GE - genetics news from [ASeedRoots] newsletter

[aseedeur@aseed.antenna.nl (by way of genetics <genetics@gn.apc.org>)]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                           
                                     R  O  O  T  S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
               March 1999 Volume 6, Issue 3
                                 ~ O ~
         The Monthly Newsletter of A SEED Europe 

======================================
                III. ROUNDING UP MONSANTO & GENETECHNOLOGIES 
___________________________________________________
(GE RESISTANT) SEED
Lookin' Back - February 1999 The Month from Hell 
for the Genetic Engineering Industry.
February 1999 will no doubt go down as the 
nightmare month for the genetic engineering 
industry. No where more so than in the UK, where 
the country's press have taken up the anti-GE 
crusade with a commitment that is only rivalled 
by the media obsession with Clinton and 
Lewinsky. 
WIN SOME, LOSE SOME
Nevertheless, the collapse of the Biosafety 
Protocol Negotiations in Colombia is a victory 
for the industry and such pro-GE bodies as the 
OECD, that have campaigned rigorously against a 
strong protocol. The protocol, intended to 
establish a regulatory structure for the 
transboundary movement and trade in genetically 
modified organisms, was undermined by the US 
government, an assortment of other developed 
countries supporting its position, and the 
genetic engineering industry. The main aim of 
this lobby: to ensure the continuation of the 
carte blanche to traffic GMOs globally, with 
minimal safety standards and liability. 
PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE NEARING TOTAL COLLAPSE
"At each point in this project, we keep thinking 
that we have reached the low point and that 
public thinking will stabilise, but we 
apparently have not reached that point." 
- Analysis of the Monsanto PR Crisis, October 1998.
On other fronts, however, campaigners have won 
substantial victories in successfully 
problematising genetic engineering, and 
industrial commercialisation of its products. 
The controversy over the findings of the eminent 
scientist, Arpad Pusztai, of the government 
funded Rowett Institute, has revealed the 
alarming lack of consensus within the scientific 
community regarding the inherent dangers of 
genetic engineering. The event clearly indicates 
the need for precaution. 
Meanwhile, on the ideological front, an interim 
finding of the Advertising Standards Agency in 
the UK has found Monsanto advertising campaign 
promoting GE wrong and misleading on 6 of 13 
counts filed. 
The landslide of bad press on genetic 
engineering in the UK press moved UK Prime 
Minister, Tony Blair, to act in historic crisis 
management mode of personal intervention: I am 
happy to eat genetically modified foods any 
time, he proclaimed to the assorted press. 
Public opinion and successful campaigning in the 
UK has led to the establishment of a three 
moratorium on the commercial cultivation, 
declared late in February.
MEANWHILE, A GREEN LIGHT FOR GMOs IN HUNGARY?
Hungary has championed the regulation of GMOs in 
the Central and Eastern Europe by passing the 
first framework law in the region that deals 
with the development, release and trade of GMOs 
as well as labelling. Regulation was doubtless 
necessary, however, we are not exactly happy 
with the outcome. The law has entered into force 
as of the 1st of January this year, and this 
practically gives a green light to experimental - 
and later commercial - domestic GMO releases. A 
new multi-party body the so-called Gene 
Technology Committee has been set up with the 
task to evaluate permission requests for GE 
activities. Members of this committee consist of 
representatives of the Academy of Scientists, 
various ministries, the national R&D Commission, 
health and - fortunately - environmental NGOs. 
However, as it became clear from the first 
session, environmentalists won't find much 
support for their standpoint from the other 
members, who are all exclusively scientists 
trusting in the great good of biotechnology.
Even existing regulation has serious 
deficiencies: scientific experiments are not 
within its scope; there is no liability and 
redress clause, hardly any sanctions. Following 
European regulation, labelling is only required 
if the product contains the GMO in the form of 
DNA in protein. We all know how insufficient 
this is, leaving the vast majority of 
Frankenfoods unlabelled. All through the 
preparatory phases of this legislation 
campaigners tried to push for the above points, 
but without success so far. (At the same time we 
managed to include quite a few clauses to 
strengthen the public participation aspects. 
This time we try to do it via the Gene 
Technology Committee as well, but it was clear 
that scientists are reluctant to come up with 
strong statements. 
The next session is to be expected in the second 
half of March, and that's when the real work 
will begin. Rumour has it there are about 10-15 
permission requests filed in the Ministry of 
Agriculture already. Monsanto is just very eager 
to speed up the official process as much as 
possible - and I can assure you we will we will 
do everything we can to slow it down! We will 
also prepare for renewed campaign efforts: in 
the present situation it is most important to 
reach out to as many people as we can, by way of 
schools, local groups, actions etc.. "Contains 
GMO" label can appear on supermarket shelves 
soon, and the public should know what it really 
is about. More on this in the next issue of 
Monsanto Monitor: we will call together a 
campaign meeting next week to decide on the next 
steps to take...
- Vera Mora, ETK
GE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, EVEN IN THE NETHERLANDS:
The Netherlands has the reputation of a country 
that has accepted genetic engineering. At the 
conference, Genetically Modified Foods: 
Successfully managing the regulatory, commercial 
and consumer issues facing the food industry, 
however, a clear message of rejection was 
delivered to the delegates. The Dutch Platform 
on Genetic Engineering held a demonstration with 
audio-documentary evidence of the indigestion 
and intestinal discomfort that GE foods is 
causing Dutch people. After the tape of 
unstoppable belching was played to the 
conference, Peter Custers of the Dutch Platform 
on Genetic Engineering presented the Moratorium 
campaign that is being launched by the Platform, 
and the scientific, socio-economic, 
environmental and ethical basis for an unlimited 
halt to the development and introduction of agri- 
genetic engineering.
Organised by International Quality and 
Productivity Centre, the conference is just one 
in what has become an entire culture of 
conferences designed to bring industry and 
policy-makers together to set the course for the 
introduction and proliferation of genetic 
engineering into the food system. An open 
conference (with a minimal 1000 pound 
participation fee), the tone was set and held by 
Tony Combes. The current Safeways Public 
Relations manager, Combes is soon to replace Dan 
Verakis as Monsanto UK Corporate Relations. He 
is already winning himself a reputation in the 
UK as the new Arnold Schwarzenegger of the 
Monsanto PR brigade. The meeting also brought to 
the Netherlands mobile containment breach, 
Zeneca's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Nigel 
Poole. (Zeneca is facing the possibility of a 
confinement breach charge in the UK after 
scientists were photographed by the media eating 
tomatoes that had not received permission for 
environmental release!) 
CERTIFIED GE-RESISTANT
ccompanying this ROOTS is the new, improved 
Certified GE Resistant questionnaire for what 
will be an effective and funky phone book on 
campaigns against genetic engineering across 
Europe. If you're not working on GE but no an 
organisation that is, please send on the form. 
Deadline for response: April 15. Contact Dan 
<kuka@swartz.zpok.hu> for further details.
APRIL 15 to 20: 
GLOBAL DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST MONSANTO & GENETIC 
ENGINEERING
MONSANTO MONITOR ISSUE #1 OUT NOW!
In this month's issue, find out about Monsanto's 
PR strategy in the Netherlands, the company's 
new web face and the consultancy company that's 
given them the makeover, perceptions of Monsanto 
from Cuba and more! To subscribe, contact the 
office or email: <GroundUp@aseed.antenna.nl>
____________________________________________

                               ACTION NEWS

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

JOIN THE TRANSPORT ACTION DAY MARCH 27!

The Transport Action Day has been organised 
yearly by A SEED Europe since 1996. It is a 
manifestation of opposition to unsustainable 
transport policies, both locally as well as on a 
global level. 

You and your group probably know of many 
transport issues you would want to do an action 
on, whether it's local, regional, national or 
international. Anything is possible: fax 
actions, bike demos, subvertising/adbusting! 

You can also co-ordinate your plans with the 
other groups that are participating. So far 
groups from UK, Spain, Russia, Portugal, Poland, 
The Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium 
will take part.  

DON'T WAIT ACT NOW!

If you're not (YET!) taking part: please read 
and get inspired, try to find ways of getting 
involved and let us know as soon as possible! 

BACKGROUND

Transport and infrastructure have become one of 
the most important focuses in the expansion of 
the global 'free' trade agenda— determining the 
multinational corporations' ability to reach all 
parts of the world and smoothly move people, raw 
material & products. All over the world you can 
find construction plans and already started 
construction projects that are claimed to be 
inevitable in the process of development.  

In 1991, the European Commission started the 
Trans-European (Transport) Networks (TENs) 
project. The idea of the project is to expand 
the existing infrastructure network in Europe by 
improving and building new roads, high-speed 
railroads, inland waterways and airports. The 
environmentally friendly alternatives to the 
TENs were totally missed as all projects were 
planned separately. For the same reason there is 
no overview of the total environmental effects 
of the whole network. 

The TENs is a plan strongly supported, and pre-
constructed by the road and industry lobby, 
united in the European Round Table of 
Industrialists (ERT). Facing such forces, there 
is a need for great support of any activities 
that target on Trans European Networks projects. 

Since the TENs plans became known, environmental 
groups have explored ways to work together to 
stop what seems like an environmental nightmare. 
Several action days have been organised against
TENs in their current shape, including the 
Transport Action Days organised by A SEED 
Europe. 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE ACTIONS?

On the 29th of March, two days after the 
Transport Action Day, the EU Transport Ministers 
officially meet in Brussels. A SEED Europe might 
do an action with the help of Friends of the 
Earth Europe in Brussels on the 29th, bringing 
the results of the TAD to the EU Ministers. 
We'll keep you updated on this. 

And of course you will be able to read personal 
reports from all that took part in the Transport 
Action Day, in the next Tweekly issue of InfraRed


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

                    A SEED CAMPAIGNS
   
====================================

__________________________________________

                         I. TRANSPORT
__________________________________________

Some of the actions of the Transport Action Day: 

RUSSIA 

On March 27th, the cities Maikop and Sochi will 
experience the power of activists when they 
target on a project on the construction of the 
road Maikop-Lagonaki Dagomys. 
Contact: Andrey Rudomakha: <ies@mail.ru>

PORTUGAL 

The GAIA-group are planning to do a transport 
action in Lisbon on the 27th.  
Contact: Gualter Barbas Baptista 
GAIA: <ae-gaia@students.fct.unl.pt>

GERMANY (Dresden) 

Along the construction of the A17 Dresden-Prague 
road there has been an A-17 action camp since 
the 6th of February. This camp, with activities 
like music, theatre, cinema and a reclaim-the-
street party will continue until the 31st of 
March, when the bird nesting season begins and 
no tree cutting is allowed anymore. An action is 
planned for the 27th. 
Contact: Matthias Karich 
<m.karich@link-dd.cl.sub.de>

THE NETHERLANDS 

During the international EYFA (European Youth 
For(est) Action) Climate Seminar in Amsterdam 
March 25th - 28th, a transport action will 
happen, linking transport and climate. 
For more info on the seminar, contact: Christina 
at EYFA <cks@eyfa.org>

LATVIA
On March 31st, close enough to our magic 
Transport Action Day, there will be the FIRST 
Critical Mass ever performed in Latvia! A group 
of 20-30 people are planning to cycle the main 
street of Riga and the area around it during a 
few hours in the morning. Media has been 
notified and they are also trying to involve 
students to come along. 
Contact: Fanija Bluma, Green Library 
e-mail: <zeme@latnet.lv>

_________________________________________________

                 II. Multilateral Development Banks
_________________________________________________
STOP EBRD! STOP K2/R4!

K2/R4 case comes to a climax - your help 
urgently needed!

For almost six months now, A SEED Europe has 
been involved in the international campaign 
against the plans of the European Bank for 
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance 
the completion of the nuclear power plants at 
Khmelnitsky and Rivne in the Ukraine, the so 
called K2/R4 project. As we mentioned in the 
last issue of ROOTS, the big question is still 
when exactly the EBRD will make a decision on 
the loan. Since the uncertainty still prevails, 
it is most likely the EBRD will not be able to 
make a decision on it before its Annual Meeting 
on April 19-20 in London.

For campaigners on K2R4 this is good news; it 
means that we can use the occasion of the Annual 
Meeting to once again bring the K2R4 case to the 
attention of the public and the decision makers 
in all the member countries of the Bank. With so 
many objections and doubts about the project put 
forward not only by numerous organisations but 
also by such institutions as the European 
Parliament, the European Investment Bank and 
even President Kuchma of the Ukraine -all not 
exactly antinuclear activists-, it should be 
possible to derail the project at this meeting 
or in the Board meeting afterwards.

A SEED, together with others, will further co-
ordinate the protests against this project, but 
we need your help. We can bring you into contact 
with activists in almost all European countries, 
who are all working to put pressure on their 
governments to instruct the Board of the EBRD to 
vote against the project. A European wide letter-
writing campaign is currently being organised, 
probably backed up by street actions in as many 
countries as possible. A SEED has also published 
postcards to send to the EBRD and is 
distributing a free video, made by Greenpeace, 
to bring the case to the attention of the public.


EBRD GOES ANTI-NUCLEAR?

Now, that would be a nice thing to happen if the 
EBRD, following its expected decis ion not to 
finance the K2/R4 project (!), would decide to 
abandon the nuclear sector altogether. There are 
plans in the making to target the Annual Meeting 
of the EBRD in May 2000 in Latvia (the first of 
a new nuclear-free millennium) for a campaign 
that would explicitly demand that the EBRD no 
longer fund the nuclear sector. The only role it 
would then play is to assist countries in the 
decommissioning of reactors that are shut down. 
The campaign is at an early stage, so 
suggestions and contributions are very welcome.

SHORT BACKGROUND

Khmelnitski 2 and Rivne 4 are two partially 
built, Soviet designed 1000MW VVER nuclear units 
situated in the Northeast of the Ukraine. The 
construction of these reactors was stopped in 
1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 
However, in 1996, the Ukrainian government has 
proposed a project to complete these reactors, 
to replace two operational units at the 
Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is to be 
closed down by the year 2000. The Ukraine has 
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the G7 
countries and the European Union in which the 
conditions for this deal are formulated. 

Completion of this project is expected to cost 
1.72 bil.USD. The Ukrainian government has 
approached the European Bank for Reconstruction 
and Development  (EBRD) for a loan from of 190 
mil USD for the project. Once this loan is 
obtained, additional funding will come from 
Euratom, Russia and from Export Credit Agencies 
from Europe, Japan and the United States. 

___________________________________________________

III. ROUNDING UP MONSANTO & GENETECHNOLOGIES 
___________________________________________________

(GE RESISTANT) SEED

Lookin' Back - February 1999 The Month from Hell 
for the Genetic Engineering Industry.

February 1999 will no doubt go down as the 
nightmare month for the genetic engineering 
industry. No where more so than in the UK, where 
the country's press have taken up the anti-GE 
crusade with a commitment that is only rivalled 
by the media obsession with Clinton and 
Lewinsky. 

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME

Nevertheless, the collapse of the Biosafety 
Protocol Negotiations in Colombia is a victory 
for the industry and such pro-GE bodies as the 
OECD, that have campaigned rigorously against a 
strong protocol. The protocol, intended to 
establish a regulatory structure for the 
transboundary movement and trade in genetically 
modified organisms, was undermined by the US 
government, an assortment of other developed 
countries supporting its position, and the 
genetic engineering industry. The main aim of 
this lobby: to ensure the continuation of the 
carte blanche to traffic GMOs globally, with 
minimal safety standards and liability. 

PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE NEARING TOTAL COLLAPSE

"At each point in this project, we keep thinking 
that we have reached the low point and that 
public thinking will stabilise, but we 
apparently have not reached that point." 

- Analysis of the Monsanto PR Crisis, October 1998.

On other fronts, however, campaigners have won 
substantial victories in successfully 
problematising genetic engineering, and 
industrial commercialisation of its products. 
The controversy over the findings of the eminent 
scientist, Arpad Pusztai, of the government 
funded Rowett Institute, has revealed the 
alarming lack of consensus within the scientific 
community regarding the inherent dangers of 
genetic engineering. The event clearly indicates 
the need for precaution. 

Meanwhile, on the ideological front, an interim 
finding of the Advertising Standards Agency in 
the UK has found Monsanto advertising campaign 
promoting GE wrong and misleading on 6 of 13 
counts filed. 

The landslide of bad press on genetic 
engineering in the UK press moved UK Prime 
Minister, Tony Blair, to act in historic crisis 
management mode of personal intervention: I am 
happy to eat genetically modified foods any 
time, he proclaimed to the assorted press. 
Public opinion and successful campaigning in the 
UK has led to the establishment of a three 
moratorium on the commercial cultivation, 
declared late in February.

MEANWHILE, A GREEN LIGHT FOR GMOs IN HUNGARY?

Hungary has championed the regulation of GMOs in 
the Central and Eastern Europe by passing the 
first framework law in the region that deals 
with the development, release and trade of GMOs 
as well as labelling. Regulation was doubtless 
necessary, however, we are not exactly happy 
with the outcome. The law has entered into force 
as of the 1st of January this year, and this 
practically gives a green light to experimental -
and later commercial - domestic GMO releases. A 
new multi-party body the so-called Gene 
Technology Committee has been set up with the 
task to evaluate permission requests for GE 
activities. Members of this committee consist of 
representatives of the Academy of Scientists, 
various ministries, the national R&D Commission, 
health and - fortunately - environmental NGOs. 
However, as it became clear from the first 
session, environmentalists won't find much 
support for their standpoint from the other 
members, who are all exclusively scientists 
trusting in the great good of biotechnology.

Even existing regulation has serious 
deficiencies: scientific experiments are not 
within its scope; there is no liability and 
redress clause, hardly any sanctions. Following 
European regulation, labelling is only required 
if the product contains the GMO in the form of 
DNA in protein. We all know how insufficient 
this is, leaving the vast majority of 
Frankenfoods unlabelled. All through the 
preparatory phases of this legislation 
campaigners tried to push for the above points, 
but without success so far. (At the same time we 
managed to include quite a few clauses to 
strengthen the public participation aspects. 
This time we try to do it via the Gene 
Technology Committee as well, but it was clear 
that scientists are reluctant to come up with 
strong statements. 

The next session is to be expected in the second 
half of March, and that's when the real work 
will begin. Rumour has it there are about 10-15 
permission requests filed in the Ministry of 
Agriculture already. Monsanto is just very eager 
to speed up the official process as much as 
possible - and I can assure you we will we will 
do everything we can to slow it down! We will 
also prepare for renewed campaign efforts: in 
the present situation it is most important to 
reach out to as many people as we can, by way of 
schools, local groups, actions etc.. "Contains 
GMO" label can appear on supermarket shelves 
soon, and the public should know what it really 
is about. More on this in the next issue of 
Monsanto Monitor: we will call together a 
campaign meeting next week to decide on the next 
steps to take...

- Vera Mora, ETK

GE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, EVEN IN THE NETHERLANDS:

The Netherlands has the reputation of a country 
that has accepted genetic engineering. At the 
conference, Genetically Modified Foods: 
Successfully managing the regulatory, commercial 
and consumer issues facing the food industry, 
however, a clear message of rejection was 
delivered to the delegates. The Dutch Platform 
on Genetic Engineering held a demonstration with 
audio-documentary evidence of the indigestion 
and intestinal discomfort that GE foods is 
causing Dutch people. After the tape of 
unstoppable belching was played to the 
conference, Peter Custers of the Dutch Platform 
on Genetic Engineering presented the Moratorium 
campaign that is being launched by the Platform, 
and the scientific, socio-economic, 
environmental and ethical basis for an unlimited 
halt to the development and introduction of agri-
genetic engineering.

Organised by International Quality and 
Productivity Centre, the conference is just one 
in what has become an entire culture of 
conferences designed to bring industry and 
policy-makers together to set the course for the 
introduction and proliferation of genetic 
engineering into the food system. An open 
conference (with a minimal 1000 pound 
participation fee), the tone was set and held by 
Tony Combes. The current Safeways Public 
Relations manager, Combes is soon to replace Dan 
Verakis as Monsanto UK Corporate Relations. He 
is already winning himself a reputation in the 
UK as the new Arnold Schwarzenegger of the 
Monsanto PR brigade. The meeting also brought to 
the Netherlands mobile containment breach, 
Zeneca's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Nigel 
Poole. (Zeneca is facing the possibility of a 
confinement breach charge in the UK after 
scientists were photographed by the media eating 
tomatoes that had not received permission for 
environmental release!) 

CERTIFIED GE-RESISTANT

ccompanying this ROOTS is the new, improved 
Certified GE Resistant questionnaire for what 
will be an effective and funky phone book on 
campaigns against genetic engineering across 
Europe. If you're not working on GE but no an 
organisation that is, please send on the form. 
Deadline for response: April 15. Contact Dan 
<kuka@swartz.zpok.hu> for further details.

APRIL 15 to 20: 
GLOBAL DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST MONSANTO & GENETIC 
ENGINEERING

MONSANTO MONITOR ISSUE #1 OUT NOW!

In this month's issue, find out about Monsanto's 
PR strategy in the Netherlands, the company's 
new web face and the consultancy company that's 
given them the makeover, perceptions of Monsanto 
from Cuba and more! To subscribe, contact the 
office or email: <GroundUp@aseed.antenna.nl>

_________________________________________________

                       THE ORACLE SPEAKS
_________________________________________________

"The definition of an American is a risk-taking 
European."

Jim Murphy, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative 
for Agricultural Trade, in response to European 
GE crisis

_________________________________________________

                          NEWS AND EVENTS
_________________________________________________

HELP SAVE POLISH WETLANDS!

Workshop for All Beings (Pracownia na rzecz 
wszystkich istot) needs your help in the form of 
a letter of protest to support the new campaign 
to stop an urgent wetlands threat here in 
Poland. Currently in the northeastern region of 
Poland, a road known as Via Baltica is the main 
route for large freight trucks travelling to and 
from Lithuania and the other Baltic countries. 
Via Baltica runs through the centre of the 
Polish city of Augustow that has a population of 
30,000. To alleviate pressure from large 
vehicles in the city centre, local authorities 
want to construct a bypass for Via Baltica 
around Augustow. From several choices, 
authorities have decided on a route that cuts 
through the Rospuda wetlands and plan for 
construction to take place during summer 1999.  

If built, the road will destroy the immensely 
valuable wetland area. There are viable 
alternatives to the destructive bypass. One 
option, 3 km longer but more environmentally 
benign because of its location, has been refuted 
as it would be outrageously more expensive. 
Another option is a short bridge, to which 
scientists have given their approval that would 
span a small portion of the area and solve the 
bypass problem in only 250-300 meters. The 
decision made by local authorities can still 
change because of the diversified planning that 
takes place at different levels of government.

Workshop for All Beings is mounting a large-
scale campaign to protect Rospuda wetlands, 
prevent the destructive road-building, and 
encourage one of the safer alternatives. Please 
support their efforts. International input to 
the campaign adds much credibility and 
highlights widespread awareness and protest to 
the road-building. 

Please write a short
letter of protest! 

Use the facts above and send your letter to Mr. 
Jan Szyszko, the Polish Minister of 
Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, and 
Forestry. Workshop for All Beings would 
appreciate receiving a copy of your letter. 

Mr. Jan Szyszko, Wawelska 52/54, 00-922 Warsaw, 
POLAND
fax: (48)-22-825-3355 or (48)-22-825-1111 

Workshop for All Beings, P.O.Box 40, 43-304 
Bielsko-Biala 4, Poland
fax:(48)-33-8183153

Thank you!
Peter Berger and Lila Dawidziuk
Workshop for All Beings
<wapienica@pnrwi.most.org.pl>

GREEN ACTIVISTS ATTEMPT TO STOP INJUSTICE 
CHARACTERISED AS TERRORISM

Three green activists from Samara have been 
charged with the construction and transportation 
of bombs. 

The national park "Samaryan Luka" is an emerald 
of nature, a unique place that is being severely 
threatened by the commercial logging, fishing 
and hunting that has taken place within the park 
territory over the last 2 years. Fishing in 
national parks is illegal, but the State 
Prosecution Department of the Samaryan Region 
Nature-protection Office argues that without 
fishing, the lakes would swamp and lose their 
value. Hundreds of tons of fish are being caught 
by dams made in the lakes and small rivers for 
fishing purposes.

After trying all possible legal methods to stop 
the exploitation of the national park, the 
people of the Samaryan movement "People's 
initiative" concluded they had to use more 
radical methods. They decided to cut the iron 
pipes connecting the dams. Unfortunately one of 
the pipes was encased in concrete and the only 
way to destroy it was to use explosives. Only a 
small amount of explosive was used so as not to 
harm the fish. While working to explode the 
pipe, A. Solovyh (42 years of age), W. Basmanov 
(60 years of age, invalid), A. Perfil'ev (49 
years of age were arrested. Perfil'ev could be 
sentenced to up to 6 years in prison.

"Rainbow Keepers" decided to make an all-Russian 
protest campaign. Faxes were sent to the 
Samaryan Administration and the State 
Prosecutor's Office. 

There have also been a few meetings in Samara. 
At one of these meetings, on November 21, money 
was burned as a symbol of the corruption in the 
Nature-Protection administration. Nearly 50 
people with whistles went to the city 
courtrooms, where petitions were read. They 
demanded the abandonment of the trial, release 
of the prisoners and a decision on the problems 
of the "Samaryan Luka" national park.

"Rainbow Keepers" and "Duplo" culture center 
made a theatrical action named "And who are the 
judges?" on the day of the trial on February 10. 
Fifteen people went from the central city square 
to the city courtroom. A banner with painted 
knife, fork, plate, fish skeleton and 
inscription: "Samaryan fish-soup" was shown. A 
football game was played with a big ball, which 
looked like a bomb. After, the demonstrators 
tried to enter the courtroom, but were prevented 
by the judge.

Please send a fax of protest to:
Samara office of public prosecution 
Tel: +7 (8462) 32 40 55
Volga transregion nature-defending office of 
public prosecution 
Tel: +7 (0822) 36 43 66
If you want more information, please :
<kuzja@cci.glasnet.ru> (Olga Myriasova)
<faber@ssu.samara.ru> (Anatoly Dorovskih)

____________________________________________

                    N E W S F L A S H . . . 
____________________________________________

URGENT FOREST PROTECTION ALERT!

STOP THE WTO FREE LOGGING AGREEMENT

The US is pushing for a WTO agreement on forest 
and paper products, which could strip the 
world's remaining natural forests of any 
existing protection, while boosting consumption 
of forest products and increasing logging . An 
announcement by US Trade Representative, 
Charlene Barshefsky (who used to be a lobbyist 
for the Canadian Timber Industry) revealed US 
plans for the new round of global trade 
negotiation. 

The proposed Global Free Logging Agreement 
would: 

1. Eliminate tariffs on forest products world 
wide, which would 

2. Increase demand and reduce costs for forest 
products, which would 

3. Increase production and consumption of forest 
products, which would 

4. Increase logging, which would 

5. Further decimate the world's endangered 
native forests.

6. Potentially decrease or eliminate non-tariff 
measures, which would

7. Eliminate environmental protections to ensure 
sustainable forestry practices and stop logging 
in endangered forests, which would 

8. Tie the hands of activists reforming current 
unsustainable practices, which would 

9. Further decimate the world's endangered 
native forests, which would 

10. Cause global deforestation and loss of 
biodiversity.

This agreement is scheduled for completion at 
the third annual Ministerial meeting of the WTO 
which will be held in Seattle, USA, November 30 -
December 3,1999, although the US is keen to 
push through an agreement before then.

The elimination of non-tariff measures (NTMs) 
("environmental protections") may also be 
discussed and included in the final agreement. 
NTMs are laws and practices that can be argued 
to restrict trade in specific goods.  Many 
environmental protections aimed at sustainable 
forestry practices such as timber trade 
regulations, forest management standards, 
restrictions on pest-infested log imports and 
building codes that protect domestic industry by 
discouraging the use of imported materials like 
wood can be argued to impede trade and could 
therefore be banned. A Free Logging Agreement 
that includes NTMs will make life extremely 
difficult for forest activists who seek to 
reform  present un-sustainable forestry 
practices and restrict logging in endangered 
forests.

>From a factsheet by Antonia Juhasz, Director of 
International Trade and Forest Programs, at 
+1 (202) 547-9230, <antonia@americanlands.org>

Forest protection activists are already 
mobilising world-wide to stop this agreement 
from going through, and there promises to be a 
massive global campaign ahead. 

If you are interested in fighting against this 
agreement, or want more information, please 
contact <karen@aseed.antenna.nl> and look out in 
future issues of ROOTS for further developments.

__________________________________________

            A N N O U N C E M E N T S . . . 
__________________________________________

PEOPLE AND PLANET JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

People and Planet (previously Third World First) 
campaigns with students on global justice 
issues. The office in Oxford, UK is looking for 
ambitious people to join their fast-growing team:

Fundraiser/Campaigner: raise income from grants 
and individuals, run global campaigns.
Membership Campaigner: develop mass membership, 
lead a team, run a new ethical careers project.
Schools Campaigner: manage a new project 
promoting fair trade in sixth forms.
IT Officer: prepare for the year 2000, manage 
our database, website, and design materials.
Graduate traineeships: Six internships for 
recent graduates wanting campaigns and project 
management experience. 12 month contract.
Administrator: Three days per week, working with 
the Office Manager.

Closing date: Friday 26 March. For details send 
an A4 self-addressed envelope to: People & 
Planet, 4a East Av, Oxford OX4 1XW, UK.

EUROPEAN YOUTH CONTEST ON "SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOMENT"

The German Federal Environment Ministry will 
invite young people between the age of 16 and 25 
to participate in a European Youth Contest 
calling for projects in the field of sustainable 
development. Participants will be asked to 
submit ideas and proposals for the sparing use 
of soil, water, air and other resources, thereby 
filling the Agenda 21 from Rio with life. 
Contributions presenting solutions for the 
careful use of resources in everyday life are 
especially welcome. The proposals should, at the 
same time, have model character for other young 
people, heightening awareness for sustainable 
development and encouraging others to pursue 
similar activities. 

Contributions are welcome from groups or single 
participants from all European countries. A jury 
will turn out prizes with an overall value of 
5.000 Euro. A successful implementation and 
careful documentation of the project will form 
the basis for the jury decision. The winners of 
the first three prizes (max. three persons per 
prize) will also be invited to spend three days 
in Berlin. 

The contest and detailed conditions for 
participation will be announced on the Homepage 
of the German Federal Environment Ministry 
(<http://www.bmu.de/>http://www.bmu.de) from March 15th. 
Participants will be asked, respectively, to 
create their own homepage to present their 
contribution or, if this should not be possible, 
to send in their project by electronic mail. In 
addition, the website established for the 
contest will provide information on the 
objectives of the environmental policy of the 
German government, especially emphasising 
objectives and results of the German EU 
presidency, and invite participants to discuss 
these and other questions of environmental 
policy.

U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S . . . 

JUNE 18TH 1999 A DAY OF PROTEST, ACTION AND 
CARNIVAL IN FINANCIAL CENTRES ACROSS THE GLOBE

Activists from diverse groups and movements 
around the world are discussing, networking and 
organising for an international day of action 
aimed at the heart of the global economy: the 
financial centres, banking districts and 
multinational corporate power bases. 
Environmentalists, workers, the unemployed, 
indigenous peoples, trade unionists, peasants 
groups, women's networks, the landless, 
students, peace activists and many more are 
working together in recognition that the global 
capitalist system, based on the exploitation of 
people and the planet for the profit of a few, 
is at the root of our social and ecological 
troubles. 

The June 18th occupation and transformation of 
financial districts, simultaneously across the 
globe, will be a contribution to the process of 
making connections and building alternatives to 
the present social order. The action is timed to 
coincide with the first day of the Group of 
Seven (or G7) summit of the leaders of the 
richest nation-states - in Koeln, Germany-when 
again we will be told by the economic and 
political elites that the promotion of economic 
globalisation, 'free' trade and corporate 
dominance is the only way. This proposal is made 
in the spirit of strengthening our international 
networks and follows from the success of co-
ordinated global action during day 16-20th 1998.

These days saw actions, protests and 
demonstrations on all continents, for example 
over 30 'Reclaim the Streets parties' in over 20 
countries - a combination of illegal carnival, 
protest and direct action. In Brasilia 50,000 
unemployed and landless peasants were on the 
streets, while in Hyderabad, India, 200,000 were 
protesting. These events coincided with the 'G8' 
meeting in Birmingham, Great Britain, and the 
third ministerial meeting of the World Trade 
Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland. 1999 will 
see these co-ordinations increase. Alongside the 
June 18th global action, there will also be a 
tour of Indian farmers/activists around Europe 
to campaign against the World Trade 
Organisation, banks and multinational 
corporations.

In the spirit of strengthening international 
networks for equality, freedom and ecological 
sustainability we encourage all sympathetic 
movements and groups to organise their own 
autonomous protests or actions, on the same day -
June 18th - in the same locations - financial 
districts - around the world.  Each event would 
be organised autonomously; could be co-ordinated 
in each city by a variety of movements and 
groups; while linked globally by post, 
telephone, fax, email and international 
meetings. Strikes, protests, pickets, actions, 
occupations, street parties, demonstrations, 
blockades, shutdowns - a unity of diverse events 
are being planned by a growing network of 
individuals, groups, movements and alliances. 
Your participation - no matter how small - is 
crucial; meetings need to be organised, events 
planned, leaflets printed and distributed, funds 
raised, laughter and conversation shared. If we 
co-operate and co-ordinate we can realise a 
different world; has it ever been so necessary 
and so possible? 

- From the RTS homepage (<http://www.gn.apc.org/june18>www.gn.apc.org/june18)

For international planning and discussion for 
June 18th, subscribe to the J18 email list - 
send an email to: <listproc@gn.apc.org> with the 
following request -Subscribe J18DISCUSSION your 
email address. If your group is organising an 
event of action for June 18th please send your 
group or movements contact details to: 
J18contacts@hotmail.com . This will allow a 
global list of groups taking part to be built 
up. This will be an invaluable resource for 
everyone taking part to show the quantity and 
diversity of groups doing actions on June 18th. 
This information will be put on the website and 
on the j18discussion list.

SOME GLOBAL JUNE 18TH CONTACTS:

AUSTRALIA
Local J18 email discussion list: 
<bazil@xchange.anarki.net>

CANADA

Canadian Auto Workers Union/J18 Coalition: 
<skookumsdad@yahoo.com> 

Montreal/Quebec:

<bazarov@cam.org> 

Toronto: 

<toronto@tao.ca>

The University of Regina Students' Union and The 
Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 2419 
contact e-mail is: 

<Marjorie.Brown@uregina.ca>

EASTERN EUROPE 

Earth First! Prague Czech Republic: 
<zemepredevsim@ecn.cz>

FRANCE
Pericles: 
<Pericles@monstrogoth.inlandsys.com>

GERMANY 

Köln 99 Alliance: tel: + 49 221 952 0008 
<koeln99@gmx.net> 

German Anti-MAI and Globalization campaign 
<anro0002@stud.uni-sb.de>

ENGLAND 

Reclaim The Streets: +44 171 281 4621 - 
<rts@gn.apc.org>

INDIA 

Vikas Adhyayan Kendra <vak@bom3.vsnl.net.in>

INDONESIA 

North Sumatra Peasant Union: 
<putratan@indosat.net.id>

ISRAEL

Green Action Israel

KOREA 

PICIS :tel +82 2 886 2853 
<picis_korea@hotmail.com>

MALAYSIA 

<csulin@pc.jaring.my>

NIGERIA

Chikoko, Nigeria: tel/fax-+234 84 236365 - 
<oilwatch@infoweb.abs.net>

ROMANIA 

Ecotopia - <ecotopia@banat.ro>

SCANDINAVIA
<j18.se@usa.net>

SCOTLAND 

Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh: +44 131 557 6242 
<ace@punk.org.uk>

THAILAND 

<robinhd@loxinfo.co.th>

UNITED STATES

US J18 coalition - <ban@tao.ca>

GLOBAL NETWORKS: 

A SEED <aseedeur@antenna.nl> 

People's Global Action <pga@agp.org>

________________________________________

                 O T H E R   N E W S . . . 
________________________________________

In spite of a major computer network breakdown, 
quite a few things have been happening in the A 
SEED Europe office lately. We are all preparing 
for the upcoming Activist Gathering in Spain. 
The meeting will take place April 4th-10th in 
the small, squatted village of Lakabe near 
Pamplona. 

CAMPAIGN PUBLICATIONS

Apart from ROOTS you can get information about 
what is going on within the campaigns through 
their separate newsletters. Subscribe by 
contacting the campaigners!

Oilwatch Europe: "Pipeline"
E-mail newsletter every second month.
Contact: <oilwatch@aseed.antenna.nl>

Rounding up Monsanto: "Monsanto Monitor"
Monthly newsletter, e-mail and paper versions. 
Contact: <biotech@aseed.antenna.nl>

Transport campaign: "InfraRed"
Tweekly email and paper newsletter. Please send 
contributions to: <anne@aseed.antenna.nl> or 
<frank@aseed.antenna.nl>

Stop EBRD! Stop K2/R4!
Regular Email newsletter. Contact: 
<jfrijns@antenna.nl>

Forest campaign: A SEED has produced a book 
looking at the diverse problems faced by 
Europe's forests, from the direct destruction of 
ecosystems to proliferation of ecologically 
impoverished plantations and the effects of 
roadbuilding, pollution and climate change. It 
also looks at Europe's role in the global timber 
trade, existing forest policy in the EU, and the 
effect of deforestation on an urbanised society 
increasingly disconnected from nature. The 
chapters contain case studies written by over 
thirty activists and campaigners from all over 
Europe. You can now order this book from:
A SEED Europe Office, Postbus 92066, 1090 
Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
Tel: +31-20-668 2236
Fax: +31-20-468 2275
Email: <karen@aseed.antenna.nl>

The cost is on a sliding scale. It will be 15 DM 
for Western European countries and 5 DM for 
Eastern European countries. If your country 
doesn't fall into these two categories, please 
make an estimate depending on how much you can 
afford. Please include 5 DM per copy for 
postage. 

NEW VOLUNTEERS IN THE OFFICE...

She comes from the cold Sweden, but has the 
warmth of an environmentalist's heart. It was 
her interest in transport issues through her job 
as an environmental secretary at a student union 
in Gothenburg that brought her to A SEED Europe 
and the job as transport co-campaigner! Her name 
is Anne (tall, orange & dancing) Asshn. In the 
back of her mind she keeps the knowledge from 
her studies in chemistry, biology and 
environmental science and from her experiences 
with environmental organisations such as FoE, 
Swedish Ecodemics and other, more local groups.

Yehudi van de Pol is the new Oilwatch co-
campaigner. He is dancing his capoeira dance 
around the office all day long. When he is not 
in the office he is either playing his guitar or 
his djembe. Before he came to A SEED he worked 
with the "right prize for air travel"-campaign 
at Milieudefensie. n

..... and outside the office!
Daniel Schwartz is the new GE-resistant SEED to 
the campaign. Dan has been active on genetic 
engineering for three years. He has also 
campaigned extensively on waste, and is one of 
the founders of the Zhaba collective that 
provides facilitation training. From his base in 
Budapest, Hungary, Dan will be working on the 
directory of activism and information on genetic 
engineering, and other activities that will come 
up in due course. He'll also be generally 
whipping it up on GE. 

LEAVING THE OFFICE
Natasha Podobed from Rainbow Keepers Belarus has 
been working in the office for the last two 
months. She is now leaving after very actively 
enjoying what Amsterdam can offer. We will miss 
you!
_________________________________________________

                                  CALENDAR
_________________________________________________

MARCH

26: People and Planet job offer closing date.

21-27: Hunger in Genetic Legoland, Seminar on 
Genetic Engineering, Frieburg. Info: 
<set@oln.comlinl.apc.org>

27: Transport Action Day. Info: 
<frank@aseed.antenna.nl>

25-28: Climate meeting in Amsterdam. Info: 
<eyfa@eyfa.org>


APRIL

5-10: A SEED Activist Gathering in Lakabe, Spain.

10-15: Global Days of Action against 
Monsanto+Genetic Engineering. 

15: Deadline for response of Certified GE 
Resistant questionnaire.

19: Silent Spring: Genetix Snowball Action Day, 
UK.

MAY

15-30: 2000 Walk for Nuclear Disarmament. Info: 
<international@motherearth.org>  





A SEED Europe
PO Box 92066
1090 AB Amsterdam
Netherlands
tel: 31-20-668-2236
fax: 31-20-468 2275
email: <aseedeur@antenna.nl>
<http://www.antenna.nl/aseed>http:\\www.antenna.nl\aseed
                     


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