Guest guest Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 " The Campaign Reporter " The Campaign Reporter - May 2004 Sat, 15 May 2004 06:11:38 -0500 May 2004 Featured articles this month Major victory: Monsanto drops biotech wheat! Vermont to require labels for altered seeds California update: More counties consider bans on genetically engineered crops Venezuela bans engineered crops The Campaign officially launches Save Organic Food Coalition Major victory: Monsanto drops biotech wheat! Terrific news: Monsanto has announced that it is “deferring all further efforts to introduce Roundup Ready wheat”! The company is bowing to stiff opposition from farmers and citizens around the world who oppose genetically engineered wheat. Monsanto’s decision is a huge victory for farmers, environmentalists and those concerned about safe food. However, Monsanto has indicated that it may look to develop modified wheat in the future if opposition decreases. The Washington Post, in a front-page story May 11, called Monsanto’s decision “the biggest defeat yet for advocates of agricultural biotechnology— and a victory for skeptics who said the company was trying to foist on the world a crop it did not want or need.” Just three years ago, it seemed that biotech wheat was on the fast track to being approved by both the U.S. and Canadian governments. However, Monsanto appears to have miscalculated just how strongly North American farmers and foreign markets oppose altered wheat. According to the Post, “While a few gene-altered crops have won wide acceptance among farmers, none is used primarily as human food and none carries the philosophical significance of wheat, fields of which make up the “amber waves of grain” that symbolize the bounty of North America. Monsanto’s efforts to develop gene-altered wheat had been watched around the world as a bellwether for the future of agriculture.” The New York Times on May 11 wrote that Monsanto’s “announcement indicates how difficult it is becoming to introduce genetic engineering into new crops beyond the four that have been genetically engineered for years - canola, corn, cotton and soybeans.” The Los Angeles Times reports that many analysts believe that Americans aren’t ready for such a blatant use of biotechnology. “You read a long list of ingredients in a typical processed food, and people don’t react to that in the same way as they would a loaf of bread in which they know that biotech wheat is the primary ingredient,” Michael Rodemeyer, executive director of the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, told the Times. While we’re thrilled by the news about wheat, we realize that we have won a battle, not the war. One of our biggest pushes right now is our new Save Organic Food campaign. Learn more at our new web site, www.saveorganicfood.org. Vermont to require labels for altered seeds In a classic example of the power of grassroots activism, Vermont has become the first state to require labeling on genetically engineered seeds. Beginning Oct. 1, seeds that are genetically altered must be labeled as such in Vermont. Vermont officials estimate that between 20 and 40 percent of the seeds used in Vermont are genetically engineered. Without the efforts of some incredibly dedicated activists in Vermont, this bill would have never made it through the Vermont Senate and House. The governor signed the bill into law late last month. “This is great news,” said Amy Shollenberger, policy director of Rural Vermont. “It’s a great first step for Vermont to enact this right-to-know bill.” Everyone who worked so long and hard in Vermont to get this billed signed into law can feel proud of their outstanding victory. Congratulations Vermont activists! To learn more about what’s happening in Vermont, visit the GE Free Vermont web site at www.gefreevt.org. California update: More counties consider bans on genetically engineered crops Now that California’s Mendocino County has successfully passed a voter’s initiative to ban genetically engineered crops from being grown there, people in more than a dozen California counties are considering doing the same. The Santa Rosa Democrat on May 4 reported that folks in Lake, Sonoma, Humboldt and other counties are considering initiatives. Lake County farmer Philip Murphy told the newspaper that his reasons for supporting a ban are economic. “We have to respond to the wants of the marketplace,” he said, adding that Europe and Japan have widely rejected genetically engineered foods. Els Cooperrider, owner of Ukiah Brewing Co. and a leader in the successful Mendocino effort earlier this year, said that people from nine counties attended a recent workshop in Ukiah to learn about passing initiatives. Angela Flynn of Humboldt Green Genes said that activists in Humboldt County so far have collected 4,500 signatures. They want to gather about 7,000 signatures by July to ensure that they have signatures from enough qualified voters to get the initiative on the ballot. That requires 4,400 valid signatures. The San Luis Obispo Tribune reported May 1 that local environmentalists are attempting to place an initiative on the November ballot in San Luis Obispo County that would prohibit genetically engineered crops from being grown there. Some biotech leaders—not surprisingly, considering their financial involvement—are pooh-poohing the initiative drives. Some are making outlandish arguments. “I don’t care what goes on in Mendocino,” Joe Panetta, president of Biocom, a group that represents San Diego biotech companies, told the San Diego Tribune May 2. “They can get high on marijuana, sit around eating organic food and all be thinking that somehow they’re living healthier lives than the rest of us. I think it’s a joke.” We think California activists are setting a tremendous example for the rest of the country, and we encourage folks to get involved in the fight to ban the growing of genetically engineered foods at the local level. We invite you to join in The Campaign’s “All Politics Are Local Politics” drive. Our goal is to get hundreds of resolutions introduced at the city and county level in the next couple of years. You’ll find details on our web site at www.thecampaign.org/cities.php. Venezuela bans modified crops Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias announced last month that no genetically engineered crops will be grown in Venezuela, “possibly establishing the most sweeping restrictions on transgenic crops in the Western Hemisphere,” according to Venezualaanalysis.com. Monsanto had planned to plant up to 500,000 acres of genetically engineered soybeans in Venezuela. According to Venezuelaanalysis, “President Chavez emphasized the importance of food sovereignty and security—required by the Venezuelan Constitution—as the basis of his decision. Instead of allowing Monsanto to grow its transgenic crops, these fields will be used to plant yuca, an indigenous crop, Chavez explained. He also announced the creation of a large seed bank facility to maintain indigenous seeds for peasants’ movements around the world.” “If we want to achieve food sovereignty, we cannot rely on transnationals like Monsanto,” said Maximilien Arvelaiz, an advisor to Chavez.“We need to strengthen local production, respecting our heritage and diversity.” Hopefully the outspoken opposition of genetically engineered crops by President Chavez will serve as an example to other Latin American countries. The Campaign officially launches Save Organic Food Coalition The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods issued a Press Release May 3 through PR Newswire with the title of " Save Organic Food Coalition Launches Effort to Protect Organic Foods From Biocontamination. " The Press Release, posted below, announces the formal launch of the Save Organic Food coalition: http://www.saveorganicfood.org As you may be aware, the Save Organic Food web site has been active while under construction for the past two months. During that time we had only one ACTION ALERT available, for the public comment period that recently ended regarding the USDA proposal for an environmental impact statement. We have now launched our primary ACTION ALERTS targeting members of the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives and the Secretary of Agriculture: http://www.saveorganicfood.org/senatealert.php http://www.saveorganicfood.org/housealert.php http://www.saveorganicfood.org/usdaalert.php We strongly encourage you to participate in the ACTION ALERTS. Send an instant e-mail to your House Representative and your two U.S. Senators requesting that they ask the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to hold hearings into the failure of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect organic crops from contamination by genetically engineered crops. We are pushing aggressively for a ban on the outdoor growing of all genetically engineered corn. Besides sending e-mails, we encourage you to print out the form letters and mail these to your members of Congress. E-mail is quick and easy, but letters sent by the U.S. Postal Service have much greater impact. So please send both e-mails and letters. We also invite you to join the Save Organic Food coalition if you have not already done so: http://www.saveorganicfood.net/coalition.php Membership is FREE and you have the option of being publicly listed on the web site as a member. Farmers, companies and organizations can include complete contact information including a 25-word description: http://www.saveorganicfood.net/members.php PR Newswire sent out our press release to thousands of media contacts across the United States. Using PR Newswire provides much greater attention to our activities than if we simply faxed out the press release ourselves. What we are doing with the Save Organic Food coalition is so important, we feel it is essential to reach a large media audience. However, it is rather expensive to use the PR Newswire service. It cost us $750 for the 400 word press release. If you would like to make a donation to help support our efforts to " Save Organic Food, " you can do so above on the left or at the following web page: http://www.saveorganicfood.org/donate.php Thanks for your participation and support! Press Release Monday May 3, 8:00 am ET Save Organic Food Coalition Launches Effort to Protect Organic Foods From Biocontamination SEATTLE, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Save Organic Food coalition and web site (www.saveorganicfood.org) are officially being launched this week as The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods (www.thecampaign.org) undertakes a new effort to protect organic food from contamination by genetically engineered crops. " The American public has really embraced organic food in the past several years. Organic food is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. food industry, " says The Campaign's Executive Director, Craig Winters. " But at a time when the popularity of organic foods is soaring, organic crops are also at great risk. Across the country, organic farmers are reporting that their crops are being contaminated by genetically engineered crops being grown on neighboring farms. " If the U.S. government's inability to protect organic crops is not addressed, consumers risk no longer being able to purchase foods free of genetically modified organisms. And organic growers stand to lose millions of dollars if they are no longer able to export their products to other countries that don't want contaminated food. The Save Organic Food coalition's first step is to apply pressure on Congress to hold hearings into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's failure to protect organic foods from genetic contamination. " The USDA has stood by idly and watched while organic farmers across the country have been harmed by genetic contamination, " Winters says. " We are encouraging organic food supporters to contact their Representatives and Senators and tell them to hold hearings on the USDA's refusal to address this issue. " The Save Organic Food web site (www.saveorganicfood.org) features instant e-mails and form letters that citizens can send to Representatives and Senators urging them to make sure the USDA lives up to its responsibilities to protect organic farmers and the environment from the hazards of genetically engineered foods. " We're also encouraging folks to join the Save Organic Food coalition, " adds Winters. " Membership is free for citizens, organizations, businesses and farmers, and it helps create a powerful voice in the effort to keep organic foods pure. " The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods is a 501©4 (non-tax deductible) non-profit political advocacy organization. (www.thecampaign.org) Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health is a 120-page book does a terrific job of providing the facts about genetically engineered foods. It was written by Ken Roseboro, editor and publisher of The Non-GMO Source, a monthly newsletter for food producers. This is a great book to share with others! Only $5.95 each (price includes shipping) Make a Donation to The Campaign Please support the efforts of The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods by making a donation. Bonus Book Offer! If you make a donation of at least $20 before the end of May, we will give you a FREE copy of the Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health book, a $5.95 value. (See previous item for more details about the book.) Membership in The Campaign is FREE! With your membership, you are able to log into the " Members Only " section of The Campaign's web site. There you will find four news feeds on genetically engineered foods and 16 other news feeds on a variety of health and environmental subjects. When you join online, if you live in the United States, you can request a Membership Card and a copy of the flyer " Why Label Genetically Engineered Foods. " Campaign PO Box 55699 Seattle, WA 98155 425-771-4049 label www.thecampaign.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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