Consumers Association: Biodemocracy News & Action Alert

August 5, 2004

Another Biodemocracy Victory in Northern CaliforniaTrinity County California Votes to Ban Genetically Engineered Crops It was another bad day for Monsanto and the Biotech Bullies and another victory for the grassroots. Today, August 3, 2004, Trinity County, California became the second county in the nation to ban the production of genetically engineered (GE) crops and animals. By a vote of three to one, Trinity County Supervisors moved to ban GE crops and animals in order to protect Trinity's local economy, including its growing organic sector, and the environment. Today's decision comes in the wake of a March 2 ballot victory by voters in another Northern California county, Mendocino, banning GE crops.

In November four more of California's 59 counties (Marin, Butte, Humboldt, and San Luis Obispo) will be voting on ballot measures to ban genetically engineered organisms (GMOs). Monsanto, the Farm Bureau, and the Bayer corporation have vowed to crush this growing "Biodemocracy" movement, but public opposition to gene-altered crops has put the industry on the defensive. On May 10, Monsanto was forced to cancel plans to commercialize GE wheat, while other GMOs in the pipeline--including trees, fish, and biopharmaceutical crops, are facing increasing opposition, not only in the U.S., but across the world.Trinity's GE Ban has been supported by a broad cross-section of county residents, including organic consumers, farmers, businesses, home gardeners, nurseries, social workers, students, church people, teachers, environmentalists, government employees, and investment, computer, and health professionals,

"Today's vote follows 25 years of tradition in Trinity County, regarding the passage of common-sense ordinances that protect the well being of local citizens," said Susan Bower, local farmer and ban proponent