In My Opinion
Craig Rosebraugh
Editorial presented to the Oregonian in response to an opinion piece by Steve Strauss
06/07/01

Contained within the In My Opinion piece entitled Closer Look Shows ELF Gets Its Science Wrong, published by the Oregonian on June 7, 2001, Steve Strauss makes some outstandingly misguided accusations pertaining to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the objections to genetic modification and large-scale agriculture. The particular items of reference here were the two recent fires claimed by the ELF at Jefferson Poplar Farms in Clatskanie, Oregon and at the Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The communique released by the ELF, which claimed credit for these recent actions, stated the Center for Urban Horticulture was targeted because it housed the office of Toby Bradshaw who is directly involved in genetically modified tree research. Bradshaw had previously been targeted in November 1999 when activists cut down 200 of his GM trees on campus at the UW.

"Though Bradshaw accepts funding from companies, none of his work is oriented toward near-term commercial goals," wrote Strauss. He is definitely correct about Bradshaw's funding. In fact, Bradshaw receives funds from such timber giants as Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, Scott Paper Ltd., Boise Cascade, Union Camp, Westvaco, Fort James, Weyerhouser, Pacifica papers Ltd., the Potlach Corporation and more. I find it extremely difficult to believe that these industry representatives are not giving Bradshaw money to aid directly in increasing both their short-term and long-term financial gains with the natural environment suffering as a result.

Bradshaw, like many GM researchers and natural resource industry personnel, wants the public to believe he is green. He attempts to put forward a holistic image of compassion toward life and refers to his work as environmentally beneficial. Nothing could be further from the truth. His trees pose a great threat to ecosystems through cross-pollination into native species. Even industry experts cannot deny the fact that gene escape is impossible to prevent entirely. A recent report released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) highlighted the dangers of GM super-trees which can cross-pollinate with native trees over a distance of 400 miles.

It is estimated that over 300 field trials of GM trees have been approved by the USDA without any real knowledge of the consequences. While it is indeed regrettable that there were uncalculated losses involved in the UW fire, I cannot shy away from the fact that the threat to the natural environment and to all life is so extreme, that the actions of the ELF were necessary.

I do find it interesting that students and faculty within the horticulture center were so quick to condemn the ELF action as terrorism, yet at the same time refusing to acknowledge publicly the real and superior threat to life that GM research and crops pose.

The ELF claimed it targeted Jefferson Poplar Farms in Oregon due to hybrid poplars being an "ecological nightmare threatening native biodiversity in the ecosystem." Like Bradshaw in Seattle, Jefferson Poplar has made great strides to appear environmentally sound in its practices. They claim they are growing hybrid poplars to reduce global deforestation and even to replenish areas plagued with increasing desertification.
What Jefferson Polar refuses to mention to the public is that their massive tree farming operation (over 7,000 acres) greatly disrupts and serves to alter the native ecosystem in that area. Large-scale agricultural practices of any crop are harmful and this is no exception. In Jefferson Poplars PR campaign there of course is no mention of the environmental problems associated with massive poplar farming, some of which include depleted water tables, and fertilizer runoff. There has also never been any substantial documented evidence that poplar farming will slow forest loss globally.

It is no coincidence that Steve Strauss authored this In My Opinion Piece. Strauss is no stranger himself to genetic engineering and modification. He is the director of the Tree Genetic Engineering Cooperative at OSU in Corvallis much like Bradshaw who heads the Poplar Molecular Genetics Cooperative at the UW in Seattle. In fact the two are friends and colleagues appearing at conferences together across the country.

Strauss, like Bradshaw, has also been targeted by people opposed to genetic engineering. In March, 2001, 900 of Strauss' GM trees were cut down at OSU and a recent NY Times article (May 23, 2001), reported that "he planned to cut back on genetically engineered trees, in part because of the attacks." Like Bradshaw, Strauss also receives a great amount of funding from the timber industry. Regular members of the Tree Genetic Engineering Cooperative include Weyerhouser, Alberta Pacific, Potlach, Westvaco, and Aborgen.

There is no question as to why Strauss was the one to write the In My Opinion piece backing his friend Toby Bradshaw, they both have invested monetary interests in pursuing genetically modified trees regardless of the cost to life. Strauss is so concerned about the increasing amount of public opinion against genetic modification, he was recently a key planner in an industry think tank attempting to diffuse public objection before it becomes too great. It is no surprise that he is hoping environmentally minded citizens and groups condemn the ELF, for his very career and financial success relies upon it.

The ELF does not only have their science correct, but with the recent actions in Oregon and Washington the group has exposed another body of researchers who behind closed doors away from public scrutiny think they can conduct their work no matter how dangerous. Just like the scientists that developed and pushed DDT forward, just like the scientists who developed the atomic bomb and nuclear weapons.