Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 > " The Campaign Reporter " > <thereporter > The Campaign Reporter - July 2004 > Wed, 28 Jul 2004 14:48:30 -0500 > > The Campaign Reporter Online From > The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods > ---- > > Dear Subscribers to The Campaign Reporter, > > This is the July 2004 text edition of our newsletter > -- The Campaign > Reporter Online. > > INSTEAD OF READING THE TEXT VERSION BELOW, WE > RECOMMEND YOU GO TO THE > FOLLOWING WEB PAGE TO READ THE CAMPAIGN REPORTER IN > FULL COLOR: > http://www.thecampaign.org/reporter.php > > We hope you enjoy the July edition of The Campaign > Reporter! > > Sincerely, > > Craig Winters > Executive Director > The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods > > The Campaign > PO Box 55699 > Seattle, WA 98155 > Tel: 425-771-4049 > Fax: 603-825-5841 > E-mail: label > Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org > > Mission Statement: " To create a national grassroots > consumer campaign > for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the > President to pass > legislation that will require the labeling of > genetically engineered > foods in the United States. " > > *************************************************************** > *************************************************************** > > The Campaign Reporter -- July 2004 > Read it in full-color online at: > http://www.thecampaign.org/reporter.php > > The Campaign Reporter is also available in a 2-page > printable PDF format. > Click here (or on the image above) to go to the PDF > version: > http://www.thecampaign.org/reporter.pdf > > ******************************************************** > > Campaign launches PharmCrops.com > > One of the more worrying classes of genetically > engineered crops under > development are pharm crops -- crops engineered to > produce pharmaceuticals, > vaccines or industrial chemicals. > > Biotech companies want to use food crops -- such as > rice or corn -- to grow > these risky pharmaceutical crops. But many > scientists and ecologists are > concerned that pharmcrops will contaminate the food > supply, with unknown > implications for human health. Scientists and > ecologists have determined > that corn pollen, for example, can drift for miles. > > Because of these concerns, The Campaign has launched > www.pharmcrops.com > Please visit the web site, where you'll find lots of > information about > pharmcrops: > http://www.pharmcrops.com > > We have also created activist tools that allow you > to send letters to > Washington, D.C. calling for a ban on the outdoor > growing of pharmcrops. > > Please be sure to visit our new web site at > www.pharmcrops.com and make your > voice heard on this critical issue. > > ******************************************************** > > Permits for pharmcrops increasing > > The number of applications to grow genetically > engineered " pharmcrops " has > seen a significant increase in the past several > months, even though the > controversial practice was nearly abandoned last > year. That's the word from > the Center for Science in the Public Interest. > > In a report released June 2, CSPI says that the U.S. > Department of > Agriculture has received 16 new applications for > biopharming in the past 12 > months. Two-thirds of the applications involve a > food crop such as corn, > rice or barley, " but virtually every other salient > detail about the > application -- sometimes even the name of the drug > or chemical being > produced -- is shielded from public view, " according > to CSPI. > > Gregory Jaffe, director of CSPI's biotechnology > project and author of the > report, says " it is impossible to know whether these > biopharmed crops > present any food-safety or environmental risk, since > the whole process is > shrouded in secrecy. Even the FDA is out of the > loop. What is clear is that > the biopharming industry has been given a big green > light by federal > regulators, even though there is great concern among > food producers and > consumers about using food crops to produce drugs. " > > The Campaign plans to launch a major new web site > and initiative this month > to prevent pharmcrops from being planted in the open > (see above). > > The CSPI report indicates that the government has > not revealed the acreage > or exact location of the permit applications. > However, the USDA has revealed > the states. Four permit applications list Kentucky; > three list Texas, > Missouri, South Carolina or California; two list > California or Iowa; and > Hawaii, Florida, Washington, Nebraska and Arizona > are listed on one each. > > In 2002, the National Food Processors Association > said that it " finds there > is an unacceptable risk to the integrity of the food > supply associated with > use of food and feed crops as 'factories' for the > production of > pharmaceutical or industrial chemicals. " The Grocery > Manufacturers of > America has said that only non-food crops be used > for biopharming. > > In an attempt to offset some of the criticism, the > USDA is promising to > disclose more information about these biopharm > crops. However, these steps > from the USDA are inadequate. If these risky crops > are allowed to be planted > commercially, it will be nearly impossible to > prevent the food supply from > becoming contaminated by pharmaceutical drugs and > industrial chemicals. > > ******************************************************** > > Four more California counties to vote on GM crop ban > > Residents in four more Californian counties have > succeeded in placing > measures to ban the growing of genetically > engineered crops on the November > ballot. > > In March, Mendocino County voters in Northern > California made world > headlines by banning the growing of genetically > engineered crops there. > > The four counties that will consider a ban this > November are: Marin, > Humboldt, San Luis Obispo and Butte. > These four counties grow rice, timber and wine > grapes, three crops that > scientists are working on genetically engineering. > > In addition, activists in Sonoma, Santa Cruz and > Alameda counties are vying > to get anti-GM measures on ballots in those > counties. > > ``If we work county by county, it will end up > forcing the hands of state > officials and the California Farm Bureau to really > start to address this > issue, says Ryan Zinn of the Organic Consumers > Association. " California is > the nation's largest agricultural state. If it were > to decide to ban these > crops, it would have a huge impact throughout the > nation. " > > Dave Henson, Director of Occidental Arts and Ecology > Center and an author of > the initiative in Sonoma, says: " We are very > concerned that our federal and > state governments are planning to allow the release > of dozens of new > genetically engineered plants, fish, trees and > bacteria into our farms, our > environment and our bodies. > > " No long-term studies have been done on the impacts > of genetically > engineered organisms, and none of them have been > proven safe, " he adds. " It > the right and responsibility of the people of Sonoma > County to pass this > initiative to protect our farms, our local economy, > our children, and our > future from harm by GE contamination. " > > " Many of our producers grow their own crops for > silage - vetch, oats, peas > and bell beans. They can't afford to have those feed > crops be contaminated > with new GE varieties, " says Julian Kayne, director > of quality assurance for > Strauss Family Creamery. The creamery buys a large > percentage of its milk > from Sonoma County dairy producers. > > " If they're organic, they'd likely lose their > organic certification, along > with their premium markets, " she adds. " The cow, the > farmer, the consumer > and the environment are all better off without this > stuff. " > > Congratulations to all the folks who have worked so > hard to get these > measures on the ballots. It's grass-roots activism > at its finest! > > ******************************************************** > > Europeans shun genetically altered beer > > Monsanto and other large biotech companies have > joined to fund a Swedish > brewer's lager that contains genetically engineered > corn. > > But so far, the beer has failed to convert many > European fans. > > Kenth beer, as it is called, is made by brew master > Kenth Persson. It > consists of the usual hops and barley, as well as > genetically engineered > corn that is grown in Germany. > > Monsanto and the other biotech companies hope the > beer " can gently sway > consumers as European regulators slowly reopen the > continent to genetically > altered foods, " according to a July 9th report by > the Associated Press. > > But Europe has had a long history of opposing > genetically engineered foods, > and sales of the altered beer have yet to take off. > > Activists from Greenpeace recently chased down > trucks carrying Kenth beer in > Sweden and Denmark. Greenpeace has discouraged store > and tavern owners from > selling the brew, and is pressuring supermarket > chains not to carry it. > > Greenpeace spokesman Dan Belusa says protesters have > encouraged ICA, a major > Swedish grocery chain, to remove the altered beer > from its shelves. > > " Basically no GM foods are sold in Europe because > consumers and retailers > make a conscience choice to say 'no' to them, " he > said. > > The AP article says that " most of the European > Union's 457 million residents > are adamant about their food being kept free from > any sort of modifications, > genetic or otherwise. And that might explain why > Kenth beer is hardly a > barroom hit. " > > Earlier this year, Finland's National Consumer > Research Center conducted a > study that showed that genetically modified foods > represent the biggest > concern Finland's have regarding manufactured food. > Sixty percent of the > population expressed " strong concern " about GMOs, > according to the survey. > > ******************************************************** > > French winegrowers concerned about genetically > modified grapes > > French winemakers are speaking out against the > possibility of genetically > modified grapes. > > Earth and Wine of the World, an association boasting > nearly 400 French > vintners, issued a statement warning against > tinkering with grapes. > > " It is of utmost importance that the future of our > profession is not > determined solely under the influence of scientists, > industrialists and > technocrats, " the group said in a statement after > meeting in Paris in early > July to draw up a plan of action against genetically > engineered grapes. > > The National Institute of Agricultural Research, a > French agency, is looking > into ways to make grapes more resistant to disease, > and plans to grow > modified grapes in test plots. > > " We're not persuaded that the tests will start with > the maximum number of > precautions that we consider absolutely necessary, " > said Alain Graillot, the > president of the vintners association. " We want to > be certain that there > will be no accidental spreading, and that any > possible toxicity of the > plants is completely ruled out. " > > ******************************************************** > > U.S. farmers call for strict policy on biotech wheat > > The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), > the largest U.S. wheat > group, said earlier this month that any company > introducing a strain of > genetically modified wheat in the United States > should first obtain > regulatory approval from countries that import U.S. > wheat. > > That's one of several guidelines NAWG plans to > introduce at a meeting in > North Dakota later this month. NAWG said it will > " vigorously oppose " any > biotech wheat that does not meet the principles. > Swiss company Syngenta is > considering a biotech spring wheat. > > ******************************************************** > > Percy Schmeiser loses court case to Monsanto > > The Canadian Supreme Court has ruled in favor of > Monsanto against > Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser, ending a > seven-year dispute. > > In 1997, Monsanto found a genetically engineered, > Roundup Ready variety of > canola, copyrighted by the company, on Schmeiser's > farm. Monsanto sued > Schmeiser, who said he was an innocent bystander. > Schmeiser claims the > biotech corn arrived on his farm by accident. > > While we're disappointed by the Canadian court's > decision, there are two > pieces of good news: The vote was close (5-4), and > the court decided that > Percy will not have to pay court costs and profits > totaling more than > $150,000 to Monsanto. > > " This has been a personal victory, because the court > ruled against Monsanto > for the cost of trial and profits, " said Schmeiser. > " I look at the big > picture. It's not the victory we were looking for, > but I and my wife have > done everything possible to bring it this far, and > to me that is a victory. " > > Percy Schmeiser is a winner in our eyes. And we > wouldn't be surprised if > this victory for Monsanto serves to galvanize the > opposition against their > aggressive tactics. > > This ruling may serve as a wake up call to organic > and conventional farmers > and to consumers that we need to fight harder to > pass legislation regarding > genetically engineered foods. Both the U.S. Congress > and the Canadian > Parliament need to address the issues of labeling, > safety testing and > liability. > > As German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche > (1844-1900) stated, " That which > does not kill me makes me stronger. " > > Monsanto may find that by winning this case, they > really lost. > > ******************************************************** > > Excellent New Book! > > GMO FREE: Exposing the Hazards of Biotechnology to > Ensure the Integrity of > Our Food Supply is a 133-page book does a terrific > job of providing the > facts about genetically engineered foods. The book > is authored by the > Independent Science Panel's Mae-Wan Ho, Ph.D., and > Lim Li Chang. > > Only $10.95 each > http://www.thecampaign.org/books.php > > Make a donation and get this book FREE! > See details below. > > ******************************************************** > > Make a Donation to The Campaign > > Please support the efforts of The Campaign to Label > Genetically Engineered > Foods by making a donation. > > To make a donation, visit the following web page: > http://www.thecampaign.org/donate.php > > During the checkout process, you will go to a web > page on a secured server > to safely fill in your payment information. > > Bonus Book Offer! > > If you make a donation of at least $25 before the > end of August, we will > give you a FREE copy of the new book GMO FREE: > Exposing the Hazards of > Biotechnology to Ensure the Integrity of Our Food > Supply, a $10.95 value. > (See previous item for more details about the book.) > Simply request your > copy in the " Comments " area during the check-out > process. > > ******************************************************** > > Special Sale! > Take Action Packets > > 50% Discount! > > We are offering an exceptional 50% off on our > popular 32-page Take Action > Packets. > > Box of 50 - $25.00 > (price includes shipping) > Sale price $12.50 > (25 cents each) > http://www.thecampaign.org/tap.php > > ******************************************************** > > Copyright 2004 > The Campaign > PO Box 55699 > Seattle, WA 98155 > 425-771-4049 > label > http://www.thecampaign.org > > --------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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