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ALERT: register for Biodevastation 2000 - Boston, Mar.24-26
Biodevastation 2000 - Boston, Mass. - March 24-26, 2000
++++ www.biodev.org. ++++
Register if possible before March 10 ! Fee is $10 - $100, what you can afford.
Low-cost meals on site.
Housing billets and dorms available (at no charge, it seems) - but
*requires* early registration. (They say send money-order by mail to
confirm accommodation by Mar.10 -- we hope to have details to clarify,
because of the tight
deadline, by this evening - Mar. 6/00.)
No chartered buses going, but some Ottawa/Montreal people are planning to
drive shared rental cars or go by Voyageur/Greyhound (return fare = $240 or
$228/Senior).
Press release, schedule and registration form are below.
Please get in touch with Lucy (work 241 4611 Sierra Club, home 235 1672)
to check regarding travel. Thanks.
================================
February 22, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
A coalition of environmental, food safety, public health, farm
and agricultural advocates will convene an international gathering
of genetic engineering opponents in Boston on March 24-30.
Their gathering, "Biodevastation 2000," is will coincide with the
convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
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.
"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.
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.
For more information on Biodevastation 2000 contact:
Northeast Resistance Against Genetic Engineering
802.454.9957 nerage@sover.net
Boston Biodevastation Clearinghouse
1.877.9RESIST (toll free) biod2000@jamaicaplain.com
For media related questions contact:
Jessica Hayes
617.623.4715 biodevmedia@yahoo.com
==========================================
*** BIODEVASTATION 2000 *** Program ***
FRIDAY 3/24
8-9 AM Breakfast and registration
9-10 Opening Session/Welcome
10:00-11:45 Environmental Issues Panel
11:45-12:45 Lunch
12:45-2:15 Biopiracy Panel
2:30-4:00 Workshops
4:15-6 Genetics and Health Panel
6-7:30 Dinner
7:30-9 PM Vandana Shiva keynote
9:15-10:15 Theater (Deep Mtn. Group)
SATURDAY 3/25
8-9 AM Breakfast
9-10:30 Farms/Seeds/Organics Panel
10:30-10:45 Stretch break
10:45-12:15 Two Panels: Food Safety
and Corporate Agendas/Globalization
12:15-2:15 Lunch/Networking (Regional caucuses, etc.)
2:15-3:45 Workshops
4:00-5:30 Workshops
5:30-8 Dinner (Strategy circles in Cabot gym)
8-9 PM Jane Akre and Steve Wilson keynote
9 PM Seize the Day
SUNDAY 3/26
8-9 AM Breakfast
9:00-10:15 International Movement Building Panel
10:30-11:45 U.S. Movement Building Panel
(Possibly food safety again, depending on room availability)
11:45-12:15 Morning wrapup, focus on next steps in movement
Evening session(s): TBA
*** Updated panel participants: ***
Food Safety and Health - -
Steven M. Druker, Alliance for Bio-Integrity
Mike Hansen, Consumers Union
Lee Ketelsen, Clean Water Action
Marc Lappé, author, "Against the Grain" (invited)
Environmental Hazards and Biosafety - -
Martha Crouch, former plant molecular biologist (Indiana University)
Ricarda Steinbrecher, Women's Environmental Network, UK
Sonja Schmitz, University of Vermont
Orin Langelle, Native Forest Network and ACERCA
Doreen Stabinsky (CRG, invited)
Seeds, Farms and Organics - -
C. R. Lawn, Fedco Seeds
George Naylor, Iowa farmer in suit against Monsanto
José Bové, Confédération Paysanne, France (tentative)
John Kinsman, National Family Farm Coalition (invited)
(Other panelists being contacted)
Human Genetics and Medical Issues - -
Ruth Hubbard, Harvard University, Council for Responsible Genetics
Stuart Newman, New York Medical College, CRG
Barbara Katz Rothman, Baruch College, City University NY, (tentative)
Marcy Darnovsky, Techno-Eugenics Newsletter (CA.)
Alix Fano, Campaign for Responsible Transplantation
Gregor Wolbring, University of Calgary
Biopiracy, Intellectual Property and Patents - -
Mike Dorsey, University of Michigan
Victoria Corpuz, Tebtebba Foundation, Philippines
Beth Burrows, Edmonds Institute
Deborah Harry, Indigenous People's Biodiversity Project
Jonathan King, MIT and CRG
Corporate Agendas and Globalization - -
Hope Shand, Rural Advancement Foundation International
Dan Faber, Northeastern University
Mitchel Cohen, Green Party of New York State
Chaia Heller, Institute for Social Ecology, U. of Massachusetts
(Possible representative from Food First)
Movement Building and Activism - -
International:
Luke Anderson, Activist journalist, UK
Martin Shaw, GenetiX Snowball, UK
José Bové, Confédération Paysanne, France (tentative)
Lucy Sharratt, Sierra Club of Canada
Jim Thomas, Greenpeace, UK
U.S.:
Charles Margulis, Greenpeace USA
Ronnie Cummins, Biodemocracy Campaign, Organic Consumers Assn.
Brian Tokar, Institute for Social Ecology, NERAGE
Brooke Lehman, Direct Action Network
Mike Prokosch (Boston Global Action Network, tentative)
Still to be scheduled: Shoddy Puppet Company (Philadedelphia)
=====================================
From: Brian Tokar <briant@earth.goddard.edu
Subject: REGISTER NOW FOR BIODEVASTATION 2000
Reply to: nerage@sover.net
In order to facilitate planning for workshop rooms, housing, meals, and
other needs, we are urging people to register in advance. We are trying
to find
housing in the Boston area for those who need it, plan to provide meals
for only a
small donation, and are working to arrange child care. For all these
reasons, we want to know if you're coming! Housing and child care will
only be available to those who register before March 10th.
Please print out the form below and return it with your registration fee
(sliding scale, $10 to $100; no one will be turned away) to the postal
address below. For more up-to-date information, see
http://www.biodev.org.
***** Biodevastation 2000 - Registration *****
The Fourth International Grassroots Gathering on Genetic Engineering:
Resistance and Solutions to the Corporate Monopoly on Power, Food and Life.
Please return completed form to: NERAGE, Institute for Social Ecology,
1118 Maple Hill Rd, Plainfield, VT 05667 or call (802)454-9957 for more
information.
Welcome and Check-in will begin at 8:00 AM, Friday March 24 at
Northeastern University's Blackman Auditorium (a map will be provided if
needed). The opening session will begin at 9:00 AM on Friday, also at
Blackman Auditorium.
Panels and workshops will be held throughout the day on March
24 and 25, and the morning of March 26, with evening keynote speakers and
entertainment. Conference schedules and other details are available
on-line at http://www.biodev.org.
**Please pre-register by March 10, 2000**
General Information:
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Organization/Affiliation: _____________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________ E-Mail: _________________________________
Others at your address who will be attending:
__________________________________________________________________________
** If you are representing an organization and would like to have space at
a table for materials, please call (802) 454-9957 for more details.
Conference Registration Fees:
We have made the conference rates as low as possible so that everyone who
is interested will be able to attend. Please help us to finance this event
by contributing what you can afford, between $10 and $100.
I Have Enclosed $ ___________ , (make money order payable to Institute for
Social Ecology, with 'Biodevastation' noted on the front)
***Please pay when you submit your registration form.***
Volunteering:
_____Yes, I am interested in volunteering my time to help make
Biodevastation 2000 happen! I would like to volunteer (please check
below):
_____Prior to Biodevastation 2000 (outreach, publicity, etc)
_____At Biodevastation 2000 (food - cooking and serving; set-up; clean-up;
medical; etc.)
Do you have any special skills, or exciting ideas of ways to help out:
____________________________________________________________________
Food and Lodging:
**Please Pre-Register by March 10 to assure housing availability**
We will be providing home-stays and will also have space available for
people to stay in churches, community centers, and warehouses in Boston.
You will need to bring sleeping bags. If you plan on staying in a hotel,
or
if you have friends in the Boston area who you would like to stay with, we
ask that you make those arrangements on your own.
Would you like us to arrange lodging for you:____________________
What date will you be arriving in Boston: _____________
What date will you be departing: __________
Your housing preferences:
______________________________________________________________
Any allergies (pets, food, etc):
___________________________________________________________
How many people are in your party (family, friends - if they are
registering separately, please list names so that we can house you
together): ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Would you prefer a smoking or non-smoking housing environment:
_____________________________________________________
Any other special needs, concerns or considerations:
_________________________________________________________________
Breakfast and Lunch will be provided at the conference for a small donation
on Friday, March 24, Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26. Food
provided will be free of genetically-engineered ingredients, and vegan
options will be available.
Do you have any special dietary needs we should know about:
_____________________________________________
**Please bring your own mug! We are trying to minimize waste - any
reusable dishes you bring will help us in this process.
Child Care:
**Please Pre-Register by March 10 to reserve child care space**
Limited child care will be available during the day, March 24, 25, and 26.
Names and ages of children who will need child care:
________________________________________________________________
Special needs:
________________________________________________________________
Dates childcare will be needed:
__________________________________________________________
Other Questions/Comments:
Please return completed registration form to:
NERAGE
Institute for Social Ecology
1118 Maple Hill Rd.
Plainfield, VT 05667
--
Katherine Gunn kgunn@cyberus.ca Ottawa, Canada
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