home of the wildlife conservation environmental and freedom activist

Environment Action
Alerts for April 8 - April 15, 2001

from Environment News Service April 9, 2001

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS)      http://ens-news.com

                                           "We Cover the Earth For You"
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STARLINK COLORS ROUNDUP CORN DISAGREEMENT

By Dan Zinkand

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, April 9, 2001 (ENS) - While the Iowa Corn Growers
Association (ICGA) and Monsanto disagree about safeguards that do - or do
not - exist for channeling Roundup Ready hybrids grown this year, they
agree on two things.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-01.html

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NEW YORK GOVERNOR EXPLORES NAVY DAMAGE ON VIEQUES

VIEQUES, Puerto Rico, April 9, 2001 (ENS) - At the invitation of Governor
Sila Maria Calderon of Puerto Rico, New York Governor George Pataki today
led a delegation of New Yorkers to the Puerto Rican island of Vieques as
part of his effort to permanently end U.S. Navy bombing on the island.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-02.html

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WORLD'S RICHEST NATIONS URGE GREEN TAXES

PARIS, France, April 9, 2001 (ENS) - Industrialized countries should launch
a coordinated program to remove environmentally damaging subsidies and
introduce environmental taxes, according to a new report by an organization
that represents the world's richest nations.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-03.html

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NORWAY'S LONE WOLF "MARTIN," ONE THAT GOT AWAY

OSLO, Norway, April 9, 2001 (ENS) - A lone wolf has escaped death after
hunters on skis, snowmobiles and in helicopters missed an April 6 deadline
set by Norway's government, which ordered the cull of 10 wolves in February.

For full text and graphics, visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-11.html

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BRITISH COLUMBIA DAMS SHORTLISTED FOR DECOMMISSIONING

VANCOUVER, Canada, April 9, 2001 (ENS) - Two British Columbia organizations
have produced a shortlist of dams ripe for decommissioning or dismantling.
The shortlist appears in "River Recovery - Restoring Rivers Through Dam
Decommissioning," a report published today by the Outdoor Recreation
Council (ORC) of B.C. and the B.C. Institute of Technology (BCIT).

For full text and graphics, visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-12.html

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UK LEASES ITS SEA BED TO 18 OFFSHORE WIND FARMERS

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 9, 2001 (ENS) - More than a million United
Kingdom households are a step closer to getting their electricity from wind
power, after 18 offshore wind farm developers were granted leases to build
on the sea bed.

For full text and graphics, visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-10.html

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ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: APRIL 9, 2001

PG&E Bankruptcy Called No Threat to Nuclear Plants

Utility's Bankruptcy Offers Environmental Opportunity

Scotchgard Compound Widespread in Environment

Water Reclamation Project Approved for California County

$437,000 Supports Environmental Land Use Planning

California Governor Announces $388 Million for Local Parks

Kodiak Celebrates Whale Migration with 10 Day Festival

High Arsenic Levels in Water Near Bush Ranch

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-09.html

          Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

     FP International Acquires FastTrack Packaging Systems
     
     REDWOOD CITY, CA, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- FP International today
announced it had purchased the assets of FastTrack Packaging Systems from FT
Acquisition, L.P. of Horsham, Pennsylvania, a leading supplier of kraft
paper void fill and cushioning systems. The sale was completed on March 30,
2001.
    
/CONTACT:  FP International, Virginia Lyle, 800-866-9946, ext. 5331,
virginia.lyle@fpintl.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0110.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wind R&D Cuts Are "Penny Wise & Pound Foolish," Says Wind Energy Group Energy
crisis calls for increased investments in both utility-scale and small wind systems, says AWEA

     WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- The American Wind Energy Association
(AWEA) today criticized the Bush Administration for proposing deep cuts in
funding for the federal wind energy research and development (R&D) program
and other renewable energy research efforts.

/CONTACT:  Jaime Steve (202) 383-2506, Jon Chase (202) 383-2507, Christine
Real de Azua (202) 383-2508/

/Web site:  http://www.awea.org/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0109.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

     Gold Stake Launches e-Commerce Nutritional Site

     CUPERTINO, CA, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- Chris Jensen, President of Gold
Stake, Inc. (the ``Company''), announced that the Company has launched their
nutritional supplementation e-Commerce site this week (www.Goldstake.net).
The site will provide Internet on-goers as well as the Company's 2,500
distributors the ability to order its products on-line. Gold Stake through
its e-Commerce site also plans to enable its customers to utilize eConnects
(ECNC: OTCBB) eCashpad for additional secured payment options. Gold Stake is
most known for it's all natural Dietary Mineral Supplement mined from
ancient sea beds.

/CONTACT:  Gold Stake, Inc., Chris Jensen, 800/523-4653, goldstk@aol.com/

/Web site:  http://www.Goldstake.net/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0108.html

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ADVISORY:

More Power to You Organizers to Conduct First Town Hall-Focus Group Meeting on Energy in San Diego

     New Watchdog Group Urges Californians to Voice Concerns, Suggest Solutions to Energy Crisis

     WOODLAND HILLS, CA, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- The event is the first of a
series of Town Hall-Focus Group meetings on the energy crisis that More
Power to You will conduct statewide. Their purpose is to provide a platform
for the people who pay the electric and gas bills, and pay the taxes, to have a
voice in the energy crisis discussion, which has thus far been dominated by
politicians and bureaucrats -- the very people who helped create the mess we
are now trying to clean up. The meeting will be moderated by renowned pollster
Dr. Frank Luntz and hosted by More Power to You chairman Peter Foy.
    
/CONTACT:  The Johnson Group, Patricia Johnson/Linda Carlson,
818/703-8329, 818/399-6811 (cell)/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0107.html

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TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDITOR:

     Organic Farmers Help Cut Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
     
     GREENFIELD, MA, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- As toxic and persistent
agricultural chemicals make headlines again, organic farmers have a message to
share with concerned consumers. This message: consumers can make choices that
will reduce their exposure to such chemicals.
    
/CONTACT:  Holly Givens of Organic Trade Association, 413-774-7511/

/Web site:  http://www.ota.com//

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0105.html

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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

     EarthCare Announces Preliminary Earnings Results and Extension for Late Filing
                                 Of Form 10-K
     
     DALLAS, TX, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- EarthCare Company (Nasdaq: ECCO) announced
today its preliminary operating results for the year ended December 31, 2000
and also announced that it expects to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K on
or before April 16, 2001.  EarthCare filed a Form 12b-25 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on April 3 requesting a 15-day extension to file its
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
    
/CONTACT:  Bill Solomon, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of
EarthCare Company, 972-858-6025/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0104.html

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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITOR:

     EDR Announces Expanded Coverage For City Directory Reports
     
     SOUTHPORT, CT, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- Environmental Data Resources,
Inc. ("EDR") today announced that it has expanded coverage for its EDR City
Directory Reports. City directories are a popular historical source used to
comply with the ASTM E 1527 Phase I standard in identifying prior uses of
property.
    
/CONTACT:  Brett Donahue of EDR Public Relations, 800-352-0050,
bdonahue@edrnet.com/

/Web site:  http://www.edrnet.com//

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0103.html

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TO STATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

     Fund for Animals and PLAN Call on Pennsylvania Game Commission
                      To End Bobcat Hunting and Trapping
     
     HARRISBURG, PA, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- Today, the Pennsylvania Game
Commission (PGC) will hear public testimony on renewing the controversial
sport hunting and trapping season on bobcats, which began last year after a
thirty-year moratorium and amid overwhelming public outcry. The Fund for
Animals and the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Network (PLAN) will testify at
today's hearing, asking the commissioners to stop this cruel and biologically
reckless experiment from occurring again next year.
    
/CONTACT:  Heidi Prescott of the Fund for Animals, 301-585-2591, ext. 213/

/Web site:  http://www.fund.org//

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0102.html

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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO BUSINESS EDITOR:

     QUANTUM and ProCon to Develop and Market GM Propane Vans
     
     DETROIT, MI, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly-
owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMCO) and the Propane
Promotion Consortium, Inc. (ProCon) announced today they are developing and
certifying dedicated-propane General Motors full-size Savanna and Express
passenger and cargo vans.  QUANTUM will design, develop, validate, certify,
and produce the propane van fuel systems as a dual-invoice program.  ProCon
members and QUANTUM will market the vehicles through select GM Dealers
nationwide.
    
/CONTACT:  Tammy Fiebelkorn, Executive Director of ProCon, 303-651-0360;
or Paula Kania, Program Manager, 810-819-0890, or Skip Miller, Director,
Global Platforms, 810-819-0835, or Alan Niedzwiecki, Executive Director,
Business Development, 949-399-4552, all of QUANTUM Technologies, Inc.

/Web site:  http://www.qtww.com//

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0101.html

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TO HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

     Administration Proposal to Serve Irradiated Beef to School Children
Poses Cancer, Genetic and Other Risks warns Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.
     
     CHICAGO, IL, Apr. 8 -/E-Wire/-- The recent proposal by the Bush
Administration to allow irradiated ground beef into the National
School-Lunch Program will endanger the health of tens of millions of
school children and should be withdrawn immediately.
    
/CONTACT:  Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., emeritus professor environmental and
occupational medicine, University of Illinois School of Public Health,
Chicago, and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, 312-996-2297,
email: epstein@uic.edu/

/Web site:  http://www.preventcancer.com//

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/06Apr0106.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

     University of Michigan Awarded AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty
Fellowship

     NEW YORK, NY, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- AT&T selected researchers from six
leading universities, including the University of Michigan, to receive an
AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellowship.  Researchers at University of
Michigan received a $25,000 grant to support their project, "Life Cycle
Assessment of E-Publishing and Digital Libraries:  Linking Industrial
Ecology Research and Education."

/CONTACT:  Cynthia Neale,(908) 221-7249, cneale@att.com/

/Web site:  http://www.att.com/foundation/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/09Apr0106.html

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from Friends of the Earth April 9, 2001

-- please distribute this widely --

SAVE THE CLIMATE TREATY !

FLOOD GEORGE BUSH WITH YOUR E-MAILS!

Stop President Bush from betraying the UN climate change treaty!

Last year the US blocked progress at negotiations in The
Netherlands, now Texas oil-man President George W. Bush wants to
destroy the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Friends of the Earth asks people around the world to
electronically flood the White House with protest E-mails.

Let's give President Bush a taste of what climate change means
and how much people are concerned about it.

=========================
Please cut and paste the message below into an E-mail and send
it to: PRESIDENT BUSH:
president@whitehouse.gov
Please copy (CC) to: protest@foeeurope.org (IMPORTANT!)
You can also send the letter via:
http://www.foeeurope.org/climate
=========================
If your message is returned by the White House, please let us
know at: protest-comment@foeeurope.org
We will make sure that the public gets to know about the e-protests!
=========================

Dear President Bush,

I call on you as President of the USA not to betray the Kyoto
Protocol.

The United States must live up to its commitment to the UN
negotiations to prevent global warming. Sabotaging the Kyoto
Protocol puts the USA into a position of environmental
isolationism and makes it responsible for climate catastrophe.

The US has one of the highest per capita CO2 emissions in the
world. People around the world already faced with the first signs
of climate change, suffering from floods and hurricanes, expect
your country to be in the forefront of tackling climate change.

An enormous potential of creativity, innovation and efficiency is
there to be harvested once we have decided to really reduce CO2
emissions. If you fail to reverse your decision to kill the Kyoto
Protocol, future generations will not forgive you.

President Bush, the science is clear and the international
political will is there to tackle climate change. The US must
join the world in fighting global warming!

Sincerely,
X

=====================

Background:

- A White House spokesman said: "The president has been
unequivocal. He does not support the Kyoto treaty." The Swedish
Environment Minister described the move as "appalling and
provocative".

- Bush's campaign for presidency was backed and financed by major
US oil giants, which campaigned against the international treaty
to prevent global warming.

- The US promised to cut their climate changing gases by 7% over
1990 levels before 2012 at the latest, but US emissions in fact
rose by more than 10% between 1990 and 2000.

==========================
If you are interested in further activities of Friends of the
Earth on Climate Change, including a mass-demonstration during
the UN climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, July 21st, go to:
http://www.foeeurope.org/climate
You can also find there: political and scientific background
information, the latest numbers on the e-protest and pictures of
the peaceful and creative mass action that Friends of the Earth
organised during the last UN climate negotiations ("The Dike").
=========================

The Climate Team @ Friends of the Earth
questions/comments on the e-protest to:
protest-comment@foeeurope.org

from Zero Population Growth April 9, 2001

ZPG's annual Earth Day activist kit is available to
download from our website http://www.zpg.org (direct
link: http://www.zpg.org/Reports_Publications/Publications/publication217.html)
There is no charge and you may download the entire
kit or individual components by clicking on the Earth
Day Button.  

The kit contains fact sheets on US and global demographic
issues, a number of activities for use in the classroom
or with civic groups, our 2001 Non-trivial Earth Day
Quiz, a petition on the Global Gag Rule and a sample
letter to the editor.  

Help spread support for the planet by download the
kit and distributing the information in your community
Feel free to contact ZPG's Field Department at 1-800-767-1956
if you have any questions.  

Please pass this information on to a friend!

from Defenders of Wildlife April 10, 2001

DEN Alert:  
Help Support Black-Footed Ferret Recovery

Black-tailed prairie dogs, a keystone species in north central
Montana, are being exterminated by shooters by the hundreds. Due to
this practice, prairie dog populations in the state have declined
significantly. These animals are important because wildlife like
mountain plovers and burrowing owls rely on healthy prairie dog
populations and their unique underground habitat.  Most importantly,  
the only hope of restoring the critically endangered black-footed
ferret in Montana depends on having stable prairie dog towns. It is
critical for the continued vitality of the prairie dog ecosystem and
the wildlife that depend on it that shooting be suspended immediately.


WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Send a free e-mail to the Bureau of Land Management TODAY and urge
them to implement and enforce a mandatory ban on shooting prairie
dogs in north central Montana.  Thanks for protecting prairie dogs
and the endangered black-footed ferret that depend on them for their
survival!

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:

If you have access to the web, simply click on the link below which
will take you to the DEN Action Center web site:

                        http://www.denaction.org

If you don't have access to the Internet, please e-mail your letter
to nina_hatfield@blm.gov and mmillenb@mt.blm.gov or mail it to:
Nina Hatfield, Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management, U.S.
Department of Interior, 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240 and
to: Mat Millenbach, State Director of Montana Bureau of Land
Management, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, MT 59107.


SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Bureau of Land Management Official:

I am very concerned with the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM)
continuing lack of action to protect and restore prairie dogs in
Montana's "7-kilometer" black-footed ferret recovery area, despite
ample evidence and numerous requests that more protection is needed
for successful ferret recovery.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has written to the BLM on several
occasions warning of the possible failure of the Montana ferret
recovery effort if the BLM does not begin protecting and increasing
prairie dog numbers, as the BLM agreed to do in several planning
documents. They specifically requested that you close prairie dog
shooting in the entire "7-kilometer" ferret recovery area.

I am now asking you to meet your responsibilities to recover
endangered species, follow your own management plans, and uphold
your commitments.  Please take the following action, which has been
requested of you from other federal agencies, private conservation
organizations, and numerous private citizens:

*  Immediately expand and enforce the prairie dog shooting closure
to all BLM lands within the area designated for ferret recovery
(the "7-kilometer ferret recovery area"). BLM has designated the
prairie dog towns in this area as Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACECs) because of their importance as ferret habitat, yet
they remain open to shooting. Many of these prairie dog towns are
now gone or severely reduced in size from plague and shooting
pressure. Ending prairie dog shooting is the easiest and most
effective way to increase prairie dog numbers at this time.

The BLM is responsible for maintaining habitat for endangered
species, but BLM is not effectively doing this for black-footed
ferrets . one of the most endangered animals in North America.  
Please correct this problem with the suggestion listed above. Thank
you for considering these requests and for your response.

Sincerely,

-----------

====================================================================
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the
word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
====================================================================
To subscribe, visit Defenders' website at http://www.defenders.org/den
or send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put the word SUBSCRIBE
in the subject line.  
====================================================================
Defenders of Wildlife is a leading national conservation organization
recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for
wildlife and its habitat and known for its effective leadership on
saving endangered species such as brown bears and gray wolves, Defenders
advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species
before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit
501(c)(3)organization with more than 420,000 members and supporters.

                       Defenders of Wildlife
                  1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 1400
                       Washington, DC 20005
                     http://www.defenders.org
                     http://www.kidsplanet.org

from Rainforest Action Network April 10, 2001

TOMORROW: THE PEOPLE vs CITIGROUP
DAY OF ACTION COUNTDOWN

Tomorrow is the International Day of Action on which people across the globe
will be exposing Citigroup, the world's most destructive bank.  To date,
we're aware of over 80 demonstrations in upwards of 12 countries!

This is huge!  People en masse are standing up to say "ya basta" to the
cavalier destruction and warped sense of values that Citigroup and the
corporate financial system perpetuate.  To say "not with my money!".  People
are sick of mega-banks using their money to finance new oil, gas and mining
projects, the destruction of the rainforests, the abuse of women and workers
across the planet, and racist lending policies.  We do not want to be
compicit in the race to the bottom, and the overwhelming show of pressure
we're exerting tomorrow is sending a resounding message to the powers that
be that we have power!

In Canada alone, 15 cities are calling on the largest, most egregious bank
in their country, TB Bank, to quit bankrolling projects that are tearing
down their forests.  This is a solidarity movement in which communities
around the earth are demanding accountability.  Is life about the pursuit of
money at any and all costs?  The pursuit of profit with utter disregard for
principals?

We've heard inspiring stories from folks all over who think not:
-From a 53 year old father who heard about the Citi campaign from his 18
year old son in Texas.  Just last week he borrowed money from friends and
from his pension plan in order to pay off and cancel his Citibank credit
card.  On April 11th he's contacting Citi to let them know why.  He wants
his son to grow up in a world that respects human dignity and all life on
this planet.
-From a student in Ohio who joined with fellow activists on campus to kick
Citi's student loans out of their financial aide office!  They're working
this week to get an official letter of denunciation from their dean.
-From a plaintiff in the Boom Boom Room suit--a class action suit against
Saloman Smith Barney for flagrant and pervasive incidents of sexual
harassment and abuse in Citi offices.  She was astounded to learn that in
addition to abusing women, Citi is abusing the earth as well.  A number of
co-plaintiffs have shown the courage to stand up and fight back--they're
planning to take to the streets in protest at the annual shareholders
meeting on April 17.

GOOD LUCK to everyone who's planning events tomorrow.  Whether it be
non-violent direct action, creative theater, call-in or email actions, or
leafletting to educate customers, remember that there are others like you
out there across the globe striving for a sane and just future at the same
time.


If you aren't coodinating an action for tomorrow, use this as an opportunity
to contact Citi and tell them how you feel:
-CALL Citibank Services
1-888-250-3985 + "0"
-CALL Mark Rogers, director of public relations
-MAIL CUT UP CITI CREDIT CARDS and letters of protest to
Mr. Sandy Weill, Chairman and CEO, Citigroup 153 East 53rd St. NY, NY 10043
-EMAIL Sandy  at investorrelations@citi.com


**WE WANT TO HEAR HOW THINGS GO!**
Call or email us with reports, anecdotes, feedback, media clips, anything
that will help to compile an international picture of the muscle we're
collectively flexing.
NY - Beka Economopoulos beka@ran.org, 917-560-3609/888-840-6416 or
SF - Patrick Reinsborough organize@ran.org, 415-398-4404/800-989-RAIN

Again, good luck.

Upwards and Onwards.

IF NOT US, THEN WHO?
DON. T BE AFRAID TO THINK BIG. OUR TIMES DEMAND IT.

from Rainforest Action Network April 11, 2001

In this post :
#1. Communique from Civil Society supporting the U'wa
(English and espanol)
#2 April 26th Day of Solidarity!  Support the U'wa
call on Sanford Bernstein to divest from Oxy!
#3 U'wa leader to protest at Oxy shareholder's meeting April 20th
#4 Schedule for NE U'wa speaking tour
#5 Sample Letter to Sanford Bernstein

For background info on the inspiring life or death struggle of
Colombia's U'wa people check out :
www.ran.org   www.amazonwatch.org   www.moles.org  www.uwacolombia.org

For organizing materials contact Rainforest Action Network at
415-398-4404/1-800-989-RAIN or email organize@ran.org
____________________________________________________________
#1
Communiqué to the International and Public Opinion

On March 21 and April 01, 2001, we had a meeting in Saravena (Arauca)
with the social organizations of Arauca and of Cubará represented in:
the Asociación Departamental de Usuarios Campesinos-ADUC (Departmental
Association of User Farmers), the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores CUT
(Workers' Unitary Headquarters) - Arauca Sub-directive, U'WA Presidents
Association (Asociación de Cabildos Mayores U'wa-ASOUWA), the Communal
Action Board Federation and the Youth and
Students Regional Association (Asociación Juvenil y Estudiantil
Regional-ASOJER), the Workers Trade Union (La Unión Sindical
Obrera-USO), and CENSAT AGUA VIVA; at the Energy, Petroleum and
Sustainability workshop.

We summon the necessity to:

Debate about the national politics on energy, petroleum development, its
environmental, social and cultural impact;

Gain knowledge and share strategies on monitoring, resistance, and
following up on petroleum activities;

Define strategies to demand the national government to find a political
solution, and not a military one, to solve the social and environmental
problem that petroleum exploitation poses; and to OXY, that it must
acknowledge its environmental debt to the region and the country;

After sharing experiences, reflecting on the environmental, social,
cultural and economic impacts that petroleum activities have
historically created in various regions of the country, particularly in
Caño Limón - Arauca, and the devastation that OXY started in the so
called Samoré Block, U'wa ancestral territory; and planning proposals
that will resolve these problems, we decided to:

Reaffirm the validity of the U'wa people's struggle to defend their
culture, land and environment;

Support and back the actions that the U'wa people decide upon in
defending their cultural and ancestral rights;

Demand Occidental Multinational and the Colombian government to
immediately suspend all petroleum activity in the sacred U'wa territory;

Correct/belie the erroneous information that certain regional and
national communication mediums are spreading about the supposed
abandonment by the U'wa people of its millenial cause, and demand that
this information be rectified;

Summon the social, national and international organizations to continue
backing the U'wa.

We, the social organizations of Arauca and Boyacá, continue to reaffirm
that the U'wa struggle is our struggle, because it represents the
struggle for life, sovereignty, culture, and the environment.


Saravena, April 01, 2001

Asociación Departamental de Usuarios Campesinos ADUC,

Central Unitaria de Trabajadores CUT - Subdirectiva Arauca,

Asociación de Cabildos Mayores Uwa, ASOUWA,

Federación de Juntas de Acción Comunal

Asociación Juvenil y Estudiantil Regional ASOJER,

Unión Sindical Obrera, USO

CENSAT AGUA VIVA

* * * * *

COMUNICADO A LA OPINIÓN PUBLICA NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL

Los días 31 de marzo y 01 de abril de 2001 nos reunimos en Saravena
(Arauca) las organizaciones sociales de Arauca y de Cubará, Boyacá,
representadas en: la Asociación Departamental de Usuarios Campesinos
ADUC, la Central Unitaria de Trabajadores CUT - Subdirectiva Arauca, la
Asociación de Cabildos Mayores Uwa, ASOUWA, la Federación de Juntas de
Acción Comunal y la Asociación Juvenil y Estudiantil Regional ASOJER, La
Unión Sindical Obrera, USO y el CENSAT AGUA VIVA, en el taller Energía
Petróleo y Sustentabilidad,

Nos convoco la necesidad de:

Debatir sobre la política energética nacional, el desarrollo petrolero,
sus impactos ambientales, sociales y culturales;

Conocer y compartir estrategias de monitoreo, resistencia y seguimiento
a la actividad petrolera.

y el definir estrategias para exigir al gobierno nacional  que de una
salida política y no militar a la problemática social y ambiental de la
explotación petrolera y a la OXY, el reconocimiento de la deuda
ambiental  que ella tiene con la región y el país.

Luego de compartir experiencias, de reflexionar sobre los impactos
ambientales, sociales, culturales y económicos que históricamente la
actividad petrolera ha ocasionado en varios regiones del pais y
particularmente en Caño Limón- Arauca y la devastación que inició Oxy en
el llamado bloque Samoré, territorio ancestral Uwa, y de plantear
propuestas de
solución a dicha problemática, acordamos:

Reafirmar la vigencia de la lucha del pueblo U´wa en la defensa de su
cultura, su medio ambiente y territorio.

Apoyar y respaldar las acciones que el pueblo U´wa decida en defensa de
sus derechos culturales y ancestrales.

Exigir a la Multinacional Occidental y al gobierno Colombiano la
suspensión inmediata de toda actividad petrolera en el territorio
sagrado U´wa.

Desmentir las informaciones que algunos medios de comunicación
regionales y nacionales están emitiendo sobre el supuesto abandono que
el pueblo U´wa ha hecho de su causa milenaria y exigir que esta
información sea rectificada.

Convocar a las organizaciones sociales nacionales e internacionales para
que continúen respaldando al pueblo U´wa.

Las organizaciones sociales de Arauca y Boyacá, continuamos reafirmando
que la lucha de los U´was es nuestra lucha, por que ella representa la
lucha por la vida, la soberanía, la cultura y el medio ambiente.

Saravena, 01 de Abril de 2001


Asociación Departamental de Usuarios Campesinos ADUC,

Central Unitaria de Trabajadores CUT - Subdirectiva Arauca,

Asociación de Cabildos Mayores Uwa, ASOUWA,

Federación de Juntas de Acción Comunal

Asociación Juvenil y Estudiantil Regional ASOJER,

Unión Sindical Obrera, USO

CENSAT AGUA VIVA


____________________________________________________________
#2

APRIL 26TH  DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE U'WA PEOPLE
JOIN U. WA TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY LEADER ROBERTO PEREZ IN DEMANDING THAT
SANFORD BERNSTEIN DIVEST FROM OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM AND STOP PROFITING
FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF INDIGENOUS LANDS AND CULTURES!


Over the past 8 years the U. wa have put out repeated calls for
solidarity in . the global crusade to defend life. .  April 26th is your
chance to join them in standing up for a global society that puts
principles ahead of profits by confronting the largest shareholder in
Occidental Petroleum - Sanford Bernstein.  

Support the U'wa by taking action!  Whether its a letter writing table,
a vigil, a fundraiser, guerrilla theater of acts of non-violent direct
action the U'wa people need you to help them make Sanford Bernstein hear
their voice. We must unite to stop US military aid to Colombia.  We must
reveal the role of oil companies in the phony war on drugs in Colombia.

Find the Sanford Bernstein or Alliance Capital office nearest you. For
complete contact info for these offices go to:
www.bernstein.com/>locations.htm

Sanford's parent company Alliance Capital has offices in Cleveland, San
Antonio, Minneapolis, Secaucus NJ, as well as locations around the world
(UK, Germany, Africa, Australia, Japan, India, Canada, etc.)
For more information go to <http://www.alliancecapital.com> click on
"Contact Alliance" then "About Alliance" and then "Locations".

To support the U'wa in your community check out 10 things You can Do for
the U'wa :
http://www.ran.org/ran/ran_campaigns/beyond_oil/resources.html

For more information, organizing materials or to coordinate your local
action with the broader network contact Rainforest Action Network at
415-398-4404/1-800-989-RAIN or email organize@ran.org or fern@riseup.net

____________________________________________________________

#3 PROTEST AT OXY SHAREHOLDER MEETING!
4/20 SAVE THE DATE

Protest the Occidental Petroleum
Annual Shareholder Meeting

Join the U. wa to Demand Divestment
from Oxy! Demonstrate for
U. wa Life, Land & Culture

Demonstration, Music, Speakers, Art &
Debut of Oxy Walk of Shame
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Fairmont Miramar Hotel
Wilshire & Ocean
Santa Monica, April 20th 2001

Colombia. s U. wa people have been struggling for 8 years to defend their
ancestral homeland against efforts by Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and the
Colombian government to drill for oil on their sacred homeland.  The
U. wa. s uncompromising resistance -- despite the militarization of their
land--has inspired hundreds of solidarity actions around the world.

The U. wa will tour the U.S. with a message of Oxy out of U. wa land.  
Because of increased threats from corporate globalization, the U. wa will
also bring a message of No Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and no
oil war in
Colombia.  The U. wa oppose increases in US military aid and call Plan
Colombia a death sentence.  Indigenous rights must not be considered a
barrier to free trade.

For more info contact :
ACTION RESOURCE CENTER bdoran@enviroweb.org 310-396-3254
www.arcweb.org
AMAZONWATCH  kevin@amazonwatch.org  310-455-0617
www.amazonwatch.org

____________________________________________________________

#4 U'WA LEADER TO TOUR THE NORTHEAST!

"Yes, it is true that the earth can be felt trembling. But it is not out
of fear& . It is because we, the indigenous, are walking. We who are the
color of the earth. And it is law that it trembles so when we walk.
Democracy! Liberty! Justice!"
- From Toluca, State of Mexico 2001

FREE TRADE, PLAN COLOMBIA, OIL AND INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE& . ROBERTO
PEREZ, PRESIDENT OF THE U. WA, ARMANDO VALBUENA, ONIC
               APRIL 22 . 28TH
  
MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEWYORK, NEW HAMPSHIRE,
VERMONT
For thousands of years, the U. wa . a peaceful indigenous community of
5,000 people . have lived in the cloudforests of northeast Colombia,
protecting their land and culture from outside encroachment. Now, an oil
project slated for their land by Occidental Petroleum and condemned by
environmental and human rights groups around the world, puts the
survival of the U. wa and their sacred land in jeopardy.

Two days after Plan Colombia was passed by congress, the U. wa homeland
became heavily militarized with over 2,000 soldiers. The U. wa warn that
unless the project is canceled, it will only bring further violence,
environmental and cultural destruction, oil spills from guerrilla
bombings and deforestation from new access roads.

The international campaign in support of the U. wa people is now calling
on Sanford Bernstein to divest from OXY. This comes on the heels of a
major victory against Fidelity Investments, another top shareholder of
the company and world. s largest mutual fund.

Plan Colombia, supported largely by the lobbying efforts of Occidental
Petroleum and three major weapons manufacturers in the northeast .
General Dynamics, Sikorsky Aircraft and Textron are profiting at the
expense of Colombians, such as the U. wa. The U. wa have been calling on
US citizens to help in ending military intervention in Colombia and to
pressure the administration to send humanitarian aid.

Colombia is now preparing itself for inclusion into the Free Trade area
of the Americas, an extension of NAFTA to the entire Western Hemisphere.
FTAA will accelerate environmental destruction and the loss of
indigenous and non indigenous lands. By revoking indigenous communal
land structure, Colombia will be able to enter the FTAA and ensure
foreign investor rights, not human rights.


JOIN US FOR A TOUR OF THE NORTHEAST PROFITEERS FROM PLAN COLOMBIA AND
FTAA!

GENERAL DYNAMICS, SIKORSKY HELICOPTERS, TEXTRON, AND ALLIANCE CAPITAL

SUPPORT THE INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE OF THE UWA PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA!

Sunday, April 22nd
7pm MIT room TBA Noam Chomsky, Roberto Perez, FTAA, Plan Colombia and
the effect of indigenous peoples of Colombia
sponsored by MIT social justice collaborative, Boston Earth Action
Network, Tonantzin

Monday April 23rd
7-9pm bilingual presentation Church of the Holy Redeemer, East Boston 72
Maverick St. 617-567-3227 Blue Line Maverick T-stop.  FTAA, Plan
Colombia and the effect on indigenous peoples sponsored by Colombia
Vive, Tonantzin, Voices in Action

Tuesday, April 24
Providence RI . location TBA contact  contact:  
michael_e_jackson@brown.edu

Wednesday April 25
10 . 12pm Providence, RI Textron Shareholders meeting highlighting
corporate backing of Plan Colombia
Financial Center, down town - with the  Sisters of Mercy contact BEAN
617-623-2453
7 - 9pm Columbia University, NYC location TBA sponsored by the Colombia
Media Project,  Wetlands and Rainforest Relief 212-966-4831 The U'wa
will be joined at the teach-in by representatives of the traditional
Dine'h(Navajo) resisters from Big Mountain AZ who have come to NY to
confront Lehman Brothers the largest shareholder in corporate giant
Peabody Coal.

Thursday April 26
11am . 1pm National Day of Solidarity . Sanford Bernstein, largest
shareholder of Occidental Petroleum - Trump building 767 5th ave.
Manhattan NY call Wetlands and Rainforest Relief, NYC . 212-966-4831
1 pm solidarity action for the Dine'h Resisters from Big Mt AZ outside
Lehman Brothers, World Trade Center
7- 11pm Sounds of Resistance Concert to Benefit the U. wa -  Demarest
Hall, Rutgers University, on College Ave. NewBrunswick, NJ contact:
Katherine Moon mooncat_07012@yahoo.com 973-419-2103

Friday, April 27
6:30am vigil at Sikorsky . stratford ct. contact steven Colombia action
coalition 203-777-3849

Friday, April 27
2 . 7pm Boston - Northeast Environmental Justice Conference . contact
Alternatives for Community and the Environment contact: Lisa
617-442-3343
Evening fundraiser for the U. wa people Boston based art gallery
sponsored by Cultural Survival contact Ken Ramsey 617-441-5400
k1wayx@aol.com

Saturday, April 28
11am . 6pm Earthfest 2001 Boston . sponsored by WBOS . contact Leslie
617-822-9600 lcipolla@greaterbostonradio.com
EF! Rondavue - Shelburne, MA contact Jaon Kotoch . 978-345-1893
takeaction2001@hotmail.com

For general information and details on locations or to get involved or
to become a co-sponsor please contact Rainforest Relief AND the Boston
Earth Action Network 617-623-2453
Localseed@earthlink.net or cell 617-438-BEAN
For more information check out www.amazonwatch.org

"We are of the color of the earth. The hour and tomorrow are of the
color of the earth.  It is the hour of dignity, the hour of the bridge
which is also window. It is the hour of looking and looking at
ourselves, without shame and without fear. It is the hour of struggling
for dignity for the color of the earth and hope. Salud indigenous
brothers and sisters! Salud Pure'pecha brothers and sisters! Salud
Mexican brothers and sisters! Salud brothers and sisters of all colors!
Que viva forever the color of the earth which we are! Democracy!
Liberty! Justice!"
-From the Pure'pecha community of Nurio, Michoaca'n.
____________________________________________________________

#5   SAMPLE LETTER TO SANFORD BERNSTEIN


Mr. Roger Hertog
Vice Chairman
Alliance Capital Management / Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153-0185

VIA FACSIMILE:  212-756-4453


Dear Mr. Hertog:

In early April 2000, representatives from various organizations and Mr.
Roberto Perez, the President of the 5,000-member U'wa tribe from
northeast Colombia visited your New York City Headquarters to discuss
your investments in Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and this company's Samore
oil project which is threatening the lives and the sacred land of the
U'wa people.

During a brief telephone conversation you expressed that you were
"genuinely interested" in the U. wa. s concerns and that you would
personally investigate this matter and shortly respond to the U'wa
request that Sanford C. Bernstein divest from Occidental Petroleum.  Yet
still Sanford Bernstein has made no public response about this important
issues and have subsequently purchased additional shares in Occidental
Petroleum.

I are writing to urge that Sanford Bernstein divest their Occidental
Petroleum holdings for a number of reasons:

1. A worldwide divestment campaign has been launched against Occidental
Petroleum due to the company's insistence to move
ahead with the controversial Samore oil project in violation of
internationally recognized human rights laws;

2. The environmental and social impacts of this project represent real
financial risks to OXY's investors as the oil company is and will
continue to be mired in a public relations debacle over this issue;

3. The U'wa people have stated they are willing to die if necessary to
stop the oil drilling;

4. Legal challenges and opposition from the U'wa community and their
allies have and will continue to delay this oil project;

5. The U'wa are currently gearing up for additional legal challenges in
Colombian and international courts;

6.  Occidental Petroleum is attempting to crush local opposition with
the assistance of thousands of Colombian soldiers who are escorting and
guarding the area - the use of armed forces will only exacerbate the
human rights abuses in the region and increase the threat of violent
conflict between the military and peaceful demonstrators;

7.  The divestment campaign in gaining visibility and momentum. Since
February 2000, more than 75 public protests have been held at Fidelity
Investments offices around the world due to the company's OXY holdings.
During this period, Fidelity Investments has divested more than 18
million shares in OXY, roughly 60 percent of their holdings (at today's
share price, divestments represent over $400 million).

We remain eager to hear Sanford C. Bernstein's position on the
Occidental Petroleum's drilling project on U'wa land.  Now is the time
for your company to take a stand and help avert the ongoing human rights
and environmental tragedy before it is too late.   Furthermore, we would
like to know if your company currently has any environmental and social
investment screens or policies in place.  We would appreciate a response
at your earliest convenience.   Time is running out for the U'wa. Thank
you.

Respectfully,
YOUR NAME(S)HERE

cc:   Mr. Bruce W. Calvert, Chief Executive Officer,
Alliance Capital Management

from Enviroment News Service April 10, 2001

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE (ENS)      http://ens-news.com

                                           "We Cover the Earth For You"
***********************************************************************

BUSH BUDGET SLASHES ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY EFFICIENCY

By Cat Lazaroff

WASHINGTON, DC, April 10, 2001 (ENS) - Though you cannot tell from the
glowing reviews provided by White House Cabinet members, President George
W. Bush's first federal budget would slash funding for environmental
programs, energy conservation and agricultural preservation. The budget met
praise from industry and Congressional Republicans, but was roundly
condemned by environmental and public interest groups, as well as
Congressional Democrats.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-10-06.html

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FIGHT ARCTIC DRILLING AT SUMMIT, EX PM TELLS CANADA

WHITEHORSE, Yukon Territory, Canada, April 10, 2001 (ENS) - A former
Canadian prime minister wants Canada to use the forthcoming Summit of the
Americas to categorically state its opposition to American plans for oil
and gas development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

For full text and graphics, visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-10-10.html

***********************************************************************

NEW ZEALAND'S AGENT ORANGE VICTIMS PROMISED HELP

By Peter Isaac

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, April 10, 2001 (ENS) - Prime Minister Helen Clark
has agreed to improve services for Vietnam veterans who claim their health
has been damaged by Agent Orange. The toxic herbicide is central to another
conflict today as well, between people living near a plant where agricultural
herbicides were made and the company that produced them.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-09-03.html

***********************************************************************

TOURISTS UNWILLING WITNESSES TO CARIBBEAN WHALE KILLS

By Donald Sutherland

CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA, April 10, 2001 (ENS) - Off the northern coast of the
popular tourist island of St. Lucia, a struggling killer whale was hauled
onto an unmarked fishing trawler in February. A few days later, tourists on
a St. Lucia whale watching trip were confronted by fishermen trying to
harpoon a sperm whale.

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-10-02.html

***********************************************************************

AUDIT REVEALS AUSTRALIA'S MOST SERIOUS GREEN ISSUE

CANBERRA, Australia, April 10, 2001 (ENS) - Australians use 65 percent more
water today than they did in the 1980s, according to a nationwide audit of
the country's land and water resources.

For full text and graphics, visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-10-11.html

***********************************************************************

ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE AMERISCAN: APRIL 10, 2001

Koch Pleads Guilty to Covering Up Benzene Emissions

EPA, NWF Oppose Power Plant Lawsuit on Mercury

Smart Growth Bill Reintroduced in Congress

Pennsylvania Launches West Nile Virus Surveillance Program

Alaskan Land Trusts Receive Wetlands Conservation Grants

Scientists Survey Maui's Endangered Forest Birds

Test Exposes Bacterial Pollution Culprits

Website Provides Environmental Information for All Zipcodes

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/apr2001/2001L-04-10-09.html

          Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2000 All Rights Reserved.

***********************************************************************
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                          E-Wire is a paid press release distribution service.  
              Responsibility for the factual accuracy of each press release rests
           entirely with the individuals or organizations identified on the release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

     Itronics GOLD'n GRO Fertilizer Sales Increase 550 Percent

     RENO, NV, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- Itronics Inc. (OTC:BB ITRO) said today
that GOLD'n GRO  fertilizer sales by its subsidiary, Itronics Metallurgical,
Inc., increased 550 percent in March 2001 compared to the same month in the
year 2000.  March is considered a key month in fertilizer sales since it is
the beginning of good weather in some parts of the country.

/CONTACT:  Paul Knopick, 888/795-6336/

/Web site:  http://www.itronics.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0107.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

     Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton to Honor Private Conservation
During Second Annual Private Conservation Day, Thursday, April 12th

     WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- In a speech emphasizing the true
diversity of visions and approaches in environmental protection,
particularly within the private sector, the Honorable Gale Norton, Secretary
of the Interior, will commemorate private land stewardship during this year'
s "Private Conservation Day" Thursday, April 12th. The event, scheduled to
take place at the National Press Club in the Holeman Lounge at 10 a.m., is
sponsored by the Center for Private Conservation.

/CONTACT:  Judy Kent, Manager, Media Relations, Center for Private
Conservation, 202-331-1010, jkent@privateconservation.org./

/Web site:  http://www.privateconservation.org/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0104.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     "Reading, Writing and Ritalin" TV Program Overlooks Evidence on Cancer
Risks in Children
     
     CHICAGO, IL, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- Bill Kurtis is to be warmly commended for his Arts &
Entertainment (A & E) balanced and informative 4/9/01 TV program on the
abuse and misuse of Ritalin for the treatment of children with
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders" (ADHD).  As Kurtis noted,
the U.S. uses some 90% of the world's supply of Ritalin, now
overprescribed to up to 6% of elementary and pre-teen school children
for a "grab bag" of  behavioral disorders.  However, no mention was made
of the substantive evidence on the drug's cancer risks of which parents,
teachers and school nurses still remain uninformed and unaware.
    
/CONTACT:  Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., emeritus professor of environmental
and occupational Medicine, University of Illinois School of Public
Health, Chicago, and Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition; phone
312-996-2297; fax 312-996-1374; email epstein@uic.edu/

/Web site:  http://www.preventcancer.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0106.html

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TO BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNOLOGY EDITORS:

     Datachest Launches Enhanced Website for Environmental,
                          Health, and Safety Markets

     Datachest's Products Enable EHS Companies and Professionals to Minimize
  Research Time, Improve Data Accuracy, and Create Collaborative Environment

     MONTREAL, Canada, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- Datachest, Inc., a global leader in
online chemical and EHS information, today announced they've launched a new
website, http://www.datachest.com.  Datachest now offers unique data
formatting and mapping technology, plus the most powerful search engine on the
market, enabling corporate clients to utilize proprietary data in their work
environment.
    
/CONTACT:  Marie-Chantal Hebert of Datachest, Inc., 514-866-2437 or
mchebert@datachest.com/

/Web site:  http://www.datachest.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0105.html

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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

     EPA Co-Sponsors Brownfields 2001 Conference in Chicago September 24-26

                 Call for Presentations

     CHICAGO, IL, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Illinois EPA, the International City/County Management Association and the
Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania are among more than a dozen
organizations co-sponsoring "Brownfields 2001," a national conference to
showcase brownfields cleanup, redevelopment and policy issues, September
24-26, 2001, at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center.
    
/CONTACT:  Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, or Ginny Narsete, 312-886-4359, both
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/

/Web site:  http://www.brownfields2001.org/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0103.html

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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

     Who Wants to be a Great Hazardous Materials Manager?

     Environmental Resource Center(R) Has the Final Answer

     CARY, N.C., Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- Environmental Resource Center won't
make you a millionaire, but they might save you that much in penalties.  Under
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA requires training for
workers that manage or handle hazardous waste at accumulation points.  Under
the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, DOT requires training for all
hazmat employees.  Companies that don't train their employees are subject to
stiff penalties.
    
/CONTACT:  Tammy Silverthorne of Environmental Resource Center,
919-469-1585, ext. 226/

/Web site:  http://www.ercweb.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0102.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

     Cyanotech Begins New Clinical Evaluation for BioAstin: Antioxidant
Supplement for Sunburn Protection

     KAILUA-KONA, HI, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- Cyanotech Corporation (Nasdaq NMS:
CYAN), the world's leader in producing high-value, natural products from
microalgae, has initiated a new clinical evaluation of BioAstin(TM) to
measure its effectiveness for providing sunscreen protection from
ultraviolet light. The study is being conducted by a consumer products
testing company headquartered in New Jersey.

/CONTACT:  Cyanotech Corporation, Ronald P. Scott, 808/326-1353,
rscott@cyanotech.com  or Russell Communications Group, Bruce Russell,
310/216-1414 (investors), brucerussell@ruscom.com/

/Web site:  http://www.cyanotech.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0108.html

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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

     DynaMotive's 10 TPD Plant Achieves Target Production Capacity
     
     VANCOUVER, Canada, Apr. 10 -/E-Wire/-- DynaMotive Technologies Corporation
(OTCBB: DYMTF) announced today that its new 10 tonne per day BioOil plant has
met design production parameters. Fuel quality BioOil has been produced from
BC wood residue at the 10 tonne per day rated capacity.
    
/CONTACT:  call Toll Free (in North America): 1-877-863-2268; Raymond
McAllister, Director, Corporate Communications, Telephone: 604-267-6000, Fax:
604-267-6005, Email: investor@dynamotive.com,

/Web site:  http://www.dynamotive.com/

For Full Text Visit:  http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Apr01/10Apr0101.html

from Nature Conservancy April 11, 2001

The Nature Conservancy's Nature News, April 11, 2001
___________________________________________

1. New Mexico Mountains Preserved
2. Nature by the Numbers: Protected Planet?
3. Daily Environmental News - A Natural Bookmark
4. Nature Conservancy Adventures in Paradise
5. Animals We Protect - Bats

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE Issue of our "Nature Conservancy" Magazine!  (http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a1)

To receive a personalized Nature News tailored to your interests, or to update your profile, go to http://www.clickaction.net/ClickAction/subscriber?c=1&p=14464&i=2&func=S_survey.

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1. New Mexico Mountains Preserved
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With its rust colored rocks, dripping springs, sweeping vistas and dramatic canyons, the Organ Mountains are known as "the crown jewel of southern New Mexico." These mountains are home to rare plants such as the Organ Mountains evening primrose and animals like the mule deer and quail.

The Nature Conservancy, with the help of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, will protect 423 acres here, in a move that adds a final component to a larger plan to protect the Organ Mountains.

Long coveted by developers, the property, known as Soledad Canyon, features a rugged 2,000-foot rock cliff that forms a dramatic natural amphitheater.

For more information on this New Mexico land purchase, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a5

============================================================
** FREE UMBRELLA **

Just in time for spring showers!

By donating $50 or more, you will receive our Nature Conservancy Umbrella.  Giving online is fast, easy, and a great way to show your support of our natural world.

To make an online donation, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a0
============================================================

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2. Nature by the Numbers:  Protected Planet?
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The Nature Conservancy has protected over 80 million acres of land around the world and over 12 million acres in the United States. Despite this success, only 4 percent of the Earth's landmass is currently under protection.

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3. Daily Environmental News - A Natural Bookmark
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get your Environmental news fresh daily @ nature.org!

Nature.org's new "Daily Environmental News" section provides yet one more reason to bookmark the Web site. Read breaking environmental news from around the world - posted daily.

To view today's environmental news, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a7 and click on the "Daily Environmental News" link

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4.   Nature Conservancy Adventures in Paradise
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As a winter chill lingers in the air, why not start planning a trip to a tropical paradise?

On Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, north and south of the popular beach playgrounds of Cancun, warm Caribbean waters remain untouched. Here you can relax listening to the breaking surf, as well as snorkel, kayak, view wildlife and explore the Great Maya Reef. This is just one of The Nature Conservancy's trips to special places off the beaten path.

To learn more about our trip to the Great Maya Reef, or other adventures, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a4

============================================================
**FREE "Nature Conservancy" Magazine **

Our bimonthly magazine for members, "Nature Conservancy", highlights the special places we are working to protect - forever.

In every issue you'll read about our latest conservation work, the incredible people partnering with us, and the amazing plants and animals we encounter along the way.

To order a free introductory issue of our magazine, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a1
============================================================

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5.   Animals We Protect - Bats
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Like Batman, The Nature Conservancy has a bat cave of our own.

Located in the Hill Country of Texas, the Eckert James River Bat Cave is home to 4-6 million summering Mexican free-tail bats.

Most summer nights in the cave begin with a subtle commotion that materializes in the form of several bats circling around the entrance. The several turn to hundreds, the hundreds to thousands, until the cave mouth is spouting a living tornado. An hour or so and several million bats later, the eruption ends, giving way to the quiet of the Texas twilight.

This bat cave is also a maternity colony.  Pregnant bats migrate here in the spring to give birth to their pups.

The Eckert James River Bat Cave is the third-largest gathering of bats anywhere in the world, and the nightly emergence attracts more than 2,000 bat watchers a year.

To learn more about this impressive bat cave, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a2

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Please forward Nature News to interested friends, family, and associates. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy, please visit:
http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a7

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Tell your friends to visit us at http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a14464a33024a67074702a7 so they can help out too!
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from Working Assets 'Act for Change' April 11, 2001

from Global Response April 11, 2001

Dear Members of Global Response's "Quick Response Network:"

I just returned from Costa Rica, where I met with local and national groups
that are organizing the campaign to stop oil development (see Global
Response Action #2/01: "No Oil Development on Caribbean Coast/Costa Rica" at
http://www.globalresponse.org/gra/current.html).

The anti-oil campaign celebrated a success in March, when Harken Energy
announced that it will not pursue oil development in its inland concessions
because of opposition from indigenous communities.  Costa Rican law required
Harken to conduct a formal consultation with indigenous peoples; Harken
opted to give up its inland concessions rather than undertake the
consultation.

Now Harken's focus is off-shore, along the Caribbean coast. Coastal
villages, farmers, fishermen, eco-tourism operators and school children are
staging marches and rallies during Holy Week (April 11-15) protesting
Harken's off-shore oil development.

Please support their efforts by sending letters to Harken's CEO and Costa
Rica's president.  Guidelines for letters and addresses are at
http://www.globalresponse.org/gra/current.html).  Pass this Action Alert on
to everyone you know who has visited or wants to visit Costa Rica because of
its remarkable biological diversity and natural beauty:  Oil and Tourism
don't mix!

See these websites for recent newspaper articles about the Costa Rican
campaign against oil development:

http://www.ticotimes.net/archive/03_23_01_2.htm
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/04/04102001/oil_42929.asp -Paula Palmer, Global Response

Natural Resources Defense Council April 11, 2001

========================================
NRDC EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists

April 11, 2001
========================================
In This Issue:

--Action alerts--

1. NATIONAL FOREST PROTECTION PLAN: Tell President Bush to
keep and defend the rule preserving our last wild national
forest lands

2. NATIONAL PARKS PRESERVATION: Tell Gale Norton to preserve
Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park

3. CALIFORNIANS: Urge Governor Davis to stand up for
California's Carrizo Plain and Coastal Monuments

--Updates on Previous alerts--

1. SPIRIT BEAR HABITAT -- VICTORY!

======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action
Center, which includes tools for taking action easily
online, at http://www.nrdc.org/action

(Please do not reply to this message; see the instructions
below for how to unsubscribe or contact NRDC with questions
or comments.)

=============
Action alerts
=============

1. NATIONAL FOREST PROTECTION PLAN
Tell President Bush to keep and defend the rule preserving
our last wild national forest lands

Earlier this year, we reported on the landmark rule adopted
by the outgoing Clinton administration that banned logging
and roadbuilding in over 58 million acres of wild roadless
areas in our national forests. Since then, however, the Bush
administration has taken a number of steps that threaten to
undo the largest nationwide public land conservation
decision in America's history. First, officials delayed the
effective date of the rule until May 12th. Then the
administration balked at defending the rule in court and
indicated to the judge that it is ready and willing to
suspend the rule indefinitely. The judge, in turn, has said
he will wait until May 4th to see if the White House goes
through with suspending the rule before deciding whether to
invalidate it himself.

NRDC and other conservation groups are vigorously defending
the rule in court. But the White House needs to hear
directly from the American public that these remaining
unspoiled areas deserve protection from logging, mining and
drilling.

== What to do ==
Send a message to President Bush urging him to direct his
administration to defend and implement the roadless rule.

== Contact information ==
You can email President Bush directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. We'll send a
copy of your message to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman.
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to
send your own message, and be sure to include your own
reasons why preserving these last wild forest lands is
important to you.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone:  202-456-1414
Fax:  202-456-2461
Email:  president@whitehouse.gov

== Sample letter ==

Subject: Defend the rule protecting our last wild national
forests

Dear President Bush,

A million and a half Americans wrote to the Forest Service
supporting the new roadless rule that keeps our last wild
national forest lands wild. Don't break that promise to
America's kids and the generations that will follow.

Tell your Justice Department to do its job and defend this
enormously popular rule from legal attacks, and under no
circumstances to pursue settlement negotiations with those
who oppose the rule. And make sure your Secretary of
Agriculture commits to preserving these lands in the same
manner as her predecessor did.

Protect these last wild forest lands so they will remain a
legacy for future generations.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

2. NATIONAL PARKS PRESERVATION
Tell Gale Norton to preserve Florida's Dry Tortugas National
Park

Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles west of Key West,
consists of seven small islands surrounded by 100 square
miles of shimmering blue-green ocean. Accessible only by
boat or plane, the park boasts pristine coral reefs and
seagrasses, bird-nesting habitat, and many species of
tropical fish.

After two years of public hearings and comment, the National
Park Service recently issued a final management plan that
sets aside a portion of the park as a "Research Natural
Area," where fishing would be prohibited (commonly known as
a 'no-take' zone). Research has shown that no-take zones
allow declining fish populations to rebound. The plan also
reasonably limits the number of visitors, so that all can
enjoy the park without harming its fragile ecosystem and
resources. At the same time, the plan opens new areas to
visitors, and continues to allow recreational fishing in the
most popular fishing areas.  

The concept of an ecological reserve in the Dry Tortugas has
the overwhelming support of the public, scientists,
fishermen and government agencies, including the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission. Since the plan was
issued, however, a vocal minority has come out against the
Research Natural Areas in the park. The management plan is
now awaiting Interior Secretary Gale Norton's approval.

== What to do ==
Contact Secretary Norton and urge her to approve the Dry
Tortugas management plan.

== Contact information ==
You can email Secretary Norton directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. Or use the
contact information and sample letter below to send your own
message, and please include your own reasons why this
fragile ecosystem deserves protection. If you fish, please
indicate this fact in the letter.

Secretary Gale A. Norton
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone:  202-208-3100
Email:  gale_norton@ios.doi.gov

== Sample letter ==

Subject: Approve the Dry Tortugas National Park General
Management Plan

Dear Secretary Norton,

I strongly support the Park Service's Dry Tortugas General
Management Plan Amendment that establishes a no-take
Research Natural Area in Dry Tortugas National Park. This
plan is the result of a two-year public comment and planning
process and is the most balanced plan available; it ensures
visitors an enjoyable park experience while preserving this
incredible ecosystem's resources for future generations.

This remote, fragile park has experienced a four-fold
increase in visitors recently, as well as significant
declines in fish stocks. While a minority group of fishermen
opposes the no-take zones, many other responsible fishermen
support these areas, which will protect spawning grounds so
that fish stocks are replenished. Recreational fishing will
still be allowed in almost 60 percent of the park, in
popular waters adjacent to the most visited areas. And,
obviously, the Research Natural Area represents a tiny
fraction of National Park Service waters, which all remain
open to fishing.

Again, please approve the Dry Tortugas National Park General
Management Plan Amendment.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

3. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL MONUMENTS
Californians: Urge Governor Davis to stand up for Carrizo
Plain and Coastal Monuments

Two of our nation's newest national monuments are located in
California. The Carrizo Plain National Monument, east of
Bakersfield, is all that remains of the once vast grasslands
that covered the central part of the state. The monument's
204,000 acres are home to many endangered and threatened
plant and wildlife species as well as important
archeological and historic resources. The California Coastal
National Monument is comprised of the islands, rocks,
exposed reefs and pinnacles off the length of California's
coast, and provides unique feeding and nesting habitat for
breeding seabirds and marine mammals. In designating these
areas national monuments, former President Clinton
recognized their significance to the entire country as well
as to California and sought to protect these natural
treasures for future generations to enjoy. But now those
protections are at risk.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton recently wrote to western
governors, including Governor Davis, asking for suggestions
about boundary and other changes for all Clinton-designated
monuments managed by the Department of the Interior. (The
Giant Sequoia National Monument is managed by the U.S.
Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture.) If the
protections in place for these two new national monuments
are to remain in place, Governor Davis must strongly support
them.

== What to do ==
Contact Governor Davis and urge him to emphatically defend
California's new Carrizo Plain and Coastal National
Monuments as designated.

== Contact information ==
You can email Governor Davis directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action. Or use the
contact information and sample letter below to send your own
message, and please include your own reasons why protecting
these unique places is important to you.

Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone:  916-445-2841
Fax:  916-445-4633
Email:  graydavis@governor.ca.gov

== Sample letter ==

Subject:  Protect Carrizo Plain and California Coastal
National Monuments

Dear Governor Davis,

I understand Interior Secretary Gale Norton has asked you to
recommend boundary and other changes to the Carrizo Plain
and California Coastal National Monuments, both of which
were established by former President Clinton. These
monuments safeguard significant parts of our state's unique
natural heritage and I urge you to strongly defend their
current protections in response to Secretary Norton's
request.

The Carrizo Plain National Monument encompasses all that
remains of central California's once vast grasslands. It is
home to numerous federally listed endangered and threatened
plants and wildlife species as well as archeological and
other resources. The California Coastal National Monument is
composed of the rocks, exposed reefs and other geological
formations off our coast and provides major feeding and
breeding places for shorebirds and marine mammals.

Their status as national monuments ensures that these
singular places and their resources will be protected for
present and future generations to enjoy. Please tell
Interior Secretary Norton that you believe that the current
protections for both of these monuments should remain in
effect and should not be rolled back or undermined in any
way.  

Thank you for your leadership in defending these special
places.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address]

==========================
Updates on Previous alerts
==========================

1. SPIRIT BEAR HABITAT -- VICTORY!
Last month, as part of our ongoing campaign to stop logging
in the home of the rare white Spirit Bear, we asked you to
write to the premier of British Columbia, urging him to
enact government protections for the area (in the past, we
have also asked you to pressure timber companies and their
corporate distributors, such as Lowe's and Home Depot, to
stop logging and purchasing wood from these forests). On
April 4th, the B.C. premier announced a historic agreement
that immediately prohibits or defers logging in 3.5 million
acres of the ancient Great Bear Rainforest, including the
islands and valleys that are the Spirit Bear's home. The
plan -- an uncommon example of successful collaboration
among industry, environmentalists, native peoples, rural
communities, and government -- is one of the largest
rainforest conservation measures in North American history,
and a major victory for NRDC and our partners, members and
activists. Throughout this multi-year battle, you and others
sent hundreds of thousands of messages to government
officials and business and industry. Thanks to your help in
this historic effort, the Spirit Bear's home is now assured
a future free from the threat of chainsaws. [To learn more
about this stunning victory you helped achieve, see
http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/nsbgb.asp]

==================================================
About Our Bulletins/How to Subscribe & Unsubscribe
==================================================

NRDC distributes three bulletins by email. To subscribe to
any or all of them or to join our activist networks, go to:
http://www.join.nrdcaction.org/subscribe.asp.

If you already subscribe and want to change your
subscriptions or update your email address or other
information, go to:
http://www.join.nrdcaction.org/profileeditor
(or see the unsubscribe information below).

EARTH ACTION is sent biweekly and calls out urgent
environmental issues requiring immediate action. To
unsubscribe from Earth Action, send an email message to
earthaction@nrdcaction.org with REMOVE in the subject
line.

LEGISLATIVE WATCH is sent biweekly when Congress is in
session and tracks environmental bills moving through the
federal legislature. To unsubscribe from Legislative Watch,
send an email message to legwatch@nrdcaction.org with REMOVE
in the subject line.

The CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT is distributed
monthly to members of NRDC's California Activist Network and
provides action tools to Californians and others concerned
with protecting the state's natural resources and the health
of its citizens. To unsubscribe, send an email message to
wildcalifornia@nrdcaction.org with REMOVE in the subject
line.

==========
About NRDC
==========

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with over 400,000 members
nationwide and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the
planet's wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and
healthy environment for all living things.

For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:

Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
General email: nrdcinfo@nrdc.org
Earth Action email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org

Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org

===========

from Rural Advancement Foundation International April 11, 2001

RAFI Geno-Types
11 April 2001
www.rafi.org

RAFI announces the release of a new RAFI Communique:

2001: A Seed Odyssey
RAFI's Annual Update on Terminator and Traitor Technology
Suicide Seeds: Not Dead Yet!

The full text is available on RAFI's web site: http://www.rafi.org

Summary:

Issue: Syngenta, the world's largest agrochemical corporation (created last
year with the merger of Novartis and AstraZeneca) won its newest Terminator
patent in November 2000. US-based Delta & Pine Land Co. vows to commercialize suicide seeds. Ironically, with increasing evidence of genetic pollution (that is, the escape of engineered genes from genetically
modified (GM) crops via pollen), the US government, the biotech industry
and some scientific bodies are promoting Terminator technology as a
technical "fix" for gene escape from GM crops. Promotion of suicide seeds as a tool for "biosafety" is an illogical and unacceptable argument to justify commercialization of Terminator and Traitor technology. New breakthroughs in "chloroplast engineering" may foil attempts to promote Terminator as a unique biosafety tool for containing unwanted gene flow in GM plants.

Impact:  If commercialized, Terminator and Traitor seeds will destroy national seed sovereignty and threaten global food security, especially for the 1.4 billion people who depend on farm-saved seeds and local plant breeding. If the Gene Giants are allowed to develop a new generation of GM plants whose traits can be switched on or off with the application of proprietary chemicals, bioserfdom is the inevitable outcome. New patents describing genetically modified plants with weakened immune systems that would ultimately depend on the application of a chemical to regain their natural defenses against pests and disease are the most troubling examples of Traitor technology to date.

Who is developing Terminator and Traitor technology? A moving target.
Terminator patent portfolios are changing hands because the Gene Giants are consolidating, spinning off, and selling ag biotech interests. Syngenta,
Delta & Pine Land and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pharmacia
(Monsanto), BASF and DuPont hold Terminator patents; virtually all of the Gene Giants and many public sector institutions have interests in genetic
trait control technology.

Policy Action: Unless governments take action to ban these technologies,
Terminator and Traitor seeds will be commercialized. Governments will have
important opportunities to reject Terminator at the World Food Summit Five Years Later in November 2001; at the Biodiversity Conventions' 6th
Conference of Parties in April 2002; and at UNCED's Rio+10 in South Africa,
in mid- 2002. As potential biological weapons, the use of Terminator/Traitor should also be banned by governments at the 5th Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in Geneva, November 2001.

from Defenders of Wildlife April 11, 2001

Dear Defender:

Thanks to your past support we've won the first round in our fight
to save the Arctic Refuge by keeping Big Oil's legislation out of
the important Budget Resolution in both the House and the Senate!
This wins us precious time to persuade the handful of uncommitted
legislators to vote with us.

Big Oil is not about to give up.  They've showered their friends in
the Congress and the White House with millions of dollars in
political contributions.

With their access to powerful politicians, oil lobbyists are looking
at every legislative trick in the book.  And they are only a
handful of votes away from opening America's greatest wildlife
sanctuary to the deadly impact of oil exploration and the pollution
it will bring.

To stop Big Oil, we need the immediate  financial support of caring
people like you.  

Please go to http://www.defenders.org/arctic/alert.html and click on
"donate" to make your emergency contribution today to help us stop
Big Oil and save the lives of arctic wolves, polar bears and
hundreds of irreplaceable species.  We need to raise $238,000 in
emergency funds NOW.

Oil development in the Refuge will harm arctic wolves, polar bears,
caribou, and the hundreds of bird species that migrate there.

In fact, 506 scientists have just warned President Bush of the
grave consequences of drilling and urged him to designate the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge a permanently protected area.

But White House staff have said they are already looking for other
ways to give Big Oil what it wants . including attaching their
legislation as a "rider" to appropriations bills!  And votes in
Congress on riders on such key bills could come in the next 30 days.

At the same time, the oil industry has just launched a massive
$5 million campaign of misinformation to get the votes it needs to
win.

Your contribution today will help us launch public education grass-
roots outreach efforts buy TV and radio information spots in
politically important swing states, pay for ads in Roll Call, the
Hill newspaper for members of Congress, and coordinate phone-banking
and other advocacy efforts to block Big Oil in Congress.

Please go to http://www.defenders.org/arctic/alert.html and make
an emergency gift now!  

Thanks!
________________________________________________________________
Defenders of Wildlife, a leading national conservation organization
is recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for
wildlife and habitat and is known for its effective leadership
in saving endangered species. Defenders advocates new approaches to
wildlife conservation that protect species before they become
endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization with more than 430,000 members and supporters.

                       Defenders of Wildlife
                  1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 1400
                       Washington, DC 20005
                     http://www.defenders.org
                     http://www.kidsplanet.org        
           Copyright (c) 2001 by Defenders of Wildlife.

from the Wilderness Society April 11, 2001

WILDERNESS SOCIETY NEWS 
 5 April 2001 
   
http://www.wilderness.org.au/ 
__________________________________________________ 
RIO TINTO WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FOR JABILUKA 
  
>  Recent news of increased doubts over the future
>  of the Jabiluka uranium project inside Kakadu
>  National Park has been enthusiastically welcomed
>  by The Wilderness Society and other environment
>  groups.
>  
>  The news, made in an address to the Securities
>  Institute by Rio Tinto CEO Leigh Clifford, came
>  on the third anniversary of the start of the
>  Jabiluka protest blockade which involved
>  thousands of people and saw hundreds of arrests.
>  
>  Mr Clifford stated that "given (public and
>  indigenous) opposition, and current market
>  circumstances...it would be hard for us to
>  support a development in the short term."  
>  Against a backdrop of record low uranium prices,
>  the Australian newspaper quoted Mr Clifford's
>  assessment that "Jabiluka's production prospects
>  were not good".
>  
>  Rio Tinto became the majority shareholder in
>  troubled Kakadu uranium miner Energy Resources of
>  Australia (ERA) following its takeover of North
>  Ltd in August 2000.  
>  
>  "Rio Tinto have taken a significant step towards
>  a resolution of this issue," stated Wilderness
>  Society corporate campaigner Leanne Minshull.
>  "Rio are aware of the difficulties facing any
>  potential developer of this project. We welcome
>  this change in the company's position on Jabiluka
>  and call on them to act to end this project once
>  and for all."
>  
>  Work at the site has been stalled since September
>  1999 because of this opposition.  Environment
>  groups have renewed their call for Rio Tinto to
>  commit to neither selling ERA nor developing
>  Jabiluka and to instead exit the project.
>  
>  The Wilderness Society has actively pressured
>  Jabiluka's developers over the last three years,
>  spearheading the 1999 requisitioning of the
>  landmark Extraordinary General Meeting of North
>  Ltd to air questions regarding North's
>  involvement in Jabiluka.  We will continue to
>  pursue Rio Tinto on this issue.
>  
>  Contact: Leanne Minshull (03) 9663 8785.
>  __________________________________________________
>  
>  
>  FOREST RESCUE IN BADJA HOLDS UP PRE-LOGGING ROAD
>  CONSTRUCTION
>  
>  A TWS-coordinated forest rescue has successfully
>  halted pre-logging roading work in an icon old
>  growth area in Badja State Forest, 30km east of
>  Cooma in South East NSW.
>  
>  Around a dozen Forest Rescuers halted
>  construction of the logging access road through
>  pristine old growth forest and wilderness in
>  Compartment 2020 by erecting a tripod over a
>  bulldozer, and blocking the road with cars and
>  rock piles.  Workers left the site and abandoned
>  work without incident.
>  
>  Conservationists are united against a plan by the
>  Carr Government to clearfell and woodchip this
>  icon wilderness forest, and biodiversity hotspot,
>  in the largest old growth forest in NSW. The old
>  growth forests of Badja contain more threatened
>  species than any other tablelands or escarpment
>  forest in Southern NSW.  
>  
>  Badja is part of a long-standing community
>  reserve proposal which was left unprotected in
>  last April's Southern Forest Decision by the Carr
>  Government.  State Forests and the timber and
>  bioenergy industries are targeting unprotected
>  forests such as Badja for wood-powered
>  electricity plants.
>  
>  This threat has galvanised action from forest
>  conservationists across the State at a level
>  greater than anything seen in NSW in the last
>  five years.  Over a hundred committed activists
>  have visited Badja in the last month to undertake
>  comprehensive training and forest defence
>  preparation.  The Badja Rescuers have vowed to
>  use all peaceful means to defend this icon
>  forest.  
>  
>  Contact: Annie Coleman(02)9282 9553.
>  __________________________________________________
>  
>  
>  FEDERAL LABOR SAYS WELCOME WORDS ON LAND CLEARING
>  - BUT WILL IT STOP THE LOSS?
>  
>  The Wilderness Society welcomed the detailed
>  policy package on land clearing in Australia put
>  forward by the Federal Labor Opposition in the
>  run up to Queensland's Ryan by-election.  
>  
>  However, left hanging is the attitude of state
>  governments - in particular the clearing problem
>  states of Queensland, New South Wales and
>  Tasmania.  Unless the State Governments move to