Press release 10 February 2004

Internet petition for the UN NGOs are demanding a global ban on genetically modified trees

A campaign launched in January by Finnish environmental groups protesting against genetically modified trees is drawing subscribers around the world. The campaign has now been widely welcomed all over the world. The list of groups and campaigners having signed the petition so far includes the World Rainforest Movement, Friends of the Earth in different countries, Scottish Green Party The Forest Action Network- and a lot of other organisations and individuals around the world. The petition will be presented to the UN Forum on Forests in Geneva next May.

The campaign is complemented by an Internet forum at http://video.elonmerkki.net/forestforum for discussions on the world´s forests, forest related problems and ways to solve them.

Member of the Finnish Parliament, Heidi Hautala (green) opened the discussion on the People´s Forest Forum. Supporting the petition for a global ban on GM-trees she writes: -The petition highlights a worrying trend by governments to forget one global task at the cost of the other. It is necessary to alert the concerned citizens, scientists and civil society groups worldwide.

-We hope that we can go together to the UN Forum on Forests in Geneva next May with a large and impressive delegation backed by a massive list of subscribers, says Riitta Wahlström, chair of The Union of Ecoforestry in Finland.

Further information:

http://video.elonmerkki.net/forestforum

Hannu Hyvönen
coordinator
tel +358-408317733
e-mail:ekometsa AT sci.fi

Hannes Tuohiniitty
chair
the People´s Biosafety Association
GSM:+358 (0)50 4095 779
e-mail:hannes.tuohiniitty AT webinfo.fi
http://www.bioturva.org

Riitta Wahlström
chair
the Union of Ecoforestry
tel. 0505402618
e-mail: taiga AT surffi.net
http://video.elonmerkki.net/eml

Leo Stranius
chair
Friends of the Earth Finland
tel +358-40-754 7371
email: leo.stranius AT pp.htv.fi
http://www.maanystavat.fi