MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2002

The fight to control life on the planet
Two conferences - Two opposing visions of the future of Biotechnology

(Toronto) As the biotechnology industry converges on Toronto for their annual international convention, BIO 2002 (June 9-12), scientists, academics, farmers, and activists from Canada and the US are coming together for, "bioJUSTICE-bioDIVERSITY 2002", the 6th international grassroots gathering on genetic engineering (June 7-9) organised this year by the Polaris Institute, the Council of Canadians, the Institute for Social Ecology in Vermont and the BIOdevastation Toronto Coalition.

Biotechnology is heralded by corporations and governments as the key to a "brave new world" that will eliminate hunger and disease, not to mention turn a handsome profit for shareholders. "There are many serious issues that will never be mentioned at the industry conference but are of great concern to citizens and governments around the world", says Tony Clarke from the Polaris Institute. "We need a counter event to present well researched analysis and expose the broader public to the hidden dangers of biotechnology," adds Nadège Adam of the Council of Canadians.

"Our grassroots conference attempts to reframe the discussion around biotechnology," says Brian Tokar from the Institute for Social Ecology in Vermont. "We will raise profound political, ethical, and scientific concerns about biotechnology that are shared by many around the world." Tokar was involved in organizing similar events in Boston and San Diego, which drew hundreds of people to explore biotech hazards and protest BIO's conventions in those cities.

bioJUSTICE-bioDIVERSITY 2002 will cover a wide range of issues such as the patenting of lifeforms, international trade, agriculture, and public health. "Biotechnology corporations are robbing the genetic commons of the world for profit, not for the benefit of humankind", says Dr. Vandana Shiva, Researcher, author and Director of the Research Foundation on Science, Technology and Ecology (India) and one of the Conference's keynote speakers.

The Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, the National Farmers Union, and the US Farmer to Farmer Campaign against Genetic Engineering are fighting the introduction of GE wheat and will all be present at this gathering. Cathy Holtslander of Saskatchewan will represent the case of organic farmers suing biotech giants Monsanto and Aventis for contamination by GE canola.

Biotech companies have also created a climate of intimidation for scientists who dare challenge their scientific agenda. Dr. Nancy Olivieri, a conference keynote speaker and professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto, for example, faced intimidation for revealing her findings of risks with Apotex's new drug - at the time Apotex was negotiating its funding of the University. Ontario is also battling corporate control over new medical technologies in the case of Myriad Genetics [USA], "People are profoundly shocked that, because this corporation owns the patent, it is forcing our medical system to send all breast cancer analysis to their labs instead of using local lower cost methods" says Colleen Fuller, author of Caring for Profit and conference speaker.

bioJUSTICE-bioDIVERSITY 2002 begins Friday evening June 7th with a panel featuring Drs. Shiva and Olivieri at Toronto's St. Lawrence Centre, and continues through the day on Saturday with a series of workshops and an evening panel on the threat of biological warfare. Saturday's events will take place at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). On Sunday, June 9th an afternoon public gathering and picnic in Grange Park will feature geneticist and TV host David Suzuki, among others.

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