Stop world's first intentional release of synthetic organisms
We've recently learned from our friends at the ETC group, that on June 7, the US crowdfunding site Kickstarter.com is planning to hand over more than $440,000 to a private biotech company, Genome Compiler Corporation,
to fund a large release of glow-in-the-dark weeds which they claim is a
"sustainable" and "natural" lighting option. It is actually an
uncontrolled and unregulated release of organisms produced through synthetic biology - an extreme form of genetic engineering.
They've asked the public for money to carry out this project. What's most alarming is that they're promising to send 100 seeds of their bio-engineered weed to anyone who backs the project with $40. They already have 7,700+ such backers; that's 770,000 synthetically engineered seeds that will be released!
They've asked the public for money to carry out this project. What's most alarming is that they're promising to send 100 seeds of their bio-engineered weed to anyone who backs the project with $40. They already have 7,700+ such backers; that's 770,000 synthetically engineered seeds that will be released!
What You Can Do?
- Join with Avaaz and help put pressure NOW on Kickstarter to stop this project. Sign the Avaaz.org petition and send it to all your friends, colleagues, and family. Share it on Facebook, twitter, and any lists you may be part of. Spread the word!
- Back the ETC Group's KickStopper campaign. If Kickstarter doesn't act by Friday, ETC Group intends to work with other partners to mount a campaign to prevent Genome Compiler Corporation from ever releasing the seeds they develop.
- Support USC Canada's work with farmers to conserve and nurture agricultural biodiversity - a sustainable approach to feeding the world that works in harmony with nature, rather than in competition.
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