Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]>
Received: from rly-de02.mx.aol.com (rly-de02.mail.aol.com [172.19.170.138]) by air-de05.mail.aol.com (v124.15) with ESMTP id MAILINDE051-4bc4a5f4a6819d; Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:43:00 -0400
Received: from mail172.e2ma.net (mail172.e2ma.net [66.179.147.172]) by rly-de02.mx.aol.com (v124.15) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINDE027-4bc4a5f4a6819d; Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:42:32 -0400
To: [log in to unmask]
From: "Global Justice Ecology Project" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Public Rejects Genetically Engineered Trees
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:42:56 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
Precedence: bulk
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="--=F10D60AFF8CC4A9EAEA1_4EBE_4AF4_6810"
X-AOL-IP: 66.179.147.172
X-Mailer: Unknown (No Version)
----=F10D60AFF8CC4A9EAEA1_4EBE_4AF4_6810
Content-Type: text/plain;charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
To view this email online, paste this link into your browser:
http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03
___________________________________
STOP GE Trees Campaign ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472281/32556/goto:http://www.nogetrees.org )
For Immediate Release 16 July 2009
Public Overwhelmingly Rejects Genetically Engineered Trees
Hinesburg, VT (U.S.)--Nearly 17,500 public comments were sent to the US Department of Agriculture opposing their recommendation for approval of an ArborGen [1] proposal to plant over a quarter of a million genetically engineered (GE) eucalyptus trees. Only 39 favorable comments were received by the USDA. If allowed, the plantings would take place on 330 acres of land across seven states in the Southern U.S., to supposedly feed future cellulosic ethanol production.
All but one of the field trials would be allowed to flower and produce seeds. The trees are genetically engineered to be cold tolerant, produce less lignin and have altered fertility. When the USDA issued their draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in early May in favor of ArborGen's proposal, the STOP GE Trees Campaign ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472291/32556/goto:http://nogetrees.org ) [2] mobilized.
The collection of comments from people firmly opposing the large-scale release of GE eucalyptus trees was a combined effort of several different organizations that recognize the inherent danger in this industry proposal. Eucalyptus trees are known to be wildly invasive, extremely flammable and deplete huge quantities of ground water. They are also not native to North America. In many cases they have exacerbated drought conditions, which can set the stage for devastating wildfires. In a massive Australian eucalyptus wildfire earlier this year,173 people perished.
"Releasing a quarter of a million genetically modified trees that are allowed to both flower and produce seeds is irresponsible and dangerous," stated George Kimbrell, Staff Attorney for the Center for Food Safety ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472285/32556/goto:http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/home.cfm ). "USDA failed to analyze rigorously the foreseeable impacts of this unprecedented experiment on native environments, which could have devastating consequences," he concluded.
"The Organic Consumer's Association ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472287/32556/goto:http://www.organicconsumers.org/ ) strongly opposes the release of
any and all GMO trees into the environment," stated Craig Minowa, Environmental Scientist at the OCA. "Some of the projected social and environmental impacts from the release of GMO trees commercially include the increased use of toxic herbicides and pesticides and the contamination of native forests with GMO trees engineered for such traits as reduced lignin, insect resistance, or faster growth which would be devastating to forest ecosystems," he added.
With offices in the U.S., Brazil and New Zealand, ArborGen is shipping GE tree tissue from location to location. According to the draft USDA Environmental Assessment, the GE tree hybrid used to create the 260,000 GE tree clones to be planted in the U.S. originated in Brazil, where non-GMO eucalyptus plantations have long been causing massive social and ecological problems. The GE tree tissue was then sent to New Zealand where it was genetically engineered and then shipped to the U.S. for cloning and outdoor release. [3]
"Here in New Zealand ArborGen has been prevented from doing field trials of their GE trees because it is recognized that the risks associated with these field trials are simply too great," stated Co-chair and spokesperson Steffan Browning of the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472289/32556/goto:http://www.organicnz.org/ ). "GE trees are prohibited from field trials in New Zealand, so ArborGen will export them to the USA or anywhere else they can get away with it. This scandal brings shame to New Zealand's clean, green GMO-free reputation," he added.
The USDA will be making a final decision soon. For updates on the current status of the application visit: http://nogetrees.org ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472291/32556/goto:http://nogetrees.org )
Contacts:
Anne Petermann, Global Justice Ecology Project ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472292/32556/goto:http://globaljusticeecology.org/ ), +1.802.482.2689/mobile:+1.802.578.0477
Scot Quaranda, Dogwood Alliance ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472294/32556/goto:http://www.dogwoodalliance.org/ ), +1.828.242.3596
NOTES:
[1] ArborGen is the global leader in the research, development and commercialization of genetically engineered trees. ArborGen is jointly owned by International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon.
[2] The Stop GE Trees Campaign steering committee includes the Global Justice Ecology Project, Dogwood Alliance, Sierra Club, Institute for Social Ecology, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, ETC Group, World Rainforest Movement, Global Forest Coalition, TimberWatch and other groups that have united toward the goal of prohibiting the ecologically and socially devastating release of genetically engineered trees into the environment. This growing campaign has 144 partners in 36 countries around the globe. For more information visit: http://nogetrees.org. World Rainforest Movement ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472296/32556/goto:http://www.wrm.org.uy/ ) is the southern hemisphere hub of the campaign and this
month features "The Transgenic Trees Threat" on their website http://www.wrm.org.uy/ ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472296/32556/goto:http://www.wrm.org.uy/ ).
[3] Page 27 of the EA
http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?sid=1227AB60E014&Ntt=aphis-2008-0059&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8059&css=0&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055+11 ( http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472299/32556/goto:http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?sid=1227AB60E014&Ntt=aphis-2008-0059&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8059&css=0&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055+11 )
P.O. 412
Hinesburg, VT
05461 US
___________________________________
forward this email to a friend
http://e2ma.net/map/view=Forward/ID=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03/send_to_friend
This email was sent to [log in to unmask] To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list.
manage your preferences: http://e2ma.net/map/view=Manage/signupId=55151/id=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03
opt out using TrueRemove(tm): http://e2ma.net/map/view=OptOut/ID=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03/signupId=55151
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails: http://e2ma.net/map/view=Join/signupId=55151/mailingId=2014330/acctId=32556
Network for Good
EmailNow powered by Emma
http://www.myemma.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]
Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp
----=F10D60AFF8CC4A9EAEA1_4EBE_4AF4_6810
Content-Type: text/html;charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
<img src="http://e2ma.net/oz/2212812050/2014330/32556/spacer.gif" width=1 height=1>
<img src="http://e2ma.net/oz/2212812050/2014330/32556/spacer.gif" width=1 height=1>
<div align="center" style="font: 10px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969;">
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may
<a href="http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03" style="font: 10px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #696969; text-decoration: underline;">see it online</a>.</div>
<table width="600" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td width="100%" align="right">
<a href="http://e2ma.net/map/view=Forward/ID=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03/send_to_friend"><img src="http://e2ma.net/images/buttons/fwdbutton.gif" alt="Forward this message to a friend" height="28" width="145" border="0"></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<table width="100%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" bgcolor="#333333">
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<tr>
<td valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div align="center"></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff"><div class="e2ma-layout-wrap">
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top"> <div align="center">
<img src="http://e2ma.net/userdata/32556/images/e1247757252.jpg" width="209" height="210" hspace="5" vspace="5" border="0" alt="">
</div>
<div><p style="margin: 0px;">
 <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472281/32556/goto:http://www.nogetrees.org" target="_blank" >STOP GE Trees Campaign</a><br>
</p>
<p style="margin: 0px;">
 
</p>
<p style="margin: 0px;" align="left">
For Immediate
Release                       16 July
2009<br>
<br>
Public Overwhelmingly Rejects Genetically Engineered Trees<br>
<br>
Hinesburg, VT (U.S.)--Nearly 17,500 public comments were sent to the US Department of Agriculture opposing their recommendation for approval of an
ArborGen [1] proposal to plant over a quarter of a million genetically engineered (GE) eucalyptus trees.  Only 39 favorable comments were
received by the USDA. If allowed, the plantings would take place on 330 acres of land across seven states in the Southern U.S., to supposedly feed
future cellulosic ethanol production.<br>
<br>
All but one of the field trials would be allowed to flower and produce seeds. The trees are genetically engineered to be cold tolerant, produce less
lignin and have altered fertility. When the USDA issued their draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in early May in favor of ArborGen's proposal, the
<a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472283/32556/goto:http://nogetrees.org" target="_blank" >STOP GE Trees Campaign</a> [2] mobilized.<br>
<br>
The collection of comments from people firmly opposing the large-scale release of GE eucalyptus trees was a combined effort of several different
organizations that recognize the inherent danger in this industry proposal.  Eucalyptus trees are known to be wildly invasive, extremely
flammable and deplete huge quantities of ground water.  They are also not native to North America.  In many cases they have exacerbated
drought conditions, which can set the stage for devastating wildfires.  In a massive Australian eucalyptus wildfire earlier this year,173 people
perished.<br>
<br>
"Releasing a quarter of a million genetically modified trees that are allowed to both flower and produce seeds is irresponsible and dangerous,"
stated George Kimbrell, Staff Attorney for the <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472285/32556/goto:http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/home.cfm" target="_blank" >Center for
Food
Safety</a>.  "USDA failed to analyze rigorously the foreseeable impacts of this unprecedented experiment on native environments, which could
have
devastating consequences," he concluded.<br>
<br>
"The <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472287/32556/goto:http://www.organicconsumers.org/" target="_blank" >Organic Consumer's Association</a> strongly opposes the release of
any and
all GMO trees into the environment," stated Craig Minowa, Environmental Scientist at the OCA.  "Some of the projected social and environmental
impacts from the release of GMO trees commercially include the increased use of toxic herbicides and pesticides and the contamination of native
forests with GMO trees engineered for such traits as reduced lignin, insect resistance, or faster growth which would be devastating to forest
ecosystems," he added.<br>
<br>
With offices in the U.S., Brazil and New Zealand, ArborGen is shipping GE tree tissue from location to location.  According to the draft USDA
Environmental Assessment, the GE tree hybrid used to create the 260,000 GE tree clones to be planted in the U.S. originated in Brazil, where non-GMO
eucalyptus plantations have long been causing massive social and ecological problems.  The GE tree tissue was then sent to New Zealand where it
was genetically engineered and then shipped to the U.S. for cloning and outdoor release. [3]<br>
<br>
"Here in New Zealand ArborGen has been prevented from doing field trials of their GE trees because it is recognized that the risks associated with
these field trials are simply too great," stated Co-chair and spokesperson Steffan Browning of the <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472289/32556/goto:http://www.organicnz.org/" target="_blank" >Soil & Health Association of New Zealand</a>.  "GE trees are prohibited from field trials in New Zealand, so
ArborGen will export
them to the USA or anywhere else they can get away with it.  This scandal brings shame to New Zealand's clean, green GMO-free reputation," he
added.<br>
<br>
The USDA will be making a final decision soon.  For updates on the current status of the application visit: <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472291/32556/goto:http://nogetrees.org" target="_blank" >http://nogetrees.org</a><br>
<br>
Contacts:    <br>
Anne Petermann, <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472292/32556/goto:http://globaljusticeecology.org/" target="_blank" >Global Justice Ecology Project</a>, +1.802.482.2689/
mobile:
+1.802.578.0477<br>
Scot Quaranda, <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472294/32556/goto:http://www.dogwoodalliance.org/" target="_blank" >Dogwood Alliance</a>, +1.828.242.3596<br>
<br>
NOTES:<br>
<br>
[1] ArborGen is the global leader in the research, development and commercialization of genetically engineered trees.  ArborGen is jointly owned
by International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon.<br>
<br>
[2] The Stop GE Trees Campaign steering committee includes the Global Justice Ecology Project, Dogwood Alliance, Sierra Club, Institute for Social
Ecology, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, ETC Group, World Rainforest Movement, Global Forest Coalition, TimberWatch and other groups that have
united toward the goal of prohibiting the ecologically and socially devastating release of genetically engineered trees into the environment. 
This growing campaign has 144 partners in 36 countries around the globe. For more information visit: http://nogetrees.org. <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472296/32556/goto:http://www.wrm.org.uy/" target="_blank" >World Rainforest Movement</a> is the southern hemisphere hub of the campaign and this
month features
"The Transgenic Trees Threat" on their website <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472298/32556/goto:http://www.wrm.org.uy/" target="_blank" >http://www.wrm.org.uy/</a>.<br>
<br>
[3] Page 27 of the EA
</p>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472299/32556/goto:http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?sid=1227AB60E014&Ntt=aphis-2008-0059&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8059&css=0&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055+11" target="_blank" >http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?sid=1227AB60E014&Ntt=aphis-2008-0059&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8059&css=0&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055+11</a><br>
</div>
<p style="margin: 0px;">
<br>
</p>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top"><div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top"> <div align="center">
</div>
<div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top"><div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top"> <div align="center">
</div>
<div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top"><div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top"> <div align="center">
</div>
<div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top"><div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top"> <div align="center">
</div>
<div></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="top"><div></div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<table width="100%" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="1" color="#999999">
P.O. 412 | Hinesburg, VT 05461 US </font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center"><table width="600" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center">
<tr><td align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="1" color="#666666" style="font-size:10px;">This email was sent to <strong>[log in to unmask]</strong>. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your<br>
address book or safe list.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="1" color="#666666" style="font-size:10px;"><a href="http://e2ma.net/map/view=Manage/signupId=55151/id=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03" style="text-decoration:none;"><strong>manage</strong></a> your preferences | <a href="http://e2ma.net/map/view=OptOut/ID=32556.2212812050/rid=1114cf8b4fb6028832f6175de0f0db03/signupId=55151" style="text-decoration:none;"><strong>opt out</strong></a> using <strong>TrueRemove™</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="1" color="#666666" style="font-size:10px;">Got this as a forward? <a href="http://e2ma.net/map/view=Join/signupId=55151/mailingId=2014330/acctId=32556" style="text-decoration:none;">Sign up</a> to receive our future emails.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="1" color="#666666" style="font-size:10px;"><img src="http://www.myemma.com/userdata/20050/branding/images/nfg_emma_logo.gif" width="146" height="32" border="0" alt="Network for Good"></font><br>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" size="1" color="#acacac" style="font-size:9px;"><a href="http://e2ma.net/go/2212812050/2014330/75472380/32556/goto:http://www.myemma.com"><font color="#acacac"><strong>EmailNow</strong> powered by Emma</font></a></font></p>
</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]
Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp
----=F10D60AFF8CC4A9EAEA1_4EBE_4AF4_6810--