Biojustice 2002

For Immediate Release

Contact: BIOdevastation

1 (800) 387-7177 or www.biodev.org

E-mail: inquiries@canadians.org

Biojustice 2002

The 6th International Grassroots Gathering on Genetic Engineering

June 7-9, Toronto, Canada

Presented by The Polaris Institute, Council of Canadians, BIOdevastation, Toronto Coalition, and Institute for Social Ecology

Over the last two years, thousands of people have gathered to counter the annual conventions of the biotechnology industry in Boston and San Diego. This year, people will be converging on Toronto to broaden the biojustice movement and challenge the biotechnology industry and their vision for our future. It will be a gathering to learn, strategize and network about genetic engineering in agriculture and pharmaceuticals, biowarfare, genetic and non-genetic discrimination, trade regimes and corporate control, patenting of life and more. This event is timed to challenge the industry's annual convention BIO2002, Toronto, June 9-12.

Friday Night Panel: A Biotech Future? Exposing the Truth

Speakers include:

• Dr. Vandana Shiva, author, physicist and philosopher of science, founder of the Research Foundation on Science, Technology, and Ecology (India) and recipient of the 1993 Right Livelihood Award.
• Dr. Nancy Olivieri, professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, and head of the thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia research programs at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, and co-founder, Doctors for Research Integrity
• Dr. Gregor Wolbring, research scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary; member of the Ethics working group of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and founder of The International Network on Bioethics and Disability
• Others To Be Announced

Saturday Workshops at the University of Toronto exploring topics such as...

• Drug Safety and Biotechnology in Medicine
• The Tyranny of "Normal": Eugenics, Culture and Human Engineering
• The Future of GE Foods and Crops
• Agricultural Biotechnology: The Farm Crisis and New Technologies
• Building a Movement for Healthy Food and Healthy Food Policy
• Why Biotechnology Won't "Feed the World"
• Indigenous Knowledge, Biopiracy and Colonialism
• Trade Agreements, Patents and the Marketing of GE Products
• Biotech Engines: Corporate Research and Campaigning
• Manipulating Natural Resources: GE Trees and Fish
• Others To Be Announced

8:30AM to 6:00PM at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

(OISE) - University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Saturday Evening Panel: BIOWARFARE: Is the Biotech Industry Fuelling a New Arms Race? at OISE, U. of Toronto

Speakers include:

• Jan Van Aken, researcher and campaigner, The Sunshine Project, Germany
• Dr. Mark Wheelis, author and professor, Section of Microbiology, University of California at Davis
• Other speakers To Be Announced

Sunday: bioDIVERSITY GMO-Free Picnic: A Festival of Alternatives 12 noon - 4 PM, Grange Park

Featuring:

• Dr. David Suzuki, geneticist, author, and TV host of "The Nature of Things."
• Lots of free organic food, activities for children, music and theatre, information booths, speakers and more.

Registration Information

Whole Event (Sunday picnic is free)

Before May 27, 2002: $25

At the door: $35

Students, seniors and fixed income: $10

Friday evening public forum only: $ 10 at the door (cash only)

Registration begins April 22, 2002

For more information or to register contact the Council of Canadians:

Phone: 1 (800) 387-7177 or www.biodev.org

E-mail: inquiries@canadians.org

This event is wheelchair accessible. If you need child care for Saturday please contact us.

To get involved:

In Toronto: email the BIOdev Coalition at biodev2002@yahoo.ca
In Ottawa: contact Lucy Sharratt at the Polaris Institute, (613) 237 1717, lucy_sharratt@on.aibn

In the United States: contact the Institute for Social Ecology's Biotechnology Project at (802) 454 7138, or info@nerage.org

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• 122 Pharmaceuticals
• 181 Food and Agriculture