US Government Okays Planting of Genetically Engineered Trees

Federal regulators gave clearance Wednesday for a large and controversial field test of genetically engineered trees planned for seven states stretching from Florida to Texas.

Genetically engineered trees have the potential to arouse even more controversy than genetically modified crops like corn or soybeans, which are made using the same techniques. That is partly because many people have an emotional attachment to forests that they do not have to cornfields.

Moreover, because trees live longer than annual crops and generally can spread their pollen farther, there are concerns that any unintended environmental effects may spread and persist longer in a woodland environment than in crop fields.

The Agriculture Department said Wednesday that it had received comments opposing the field trial from 12,462 people or organizations, compared with only 45 supporters of the trial. But a vast majority of the opposing comments were nearly identical form letters, it said.'

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Israelis Don't Even Spare Palestinian Trees

Israeli forces have uprooted thousands of trees in their raids on Palestinian territories to inflict still another blow at the nation's crashing economy.

Palestinian sources accuse the Israeli regime of destroying some 400,000 trees during their incursions into territories under the Palestinian Authority's rule in the last two years.

They describe the damage as a systematic move aimed at mounting financial pressure on Palestinian families, especially those living off their farms and orchards.'

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6,000 Trees Axed to Prevent Sex Romps in Forest

More than 6,000 trees have been chopped down by a council at a stunning beauty spot - to stop couples having sex in public.
The conifers were felled on the 12 hectare site after it became a hotspot for 'dogging' - where people have sex with strangers while being watched.
A huge expanse of forest that runs for kilometres alongside the busy A666 was axed after a health and safety survey.

It claimed some of the trees, planted after the Second World War, were in danger of falling down.
But police and councillors have confirmed the cull was also ordered to discourage doggers.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'It's awful that a public green space, an asset to the local community, has been destroyed mindlessly.

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