From the Campaign to STOP GE Trees, Global Justice Ecology Project, Earth First!, Dogwood Alliance, Global Forest Coalition and Biofuelwatch
Media Advisory: 23 May 2013
Asheville, NC- Local, national and international groups are combining forces for a series of events and protests against the international Tree Biotechnology 2013 conference in Asheville, NC from 25 May to 1 June.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is organizing the bi-annual Tree Biotechnology conference.
ArborGen, one of the sponsors of the IUFRO conference, wants to commercially sell millions of GE eucalyptus trees in seven southern states from South Carolina to Texas.
Eucalyptus trees are a documented invasive species and are explosively flammable. The US Forest Service reports they will use twice the water of native trees.
ArborGen claims GE trees can be used for climate change mitigation. The groups protesting the IUFRO conference say GE trees are a false solution to climate change and will actually worsen it.
The Tree Biotechnology 2013 conference will discuss promotion of GE tree technologies not just in the US, but globally.
The week of protests in Asheville includes the following:
Monday, 27 May, Teach-In 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.-Experts will speak on the dangers of GE trees, biomass electricity and other forms of extreme energy false solutions including nuclear power, fracking, tar sands and coal mining at the Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Road.
Wednesday, 29 May, Showing of “A Silent Forest: The Growing Threat, Genetically Engineered Trees”, 6 p.m.-This documentary is narrated by renowned geneticist Dr. David Suzuki. The Apothecary, 39 S. Market St.
Press conferences and other events to be announced later.
Contact:
Keith Brunner, Communications Associate, Global Justice Ecology Project, ke***@gj******.local +1.201.906.4484 (mobile)
