 Source: Hawke's Bay Today, New Zealand An environmental watchdog is calling for public submissions on a plan to field test genetically-engineered pine trees ``in containment'' at Rotorua. Submissions close on October 6, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) said today. State science company Scion wants to test genes influencing plant growth, reproductive development, herbicide tolerance, biomass utilisation, wood density and stability, in 4000 trees on a four hectare site. The field test will last for 25 years, though each tree will be grown only for a maximum of eight years. Scion said today the trees would not be allowed to release pollen or seed, though ... 8/26/2010 12:36 pm Read More |
| Charlotte Observer: Groups Oppose GE Eucalyptus Trees http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/19/1630893/groups-oppose-genetically-engineered.html By Bruce Hendersonbhenderson@charlotteobserver.com Posted: Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010 Environmentalists are challenging the plans of a S.C.-based biotechnology firm to grow genetically engineered eucalyptus trees in the South, saying the fast-growing Australian species could spread uncontrollably.ArborGen LLC won federal permits in May to plant 330 acres of a eucalyptus hybrid in South Carolina and six other states. The test sites include Marlboro County, S.C., about 75 miles southeast of Charlotte.Genetic engineering speeds up the tedious cross-breeding that farmers have used for centuries to boost desirable traits in crops and livestock.Summerville, S.C.-based ArborGen, a partnership of the International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon Limited paper ... 8/19/2010 11:35 am Read More |
 from the Charlotte Observer: Could eucalyptus trees be the kudzu of the 2010s?Don't encourage more invasive plants; even the experts can err.Posted: Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010There was a time in the South when planting kudzu was not viewed as botanical vandalism, but as a community-spirited gesture. The vine, imported from Asia, was intended to control erosion and provide forage for livestock.Some things just don't work out.Today kudzu is an invasive pest throughout the South, where it can grow up to a foot a day. It smothers trees, houses and if you move too slowly it might even smother you. Pretty much ... 9/02/2010 4:25 am Read More |
 Transgenic canola found growing freely in North Dakota. by Natasha Gilbert (cross posted from NatureNews) If GM crops with herbicide resistance spread beyond farmland, they could become problematic weeds. A genetically modified (GM) crop has been found thriving in the wild for the first time in the United States. Transgenic canola is growing freely in parts of North Dakota, researchers told the Ecological Society of America conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, today. The scientists behind the discovery say this highlights a lack of proper monitoring and control of GM crops in the United States. US farmers have dramatically increased their use of ... 8/12/2010 12:05 pm Read More |
 There is a warning of an ecological disaster, if plans to field trial genetically modified pine trees go ahead. Crown Research Institute Scion has made an application for the trial. It wants to plant a new strain of pine trees which have been genetically engineered to grow faster. GE Free New Zealand claims Scion is deliberately ignoring the threat the trial poses to the country's ecosystem. Spokeswoman Claire Bleakley said the application claims pine pollen can only travel 300 centimetres, but research over a long period of time shows pine pollen can actually spread up to 60 kilometres. She said it would be a disaster ... 7/23/2010 1:12 pm Read More |
 Yet more bizarre news from the scifi world of genetically engineered trees: Poplar Science: Custom Proteins Drawn from Genetically Engineered Trees Expand Silicon Chips' Memory Capacity In the future, we won't need rare-earth elements to make powerful computers. We can use poplar trees. Engineers in Israel have figured out how to use protein molecules from poplars to improve computer memory. The technique uses silica nanoparticles combined with poplar proteins, according to researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The nano-poplar approach marks a new way to miniaturize memory elements while also increasing capacity, according to a university news release. The findings were published ... 7/22/2010 1:02 pm Read More |
 SUMMERVILLE, S.C. and ROTORUA, New Zealand, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- ArborGen, LLC and New Zealand Crown Research Institute Scion have agreed to extend their multi-million dollar partnership in gene discovery and molecular breeding for forest trees. Begun in 2006, the partnership has been successful in identifying gene-traits associated with wood quality improvements in pine. The partnership has identified more than one hundred new genes to test in Loblolly Pine research being conducted at ArborGen. "Our ongoing partnership with Scion brings together two leaders in forestry biotechnology, creating exciting synergies for breakthrough ... 7/15/2010 12:06 pm Read More |
 NOTE: U.S. GE Tree developer ArborGen has made an agreement with Scion to work together on GE tree projects. For more on this, go to: ArborGen Renews Agreement with Scion to Advance Biomaterials Development and Forest Productivity Tuesday, July 13, 2010 Source: Otago Daily Times State science company Scion Research is putting together an application for genetic engineering of forestry trees which it hopes will lead to traits such as faster-growing trees.The project -- to involve as many as 4000 trees -- is expected to go to new organisms regulator the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) in the next few months."There is huge ... 7/15/2010 11:59 am Read More |
 Australian scientists researching environmental restoration projects have found that the reforestation of damaged rainforests is more efficient at capturing carbon than controversial softwood monoculture plantations. The research, published in Ecological Management & Restoration, challenges traditional views on the efficiency of industrial monoculture plantations. "Carbon markets have become a potential source of funding for restoration projects as countries and corporations seek the cheapest way to reduce carbon emissions", said Dr John Kanowski from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. "However, there is a concern that this funding will encourage single species monoculture plantations instead of diverse reforestation projects, due to the widely held belief ... 8/09/2010 12:48 pm Read More |
| Huffington Post: Supreme Court Case a Defeat for Monsanto's Ambitions The Huffington PostJune 21, 2010Supreme Court Case a Defeat for Monsanto's Ambitionsby Andrew KimbrellExecutive Director of the Center for Food SafetyIt should be no surprise that Monsanto's PR machine is working hard to spin the truth in this morning's decision in the first-ever Supreme Court case on genetically engineered crops (Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms). Despite what the biotech seed giant is claiming, today's ruling isn't close to the victory they were hoping for. The 7-1 decision issued today by the Supreme Court was on the appeal of the Center for Food Safety's (CFS) successful suit, which resulted in a ban ... 6/22/2010 1:18 pm Read More |
 NOTE from Global Justice Ecology Project: This case is of major importance and a big victory for stopping the commercial release of genetically engineered trees--particularly the ruling that genetic contamination is sufficient environmental form of harm to raise court challenges. Contacts: George Kimbrell, Center for Food Safety, 415-826-2770, c: 571-527-8618John Bianchi, Goodman Media, 212-576-2700, c: 917-693-4290 SUPREME COURT ruling in monsanto CASE is victory for Center for Food Safety, Farmers High Court Delivers Ruling That Leaves Ban on Planting of Roundup Ready Alfalfa in Place in First-Ever Case on a Genetically-engineered Crop Washington, DC June 21, 2010 – The Center for Food Safety today ... 6/21/2010 4:01 am Read More |
| Applications of Micro and Nanotechnology in Paper Manufacturing (with GE Trees) Abstract:Summary of presentation made by Dr Mahendra Patel in the Seminar, explaining that Paper Industry could be a fertile ground for cultivation of Nanotechnology as the basic constituent of raw materials is cellulose- a glucoside chain with hydrogen molecules, which are of nano dimensions. Many new products and processes developed or under development thorugh Nanotechnology were discussed by Dr Patel.Applications of Micro and Nanotechnology in Paper ManufacturingSingapore | Posted on June 21st, 2010Applications of Micro and Nanotechnology in Paper Manufacturing, a paper presented by Dr Mahendra Patel in Senior Management Seminar, in PaperAsia-2010, organized by UBM Trade Fairs, Singapore on ... 6/21/2010 11:03 am Read More |
| Net Benefits of Biomass Power Under Scrutiny NOTE from Global Justice Ecology Project: In addition to the threats from wood-based agroenergy that are listed below in this article, are the threats from genetically engineered tree plantations developed specifically to feed these agroenergy plants. ArborGen, the GE trees company, projects selling half a billion GE eucalyptus seedlings annually for planting across the US South in plantations developed for agroenergy production. The threats from these GE eucalyptus trees include wildfires, depletion of ground water, escape into native forests, clearcutting of native forests to make room for the plantations, as well as threats to human health. From the New York Times, 18 ... 6/21/2010 10:53 am Read More |
| Genetically Engineered Trees Coming To Georgia By Josephine BennettJune 8, 2010 Georgia Public BroadcastingEVANS COUNTY, Ga. — Australian Eucalyptus tree (photo courtesy University of California Santa Cruz)Environmentalists worry that a new genetically-engineered tree could be bad for Georgia’s forests.South Carolina based ArborGen uses genetic engineering to grow more trees. They received USDA approval to plant 28 plots of their hybrid eucalyptus in a handful of southern states including Georgia. The tree will be planted in Evans County near Augusta. The trees are grown from tissue samples and are supposed to be sterile, but there are no guarantees.David Moorehead with UGA’s Center for Invasive Species says the ... 6/10/2010 12:22 pm Read More |
| Europe's Green Energy Portfolio Up in Smoke? (note: this article was the result of a Genetically Engineered Trees and Bioenergy awareness-raising tour through Europe that was co-sponsored by Global Justice Ecology Project, Global Forest Coalition, BiofuelWatch and Friends of the Earth. Wood-based bioenergy is one of the demands for wood that is driving the development of genetically engineered trees.) By Stephen Leahy BERLIN, Jun 7, 2010 (IPS) - Europe seems hell-bent on burning the world's forests for bioenergy, even as it offers billions of euros to save them, critics say.The dirty secret of Europe's vaunted green energy revolution is the fact that 68.5 percent ... 6/09/2010 12:33 pm Read More |
| Paper Industry Tests Genetically Altered Trees By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer June 7, 2010 TAMPA, Fla. - The commercial paper industry's plans to plant forests of genetically altered eucalyptus trees in seven Southern states have generated more cries from critics worried that such a large introduction of a bioengineered nonnative plant could throw natural ecosystems out of whack. ArborGen, a biotechnology venture affiliated with three large paper companies, got U.S. Department of Agriculture approval last month for field trials involving as many as 250,000 trees planted at 29 sites during the next few years. Much smaller lots of the genetically altered trees have been growing ... 6/07/2010 11:38 am Read More |
| U.S. Clears a Test of Bioengineered Trees Federal regulators gave clearance Wednesday for a large and controversial field test of genetically engineered trees planned for seven states stretching from Florida to Texas. The test is meant to see if the trees, eucalyptuses with a foreign gene meant to help them withstand cold weather, can become a new source of wood for pulp and paper, and for biofuels, in the Southern timber belt. Eucalyptus trees generally cannot now be grown north of Florida because of occasional freezing spells. The Agriculture Department, in an environmental assessment issued Wednesday, said no environmental problems would be caused by the field trial, which ... 5/13/2010 2:09 pm Read More |
 USDA Approves ArborGen Request to Plant 260,000 Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus Trees Across US South Note: Below you will find the Federal Register Notice of the USDA's decision to approve the mass-release of GE eucalyptus trees. We were anticipating this approval based on the USDA's record of approving the release of GMOs into the environment. The STOP GE Trees Campaign is now preparing our next steps. To sign the petition opposing the mass-planting of GE trees, please go to: http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/petition.php For more information on the dangers of GE eucalyptus, please see the campaign website at http://nogetrees.org To join the "frankentrees" informational listserve for updates on GE ... 5/12/2010 1:16 pm Read More |
 Washington, DC-- While the U.S. Supreme Court hears its first-ever case involving a genetically modified organism, alarms are sounding over the proposed planting of more than a quarter of a million genetically engineered (GE) eucalyptus trees in the U.S., and transgenic trees are being globally condemned. On April 27, the Supreme Court began to hear a case challenging a ban on the planting of a genetically engineered perennial alfalfa. The ban was implemented due to concerns about escape and contamination, and the inability of U.S. regulators to protect the public. [1] In April, Reuters released a report exposing the fact that U.S. ... 5/04/2010 1:05 pm Read More |
 The following PDF contains the comments submitted by the attorneys at the Center for Food Safety to the USDA in January of this year regarding the request by ArborGen to plant 260,000 GE cold-tolerant eucalyptus trees across seven states in the Southern U.S. We recently learned that ArborGen responded to our GE eucalyptus action alert on their website. We provide these comments as an in-depth response as to the problems with the ArborGen proposal. For further questions, please email info@globaljusticeecology.org. CFS comments on GE Eucalyptus 2009.pdf ... 4/30/2010 10:54 am Read More |
 Yet another nail in the coffin for GMOs, and another reason why we cannot allow genetically engineered trees to be released into the environment. These trees have not been independently tested for safety and the potential unintended consequences could be quite severe--both for forest health and for human health.By Jeffrey M. SmithFrom Huffington Post April 20, 2010 "This study was just routine," said Russian biologist Alexey V. Surov, in what could end up as the understatement of this century. Surov and his colleagues set out to discover if Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) soy, grown on 91% of US soybean fields, ... 4/21/2010 11:34 am Read More |
 As we await the decision of the USDA APHIS on the ArborGen proposal to plant 260,000 genetically engineered eucalyptus trees throughout the Southern U.S., the following report raises some serious red flags about the ability of APHIS to handle this task. Among other things the report raises the conern that "the U.S. government conducts no independent testing of these biotech crops before they are approved, and does little to track their consequences after."Please support our work to keep genetically engineered trees out of the environment.Thank you!Anne PetermannCoordinator, STOP GE Trees CampaignSpecial Report: Are regulators dropping the ball on ... 4/13/2010 1:00 pm Read More |
 WASHINGTON -- Many U.S. farmers who grow genetically engineered (GE) crops are realizing substantial economic and environmental benefits -- such as lower production costs, fewer pest problems, reduced use of pesticides, and better yields -- compared with conventional crops, says a new report from the National Research Council. However, GE crops resistant to ... 4/13/2010 2:27 pm Read More |
 Thursday, August 6, 2009 Posted by Jim Hightower Here's a great idea: Let's bring into our country a genetically-engineered, non-native tree that is known to be wildly invasive, explosively flammable, and insatiably thirsty for ground water. Then let's clone thousands of these living firecrackers and plant them in forested regions across seven Southern states, allowing them to grow, flower, produce seeds, and spread into native environments. Yes, this would be irresponsible, dangerous, and stupid - but apparently "Irresponsible, Dangerous, and Stupid" is the unofficial ... 4/05/2010 2:05 pm Read More |
 By PAUL VOOSEN of Greenwire Genetic engineering is coming to the forests. While the practice of splicing foreign DNA into food crops has become common in corn and soy, few companies or researchers have dared to apply genetic engineering to plants that provide an essential strut of the U.S. economy, trees. But that will soon change. Two industry giants, International Paper Co. and MeadWestvaco Corp., are planning to transform plantation forests of the southeastern United States ... 4/01/2010 3:55 am Read More |
 DURHAM, North Carolina -- When forest biologist Claire Williams boardsferries bound for North Carolina's Outer Banks, the barrier islandsthat line the NC coast, the ferry captains call her the "Pollen Lady."Each spring from 2006 to 2009, Williams traveled back and forth fromthe islands to the mainland, collecting pine pollen blown faroffshore. She wanted to find out if pollen from the loblolly pine -the most commonly planted tree in the southern United States - canstill germinate after drifting long distances.The answer could have profound implications if and when the USDAapproves transgenic trees. "Long-distance dispersal of transgenic pinepollen is a potential problem ... 4/06/2010 4:13 am Read More |
 Paper manufacturers and environmentalists seem to be reliving Robert Frost's age-old dilemma caused by two roads diverging in the woods. Proponents of genetically engineered trees say the road they've chosen will lead to trees capable of weathering freezing temperatures and disease -- trees that can grow more efficiently on less land and possibly serve as a cheap source of biofuel. In addition, supporters say, genetic engineering holds the possibility of bringing some trees back from the brink of extinction. But critics in the environmental community say the path chosen by ... 1/18/2010 1:39 pm Read More |
 Urgent Update: The USDA has reopened the comment period for their Environmental Assessment of ArborGen's proposal to plant 260,000 genetically engineered eucalyptus trees across the Southern U.S. Comments are needed by 18 February to oppose this dangerous and destructive plan. Click Here to sign on to the public comment letter. More information below:Release of Dangerous Genetically Engineered (GE) Eucalyptus Trees Threatens U.S. Forests/ Communities.ACTION NEEDED BY 18 February! Tell the USDA NO WAY to ArborGen's Eucalyptus FrankentreesIn an unprecedented move toward commercial large-scale release of GE forest trees in the United States, ArborGen is petitioning the U.S. government for permission ... 1/20/2010 5:36 am Read More |
 Photo: Rubber plantation, Champasak province, Laos--courtesy Chris Lang.Click here to read the declaration See "Myth Busters" piece below press release for section on GE trees written by GJEP Executive Director Anne Petermann.Press release 21 September 2009 Thousands call for a halt to the expansion of monoculture tree plantationsIn 2004, organizations struggling against the expansion of large-scale tree plantations declared 21 September as International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations. Since then, organizations throughout the world carry out actions on this date to raise awareness about this issue. This year, a group of people from several organizations ... 9/21/2009 1:00 pm Read More |
 Tell ArborGen to get their GE eucalyptus trees out of the U.S. South and off the planet!ArborGen wants their genetically engineered eucalyptus franken-trees growing all over the Southern US. As Jim Hightower pointed out in his commentary today [see below] , these GE eucalyptus are "wildly invasive, explosively flammable, and insatiably thirsty for ground water."Call Barbara Wells, President and CEO of ArborGen: +1 843.851.4129 phone +1 843.832.2164 fax contact@arborgen.comBarbara Well was formerly the co-Managing Director of Monsanto-Brazil and is a Board Member for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Sign onto our letter to the USDA demanding they reject ... 8/14/2009 6:12 am Read More |
 BRAZIL--1.200 families of the Movement of Rural Landless Workers (MST) were expelled in the afternoon of Wednesday (22/07) from the Farm Putumuju/Barrinha in the municipality of Eunapolis, Bahia, after 105 days of occupation in an area with devolutas lands of the company Veracel Celulose, property of Aracruz Celulose and the Swedish-Finnish multinational Stora Enso.In Bahia, Veracel uses about 20 thousand of hectares of devolutas lands for the plantation of eucalyptus. According to the prevailing legislation, these lands should be retaken by the state of Bahia and destined to ... 8/14/2009 5:52 am Read More |
 Photo: Researchers at Oregon State University are doing numerous experiments with genetically modified poplar trees.STOP GE Trees Campaign 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 ... 7/17/2009 5:53 am Read More |
In the June issue of Nature Biotechnology, GE tree researchers complain that international regulation is impeding their ability to conduct research into genetically engineered trees. Global Justice Ecology Project, home to the STOP GE Trees Campaign, is featured as one of the biggest obstacles to their dreams of vast expanses of GMO tree clones growing in all corners of the planet. To download the full article, you must first go to: "Strangled at Birth" ... 7/23/2009 1:59 pm Read More |
 Photo: Eucalyptus plantations in South Africa go on as far as the eye can see. Escaped eucalyptus trees are found widely outside of the plantations. Photo: Petermann/ GJEPDangerous Genetically Engineered (GE) Eucalyptus Trees on Fast-Track to Large-Scale Release in the U.S.ACTION NEEDED BY 6 JULY! Tell the USDA NO WAY to ArborGen's Eucalyptus FrankentreesIn an unprecedented move toward commercial large-scale release of GE forest trees in the United States, GE tree giant ArborGen is petitioning the U.S. government to be allowed to plant an estimated 260,000 flowering GE eucalyptus trees [1] across seven southern U.S. states on ... 6/12/2009 3:52 am Read More |
 Anne Petermann speaks to UN delegates about the social and ecological impacts of GE trees during the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Curitiba, Brazil in March 2006. Photo: Langelle-GJEPAt the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May in New York City, Anne Petermann, Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project and North American Focal Point for Global Forest Coalition, spoke with host Bruce Gellerman of National Public Radio's Living on Earth about the negative impacts of Genetically Engineered (GE) Trees (also called Genetically Modified trees) and monoculture tree plantations.The interview, played across the United States, which airs between May ... 6/10/2009 1:36 pm Read More |
 Participants from the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Protest Belgium for their recent planting of a genetically engineered test plot. Photo: Langelle/GJEP-GFCA Joint Release from Global Forest Coalition, Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE Trees CampaignFor Immediate Release 22 May 2009 Belgium Permanent Mission Protested by Attendees of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous IssuesProtesters Insist Genetically Engineered Poplar Trees Planted by Belgium be RemovedNew York, New York--Today on International Biodiversity Day, Indigenous Peoples Organizations along with several Non-Governmental Organizations held a protest against genetically engineered trees in front of the Belgian Permanent ... 5/22/2009 7:37 am Read More |
 Amsterdam, The Netherlands--Organizations internationally are condemning the planting of a highly controversial field trial of GE poplar trees on 6 May by The Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB). The poplars, planted in the Belgian countryside, have been genetically engineered for altered lignin content specifically for the production of agrofuels (industrial-scale biofuels). [1]"Genetically engineered low-lignin poplar trees are a disaster waiting to happen," stated Dr. Miguel Lovera in Paraguay, chairperson of the Netherlands-based Global Forest Coalition. "Poplars include thirty species that grow in a range of climates from subalpine in Northern Europe and Canada to subtropical areas in the south. They ... 5/11/2009 1:08 pm Read More |
 "The women used fuel, paint and termites to 'combat' the cellulose." foto: Divulgação / Aracruz CeluloseFrom Via Campesina's action in Brazil, to Chavez's choice to use tree plantation land for food crops, Women's Day 2009 on 8 March demonstrated a united front in halting the expansion of monoculture tree plantations worldwide. For more information, read the following articles:Women of the Via Campesina occupy export harbor of Aracruz Celulose In the early morning of this Monday (09/03), about 1,300 women of the Via Campesina from the states of Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro ... 4/22/2009 5:00 am Read More |
 Belgium's Council of State suspends refusal of VIB's GM poplar field trial Monday, January 5, 2009*GHENT, Belgium - The Council of State has consigned the federal ministers Magnette and Onkelinx' decision to refuse a permit for a field trial with genetically modified poplars to the wastepaper basket. These poplars are intended for the sustainable production of biofuels. The Council of State rules that the refusal causes severe damage to VIB as an institute, and that the arguments used are not legal. The refusal has now been suspended, awaiting a verdict to all intents and purposes.*In its ... 1/07/2009 4:35 pm Read More |
 This MST camp in Espirito Santo, Brazil was established after the MST reclaimed the land from an Aracruz Cellulose eucalyptus plantation. The banner reads "Eucalyptus Plantations are not Forests." Photo: Langelle/GJEPSAO PAULO, Dec. 23, 2008 (RISI) - ArborGen aims to market its first genetically modified eucalyptus by 2012 as soon as Brazilian legislation approves the cultivation and commercialization of these products. Established in Campinas, São Paulo state, southeast Brazil, in 2004, the global company is working with pulp and paper producers from Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.ArborGen currently tests genetically modified eucalyptus as well as regular pine clones. "We're focusing on ... 1/05/2009 1:41 pm Read More |
 For Immediate Release - 11 December 2008Español debajo Groups unite to challenge the definition of forests under UNFCCC/REDDPoznan, Poland (UN Climate Conference)--Global Forest Coalition, The Wilderness Society, World Rainforest Movement, Global Justice Ecology Project, Via Campesina, the International Youth Delegation and the STOP GE Trees Campaign united today to challenge the UN/REDD definition of forests.Currently the UN considers industrial tree plantations as forests. This is, simply put, an egregious error. Plantations are not forests. Forests are diverse ecosystems and plantations are void of biodiversity. The UN definition endangers Indigenous Peoples, forest dependent people, peasants, small farmers, biodiversity and exacerbates climate ... 12/19/2008 3:36 am Read More |
 For Immediate Release - November 20, 2008 - U.S. Groups, Businesses and Organic Farmers Overwhelmingly Oppose Engineered Papaya Organizations came together with scientists, businesses, organic farmers, bee keepers and others [1] to oppose a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to allow the commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) papaya trees in Florida. Over 12,000 people opposed the commercialization while only 17 people submitted statements supporting the commercialization of GE papaya.The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which initiated the call ... 4/21/2009 8:51 am Read More |
 WRM Briefing, November 2008 Research on genetically engineered trees is being, or has been, carried out in a number of countries, but the public is either unaware about this or has been led to believe that this is a positive scientific development for the "improvement" of trees. People in those countries were never been asked to give their free, prior and informed consent to such dangerous research. For that to be possible, the first necessary step was to be adequately informed, but that has never happened. In order to try to fill that information ... 11/25/2008 4:34 am Read More |
| Help Stop GE Papaya Trees in Florida! This Action Alert is a cooperative effort of the STOP GE Trees Campaign and its affiilliated groups: www.nogetrees.org COMMENTS NEEDED BY NOVEMBER 3 TO STOP GE PAPAYA IN FLORIDA! Help stop the commercial planting of genetically engineered papayas in Florida and the mainland US -- the first major cultivated GE tree on the US mainland. The US Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments between now and November 3, 2008 on a petition that would allow commercial growing and marketing of the first genetically engineered (GE) papaya trees on mainland US soil. If approved, this would remove all regulatory oversight of this GE variety by ... 11/25/2008 4:33 am Read More |
 A note from Global Justice Ecology Project:Aracruz Cellulose owns vast expanses of eucalyptus plantations in Brazil that have been the target of protest by indigenous and peasant communities for many years due to the enormous quantities of both land and water required by these plantations. Aracruz is currently developing genetically engineered eucalyptus trees for future plantations in Brazil.Fishermen/-women close export harbor of Aracruz CelluloseLast Friday, 10 October 2008, more than 100 fishermen/-women of the Association of Fishermen/-women of Barra do Riacho and Barra do Sahy, - ASPEBR, closed the access by land to the private harbor of Aracruz Celulose S.A. ... 10/14/2008 1:18 pm Read More |
| GE trees are not a solution for agrofuels and will be more destructive for the climate Interview with Anne Peterman from the Global Justice Ecology Project, member of the Global Forest Coalition. A seminar called "Agrofuels will not answer to climate change" took place on Friday as part of the activities of the European Social Forum that is being held in Malmö, Sweden. Real World Radio interviewed Anne Peterman, one of the speakers of the seminar and campaigner of the Global Justice Ecology Project in the US, which is a member of the Global Forest Coalition. She spoke about second generation agrofuels and how genetically engineered trees are ... 9/23/2008 5:10 am Read More |
 PRESS RELEASE SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 Biotech Industry Designs Nightmare BiofuelsVancouver conference to promote genetically engineered trees for fuelVancouver, BC, Canada - Today in Vancouver, major biotechnology corporations are meeting at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) conference to chart the use of genetically engineered (GE) crops and trees, as well as synthetic biology and nanotechnology, for fuel. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and the STOP GE Trees Campaign are here with Greenpeace and the Society for a GE Free BC to oppose these "nightmare biofuels". [1]"The biotechnology industry has pounced on the tremendous hype over biofuels to ... 4/21/2009 8:55 am Read More |
| International Biochar Conference Uses False Claims to Promote Dangerous Technology in the name of Climate Change Mitigation Joint Press Release by Global Forest Coalition, Biofuelwatch (UK) and Global Justice Ecology ProjectCampaigners today warn that an international conference on biochar, which will be held in Newcastle, UK from 8 to 10 September, will be misleading governments and the public with claims that biochar - a by-product of second generation agrofuel production - can curb climate change and improve soil fertility.The International Biochar Initiative (IBI), which is organising the conference, promotes the idea that disastrous climate change can be prevented of we use enormous amounts of biomass for bioenergy, obtaincharcoal as a byproduct and use that charcoal as a ... 9/08/2008 1:22 pm Read More |
 Bonn, Germany—Under heavy pressure from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, New Zealand and Australia, the Convention on Biological Diversity's Ninth Conference of the Parties failed to pass a moratorium on the release of genetically engineered trees into the environment despite support for a global ban endorsed by hundreds of organizations around the world, and the unified efforts to stop GE trees carried out by NGOs, Indigenous Peoples' Organizations, scientists and foresters present at the COP.The negotiations around the issue of GE trees ... 6/16/2008 3:03 am Read More |
 The following five interventions were made by Co-Director Anne Petermann to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's Ninth Conference of the Parties in support of a global ban on GE trees. The final intervention was never read since the President of the COP would not allow Petermann to speak.Intervention, 5/30/08Thank you Mr. President,I speak today on behalf of Global Forest Coalition, which is a coalition of NGOs and Indigenous Peoples Organizations from 6 continents, as well as Global Justice Ecology Project; and the STOP GE Trees Campaign, which includes 137 organizations in 34 countries around the world—including communities that will ... 6/16/2008 3:02 am Read More |
 For more photos from the action, go to http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/gallery.php?catIDBonn, Germany--Activists today stepped up their campaign for a ban on genetically engineered trees when they symbolically cut Genetically Engineered frankentrees that attempted to invade a tree planting ceremony outside of the meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)."We came here to this event because this tree planting ceremony is representative of corporate green-washing initiatives pretending to protect biodiversity," said Peter Gerhardt of the German based group Robin Wood. "The tree planting ceremony is symbolic of what industry is pushing--non-native, often invasive trees for monoculture timber plantations. If industry has ... 6/16/2008 3:02 am Read More |
 Rheinsches Landesmuseum, Bonn, Germany--On Friday evening, 23 May 2008, women from the Orange Bloc surprised the 'German Forestry Council Forest and Wood For a Future With Life of Quality Get Together' at their side event in the museum. One by one, during a cocktail and appetizer party on the museum's roof, women stood on a chair and spoke out against monoculture timber plantations, genetically engineered trees and cellulosic ethanol.Although a few of the timber industry walked out, many others applauded and stayed on to talk with the women and other members of the Orange Bloc.Besides the Orange Bloc attendance at ... 6/16/2008 3:01 am Read More |
| Governments Prioritize Forest Exploitation Many Governments Fail to Comply with CBD Mandate Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Bonn, Germany--Global Forest Coalition [1] released a major report, "Forests and the Biodiversity Convention," [2] at the Convention on Biological Diversity today. This report contains the summaries and research undertaken in 22 countries [3] by independent country monitors [4] to examine whether or not Parties are implementing the decisions made through the CBD Programme of Work (POW) of Forest Biological Diversity [5]. The civil society groups from the 22 countries who elaborated ... 6/16/2008 3:01 am Read More |
 Bonn, Germany--Organizations and scientists [1] from around the world spoke today about their opposition to genetically engineered trees which will be negotiated at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's Ninth Conference of the Parties (CBD COP-9) beginning next week in Bonn. They are demanding that governments at the UN agree to accept the proposal to suspend all releases of genetically engineered (GE) trees into the environment, due to their extreme ecological and social threats.Camila Moreno, a researcher from Terra de direitos in Brazil further explained, "there is a clear link ... 5/16/2008 1:42 pm Read More |
 Organizations From Around the World Attend UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn to Demand Protection for Ecosystems, Wildlife, Forests and Indigenous RightsCompiled by Anne Petermann, Global Justice Ecology Project and Global Forest Coalition.Organizations around the world are congregating in Bonn, Germany through the end of the month in an attempt to participate in and influence the outcomes of the Ninth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-9).Simultaneous to the first week of the talks, the German NGO Forum organized Planet Diversity, a week of workshops addressing issues related to global biodiversity. Planet ... 5/13/2008 1:39 pm Read More |
 Fueling the Debate: Agrofuels, Biodiversity, and Our Energy Future (#9)Losing the Forest for the Trees: Tree Monocultures and the Biofuel BoomCarmelo Ruiz Marrero | May 1, 2008Americas Program, Center for International Policy (CIP)http://americas.irc-online.org/ Using trees for fuel as part of the agrofuels boom means cultivation of massive monoculture tree plantations. They are already present in Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil to supply lumber as well as paper pulp, and due to the destruction of biodiversity this model has encountered opposition by civil society groups and indigenous peoples whose rural livelihoods are at stake.Lignin, the substance that ... 5/09/2008 1:57 pm Read More |
| International Plantations Meeting, Johannesburg, South Africa A representative from Global Justice Ecology Project will attend an international meeting on plantations organized by the World Rainforest Movement to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 1-3 November, followed by a strategy meeting on forests on the 4th. The meetings will bring together people working on several types of monoculture tree plantations –pulpwood, oil palm, rubber- from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the U.S. The plantations’ meeting agenda will include presentations and discussions on a number of related topics such as paper consumption, biofuels, carbon sinks, certification, etc., which will feed strategy discussions to strengthen our ... 8/10/2007 5:47 am Read More |
| Here's a Bad Idea: Gas From Trees By Josh Schlossberg, The Eugene Register-GuardPublished: April 27, 2008 12:00AMIndustry lapdog. Dishonest shill. Shameless profiteer. These are someof the names I've heard people call Martin Jack Desmond after hisApril 20 guest viewpoint pushing cellulosic ethanol as a solution tothe rising cost and dwindling supply of gasoline.But I'm going to give Desmond the benefit of the doubt: I'm willingto believe he really thinks he's doing a good thing. Of course,doctors in the 1950s also thought they were doing a good thing whenthey prescribed thalidomide to pregnant women.As former director of the Northwest Reforestation ... 5/09/2008 1:57 pm Read More |
| Final decision on GE grass: Company's appeal dismissed FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -D.C. Circuit Court says “No” to Scotts and Monsanto on Biotech GrassesRuling is Latest in a String of Victories in Which the Center for Food Safety Successfully Challenged Inadequate Oversight of Biotech CropsWashington, DC, March 19, 2008 – The Center for Food Safety announced today that a Federal Court of Appeals has tossed out the appeal of Scotts Grass Company, ending a long-running dispute over the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) approval of the open-air field testing of genetically engineered “Round-up Ready” (GE) grasses without assessing any potential environmental impacts. The GE grasses are owned by ... 4/09/2008 12:51 pm Read More |
| North American GE Trees Strategy Session Global Justice Ecology Project is hosting the North American STOP GE Trees Campaign strategy session August 15-16. We have representation from Canada and from the U.S.'s Northwest, South, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast. We'll be discussing a myriad of topics that range from legal to agrofuels. We'll be working on campaign strategy, media messaging, etc.contact: info@stopgetrees.org ... 8/10/2007 5:35 am Read More |
| Press Release: USDA Decision on GE Poplars ISIS Press Release 07/03/08USDA FONSI for Transgenic Poplars Absurd & DangerousProf. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho of the Insititute for Science in Society (ISIS) expose cavalier risk assessment that ignores existing evidence and takes absence of evidence as evidence of absence.A fully referenced version of this report was submitted to USDA on behalf of ISIS.The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (APHIS/USDA) received a permit application (APHIS number 06ˆ250ˆ01r) from Oregon State University to conduct field tests using clones of transgenic poplars and hybrids. Permit application06ˆ250ˆ01r includes trees with 95 transgenic constructs ... 5/09/2008 1:57 pm Read More |
 Delegates representing governments attending the SBSTTA (subsidiary body) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rome, Italy were greeted with a demonstration against genetically engineered trees and agrofuels as they entered the plenary session on February 21. This CBD body is discussing those issues, and more, prior to the CBD's Conference of the Parties in Bonn, Germany in May of this year. Photo: Langelle/Global Justice Ecology ProjectBrief report on the five days of SBSTTA that Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE Tree Campaign was involved in follows...18 FebruaryGlobal Forest Coalition Releases Independent Monitoring ReportOn the first ... 2/22/2008 12:54 pm Read More |
| Statement Demanding GE Tree Ban Read at CBD Meeting The following statement was read to the full plenary of the SBSTTA meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity on 21 February, 2008 in Rome, Italy:GE trees are a tremendous threat to forest biodiversity, and to forest dependent and indigenous communities.This body is not acknowledging this. Instead of strengthening the decision on GE trees made at the last COP, this body is considering weakening the decision, paving the way to commercialize this deadly and destructive technology.Commercialization of GE trees is moving forward rapidly, driven by pulp and paper and biofuels industries. Use of GE trees will further consolidate a ... 2/22/2008 12:46 pm Read More |
| Groups Issue International Joint Commentary on GE Trees Groups from all over the world joined together at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's SBSTTA meeting in Rome, Italy in February to demand that the CBD issue a moratorium on the release of genetically engineered trees into the environment. They are joining together again at the Ninth Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, Germany May 19-30, 2008 to demand the UN immediately stop the release of GE trees into the environment.To read the joint commentary, click the link below. CBD joint letter final.pdfIn French: CBD joint letter french.pdfIn Spanish: CBD joint ... 5/08/2008 2:24 pm Read More |
| USDA Approves Release of GE Poplar in Oregon For background information on the concerns with this release of GE poplar, please click below:http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/stopgetrees.php?IDAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0018]Oregon State University; Availability of an EnvironmentalAssessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a ControlledRelease of Genetically Engineered Populus Species and HybridsAGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.ACTION: Notice.-----------------------------------------------------------------------SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessmenthas been prepared for a proposed controlled field release ofgenetically engineered (transgenic) clones of Populus species andhybrids. The purpose of this controlled field release is to examine theeffects of the genetic constructs on the intended traits ... 2/19/2008 9:32 am Read More |
| GE Tree Report Failure May Bring Tears To Onions Press Release: Soil and Health Association5 February 2008Failure in GE Tree Reporting May Bring Tears To Crop & Food's Onion Trial.State-owned GE tree researcher Scion has been negligent in itsreporting, as has GE trial auditor MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, andthe Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) may have beencomplicit in this, the Soil & Health Association has discovered.Scion's annual report to ERMA has been presented online recently*,but although all previous annual reports record that rabbits havebeen present and destroyed, the December 2007 report has no mentionof rabbits, and for the first time reporting began is now presentedas (Public Version)."Soil & Health ... 2/11/2008 2:05 pm Read More |
| APHIS Strengthens Regulations Governing Release of GE Trees and Other Perennials News From The Biotechnology Regulatory Services of APHIS (the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) APHIS oversees the release of genetically engineered organisms in the United States. The policy clarification below is very likely a result of a legal case against APHIS that resulted from the escape of genetically engineered bentgrass from a test plot in Oregon. It directly impacts the release of genetically engineered trees, which also fall under the category of perennials and have a high probability of escape into wild populations.Prior to the legal ruling, APHIS was very lax in its approval of test plots of GE perennials. ... 1/31/2008 2:51 pm Read More |
 Global Justice Ecology Project supports this call to participate in:PLANET DIVERSITYlocal, diverse, GMO-freeWorld Congress on the Future of Food and AgricultureBonn, Germany. May 12 – 16, 2008Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Friends of a diverse planet!"Planet Diversity" will be a global congress and festival on the future of food and agriculture, organised by NGOs, GMO-Free Regions, farmers and social movements around the world. From May 12th to 16th 2008 this event will involve about 500 participants on location and thousands of people, who will participate through the internet and by spreading the word before and after this first "Planet Diversity" ... 1/31/2008 2:51 pm Read More |
 USDA rubberstamps the largest ever collection of genetically engineered poplars with uncharacterized and dangerous constructs The attached report details information on dangerous field trials of GE poplars in Oregon. It was written by Professor Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and submitted to the USDA in response to an environmental assessment prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS). The EA was prepared for the permit application received from Oregon State University for these GE poplar field trials. Comments on this EA are due 17 August 2007 at Docket APHIS-2007-0018 http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main. Please click below ... 1/31/2008 2:51 pm Read More |
 Media Advisory August 14, 2007 ***Interviews Available***Contact: Orin Langelle /Global Justice Ecology Project +1.802.482.2689 (office Tuesday) and +1.802.578.6980 (mobile on site)Phiona Hamilton-Gordon /Global Justice Ecology Project +1.802.999.6654 (mobile on site)Hinesburg, VT (U.S.)--Scientists and experts from the U.S. and Canada will meet this week in Vermont to plan campaign strategies to ban the development and commercialization of genetically engineered trees.Experts and scientists from the STOP Genetically Engineered Trees Campaign are available for interviews this Wednesday and Thursday, 15-16 August. The annual strategy meeting of the North ... 1/31/2008 2:50 pm Read More |
 URGENT World Rainforest Movement Alert: Stora Enso & Aracruz Cellulose: new 78,000 hectare plantation in BrazilFrom: "Andrew Boswell" <a_boswell_2004@yahoo.co.uk> Thu, 9 Aug 2007Please see below for information from World Rainforest Movement about plans by the Swedish-Finnish company Stora Enso and the Norwegian-Brazilian company Aracruz Cellulose, for a new 78,000 hectare monoculture timber plantation in Brazil. Stora Enso have made clear their plans to produce new-generation biofuels from wood residues. Read their release.A demonstration biofuels plant is expected to start up in 2008 at Varkaus Mill in Finland. Aracruz Cellulose says on its website that it is the world's leading producer ... 1/31/2008 2:50 pm Read More |
| GE Plum Deregulated Despite Overwhelming Public Rejection Institute for Science In Society Press Release 26 July, 2007Transgenic Plum Gets USDA Non-regulated Status Based on False Claims of SafetyProf. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho rebut USDA conclusion that transgenic DNA and RNA are non-toxic. After receiving over 1700 public comments on its GE "Honeysweet" plum, which opposed it at a rate of over 100 to 1, (1725 to 1708) the USDA approved its use anyway.For full story, click here ... 1/31/2008 2:50 pm Read More |
| Press Release Issued on Impacts of Biofuels For Immediate Release 6 July 2007Government Experts at UN Body Express Strong Concern About Biofuel Impacts on BiodiversityParis, France--An overwhelming majority of governments, including Norway, Sweden, Germany and Indonesia expressed serious concerns about the risks of large-scale production of biofuels to forests, ecosystems, indigenous peoples and local communities at a meeting of a UN scientific advisory body on biodiversity in Paris this week [1]. Several governments called for a precautionary approach to biofuels.A large number of NGOs and Indigenous Peoples Organizations from around the world present at this meeting also expressed their concerns and called for a profound scientific assessment ... 1/31/2008 2:50 pm Read More |
 (Urgent from Global Justice Ecology Project and World Rainforest Movement of the Stop Genetically Engineered Trees Campaign)If your organization can sign on to this letter please email Ana Filippini at World Rainforest Movement by February 13.Open letter to all members of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)February, 2008The undersigned, members of organizations from countries where research on the genetic modification of trees is being carried out, would like to express in this letter some of the reasons of our deep concern. First of all, our concern is based on ... 6/12/2008 1:12 pm Read More |
 GE tree giant ArborGen has received permission from the USDA to take the next step toward implementing their plans to develop non-native genetically engineered cold tolerant eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus is widely known for its extreme flammability. In areas of California, invasive eucalyptus are being eradicated for this very reason.In addition to the flammability problem, eucalyptus are highly invasive. ArborGen has received permission to allow their field trial of cold tolerant eucalyptus to flower and produce seeds, ... 1/31/2008 2:49 pm Read More |
 In November 2006 Uruguay-based World Rainforest Movement agreed to be the Southern Hub of the STOP GE Trees Campaign. WRM will help distribute information on the dangers of GE trees and the plans by industry to develop GE trees to movements, communities and activists throughout Latin America and the Global South. WRM distributes information in Spanish, Portuguese and French in addition to English. We will be working closely with WRM on our campaign to win a global ban on the release of genetically engineered trees into the environment. For more information on ... 7/24/2007 5:08 am Read More |
 This award winning DVD nararrated by Dr. David Suzuki, discusses the threats posed by genetically engineered trees to our environment and to human health. Subtitled in Spanish and Chinese Bonus Feature- Preview of World Rainforest Movement's Green InvasionAwards: First Place- EarthVision Environmental Film Festival First Place- Forests- Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival To order the DVD click here ... 7/23/2007 4:33 am Read More |
