7-Business: U.S. photocopy company Kinkos does not support GE trees

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TITLE:  Kinkos Policy Major Step Toward GE Tree Eradication
SOURCE: ACTION FOR SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE, USA, Press Release
DATE:   Mar 13, 2003

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Kinkos Policy Major Step Toward GE Tree Eradication

Dallas, Texas--On Tuesday, March 11, Kinkos, the photocopy giant,
announced that it would not align itself with suppliers using genetically
engineered trees. This policy is the first of its kind regarding
genetically engineered trees and is a groundbreaking step toward the
elimination of the severe ecological threats posed by genetically
engineered trees.

"We laud this decision by Kinkos and congratulate Rainforest Action
Network and the Dogwood Alliance on this important victory," said Brad
Hash, Campaigner on Genetically Engineered Trees for Action for Social &
Ecological Justice. "I believe this is the beginning of a ripple effect
that will be contagious throughout the industry," he continued.

Action for Social & Ecological Justice launched its campaign on
genetically engineered trees in March of 2000. Since then, ASEJ has led
the movement against GE trees, moving the issue out of virtual obscurity
and making it a major focus of forest protection and genetic engineering
groups nationwide.

Beginning in the fall of 2002, ASEJ held regional strategy sessions in
the four regions of the country most heavily involved in genetically
engineered tree research and development. These four meetings were
followed by a national strategy session where plans were laid for a major
corporate campaign against GE trees. Groups involved in this national
strategy session included Rainforest Action Network, the Dogwood Alliance
and Forest Ethics.

Action for Social & Ecological Justice will publicly announce its
corporate target during the Latin American Solidarity Conference in
Washington, DC during the second week of April. The LASC conference was
chosen as the launching point due to the impending threats GE trees pose
to Latin American forests and indigenous peoples. The campaign will
include national days of action at key locations across the US.

The threats of Genetically engineered trees include the loss of millions
of acres of native forests, disruptions of insect, bird and wildlife
populations, contamination of water and soil, and increased use of
herbicides and pesticides. GE trees will also lead to the inevitable and
irreversible contamination of native forests with genetically engineered
pollen in a perpetual domino effect.

ASEJ's 24 page peer reviewed report on the threats of genetically
engineered trees is available.

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Contact:
Brad Hash or Anne Petermann (+1-802) 863-0571 Mobile: (+1-802) 598- 8374
ASEJ POB 57, Burlington, VT 05402, USA
Fax: (+1-802) 864-8203
www.asej.org