California Coalition for Workers Memorial Day

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Unmasking The Bay Area Bio-lab and Synthetic Biology
Health, Justice and Communities At Risk

March 29th 2012, 7-9:30 PM
David Brower Center
2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the Department of Energy plan to build a high-profile experimental laboratory in Richmond.  While public pronouncements tell us the lab will focus on “green” energy research, the truth is more complex.

A primary focus of the new lab will be synthetic biology: an extreme form of genetic engineering that creates self-replicating artificial life forms from synthesized DNA.  The development of these high-risk genetic technologies is largely driven by the oil, chemical, agribusiness, and pharmaceutical industries, the military, and other federal agencies, in a rapid, high-profit commercial race.  But the risks synthetic biology poses to worker safety, public health, social justice, and the environment are poorly understood, and lack adequate oversight, transparency or protections.

Join us for a presentations and public dialogue on the expansion of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, the dangers of synthetic biology, and the local and global implications of this controversial industry.

Presenters include:
• Nnimmo Bassey, Right Livelihood Award Winner (the Alternative Nobel Prize) (Nigeria)
• Maria José Guazzelli, Center for Ecological Agriculture (Brazil)
• California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day
• Injured Workers National Network
• Andrew Kimbrell, Director, Center for Food Safety
• Jeremy Gruber, President, Council for Responsible Genetics
• Jim Thomas, ETC Group
• International Center for Technology Assessment
• Global Justice Ecology Project

“When scientific power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men.” – Martin Luther King Jr.