Stop GE Trees Petition-new.pdfAbout us: The goal of the STOP GE Trees Campaign is to work with forest dependent communities to protect native forests from the uncontrollable and irreversible threats posed by the release of genetically engineered trees (GE trees or GM trees) into the environment. Please support this important work with a donation.
URGENT ACTION ALERT: USDA Begins Deregulation for 1st Genetically Engineered Forest Tree
PUBLIC COMMENTS NEEDED BY APRIL 29, 2013
Tell the USDA NO WAY on Genetically Engineered Trees!
The USDA is accepting public comments on a request by GE tree company ArborGen to commercially sell hundreds of millions of freeze tolerant genetically engineered eucalyptus trees annually for vast plantations across Texas, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.
For more on the dangers of GE trees and detailed information for your comments, read our GE trees fact sheet.
Government approval of GE eucalyptus trees would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to the legalization of GE versions of native forest trees, including poplar and pine, that would inevitably and irreversibly contaminate native forests with destructive GE traits, devastating forest ecosystems and wildlife. Once GE trees escape, there is no way to call them back.
The only way to stop GE trees from invading and contaminating native forests is to ban the commercial release of GE trees before it is too late.
TAKE ACTION!
Tell the USDA that GE freeze tolerant eucalyptus plantations pose an unprecedented threat to forests and wildlife in the US and around the world. Tell them to reject ArborGen's request to commercially sell billions of GE eucalyptus trees.
Sign the STOP GE Trees Campaign petition to the USDA demanding a ban on GE trees!
and/or
Submit comments to the U.S. government.
The USDA comment period includes two online public meetings on the GE eucalyptus trees on Wednesday, April 17 from 7:00-9:00 PM EDT, and Thursday, April 18 from 4:00-6:00 PM EDT. Go to www.APHISVirtualMeetings.com to register for these public meetings.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST GE TREES AND EUCALYPTUS PLANTATIONS!
From May 26-June 1, industry leaders, scientists and policy makers will meet in Asheville, NC for the Tree Biotechnology 2013 Conference. The conference will discuss current and future applications of GE trees, such as large-scale plantations of GE eucalyptus trees in the southern United States, from South Carolina to Texas.
The STOP GE Trees Campaign is mobilizing events and protests in Asheville calling for a ban on the release of GE trees into the environment. To be alerted to updates on this situation and get involved in these events or the campaign to stop GE eucalyptus trees, email will@globaljusticeecology.org or go to www.nogetrees.org
*To learn more about the threats of GE eucalyptus, check out this Fact Sheet on the Risks of GE Trees.
Sign the petition demanding a ban on GE eucalyptus trees.
To read the 580 page petition requesting deregulation of freeze-tolerant GE eucalyptus trees, click here.
Background:
Non-GE eucalyptus plantations already have devastating impacts all over the world. Based on these documented impacts, GE eucalyptus plantations in the US will likely cause:
* Clearcutting of biodiverse forests for conversion to industrial GE eucalyptus plantations--called "green deserts" due to their devastating impacts on biodiversity;
* Invasive spread of GE eucalyptus trees into native ecosystems--eucalyptus are already a documented invasive species in Florida and California;
* Increased danger of firestorms-Eucalyptus contain a highly volatile oil and are explosively flammable;
* Displacement of wildlife that cannot use the non-native eucalyptus trees for habitat or food;
* Contamination of soils and groundwater with toxic agrochemicals used on the plantations;
* Worsening of Drought-Eucalyptus have deep tap roots, monopolize ground water and dry up soils;
* Worsening of climate change through the destruction of carbon rich native forests for carbon poor plantations.*
Global Justice Ecology Project and the STOP GE Trees Campaign are mobilizing to fight this threat.
View our 5 minute video on the impacts of timber plantations and GE trees.
Send a donation to support our work to protect forests, wildlife and communities from the disaster of GE trees!
Educate Yourself: Click on the News tab above to read the latest on this important issue or download our 10 page report on the dangers of GE eucalyptus trees and the impacts of making liquid fuels out of trees: GE Trees Report
Take Action: Download our petition to the USDA and ask your friends and colleagues to sign it.
Stop GE Trees Petition-new.pdf
Download all of this component in our GE Trees Action Toolkit.
2010 GE Trees Organizing Toolkit.pdf
Check out this map to locate the Eucalyptus Southern Test Plots
Donate! The STOP GE Trees Campaign relies on the support of people like you. Please send a contribution to support the campaign today!
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