Eco-Saboteurs Chop Down Genetically Engineered Trees in Maine

Genetix Alert News Release
Contact: Denny Henke
901.438.9907
Date: July 25, 2000

Milo, MAINE - On Saturday July 22nd anti-biotech direct actionists
destroyed 1500 - 2000 genetically engineered trees at MEAD
Corporation facilities.

A communiqué sent by the activists stated that "In an action similar
to a multi-national corporate clearcut, 1500 - 2000 genetically
engineered trees were hacked down."

The communiqué continued "The creation of monoculture tree
plantations breeds inherent dangers to diverse native forests &
wildlife. Genetically Engineering trees creates 'super trees,' which
threaten water resources as a result, these trees, in turn, cross
pollinate with native trees and the native genes are forever altered."

A growing direct action movement against biotechnology continues to
intensify this summer. Just last week the Earth Liberation Front
destroyed two acres of corn at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. Days
later the ELF activists struck again at the US Forest Service's North
Central Research Station Forest Biotechnology Laboratory in Wisconsin
where over 500 research pine and broadleaf trees were destroyed.
This week activists continue to protest the International Society for
Animal Genetics facing heavily armed police and state troopers in
downtown Minneapolis. The movement maintains that biotechnology is
being developed, not to improve human or ecological health, but
solely to increase the profits of large multinational corporations.

The communiqué concludes: "Toxic chemicals used on the trees create
toxic soils, disturbing every ecosystem in the area and destroying
any remnants of what was once natural. This technology must be
destroyed, this madness must stop, and people around the world are
not going to watch this unnatural synthetic culture thrive. We will
continue to stand up to corporate greed."

*Attached is copy of the communiqué.

*******For Immediate Release**************

MILO, MAINE - July 22nd - 1500 - 2000
MEAD PAPER GE TREES DESTROYED

On the evening of July 22nd, people from all over New England joined
Concerned Maine Citizens and took action to protect our communities &
forests from genetically engineered trees. In an action similar to a
multi-national corporate clearcut, 1500 - 2000 genetically engineered
trees were hacked down. These trees were brewed in the cauldron of
biotechnology by MEAD paper products corp. in our community of Milo,
Maine. The creation of monoculture tree plantations breeds inherent
dangers to diverse native forests & wildlife. Genetically Engineering
trees creates "super trees," which threaten water resources as a
result, these trees, in turn, cross pollinate with native trees and
the native genes are forever altered. Toxic chemicals used on the
trees create toxic soils, disturbing every ecosystem in the area and
destroying any remnants of what was once natural. This technology
must be destroyed, this madness must stop, and people around the
world are not going to watch this unnatural synthetic culture thrive.
We will continue to stand up to corporate greed.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^END COMMUNIQUÉ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GenetiX Alert is an independent news center which works with other
above-ground, anti-genetic engineering organizations. GA has no
knowledge of the person(s) who carryout any underground actions. GA
does not advocate illegal acts, but seeks to explain why people
destroy genetically engineered crops and undertake other nonviolent
actions aimed at resisting genetic engineering and increasing the
difficulty for entities which seek to advance genetic engineering or
its products. GA spokespeople are available for media interviews.

Reporters and other interested parties may contact GenetiX Alert at:
cell phone: 901.438.9907,
fax: 901.458.9907 (call cell first)
787 Ellsworth
Memphis, TN 38111 USA
email: genetixalert@tao.ca
contact: Denny Henke
--
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Fax: 901.458.9907 (call cell first)
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