30 Jan 2002
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Frontline: ELF Takes Action Against Biotechnology Research at the U of MN

Frontline Information Service - News 1/29/02

ELF Takes Action Against Biotechnology Research at the University of Minnesota

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2001

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA The Earth Liberation Front has taken credit for the setting of incendiary devices at a construction site on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. The target of the fire was the university's new Microbial and Plant Genomics Research Center currently under construction.

The Earth Liberation Front is an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the destruction of the natural environment. In North America alone since 1997, the ELF has caused over $40 million in damages to entities who profit from the destruction of life.

According to a communique received by the Earth Liberation Front Press Office, incendiary devices left in the main construction trailer and in two pieces of heavy machinery caused extensive damage where they were placed before spreading into the adjacent crop research facility.

The statement went on to say that the facility was targeted for action because "The construction of this research building is being funded by biotech giant Cargill Corporation who develop, patent, and market genetically modified crops, making people dependent on GE foods. We are fed up with capitalists like Cargill and major universities.... who have long sought to develop and refine technologies which seek to exploit and control nature to the fullest extent under the guise of progress. "

A growing movement has erupted internationally against genetically modified organisms (GMO's) including genetically altered food. Contrary to claims surfacing from some of the scientific community, genetically modified plants are not the answer to the world's food shortage. Crops which have been genetically altered promote further pesticide use in larger doses which only end up in the food chain and leaking into the environment. Genetically modified organisms exist for one reason, the drive for profit by large multinational corporations.

This action undertaken by the ELF is just one of a long series of actions and protests taken against the biotechnology industry as a whole over the past few years. The University of Minnesota's genetic engineering research was targeted by the ELF in February, 2000 when activists destroyed transgenic oat research crops and damaged a greenhouse.

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COMMUNIQUE FOLLOWS:

1/26/02 St. Paul, MN

The construction site for the new Microbial and Plant Genomics Research Center at the University of Minnesota had incendiaries left in the main trailer and two pieces of heavy machinery, including a bulldozer. Heavy damage was caused to the machinery and trailer by the fire, which then spread to the adjacent Crop Research building. The construction of this research building is being funded by biotech giant Cargill Corporation who develop, patent, and market genetically modified crops, making people dependent on GE foods. We are fed up with capitalists like Cargill and major universities like the U of M have who have long sought to develop and refine technologies which seek to exploit and control nature to the fullest extent under the guise of progress. Biotechnology is only one new expression of this drive.

For the end of capitalism and the mechanization of our lives,
-Earth Liberation Front

-end-

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