Texas Republicans Support Mandatory Labeling GMO's

When the Texas Republican party released their 2012 Platform they made it clear that they join millions of Americans across the country who want to know what is in their food by stating that they are in full support of the mandatory labeling of GMO's.  

The 22-page report outlining the party’s platform contains a section titled Empowering Families to Direct their Health Care that promotes freedom of choice in food and medicine, including the freedom not to vaccinate. The Texas Republican Party also opposes all efforts to restrict access to vitamins, herbs, and other supplements, and also takes a stance in support of natural, unprocessed foods, including legalized access for all to raw milk.

A copy of the full report can be read here.

The issue of GMO's in our food is quickly becoming a nationwide concern and conversation.  This coming election everyone will be looking to California to lead the way and it is pretty safe to say that the supporters of this initiative are from a broad base of citizens when you look at the list of endorsements.  

There was a blurp about how Whole Foods refuses to endorse this campaign - too bad for Whole Foods because everyone who believes they have a right to know what is in their food is going to remember that Whole Foods doesn't share that idea and will most likely choose to shop elsewhere!  There was a protest at one Whole Foods market on Saturday August 18th that is probably just the beginning of a wave that will inevitably crash on Whole Foods shores as this campaign continues to grow in support. 

Now is the time for everyone who does share the belief that we have a right to know to step up their efforts to inform and educate their friends, family, co-workers, and community at large about Proposition 37! 

Monsanto's Official Position on Labeling GMO's

Never wanting to be unfair, and always being a person who likes to look at both sides of the story, I searched online to see if anyone at Monsanto had seen fit to respond to any of the serious allegations that you can read about on the Wikipedia page about the company.

I was not surprised at the amount of Newspeak that I saw on the page, but I certainly was disgusted. Rather than waste my time and yours complaining about what large companies get away with, and the sad part about the people who work for them who really believe they are doing the right thing, I will just get on to the main point of contention, and the one most relevant to the topic of this blog: Monsanto's "official" position on the mandatory labeling of GMO foods.

Basically, I would have expected at least the same amount of energy devoted to developing a defensive posture and logical sounding argument as I saw with the other allegations. But, to my surprise, they seem to be willing to settle for the collective ignorance they assume everyone is comfortable with. Their argument against the mandatory labeling of GMO's amounted to this:

(I am not paraphrasing, this is coming directly from Monsanto's official blog.)

"U.S. labeling laws are based on health and safety. Requiring labeling for ingredients that don’t pose a health issue would undermine both our labeling laws and consumer confidence. Ensuring that such labeling is accurate would also put a huge burden on regulatory agencies."

So because an agency that is thought by many to be corrupt (the FDA) and is widely considered to be for sale to the highest bidder has not found any conclusive evidence of health effects of a technology that is younger than I am (I was born in 1978 - the first GMO plants did not grow to maturity in US soil until the late 80's), we should not label GMO foods. Because that would, like, you know, lower consumer confidence in the whole labeling procedure.

This almost qualifies as circular reasoning. They almost just said, "We shouldn't label GMO's because we shouldn't."

Anyways, I hope this will help to fuel the fire within anyone reading this to get the word out between now and November.

A lot of folks I talk to feel dispassionate and hopeless about politics, with the presidential pissing contest in full swing. So many of us have become disillusioned about being able to make a difference in a world where rather than carefully choosing a candidate that aligns most closely with our core values, we are forced to choose the lesser of two evils.

Here is one issue that we can really make a difference on. Join us in the fight for food sovereignty.

Now that we have achieved the preliminary victory of over a million petitions signed, we need to double down and educate everyone of voting age we talk to about this initiative, and keep our wits about us. The Biotech industry is not going to go down without a fight. Let us not repeat the mistakes of others who thought they had this thing in the hole and got thwarted by PR campaigns at the last minute.

GMO Victory Rally & Celebration

 

 

 

GMO Right to Know Victory Rallies: Join us May 2 to Celebrate!

May 2, 2012

11:00 AM

Multiple Locations - Multiple Cities

 

On Wednesday May 2, we will be turning in enough signatures to put the California Right to Know GMO labeling initiative on the ballot! This massive achievement represents the work of thousands of volunteers who are demanding the right to know what's in the food we eat and feed our families.

We’ll unveil the number of signatures and hear from local leaders, farmers, concerned moms, sustainable businesses and supporters who are among the 90% of Californians who want to know if their food contains genetically engineered ingredients. We’ll wheel the petitions into county offices in baby carriages to represent the importance of this issue to children and future generations.

Events will take place in four cities. All events begin promptly at 11 a.m.; please arrive in advance. 

SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco City Hall steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, near Civic Center BART. Speakers: Pamm Larry of Label GMOs, Albert Straus of Straus Family Creamery, local leaders. Organic, non-GMO verified ice cream will be served! Contact: Rachel Pachivas, labelgmosbayareasignatures@gmail.com

LOS ANGELES: Board of Elections office at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk. Speakers: Zuri Allen Star, special guests TBA. Treats and giveaways too! Contact Stacey Hall gmofreesocal@gmail.com

SACRAMENTO: Board of Elections office at 7000 65^th Street, Sacramento. Speakers: Grant Lundberg of Lundberg Family Farms, local leaders and special guests. Contact Susan Lang, happymommy41@yahoo.com 

SAN DIEGO: Board of Elections office at 5201 Ruffin Road, San Diego. Speakers: author Lisa Bronner, local leaders and special guests. Contact Elizabeth Lambe ejlambe@verizon.net

PRESS CONTACT: Stacy Malkan, stacy@carighttoknow.org, 510-542-9224