What, all run by gigantic corporations? Is that really the answer? I think not. That would be the absolute destruction of everything and the classic way of ensuring that there is no food in the future. Millions of small farmers will be driven off their land [by global conglomerates] into unsustainable, unmanageable, degraded and dysfunctional conurbations of unmentionable awfulness. The "clever" genetic engineers have put us on course for the biggest disaster environmentally of all time. We should be working with nature. We have been working against nature for too long."
-- His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, 2008
This November, California voters may be able to decide if they are rightfully entitled to full disclosure on supermarket foods containing any genetically engineered (or modified) ingredients, and that these foods need to be appropriately labeled and identified. It's estimated that 75 percent of the processed foods on supermarket shelves in the U.S. contain genetically engineered ingredients. Eighty-eight percent of U.S. corn, 94 percent of soybeans and 93 percent of canola are presently grown with genetically engineered seeds.
Not sure exactly what genetically modified or engineered foods are? Well, fasten your seat belt folks, 'cause it's a bumpy ride. This aberration of nature occurs in a biotech lab when a geneticist inserts a bacterium into a corn seed to make the corn resistant to certain pests or herbicides. Or, they may extract a specific gene of one species, let's say a flounder, and then insert it into another, such as a tomato. These genetically modified or engineered foods are collectively known as GMOs. This method of plant breeding and genetic manipulation differs from traditional plant breeding.
While 30 countries, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, have significant restrictions and labeling requirements, or outright bans on the production of GMOs, there are presently no U.S. laws requiring GMO labeling.
There is a growing body of scientific research that indicates genetically engineered crops put our health at tremendous risk. "'Transgenic' seeds reduce the use of some insecticides," says Doug Gurian-Sherman, a plant pathologist and senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "But herbicide use is higher, and respected experts argue that some genetically engineered crops may also pose serious health and environmental risks. The benefits of genetically engineered crops may be overstated."
Jeffrey Smith, consumer advocate and director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, says that FDA scientists had repeatedly warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. "They urged long-term safety studies, but were ignored," claims Smith.
Recent polls show that 9 out of 10 Americans want GMO foods to be labeled. Sometimes all it takes is the volatile vociferous voice of an Italian granny from Chico, California to have her Samuel L. Jackson "Snakes on a plane" moment, and bravely cry out, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"
Pamm Larry, farmer, midwife, businesswoman and a gutsy grandmother of three was so distraught about our modern day food system that she quit her day job and spent her time educating herself on GMOs and how to apply for a ballot initiative. Next, she searched out her team and went straight to the state capital to painstakingly navigate through the bureaucratic muddle of tedious paperwork necessary to put an initiative on the California ballot.
Grandma Larry and her galvanized cadre of concerned citizens represent the sane, spirited voice of a growing number of skeptical Americans who don't necessarily trust better living through chemistry. There are serious and valid concerns that the biotechnology companies creating these seeds have not adequately researched the long term health and environmental effects. Bear in mind, this initiative is not demanding these foods be removed from the food system, but rather Californians are justifiably demanding to know just what they are eating and feeding their children. (Wacko hippies! Why can't they just blindly trust the MAN?)
On Feb. 18, 2012, California voters will be able to sign a petition to place this highly charged issue on the ballot. Once 560,000 signatures are collected between February and April, 2012, this measure goes mainstream and onto the November ballot in the form of the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act.
I spoke with Pamm Larry a week before the signature gathering period begins.
You are the original instigator and the Northern California organizer of the Label GMOs campaign.What made you courageous enough to take on Monsanto and the other biotechnology companies?
I don't feel like I'm taking on Monsanto or the others. I'm simply taking a strong stand for our right to know what's in our food. I woke up to the knowing that it was time for me to do more than whine and be depressed about our food situation. I've since come to believe that I'm so glad I let go of the belief that it was someone else's job to get this done. If I care, it's mine. It's been a quite the eye opener.
Had you been politically active in the past, and how painful was the application process for a ballot initiative?
I've always been politically aware, but this it the first time I've done any organizing. The actual paperwork of forming the committee was easy. The part about writing it was an amazing process to witness... and I need to be infinitely clear that I did not write this. Lawyers, politicians, scientists, processors, farmers all came together. No one, least of all me, would have wanted me to write this. It was a labor of love that these folks devoted themselves to and I am so grateful to them!
Who came on board next to help?
The Organic Consumers Association (www.OCA.com) came on board. Ronnie Cummins, Alexis Baden-Mayer and the rest of the team were right there from the beginning and have continued to be a driving force for truth telling in the organic industry and keeping the grassroots strong. I admire them immensely. Jeffrey Smith and the Institute for Responsible Technology www.responsibletechnology.org) helped out at a crucial point in our grassroots building. Because they were willing to put out the word to their members to help me get meetings in communities, labelgmos.org (www.labelgmos.org), the original grassroots effort, grew exponentially in a very short time.
I commend Stacey Hall, who helped organize and support the leaders in the south, and the over 100 leaders around the state who believed in this long before anyone else did. They are volunteering 20-40 hours a week to see this gets on the ballot and then voted on come November. Then there's another hero; our webmaster, who has created an amazing site on no budget to speak of.
Are you surprised by how many Americans don't know what a GMO is?
Yes. I believe it's been a very well orchestrated program of silence. I've been an avid organic fan for decades and I hadn't even heard about GMO's until about 8 years ago. I find many in the same place. Amazing to me, especially since it's a huge subject once you start down the rabbit hole.
How can we best educate the public on this issue?
I believe this will be won on the streets, one by one, with us talking to our communities, looking in each others eyes. That's how it began. We need to talk about it with each other. We need to spread the word and invite folks to learn more- read articles, watch films. We've got to wake up to what's happening to our food supply and take back our food sovereignty. I recently learned that the California Medical Association has a resolution in support of labeling Genetically Engineered foods. If the doctors think it a good idea... well... that's sure something yes?
"Since Monsanto started to control the cotton seed in 2002, 240,000 have committed suicide. They get into debt since the new seeds are patented and the companies collect huge royalties. Farmers have been bombarded with the idea that their seeds are primitive and inferior; that the new seeds are modern and improved."
-- Vandana Shiva, director of www.Navdanya.org a seed-saving organization that has helped rescue thousands of plant varieties from extinction.
What do we need to have this initiative pass?
First we need to get it on the ballot. That requires 560,000 qualifying signatures. We have the services of a signature gathering professional to lead that drive and all are confident that we'll get there. Please visit www.labelgmos.org and volunteer to help us gather signatures. Come to a one hour training workshop and then hit the streets with your neighbors!
Then we need to educate folks about the issue. They have a right to know that they are innocently and blindly feeding their children; foods developed, then grown, via a genetically engineered process that has not had any long term testing on humans and that has increased the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Which companies are backing the labeling campaign?
David Bronner, of Dr. Bronner's Magical Soaps (www.drbronner.com) decided to get involved. His passion and commitment just blows me away. He is the reason large companies and the various NGO's finally decided to give this a second look. Without him, this initiative would not be where it is today. Because of him, the Center For Food Safety (www.centerforfoodsafety.org) became involved in writing the initiative. The folks who wrote the actual law did an incredible job. Food Democracy Now (Fooddemocracynow.org) brought its expertise in grassroots support of farmers.
Mercola.com, Nature's Path, Lundberg Farms have all invested time and financial support in moving this initiative forward. Straus Dairy has been amazingly supportive in many ways. (One of which is hooking us up with their rocking ice cream whenever we ask!!) And now our coalition is growing to include other endorsers and supporters of varying involvement. Frey Vineyards, Nutiva, Guayaki, Amy's, Organic Pastures and UNFI have also been supportive. There are others you can find on Labelgmos.org.
What will be the talking points of the opposition?
1. "We have been doing this for thousands of years."
Answer: NOT true. This is not about hybrids or selective breeding. The initiative is clear in its definition of what a genetically engineered food is. It is where they take the DNA or RNA of one animal, plant, yeast, etc, and put it in another animal, plant, yeast, etc. It cannot happen in nature. For instance, in nature, a fish and a tomato do not breed and reproduce a new entity.
2. "What about feeding the world?"
Answer: First off genetically engineered foods are not feeding the world. There are books on the subject. The UN and the University of Davis both came out with studies last year stating that the way to feed the world is NOT via corporate monoculture agribusiness; it's through agroecology (the application of ecological principles in farming). But even though the 'feeding the world' thing is a great PR myth, at the end of the day, what does feeding starving children in Africa have to do with labeling GE foods in California? Nothing. It's a different subject that's used to confuse people.
3. "Food costs will go up."
Answer: NOT true. Companies change their labels all the time. There is a phase in period where all companies could easily incorporate this change into the design, too. Did everyone notice a jump in prices when they started labeling trans fats? No. Same thing here. There is no cost to the state. To say otherwise is a blatant diversion and misrepresentation or the person has not read the language of the law.
4. "The government (FDA) says we don't need labeling of GMOS because they are the same as non GMO."
Answer- NOT TRUE. They are using 14th century science with that policy: if it looks the same and (in general) smells the same, it must be the same. We are asking the FDA to use 21st Century science.
"If there's nothing for us to worry about, then seed and chemical companies should freely allow studies to be done so that food companies can confidently label their products. Show us the science saying that there's nothing to worry about, and then label products, proudly."
-- Maria Rodale
What have you learned from this that you can pass on to other citizens wanting to get a measure on a state ballot?
Just start. I've learned that if we wait for someone else to do it, it won't get done. I had no idea where this would end up. I still don't. If I had waited for funding to start, this would not exist. If I waited for others to agree with me, I would have stopped after a month. While I believe "experts" and "professionals" are vital to everything in life, if I had listened to them carte blanche, this initiative would not be where it is today.
I simply "knew" this was right, knew I could not stop, and kept on going. I let go of the outcome and continue to, knowing that I've done all I could to make it happen. The rest isn't up to me. I believe this is happening because it's time. It simply needed a tenacious, focused spark and a commitment to keep on going no matter what.
Fundraising. How much is needed and where can "people who like to eat" send donations?
The coalition is gearing up for a very large sum as initiatives are very expensive. You can donate to the coalition effort at http://www.carighttoknow.org. Labelgmos.org will continue to raise monies independently as the original grassroots effort and member of that coalition. Our primary need for funds is for printed materials and film rights to educate the public about GMOs. You can donate on our site at www.labelgmos.org.
Note to readers: If you get out there and collect signatures, you will instantly become my star student. And, if you vote for this on the November ballot, I will buy you all ice cream.
Send (organic) ice cream to Annie at www.dirtdiva.com
Did this woman really write a book?
LOL
"This aberration of nature occurs ina biotech lab when a geneticist inserts a bacterium into a corn seed to make the corn resistant to certain pests or herbicides. Or, they may extract a specific gene of a flounder, and then insert it into a tomato." This is a gross mis-generalization of biotechnology.
There are legitimate concerns surrounding the use of GMO's and the legal policies surrounding GMO's. As was quoted from a few experts in this piece, many companies use genetic modification asa way to tag seed stock and then use that asa tool in suing farmers who don't buy their seed stock. Monsanto is famous for this practice. There are also many unexplored nuances in the risk/reward of things like herbicide resistance, or human allergies to endogenous insecticidal proteins. But these arguments are not even understood ona basic level, by many in the "BAN GMO's!" camp. The amount of 'frankenfood' imagery and hyperbole in this article are examples of that.
How will the accurate labelling of GMO's in consumer products benefit and empower people if they don't even know what any of it means? It reminds me of the HFCS issue. So many people focus on the chemically sounding name and get caught upin high fructose corn syrup specifically, they forget that the real issue is that there an overwhelming amount of sugar added to most processed foods.
So if I were to take a gander, I would say that he does NOT believe the Monsanto PR, and that you are the one with limited information (not really limited, but wrong).
In 1996 the first of the GMO Pesticide crops were sold. I can see that most people don't understand that GMO Pesticide crops make their own pesticide to protect the plant from insects and Monsanto's product Roundup. The "O" is for Organism, a living Organism that stays alive in your stomach. The FDA and Monsanto lied about this, they said that the Organism dies in the stomach but after tests were done on people they found out that only about half did die and the other half lived. What scares people is the fact that it Organism could and can mingle with the stomach DNA to make the stomach a human Pesticide factory. Because the whole plant is a Pesticide humans and animals are getting 1400 to 1800% more Pesticide than if the farmer just sprayed Pesticide. This is why Americans are getting new disease and many of the old disease. The FDA said there is only a slight differents between GMO and your normal food, but the differents is kill us. Being that Monsanto owns so much seed normal food is pretty much gone. In 2015 Monsanto will be coming out with GMO Pesticide wheat. If you are not eating Organic you are most likely eating GMO Pesticide foods or ingredients. Remember GMO Pesticide foods are 100% Living Pesticide, it is waiting for your stomach. Every cell of a GMO plant is Pesticide!
There is no live organism you consume (well, I guess if you managed to swallow whole seeds without chewing, they are technically viable seeds until broken down by stomach acid and enzymes). There is no alteration of the DNA found in the cells of your GI tract to turn them into pesticide factories.
Apparently if you found out that the meal you were half-way through had food grown from genetically engineered seed in it, you still wouldn't know what you were eating.
Once in a while I read the Monsanto info I know other countries have banned these seeds, etc. I know I read they want to put agent orange in the seeds.
I have to watch out what I eat and if like in the article they are putting yeast in these seeds then I need to know for my health since I can't have yeast or sugar and yeast turns into sugar.
I have read the man that heads the FDA or close to it has ties to Monsanto and that is a conflict of interest I would think.
I think labeling is good why can't we know what is in our food just as our products we don't get that info. Oh there is some labeling but it doesn't tell everything.
So many getting crazy illnesses are related to our foods and products, etc. and all for a company's profits. It isn't about us anymore. And try to get help when you get an illness from some product. Very difficult.
I am glad someone is doing something and happy they are progessing. Why can't we just have safe food and products. Most of us can't afford organic which has a few problems also.
Our democracy has been circumvented by corporate influence in every possible way.
What part of this don't you antiTechnology Luddites understand?
People simply want to know what's in their food, so they can decide for themselves.
On many occasions people such as yourself have accused the anti-GMO people of being under-informed.
Doesn't this seem like a great way to inform them?
Besides the impracticality and unenforcability of what this initiative proposes, it will result in hippies instilling the same fear in the general population as they did with rBST dairy products. Any opposition to recombinant bovine somatotropin should be to how it affects the health of treated cows and not its effect on people who drink it, which is no different than the effect of drinking non rBST milk.
So, bring forth a single shred of credible evidence that shows GM crops are dangerous for human consumption and I will join in on your cause.
Until then, IF YOU DONT WANT TO BUY GM FOODS, BUY USDA ORGANIC
Its really that simple.
If Monsanto is so sure their products cause no harm, then they should have no problem with their products being labeled.
1) GMO
2) Sprayed with pesticide
3) Organic & expensive (because it's harder to grow food without chemicals or genetic engineering)
4) Grow your own
I can assure you Monsanto labels all their products. It's the people who buy their seed to grow & sell crops that aren't labeling them, due to the irrational fear associated with "frankenfoods."
GMO Crops Remain a Global Failure
This is one petition I will sign. I generally no longer sign anything from those grocery store gatherers. But if it is *this* initiative, I'll be proud to sign it.