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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| FEBRUARY
1, 1999 12:35 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rainforest Action Network Mark Westlund -- ranmedia@ran.org Erick Brownstein -- osani@ran.org |
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| Scientists Discover Source Of HIV-1 To Be Chimpanzees In Logging-Threatened Rainforest; Without Immediate Preservation, Cure For AIDS May Be Lost Forever | ||||
'The old growth rainforest that may likely hold effective treatments and a cure for AIDS is being cut to the ground, and the chimpanzees that might carry the antibody are being killed to feed the logging crews. There is a warning and a promise in Dr. Hahn's discovery: rainforests are indeed nature's medicine chest, but if we are going to save them we need to act now.' - Kelly Quirke, Rainforest Action Network Executive Director CHICAGO - February 1 - Environmentalists saw a new imperative for rainforest preservation today when AIDS scientists announced a study proving the source of Human Immunodificiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), the virus that causes AIDS in humans, to be a subspecies of chimpanzees native to the logging-threatened old growth rainforests of Cameroon and Gabon. Many of the healing medicines available today originated from rainforest biological sources, and now it seems that a potential cure for AIDS may come from the rainforests of West-Central Africa. The scientific study was presented at the 6th Conference on Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infections by University of Alabama at Birmingham scientist Dr. Beatrice Hahn; it solved a 20-year puzzle regarding the origins of the worldwide AIDS epidemic. Rainforest Action Network's executive director Kelly Quirke, in Chicago for the conference, commented: "There are several things average Americans can do to help save Africa's rainforests and the life-saving potential they hold. First of all, make sure that the wood and wood products you purchase are certified not to come from old growth rainforests. Then, send a letter to your congressperson insisting that proposed African free trade bills include complete protection for Africa's forests and wildlife." Chimpanzees, including the source subspecies for HIV-1, are identical to humans in 98-percent of their genetic makeup, yet appear to be resistant to the damaging effects of the AIDS virus on their immune system. Scientists may be able to obtain important clues to develop cures and treatments for AIDS by studying the biological differences, and the ecology of the chimpanzees' rainforest home. The chimpanzee, as well as other great apes and endangered species, are in peril of being wiped out by the so-named "bushmeat" trade. Increased logging activities in Cameroon and Gabon have provided unprecedented access to remote forest regions, and have led to the killing of thousands of chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys for human consumption. Dr. Hahn believes that HIV-1 was introduced into the human population through exposure to blood during hunting and field-dressing of these animals. Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth's rainforests and support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots organizing and non-violent direct action. RAN's Africa Campaign is funded as part of a $1-million grant from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. ### |
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