Organic Bytes #97: Breaking News & Organic Highlights

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Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:10:25 -0800 (PST)

" Organic Consumers Association "

<ronniecummins

Organic Bytes: Breaking News & Organic Highlights

 

 

 

 

ORGANIC BYTES #97

Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!

 

Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

Subscribe to this twice-per-month newsletter:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm

 

IN THIS ISSUE: LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF OCA's BIGGEST SUCCESS STORIES

IN 2006!

 

* BUILDING UP STRONG SUPPORT FOR ORGANICS AMONG ELECTED PUBLIC

OFFICIALS

* KEEPING SYNTHETIC HORMONES OUT OF DAIRY PRODUCTS

* FIGHTING FOR SAFETY & ORGANIC INTEGRITY IN THE BODY CARE SECTOR

* SUPPORTING FAMILY FARMERS BY STOPPING FACTORY FARMS FROM

LABELING THEIR PRODUCTS AS ORGANIC

* LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

* PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH

* PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

This is a special issue of Organic Bytes, highlighting some of the

successful work and campaigning of the Organic Consumers Association

(OCA) in 2006, made possible, of course, by your participation and

support. It's also that time of year when we look ahead and map out

our strategy for 2007. Your grassroots donations--providing over 80%

of our budget--are the lifeblood of the OCA, so please consider

sending us a tax-deductible donation today, either online or by

calling our office. The OCA particularly needs your donations this

year because a number of progressive, although unpredictable,

foundations have recently let us down. We need to raise at least

$50,000 during December in order to hit the ground running at full

capacity in the New Year.

 

LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF

OCA's BIGGEST SUCCESS STORIES IN 2006!

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You are the reason

positive change is happening!

Donate Now!

http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

 

BUILDING UP STRONG SUPPORT FOR ORGANICS AMONG ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS

In 2006, the OCA helped bring to mass public attention a new

non-profit sister political organization, the Organic Consumers Fund

(OCF). Prior to the November elections, thousands of organic consumers

across the nation called on their candidates to fill out OCF's 17

question nonpartisan survey dealing with a broad range of interrelated

issues including organics, energy, climate, health care, peace,

justice, and sustainability. Over 100,000 voters visited the OCF

website to look at the results of the survey and to better gauge who

to vote for in local, state and federal elections. We were happy to

see that many of the state and federal candidates who scored high in

the Organic Consumers Candidate Survey won their races. In 2007, we

plan to work closely with this new crop of leaders in an effort to

redirect a fair share of the USDA's annual $100 billion budget to help

U.S. family farmers make the transition to organic, develop local

markets, and incorporate renewable energy practices on their farms.

Learn more: http://organicconsumersfund.org

 

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Millions Against MonsantoKEEPING SYNTHETIC HORMONES OUT OF DAIRY PRODUCTS

Since our founding in 1998, the OCA has been a leading force educating

consumers about the serious human and animal health hazards of

Monsanto's recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). The synthetic

hormone rBGH (sometimes called rBST) is a genetically engineered drug

designed to force non-organic dairy cows to produce more milk. This

controversial and inhumane animal drug has been banned in Europe,

Canada, and Japan, due to concerns over increased risks for breast and

colon cancer and antibiotic resistance, yet it is still used on many

factory farms in the U.S. Thanks to ongoing consumer pressure by OCA

and our allies, a growing number of mainstream dairy producers and

distributors went rBGH-free in 2006. Several months ago, in response

to increasing grassroots demand, Dean Foods and Wal-Mart (the largest

dairy and grocery chain in the U.S.) began asking their dairy

suppliers to stop injecting their cows with rBGH. In October,

Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture called on the state's farmers to

stop using rBGH. As a result, Monsanto has been forced to cut back

production of rBGH, while informed sources tell the OCA that Dean

Foods and Starbucks--long time targets of OCA pressure--will soon

announce a ban on rBGH milk.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

 

Keep these positive changes happening in 2007!

Donate Now!

http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

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FIGHTING FOR SAFETY & ORGANIC INTEGRITY IN THE BODY CARE SECTOR

Throughout 2006, the OCA has continued its Coming Clean campaign to

stop unscrupulous companies from labeling their conventional or

so-called natural body care products as " organic. " The lack of federal

organic standards for cosmetics and personal care products has

resulted in rampant label fraud-- with body care sections of natural

food stores filled with products mislabeled as " organic, " although

these products' ingredient labels typically reveal a problematic brew

of conventional synthetic ingredients and preservatives.. The OCA has

been working with a committee to develop a new set of labeling

standards for organic body care. This has been a long and intensive

process. Although the OCA is the only consumer advocate on this

committee, we are optimistic that we can develop a rigorous standard

that protects the interests of organic consumers and farmers. Draft

text of the new standard should be available for public input in 2007.

In the meantime, we continue to advise consumers to look for the " USDA

Organic " label when purchasing body care products claiming to be

organic. Most recently OCA has begun an education campaign for

consumers to boycott body care and other products containing untested

and potentially harmful nanotechnology particles.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/

 

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SUPPORTING FAMILY FARMERS BY STOPPING FACTORY FARMS FROM LABELING

THEIR PRODUCTS AS ORGANIC

Organic dairy farms in the U.S. and worldwide have traditionally been

family-scale, pasture-based, and humanely operated. Unfortunately the

booming demand for organic dairy products, coupled with a lack of

support for family scale dairy farmers wishing to convert to organic,

have prompted several profit hungry dairy corporations to set up

industrial scale farms, with a wink and a nod from USDA bureaucrats,

to supply grocery store chains, including Wal-Mart, with millions of

gallons of cheap organic milk. In response, in April 2006, 96% of OCA

network members voted in an online survey to launch a boycott of two

leading organic dairy brands for mislabeling their products as " USDA

Organic. " Shortly thereafter OCA launched a national boycott against

Horizon Organic (a division of Dean Foods, the world's largest dairy

conglomerate) and Aurora Organic. All of Aurora's, and much of

Horizon's, " organic " milk is coming from industrial dairy feedlots,

where the cows routinely have been imported from conventional dairies

and have little or no access to pasture. Since April, thousands of

consumers and a growing number of co-ops and natural food stores have

joined the boycott. Horizon is apparently feeling the heat. Company

representatives have recently contacted the OCA to see if we are

willing to negotiate. This is good sign in the ongoing battle to

preserve organic integrity and stop the " Wal-Martization " of organics.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

 

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LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

OCA continues to focus on the hazards of unlabeled and untested

genetically engineered foods. In 2006 major controversies developed as

genetically engineered grass and rice contaminated the environment and

food stocks. Although the US government has approved the cultivation

of GE wheat, sugar beets, flax, potatoes, fish, and rice, pressure

from the OCA and allied consumer and farm groups around the world has

convinced the biotech industry to hold off indefinitely on releasing

these varieties commercially. An ongoing series of USDA and industry

polls have found that 80-95% of Americans support mandatory labels for

GE food, mainly so they can avoid buying these products. The OCA is

working to recruit over 100 Congressional co-sponsors for a 2007 bill

that would require GE foods to be labeled and safety tested. Mandatory

labeling requirements in the European Union have basically driven

genetically engineered foods and ingredients off the market.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm

 

 

Keep these positive changes happening in 2007!

Donate Now!

http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

 

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PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH

OCA's " Appetite for a Change Campaign " has become one of the most

visited areas of our website, which now receives over a million

visitors per month. In 2006, the campaign focused on educating parents

and schools about issues related to children's environmental health,

including alerts on toxins in toys and schools, strategies for curbing

the childhood obesity epidemic, and banning pesticides known to pose

specific threats to infants and fetuses. In 2006, we saw more schools

introduce organic foods, while simultaneously kicking out junk food

vending machines. The soft drink industry also agreed, at least

rhetorically, to remove soda pop machines from elementary schools. And

the number of parents buying organic foods, with their children's

health in mind, increased more than any other year in history. We look

forward to expanding our Appetite for Change Campaign in 2007.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/afc.cfm

 

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Clothes for a Change--Organic and Sweatshop LaborPROMOTING SUSTAINABLE

AGRICULTURE

The OCA and our allies recently came close to bringing industrial hemp

farming back to the US for the first time in 70 years. A legislative

Bill (AB 1147) in California would have given the state's farmers the

right to grow industrial hemp, which is currently used in numerous

products, including clothing, hemp foods, body care products,

plastics, and oils. The Bill was passed with a strong majority by both

the California Senate and Assembly, but in early October, it was

vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. With the efforts of our " Clothes

for a Change " campaign, OCA and our allies in the hemp movement will

work to reintroduce this bill in 2007. OCA's Clothes for a Change

campaign will also continue to campaign against sweatshop labor and

advocate for organic cotton and hemp in clothing.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/clothes/

 

 

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In addition to the above, the OCA has been involved in a wide range of

other important work in 2006. Here's a sampling of some of our other

campaigns where we have mobilized a massive nationwide network of

concerned citizens, like you, into a positive force for change:

 

*

Pressuring the FDA to Mandate More Safety Testing on Nanotech

Products

* Supporting Farming Legislation that promotes Organic, Local

Production, and Sustainability

* Kicking Fluoride Pesticides Out of Foods

* Supporting Sweatfree Procurement and Worker Rights

* Stopping the Commercial Release of Genetically Engineered Plums

* Getting Toxic Chemicals out of Consumer Products and our Bodies

* Stopping EPA Approval of Pesticides Toxic to Children, Infants

and Fetuses

 

 

 

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None of this work and none of our successes would have been possible

if it had not been for your donations and support.

 

One year from now, OCA will be sending out a " 2007 Progress Report "

just like this. With your help we can make great progress over he next

year. But please, we need your help now!

 

Thank you for walking your talk.

 

Send your tax deductible donation to the OCA now.

Donate Now!

http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

Organic Consumers Association

6771 South Silver Hill Drive

Finland, MN 55603

 

 

If you don't want to make a contribution online, you can talk to us in

person about a donation.

Our toll-free number is: 888-403-1007.

 

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Citizens of the nation: We are cows from Organic Valley, a

farmer-owned cooperative of independent family farms. We live on the

land, grazing abundant pastures, free from the influence of synthetic

hormones and pesticides. Our movement is strong. Our cause is just.

And our milk is undeniably delicious.

 

Visit www.organicvalley.coop to learn about our farmers in your

region. Join Farm Friends to support our movement and receive an

inspirational kit with coupons.

 

 

 

Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on

websites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

_________________________________

ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

6771 South Silver Hill Drive Finland, MN 55603

Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652

 

 

Subscribe: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm

 

 

For another source of daily environmental and political news, in

addition to the Organic Consumers Association, visit:

http://www.ens-newswire.com

 

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