Biodevastation 2000 Press
Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A coalition of environmental, food safety, public health,
farm and agricultural advocates announced today that an
international gathering of genetic engineering opponents
will convene in Boston on March 24-30. Their gathering,
"Biodevastation 2000," is planned to coincide with the
upcoming convention of the Biotechnology Industry
Organization at the Hynes Convention Center. "Biodevastation 2000 will highlight biotechnology's
growing threat to our health, the environment and the future
of our farms," said Jessica Hayes, spokesperson for
Biodevastation 2000, "Following last November's events in
Seattle, we also hope to bring the resistance against
corporate globalization back to the center of public
attention, as we bring diverse organizations and individuals
together to express the growing rejection of genetic
engineering." Biodevastation 2000 is the fourth in a series of
international grassroots gatherings on genetic engineering
that began in St. Louis in July of 1998. The theme of this
year's gathering is "Resistance and solutions to the
corporate monopoly on power, food, and life." The
Biodevastation conference, to be held at Northeastern
University on March 24-26th, will bring together scientists,
activists, students, farmers, consumers and community
leaders from around the world to explore the facts,
questions, and myths behind genetic engineering and its
partner, corporate globalization. Workshops and speakers at Biodevastation 2000 will take
an intensive look into the impacts of genetic engineering on
human health, the environment, food and farms, and
communities. Presenters will also explore ways for
communities to organize and create community-centered
solutions to avoid the dangerous impacts of genetic
engineering. Biodevastation 2000 speakers include Vandana
Shiva of India's Research Foundation for Science,
Technology, and Ecology; long time biotechnology critic Ruth
Hubbard of Harvard University; and Steve Wilson and Jane
Akre, former Fox TV reporters fired for their expose of
Monsanto's Bovine Growth Hormone, a genetically engineered
drug used on dairy cows. "Consumers and farmers in Europe and Asia have voiced
loud objection to the life-threatening technologies of
genetic engineering," said Heather Albert-Knopp, one of the
organizers from the Institute for Social Ecology's
Biotechnology Project, "While resistance against genetic
engineering has been slower to materialize in the U.S., it
appears the tides are beginning to turn." An estimated 60% of processed food contains genetically
engineered ingredients, and with export markets refusing
these products it is likely that U.S. consumers will be
ingesting more genetically engineered food. "As people learn
about the broader implications of these technologies, their
reactions are often very strong. It's not that folks in the
U.S. don't care about these issues, it's that they don't
understand or know it is happening and that the products of
genetic engineering affect them daily." said Heather
Albert-Knopp. Biodevastation 2000 is a collaborative project of
Northeast Resistance Against Genetic Engineering, Institute
for Social Ecology, and People's Earth Network; Co-sponsors
include Clean Water Action, the Council for Responsible
Genetics, Boston Global Action Network, Greenpeace USA,
Native Forest Network, Mass PIRG and many others. The counter-conference will take place March 24 - 26 at
Northeastern University, and will be followed by other
public events including a rally and parade on Sunday, March
26th, featuring international speakers and a colorful
display of larger-than-life puppets. For more information on Biodevastation 2000 contact: Northeast Resistance Against Genetic Engineering People's Earth Network For media related questions contact:
802.454.9957
nerage@sover,net
1.877.9RESIST
biod2000@jamaicaplain.com
Jessica
biodevmedia@yahoo.com