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Today's radio commentary from Jim Hightower on GE Trees maybe coming to the South...
Jim Hightower Slams GE Trees!
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 slogan of the U.S. Department Agriculture. In May,
with little consideration of the devastating consequences for our native
environment, USDA cavalierly rubberstamped a proposal by a profiteering
corporation named ArborGen to do all of the above.
Substantially
owned by International Paper, ArborGen shipped tissue from Brazilian eucalyptus
trees to its New Zealand laboratories, where it was genetically altered to have
more cellulose. New Zealand, however, outlaws plantings of
genetically-engineered crops, so ArborGen sought out a more corporate-compliant
country: Ours. The engineered eucalyptus was waved right into the good ol' USA
to be cloned, and it's now awaiting final approval for outdoor release in our
land.
This has happened with practically no media coverage or public
participation. It is happening solely because a handful of global speculators
hope to profit by making ethanol from cellulose-enhanced eucalyptus - never
mind that their self-aggrandizement would put America's native forests in danger
of irreversible contamination by these destructive, invasive
Frankentrees.
This is Jim Hightower saying... Luckily, several
scrappy grassroots groups have mobilized to bring common sense and public
pressure to bear on USDA. For updates and action items, visit www.nogetrees.org.
Thanks to the Stop GE Trees campaign for making this story happen and getting permission for re-post.
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ArborGen wants their genetically engineered eucalyptus franken-trees growing all over the Southern US. As Jim Hightower pointed out in his commentary today [see above], these GE eucalyptus are "wildly invasive, explosively flammable, and insatiably thirsty for ground water."
Call ArborGen and tell them to get their GE eucalyptus trees out of the U.S. South and off the planet!
Call, fax or email Barbara Wells, President and CEO of ArborGen:
+1.843.851.4129 phone
+1 843.832.2164 fax
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