GE American Chestnut
White Paper, News and Resources to Take Action
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White paper details issues & concerns of the GE American Chestnut
You can also read the Executive Summary
In addition to The Campaign to STOP GE Trees, Biofuelwatch and Global Justice Ecology Project, the network of groups collaborating to prevent the regulatory approval of GE trees in North America includes Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Indigenous Environmental Network, Rural Coalition and Shawnee Forest Defense.
For more information or to help stop the release of GE trees into the environment, please contact theresa2@globaljusticeecology.org.
News & Analysis
Truthout Article on Potential Release of GE American Chestnut Tree
Anne Petermann is the Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project. She has been working on issues related to protecting forests and defending the rights of Indigenous peoples since 1990 and co-founded the first global campaign against genetically engineered...
Into the Wild: GMOs head for the forest
Lucy Sharratt is the Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), which brings together 16 groups to research, monitor and raise awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN is a project on the shared platform of...
WERU Interviews Members of the Campaign to Stop GE Trees
Common Ground Radio 14 January 2021 Producer/host C.J. Walke interviewed members of the Campaign to Stop GE Trees to discuss the history of the American Chestnut tree in our eastern forests, genetic engineering of American chestnut trees and the social and economic...
Tower Hill Botanic Garden Highlights Former TACF Board Members Chestnut Work
Lois Melican and Denis Melican are American chestnut restoration activists and former Board members of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). In 2019, the Melicans made the decision to resign from TACF due to the organization's support for the unregulated planting...
Fedco Weighs in on Consequences of GE American Chestnut
Dark Hort? More Questions than Answers Jen Ries, Fedco Trees Coordinator, on behalf of Fedco The chestnut, an iconic tree of the American landscape, is poised to become a different kind of icon of a new era. A petition has arrived at the USDA asking for the release of...
Efforts To Genetically Engineer American Chestnut Trees Draw Controversy
The majestic American chestnut was once common in forests in the eastern U.S., but a blight has killed billions of these giant trees. Researchers are moving forward with genetically-modified trees that will survive the blight. But as Julie Grant of The...
Read Our Comments Opposing Deregulation of Darling 58 American Chestnut
On October 19, 2020 the initial public comment period by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the petition for deregulation of Darling 58 genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) American Chestnut closed. Historically, there has been strong...
Release: Public Comment on Darling 58 American Chestnut Closes
For Immediate Release: 10/20/2020 Public Comment on Darling 58 American Chestnut Closes Groups Across North America Oppose Release of Genetically Engineered Trees New York- On Oct. 19th the initial public comment period by the United States Department of Agriculture...
For Immediate Release: Environmental Groups Representing Millions Oppose Request to Allow Planting of Genetically Engineered Trees in Forests as USDA Opens Public Comment Period
For Immediate Release 10 September 2020 New York–On 18 August the long-awaited public comment period regarding possible deregulation of the genetically engineered (GE) American chestnut tree opened. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving the public until...
The Enviro Show Interviews Anne Petermann & Rachel Smolker
Greetings Earthlings. Perhaps you're familiar with the plight of the American Chestnut tree? It's a long sad tale and it may get even sadder soon. Dr. Rachel Smolker and Anne Petermann of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees join us to see the forest for the trees during...
A Rude Awakening On KPFA Interviews Dr. Rachel Smolker
Dr. Rachel Smolker discusses the request for USDA approval of genetically engineered (GE) American chestnut trees into wild forests with Sabrina Jacobs, host of A Rude Awakening on KPFA.
Former TACF chapter president says no to GE Chestnuts and yes to real forests
Lois Breault-Melican, former president of the Rhode Island American Chestnut Foundation explains why she and her husband, Denis, resigned in protest over current plans to seed natural forests with genetically engineered (GE) American Chestnuts. Lois explains how TACF...
EcoRI News Interviews Members of Stop GE Trees Campaign
The following article includes excerpts from Grace Kelly's interviews with Lois & Denis Melican, former members of MA/RI Chapter board of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), and Anne Petermann, Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project. Infighting...
Researchers Working To Replace Nature One GMO At A Time
Medium 27 July 2020 Theresa Church The University of New England (UNE) is partnering with SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) to develop the first ever genetically engineered (GE) forest tree for release into the wild. UNE has a request pending...
Bangor Daily New Publishes Op Ed on GE American Chestnut
Genetically engineered trees do not belong in our forests Bangor Daily News 19 July 2020 Theresa Church The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a rare interlude to evaluate the notion of business as usual. It has exposed mounting flaws and inequalities as a result of the...
Genetically Modified Chestnuts Imperil Forests
On Saturday 7 July 2020, The Scranton Times Tribune ran an op ed by Anne Petermann, International Coordinator for the Campaign to STOP Genetically Engineered Trees titled Genetically Modified Chestnuts Imperil Forests. The following is Peterman’s submission to the...
In Reconsidering ‘Normalcy’ Genetically Engineered Trees Do Not Belong
Mom's Across America 10 July 2020 Theresa Church The global pandemic of Covid-19 has challenged the notion of business as usual and exposed a systemic crisis rooted in capitalism and the neoliberal economic model. The pandemic has proliferated in unpredictable...
We Respond: Letter Published in New York Times Challenges Support for GE Trees
Global Justice Ecology Project, which coordinates the Campaign to STOP GE Trees, submitted the letter below to the New York Times Magazine–it was published in its print edition on Sunday, May 17th. The letter was submitted in response to a piece written by Gabriel...