Workshop Descriptions

1. The Fluid Genome
2 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, May 16

Mae-Wan Ho, The Institute for Science in Society, London

One of the most persistent dogmas in western science is genetic determinism, the belief that our genetic makeup, or our birth, ultimately determines who and what we are. Dr. Ho will demonstrate why the entire biotech enter-prise, from GM crops and gene drugs to human cloning, is a phenomenal waste of public finance and scientific imagination, and, most importantly, what it means to be living with the fluid genome.

2. Is Your School for Sale? - Challenging Corporate Biotech on Campus
2 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, May 16

Dr. Ignacio Chapela, Assistant Professor (Microbial Ecology), UC Berkeley
Sarah Bantz, MORAGE - Missouri Resistance Against Genetic Engineering
Jesse Reynolds, Former member of Students for Responsible Research, UC Berkeley
Lucy Sharratt, Researcher, Polaris Institute, Canada
John Peck, Executive Director, Family Farm Defenders, Wisconsin

This workshop will examine crucial university-corporate connections and strategize to end corporate biotech power on campus.

3. The ABC's of Biotechnology for Students from 10 to 80
2 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, May 16

Daniel "digger" Romano, Missouri Green Party, Confluence
Suzanne Renard, Catholic Worker, Home Groan Organic Troupe

This workshop will explain the basics of genetic engineering and how it can contaminate food, damage helpful species (such as butterflies), and hurt farmers in Africa, Asia and the Americas. It will begin with a Mayan myth about the origin of corn.

4. WTO and the Road to Cancun
2 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, May 16

Vandana Shiva, Research Foundation for Science, Technology & Ecology, India
John Kinsman, Family Farm Defenders, Wisconsin

The upcoming WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico this fall will likely determine the future of corporate globalism and the neoliberal "free trade" agenda. Agriculture has recently been called the WTO's "Achilles Heel." Shiva and Kinsman will discuss the ways global civil society, and particularly farmers, are playing a pivotal role in challenging "free trade" and defending the integrity of local communities, and will address participant's questions about this important event.

6. The New Human Genetic Technologies: Social and Political Implications
1:45 - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Jesse Reynolds, Center for Genetics and Society

This workshop explores the new human genetic reproductive technologies, particularly cloning and inheritable genetic modification, with a focus on implications on women, people of color, and the socio-economically disadvantaged.

7. Resisting GMOs in Africa
1:45 - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Dr. Mwananyanda Mbikusita Lewanika, Lyambayi Institute of Development, Zambia
Lawrence Tsimese, Agricultural Reform Movement, Ghana
Raymond Bokor, Agricultural Reform Movement, Ghana

This workshop will offer an intensive discussion of the potential impacts of biotechnology on Africa's food crisis, including questions of agricultural and economic performance and the effects of GMOs on the continent's enormous biological diversity. Speakers from Zambia and Ghana will present case studies of the resistance to genetic engineering in several African countries, focusing on opposition to GM crops and to the multinational companies that supply GM foods and seeds.

8. Biotech Superbugs: Genetically Engineering Disease
1:45 - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Peter Shorett, Council for Responsible Genetics, Welcome / Introduction

Mae-Wan Ho, ISIS, London, UK, Overview of some cutting-edge biotechnologies with application to biowarfare

Edward Hammond, The Sunshine Project, Who drank the anthrax kool-aid? Pitfalls of biotechnological defense

Peter Shorett, moderator, Discussant/Questions and Answers

9. Health Hazards and US Regulation: What the Government Won't Tell You
1:45 - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Dr. Michael Hansen, Research Associate, Consumer Policy Institute, Consumers Union, NY
Lucy Sharratt, Researcher, Polaris Institute, Canada

Dr. Michael Hansen will present the latest information on health concerns and testing as well as expose weak US regulation. Equip yourself with information on how the government really regulates and what this means for people in the US and around the world-get your questions answered here!

10. GMOs and Free Trade in Mexico and Central America
1:45 - 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

S'ra Desantis, Institute for Social Ecology's Biotechnology Project
Ignacio Chapela, University of California at Berkeley
Ana Ruiz Diaz, Permaculture Network of México

Workshop presenters will discuss the current status of genetic engineering in Mexico and Central America. They will highlight the discovery of genetic contamination in Mexico and the relationship between free trade agreements and GMOs, and discuss ways activists in the US and Latin America can more actively collaborate.

11. Organizing Farmers in North America
3:45 - 5:30 p.m., Saturday May 17

Bill Wenzel, Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering
Felder Freeman, Federation of Southern Co-operatives
Percy Schmeiser, Canadian farmer in legal battle with Monsanto
George Naylor, National Family Farm Coalition

A number of farm groups have organized effective farmer-driven campaigns against GMOs. This workshop will feature farmers and farm group leaders who will discuss the strategies that they have used in grassroots campaign organizing.

12. Organizing against Environmental Racism
3:45 - 5:30 p.m., Saturday May 17

Dr. Mark Mitchell, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
Percy Green, ACTION Reunion 2003

This workshop will look at the corporate habit of locating the most toxic production and waste disposal facilities in communities of color and the disproportionately higher rates of disease that result. It will emphasize how communities have successfully fought for their right to safe and healthy environments.

13. Confronting the Biolabs: Grassroots Organizing and Coalition-Building
3:45-5:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Building Local and National Dialog on the Hazards of Biological Weapons Research

Steve Erickson, Citizens Education Project; Opening Remarks

Inga Olson, Tri-Valley CAREs with Colin King, Nuclear Watch of NM; Citizens' responses to Department of Energy biological weapons research

Nancy Price, Stop the UCD Biolab Now!; Organizing and activism on the Western National Center for Biodefense

15. Round Table on Local Organizing Against GE
3:45 - 5:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17

Mitchel Cohen, No Spray Coalition, Green Party USA; Brian Tokar, Institute for Social Ecology; S'ra Desantis, Institute for Social Ecology's Biotechnology Project

Activists from across the US will discuss some of the diverse strategies being employed to oppose genetic engineering, while furthering the empowerment of local communities around food security, public health and the advancement of directly democratic alternatives. Panelists will briefly discuss their own recent experiences, followed by a wide-ranging discussion of ways this movement can continue to grow and develop in an effective and creative manner.