Brief document and links on Battelle Memorial Institute, a "notoriouis" top bio-chem-nuke warfare Pentagon and CIA contractor and a Call to Animal Rights Activists to help stop the proposed partnership between Battelle, University of Toronto and MaRS - Toronto's biotech hub.

1. PAML document on Battelle Institute
2. Open Letter to Animal Rights Activists
3. Battelle Memorial Institute - links

I

March 4, 2006
This document produced by People Against Militarization of Life (Int’l)

BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE: labs, projects, dangers, what we don’t want; what to do

BATTELLE NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION: Dept of Defense, the Dept of Homeland Security, Intelligence Agency

• Pioneering work on uranium for development of atomic bomb - Manhattan Project
• Capabilities in chemical, biological, radiological and explosives warfare development
• Expertise in fields from missile defense to advanced Weapons of Mass Destruction development
• Vaccine development testing against (weaponized) Anthrax: also Developing Anthrax immune to vaccines
• Experience in management of major research and development laboratories
Source:  http://www.nationalsecurity.battelle.org/about/history.aspx

Battelle operates the following facilities:

Medical Research and Evaluation Facility (MREF), West Jefferson, Ohio
Purpose: Using science and technology for research of bio-chem weapons
MREF consists of the following laboratories:
- Biological Defense Research Laboratory: BLS-3 studying aerosolized agents in living systems (animals), vaccine lot testing, vaccine efficacy testing, imunogenicity testing, immunity markers
- Chemical Defense Research Laboratory: using highly toxic chemical agents in animals, aerosol exposures.
Source:  http://www.armedforces-int.com/categories/medical-research/battelles-medical-research-and-evaluation-facility.asp  http://www.nationalsecurity.battelle.org/about/location_MREF.aspx

It has been a site of a top secret defense project in partnership with the CIA called “Project Jefferson” for production and dissemination testing of weaponized Anthrax. Anthrax attacks and deaths in 2001 in the U.S. have put Battelle under heavy scrutiny.  http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2002/31 Battelle was also named in a lawsuit by the family of the first victim of the anthrax attacks. Palm Beach Post, September 25, 2003  http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/anthraxsuesgov.html

Chemical and Biological Information Analysis Centre (CBIAC) – the focal point for DoD Chemical and Biological Defense scientific and technical information.  http://www.cbiac.apgea.army.mil/

BATTELLE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) DIVISION

Amongst many others, Battelle operates the following labs:

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (managed by UT-Battelle, LLC—consisting of Battelle and the University of Tennessee); Battelle was fined for Nuclear Safety Violations at Oak lab  http://www.energy.gov/news/2812.htm

• Idaho National Laboratory - Nation’s premier laboratory for nuclear energy research, development, demonstration and education within a decade.” Office of Public Affairs, DOE Nov 9,04  http://www.energy.gov/news/1539.htm

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT FOR MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Military-industrial complex contracts Battelle to do work on environmental safety and environmental impact analysis, human health risk assessments, ecological risk assessments, environmental audits in water, soil, sediments, air and biota  http://www.battelle.org/environment/geneva/whatwedo.stm
There is no INDEPENDENT assessment when a bio-chem-nuke warfare maker does the assessment. This assessment is a cover-up of information necessary for public and environmental safety. This is illustrated in the examples such as:
• Battelle’s conducting environmental risk assessment of Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska for ExxonMobil corporation to dispute long-term destruction of the Prince William Sound ecosystem with statements (as pronounced by ExxonMobil VP) such as “environment has remarkable power of recovery,” “there is no environmental benefit with further cleanup,” “oil residue has [no] significant biological effect”.  http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Newsroom/Newsreleases/xom_nr_171203.asp
• Battelle’s conducting water safety in the U.S. for the “federal agencies [which] are actively advocating that each man, woman and child drink, eat and bathe in … silicofluorides” with “two waste products of the fertilizer industry used in 90% of fluoridation programs. (Congressional US Testimony on Fluoridation, Statement of Dr. William Hirzy National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 280 before the Subcommittee on Wildlife, fisheries and Drinking Water US Senate)
In his statement, Mr Hirzy asks the Senate for INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF results produced by Battelle  http://home.iae.nl/users/lightnet/world/congressionalfluoride.htm
• A Pentagon-sponsored [and Battelle led] study of weapons made from depleted uranium has concluded that it is neither toxic enough nor radioactive enough to be a health threat to soldiers in the doses they are likely to receive." New York Times Oct19,04  http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2004/DU-Danger-Pentagon19oct04.htm

WHY WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH BATTELLE INSTITUTE IN OUR CITY?

There is a proposal to the National Research Council for creation of a National Centre for Biomedical Innovation inside MaRS (Medical and Related Sciences). This is a proposal for a partnership between University of Toronto, MaRS and Battelle Institute, which is supported by leading research hospitals such as Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai, University Health Network, St. John’s and Sunnybrook and Women’s.  http://www.trra.ca/PDF/TRRARelease-122005.html
“David Naylor, president of the UofT, says the university has been talking to Battelle for two years. ‘Battelle does contract research and manages research for many institutions, often in partnership with universities. They know how to do it’”  http://trra.ca/PDF/TheStar20051220-1.html (Toronto Star Business Section Dec 20,05)

• A top bio-chem-nuke DoD & DoE and CIA contractor, Battelle Institute, will be moving in downtown Toronto possibly signifying expansion of the reach of DoD, DoE and CIA it contracts for into the heart of Canada
• It will manage Canadian biomedical research facility assuming position of control and leadership. We should be concerned about passing a steering wheel of a biomedical facility in downtown Toronto into the hands of Battelle which is experienced in top secret projects developing weapons of mass destruction, fined for nuclear safety violations, linked to Anthrax attacks in the US in 2001 …
• Battelle will operate/manage high level biocontainment labs which may be used for undeclared production of bio-chem-nuke warfare agents: this involves transportation, storage and work with deadly viruses for which potentially there is no cure. These viruses do escape. Please see a document by the Council for Responsible Genetics which compiles a list of known accidents
 http://www.gene-watch.org/bubiodefense/pages/accidents.html
Battelle is neither about public health safety nor environmental safety, very possibly about coverup of environmental and public health dangers.
• Battelle experiments on (tortures and kills) million of animals (cats, dogs, primates, pigs, rabbits etc.)
• Battelle will operate in a publicly built, operated, staffed, maintained, supplied infrastructure. Why are we paying?
• Battelle’s management of Canadian biomedical research facility is apparently supported by administrations of research hospitals, a public university and potentially public funding agency. Our high public officials should be accountable to people of Toronto, however
• The public is not informed.
• The public has never seen the proposal. National Research Centre displays no above mentioned proposal on their website.


WHAT WE DON’T WANT

We don’t want:
• UofT-MaRS partnering with Battelle Memorial Institute
• Pentagon & CIA connected classified bio-chem-nuke “research” operations conducted in our city or anywhere else
• Clandestine testing of deadly and toxic bio-chem agents on animals and unsuspecting public
• Pay for all this from our pockets.
• Co-mingling, “collaborations” or “partnerships” between our public universities, public hospitals and public health with Battelle Institute or the likes of it. In these public-private partnerships our public institutions lose their independence, become less publicly accountable and ethical standards are lowered. They become co-opted and subservient to industry. The integrity of our public institutions including UofT becomes suspect and our public taxpayer monies cannot be accounted for.
• Our public health subservience to military-industrial-biopharma complex
• Our public health (labs) co-optation: less public, more ties to private industry – is it becoming another public-private partnership?

We need experts and all interested individuals who tell the truth without delay and who can foresight all realistic dangers through objective and scientific monitoring, inquiry and investigation in order to keep public HONESTLY informed.


WHAT TO DO?

• Join us for Info Picket & Vigil on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 12 Noon SE corner of College and University. Pickets & Actions Ongoing-please contact us.

• Come to International Women’s Day March – March 8, 2006 - starting at OISE and ending up at Ryerson. Please visit PAML booth.

• Come to Info Session on Saturday March 11/06 @ 4PM at OISE (252 Bloor W.) Foor 7, Room 162

• Express your concerns. Please write to:

Minister of Research Dalton McGuinty  Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca

NDP MP Olivia Chow  Chow.O@parl.gc.ca

UofT president David Naylor  president@utoronto.ca

National Research Council (NRC) President Pierre Coulombe
 pierre.coulombe@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca (they will be a partner and a major funder-our money)

And please CC your comments to  PAML4PEACE@GMAIL.COM


II


Open Letter to all Animal Rights Activist Organizations

On Tuesday March 7, 2006 @ 12 Noon (S.E. corner of University and College) we will be holding our ongoing Info Picket & Vigil against M.a.R.S. – UofT – Battelle Institute partnership (this vigil with Homes not Bombs). Battelle is one of the wold's most "notorious" animal killers and torturers – killing by the millions. They are coming to Toronto at MaRS complex which devotes a whole floor for an animal research lab in the Toronto Medical Discovery Tower ( which is part of Phase I of The MaRS Centre). There are many issues involved in this "partnership." We hope that you join us in this ongoing struggle. The following information and links may be useful. Please contact us for information on coordinated future pickets.
 http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=6066

Ivona Vujica
Coordinator
People Against Militarization of Life (Int'l) – PAML
 PAML4PEACE@GMAIL.COM
416 760 6107


III

BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE:

HOMES NOT BOMBS, TORONTO – STATEMENT AGAINST BATTELLE PARTNERSHIP
 http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/battelle.htm

BATTELLE INSTITUTE and ANTHRAX DEATHS AND SCARE IN THE U.S. IN 2001
 http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2002/31
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36408-2001Nov29
 http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/anthraxsuesgov.html
 http://www.tetrahedron.org/news/NR011214.html
 http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2005/1221

"BATTELLE PANEL'S TOP TEN INNOVATIONS FOR THE WAR ON TERROR"
 http://www.battelle.org/news/04/5-10-04TopTenTerrorInnova.stm


BATTELLE INSTITUTE, BUSH AND ANIMAL TORTURE
 http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=6066

BATTELLE INSTITUTE CLASIFIES DOCUMENTATION ON WW2 EXPERIMENTATION WAR CRIMES WITH BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WARFARE MATERIAL. THESE DOCUMENTS WERE A RESULT OF A RESEARCH STUDY BATTELLE INSTITUTE CONDUCTED FOR DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY
 http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/1999/09/ravnitzky.html

BATTELLE INSTITUTE FUNDING UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
 http://www.nationalreport.utoronto.ca/national/1999/friends_investment.htm

BATTELLE INSTITUTE IS A TENANT AT MaRS (Medical and Related Sciences - College St./University Av. intersection in Toronto)
 http://www.marsdd.com/ (links: Explore MaRS; MaRS Centre; MaRS Centre Tenant Directory)

BATTELLE INSTITUTE A MAJOR INVESTOR IN PRIMAXIS TECHNOLOGY VENTURES INC. - ILSE TREURNICHT, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MaRS IS A FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PRIMAXIS. ILSE IS WIFE OF UofT PRESIDENT DAVID NAYLOR
 http://www.futureforum.ca/about_speakers.htm
 http://www.battelle.org/news/02/02-12-02optimer.stm

BATTELLE INSTITUTE DOES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR EXXONMOBIL
 http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Newsroom/Newsreleases/xom_nr_171203.asp
 http://www.battelle.org/environment/industry/exxon.stm
 http://www.battelle.org/environment/geneva/

BATTELLE INSTITUTE - AN EXPERT ON SAFE DRINKING WATER?
 http://home.iae.nl/users/lightnet/world/congressionalfluoride.htm


PAML

PAML (Int'l) is a network of academics, students, grassroots organizations and individuals. PAMO led the successful campaign against military partnerships at OISE/UT. For more information please see the following links:

 http://publish.indymedia.org/en/2006/02/834073.shtml

Varsity: "President Naylor gets Pranked"
 http://www.thevarsity.ca/media/paper285/news/2006/02/16/News/President.Naylor.Gets.Pranked-1617127.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.thevarsity.ca

Letter to the Varsity: "President Naylor gets Pranked"
 http://www.thevarsity.ca/media/paper285/news/2006/02/28/OpinionAnalysis/Letters-1641236.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.thevarsity.ca&page=6

“Is OISE facilitating military research?”
 http://www.cupe3902.org/newsletters/folder.2005-01-21.2837594843/05_summer.pdf (p.6)

 http://torontoraginggrannies.nonprofitnet.ca/Militarization%20of%20OISE%20and%20UofT.

“OISE up on arms: UofT institute bombed with criticism over partnership with military-friendly firm”  http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-02-10/news_story4.php

e-mail:: PAML4PEACE@GMAIL.COM homepage:: http://publish.indymedia.org/en/2006/02/834073.shtml, http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/battelle.htm phone:: 416 760 6107

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