artists vulnerable to on this issue. Cutting edge element. Indigenous
people developing show on art. Christie Phillips from Chicago indicated
that she is in touch with various artists, as is Christina Cobb and both
indicated an interest in pursuing this idea.
** Nantoechnology was brought up -- at this point we are interested in
seeing if anyone has particular expertise on this issue or knows of someone
who does who we could contact.
** Farm and agribusiness concentration. Persuasive tool for speaking to the
public on -- skill building on how you break down your argument by issue
area.
** Faith groups and thinking through the ethical concerns.
** Article in Science magazine saying that there's not enough research being
done into the risks or the benefits. "Cracks in the Wall" -- talk about
what's been happening in terms of how to exploit openings. US/EU Biotech
Dialogue which said liability and mandatory testing. Focus in on new
specialized and important issues. Strategies.
** Conflict and debate skills -- skill building -- how you gracefully work
through that. Strong skills at conflict and debate. Need the next step of
synthesis of the arguments. Luke Anderson's video on tough to crack
arguments. Break it down to compelling arguments and priorities to start
messaging.
** Christina made the suggestion to integrate in every session a bullet
point listing of what the other view of the issue that's the being covered
in that session to continually integrate this theme into all the sessions.
** The suggestion was made to begin assembling a packet of materials that
can be helpful of key points and back up research. Talking points and tools
that combat other side's key arguments. EMS booklet is a resource along the
lines -- summarizing arguments and experts who. Renske will contact EMS
about getting copies of this guide.
Registration information will be sent out at the beginning of next week,
with the deadline of January 24th. January 26th is the last day for over 21
day advance on airfare.
----------
Ms. Renske van Staveren, National Coordinator
Genetic Engineering Action Network, USA
2105 First Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404 USA
http://www.geocities.com/ge_action/usa.html
** February 16-18, 2001 ** GEAN Conference, Chicago, IL **
Visit http://www.geocities.com/gean_chicago/february.html
"The Genetic Engineering Action Network, USA exists to support and further
the work of those organizations and individuals working to address the risks
to the environment, biodiversity and human health, as well as the
socioeconomic and ethical consequences of genetic engineering."
Phone 612.870.3423
Cell 612.327.9622
Fax 612.870.4846
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University of Iowa
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