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What is Bio-Democracy and Why Does it Matter?
-An essay by OCA National Director Ronnie Cummins
GET ACTIVE: Stop Bush's Biotech Bullying!
According to the Chicago Tribune, the White House is attempting to force famine stricken countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, to plant genetically engineered (GE) crops, as part of a $770 million aid package.
Untested and largely unregulated GE crops are controversial, not only in Europe and other industrialized countries, but in the developing world as well. At least 40 countries around the world have restricted GE farming and ingredients in foods by requiring mandatory labeling, while a number of nations and regions have banned genetically modified organisms in agriculture altogether.
Beyond health and environmental concerns, GE crops have not proven to significantly increase yields, but rather force farmers to stop saving their seeds and instead buy toxic chemicals and highly priced patented seeds from biotech companies such as Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dupont, and BASF.
Links to Other Campaigns
Working
to Create
GE-Free Zones:
Stop Monsanto's Genetically Engineered Sugar Beets
OCA & Allies Call for a Consumer Boycott of Kellogg's Brands
Visit OCA's Kellogg's Boycott Action Center
TAKE ACTION
Act today and tell Corporate America that you don't want Genetically Engineered Sugar in your food!
GE Sugar Beets to Hit Stores in 2008!
American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar company and several other leading U.S. sugar providers have announced they will be sourcing their sugar from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets beginning this year and arriving in stores in 2008. Like GE corn and GE soy, products containing GE sugar will not be labeled as such.
Since half of the granulated sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets, a move towards biotech beets marks a dramatic alteration of the U.S. food supply. These sugars, along with GE corn and soy, are found in many conventional food products, so consumers will be exposed to genetically engineered ingredients in just about every non-organic multiple-ingredient product they purchase.
The GE sugar beet is designed to withstand strong doses of Monsanto's controversial broad spectrum Roundup herbicide. Studies indicate farmers planting "Roundup Ready" corn and soy spray large amounts of the herbicide, contaminating both soil and water. Farmers planting GE sugar beets are told they may be able to apply the herbicide up to five times per year. Sugar beets are grown on 1.4 million acres by 12,000 farmers in the U.S. from Oregon to Minnesota.
Meanwhile candy companies like Hershey's are urging farmers not to plant GE sugar beets, noting that consumer surveys suggest resistance to the product. In addition the European Union has not approved GE sugar beets for human consumption.
Save BioDemocracy Monsanto Laws
Consumers and farmers from California to New England have been taking action over the past years to protect their local communities from genetic pollution by passing local, city, and county ordinances banning genetically engineered (GE) crops. Cities, counties and townships have passed such laws to assure the health, safety, and welfare of their communities, while exercising their democratic right to local control.
In response to these ordinances and resolutions, the biotech industry and corporate agribusiness are striking back with a vengeance. 15 states have recently passed "Monsanto laws" taking away the rights of cities and counties to ban GE crops. Now legislators in California, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Carolina are facing the lobbying power of the biotech industry and are threatening to pass controversial "preemption" laws that would take away local rights to regulate GMOs. The OCA is actively involved in trying to stop these "Monsanto Laws" from being passed .
Click on map for larger view
Map courtesy of Environmental Commons
Download:
Toolkit on Fighting Preemptive Legislation in Your State: How To Secure Local Control of Our Food & Environment
GE-FREE ZONE NEWS HEADLINES
RECENT HEADLINES
- 12/21/08 - Monsanto Tried to Block Austrian Government Funded Research Showing GE Corn Causes Infertility
- 11/12/08 - Hawaii County Council Moves to Ban GE Coffee & Taro
- 11/11/08 - Ireland Committed to Remaining GMO-Free
- 10/24/08 - Counties in California & Hawaii Ban GE Crops
- 05/06/08 - Biofuel, Food Shortages, & the Comeback of the Biotech Bullies
- 03/17/08 - California: GMO Ban Efforts Start in Lake, Monterey Counties
- 07/30/07 - In a Misguided Attempt to Reduce Pesticide Use, Maine Allows Farms to Grow Modified Corn
- 3/14 - How Big Corporations are Taking Away Your Right to Know What's in Your Food
- 3/13 - Biotech Foods: David Versus Goliath
- 3/7 - Hawaii Considers Ten-Year GMO Ban
- 2/16 - New York Bill Would Require Labels on Genetically Engineered Seeds
- 2/6 - Heated Debate Over Law That Would Prohibit Local GMO Bans in Michigan
- 2/3 - Genetically Engineered Seed Labeling Law in Vermont Not Being Enforced
- 1/26 - Ronnie Cummins: What is Biodemocracy & Why Does it Matter?
- 1/24 - The EU Must Resist U.S. Pressure and Protect Consumer Rights on GE Foods
- 1/23 - Big Biotech Going After Community Control in Michigan
- 1/12 - The Global Spread of Genetically Modified Crops
- 1/5 - Vermont Legislature Waters Down GMO Crops Liability Bill
- 1/2 - Vermont May Become First State to Extend Protection to Farmers from GMO Contamination
MORE GE-FREE ZONE NEWS HEADLINES: 2005 - 2004 - 2003
Host
a BioDemocracy Alliance House Party
with The GMO
Trilogy
The
GMO Trilogy is a new DVD
and CD set produced by bestselling author Jeffrey
Smith, which shows how genetically modified organisms (GMOs) put our
health and environment at risk, may impact consumer perceptions and buying
habits.
Click here to order
The three-disc set includes:
Disc 1, DVD: Unnatural Selection
Awarded “Best Film,” (CineEco, Portugal), “Best Long Production,” (IEFF, Brazil), and “Best Journalistic Achievement,” (IEFF, Germany). “Meticulously researched, excellently photographed” (Ökomedia)
This stunning European documentary made available for the first time in the US, reveals several harsh consequences of genetic engineering worldwide:
- A failed GM cotton crop prompts farmer suicides in India.
- Windborne GM canola contaminates organic and conventional farms in Canada. One farmer fights Monsanto in the Supreme Court.
- A company seeks approval for giant GM salmon that may threaten the survival of the natural species.
- GM pigs are born with ghastly mutations.
- And experts reveal how inadequate testing and regulations put us at risk.
It features Vandana Shiva, Andrew Kimbrell, Percy Schmeiser and others.
Disc 2, DVD: Hidden Dangers in Kids’ Meals: Genetically Engineered Foods
Shocking research results, inadequate regulations and warnings from eminent scientists explain why GM foods are dangerous and should be removed from kids’ meals. The dramatic story of how student behavior in a Wisconsin school was transformed with a healthy diet provides added motivation to make a change. It features Jeffrey Smith and more than a dozen scientists and experts.
- “Hidden Dangers pierces the myth that our government is protecting
our food supply.”
John Robbins, Diet for a New America - “It will change the way you look at food forever.” Howard Lyman, Mad Cowboy
- “The revelations in Hidden Dangers make our choice clear— take
needless risks with genetically engineered food or just say no to this
madness.”
Frances Moore Lappé, Diet for a Small Planet - “Watch this video and start educating yourself.” Candace Pert, PhD, Molecules of Emotion
- “When parents watch scientist after scientist describe the dangers of GM foods, I wouldn’t want to be a stubborn food service director trying to stand in their way.” Hunter Lovins, Natural Capitalism
Disc 3, Audio CD: You’re Eating WHAT?
Jeffrey Smith, author of the world’s bestselling book on GM foods, Seeds of Deception, describes how biotech companies rigged research, hid health dangers and pressured government regulators to approve food that even FDA scientists said was unsafe.
- “The most powerful presentation I have ever heard on the issue of genetically engineered foods.” Craig Winters, The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
The GMO Trilogy is sponsored by:
Eden Foods,
Nature’s Path,
Organic Valley,
Frey Vineyards,
Nutiva,
NOW Foods,
French Meadow Bakery,
Organic Food Bar, Organic Consumers Association,
Sweet Wheat,
Seventh
Generation,
The Institute for Responsible Technology, and others. Click
here to order
2005 GE-FREE ZONE NEWS HEADLINES
- 12/28 - Vote Coming on Vermont GM
Crop Liability Bill
- 12/28 - GM Seed Preemption Bill Debated in Michigan
- 12/6 - Michigan Citizens Fight for GE Free Zones
- 11/22 - Industry Dirty Tricks Defeated Ban on GE Crops in Sonoma County, California
- 11/22 - Moving on after Sonoma GE-Free Vote
- 11/11 - Despite Ballot Initiative Defeat, Anti-GE Campaigners in CA Will Continue Working
- 11/10 - Voters reject Sonoma ban on genetically modified crops
- 11/7 - Alert: Michigan Senate on Verge of Outlawing Community Rights to Regulate GE Seeds
- 11/4 - Sonoma County Ballot Measure to Ban GE Crops Going Strong, Needs Last Minute Help
- 10/28 - Sonoma County California Debates a Possible Ban on Genetically Engineered Crops
- 10/14 - Moratorium on GE Alfalfa Fails in Lake County, California
- 10/12 - Farmers Divided over Proposed GE Crop Ban in Sonoma County California
- 10/3 - BioDemocracy Under Attack in California
- 9/26 - California County Ponders Moratorium on New Monsanto Genetically Engineered Alfalfa
- 9/11 - CA Bill Aims to Stymie BioDemocracy
- 9/8 - Sonoma County (CA) Citizens Fight Back Against Industry Lies in Effort to Ban GE Crops
- 8/19 - Lake County (CA) Considering GMO Moratorium
- 8/16 - North Carolina Preemption Fight Heats Up
- 8/16 - "Monsanto Law" Banning County Rights to Restrict GE Crops Draws Outrage in NC
- 8/8 - Background Info on Oregon's Proposed Biopharm Crops Ban
- 8/8 - "Monsanto Laws" Prohibiting GE Crop Bans Goes Beyond GMOs
- 8/5 - Preemption goes Beyond GMOs
- 8/1 - Oregon Senate Votes in Favor of Nation's First State Biopharm Crop Ban Bill
- 8/1 - Hot Debate in Sonoma County California Over Ballot Measure to Ban GE Crops
- 7/18 - More News on Monsanto Law in California to Take Away Local Rights to Ban GE Crops
- 7/12 - OCA Weighs In on California Preemption Debate
- 7/8 - BioDemocracy Facing Hijack Threat
- 7/5 - Battle to Stop Counties from Banning GE Crops Heats Up in California
- 7/3 - ACT NOW: BioDemocracy under Attack in California
- 6/28 - Despite U.S. Pressure Five EU States Continue Bans on GE Crops
- 6/22 - GMO Ban on Sonoma County California Ballot in November
- 5/31 - Biopharm Crop Ban Heads for Vote in Oregon Senate
- 5/31- More on Farm Bureau & Biotech Taking Away Community Rights to Ban GMOs
- 5/27 - Hawaii Puts the Brakes on Two New GMO Crops
- 5/25 - Point Arena (CA) Becomes Second California City Ban GMOs
- 5/25 - Agri-Toxics Lobby Unites to Fight Against a GMO Ban in Sonoma County, CA
- 5/20 - "Monsanto Laws" Take Away Community/County Rights to Ban GMOs
- 5/19 - Thousands of Local Communities Have Declared Themselves GMO-Free in Europe
- 5/17 - Suppressing Biodemocracy: States Passing Laws to Stop Counties from Banning GMOs
- 5/4 - GE Crop Liability Bill in California Put On Hold Until 2006
- 4/18 - Agribusiness & State Bureaucrats Team Up to Stop Communities from Banning GE Crops
- 4/12 - Most of Poland goes GE Free
- 4/7 - Vermont Senate Passes GMO-Pollution
Protection Law for Farmers
- 4/7 - More on Vermont Senate Passing Farmers GMO-Protection Bill
- 4/5 - Vermont Senate Moves GE Crops Liability Bill Forward
- 4/1 - 58% of Canadians Support GE-Free Zones
- 4/1 - Maine Community to Vote on Whether to Ban GE Crops
- 3/30 - US States Passing Laws to Block Local GMO-Free Ordinances
- 3/23 - Half of Poland Declares Itself Free of Gene-Altered Crops
- 3/22 - Farmers in Vermont, Africa, and Japan Seek Protection from GE Crops
- 3/17 - Iowa Legislature Moves Toward Removing Local Governments Right to Ban GE Crops
- 3/11 - GMO-Free Marin's Impact Goes Beyond County
- 3/11 - Action Alert--Tell President Lula of Brazil to Ban GE Crops
- 3/9 - Action Alert--Congressman Kucinich Needs Co-Sponsors for GE Food Labeling Bill
- 3/4 - Sonoma County (CA) To Vote on GE Ban
- 3/2 - Iowa Bills Will Prohibit GE-Free Zones & Restrict Farmer Choice
- 2/28 - Biotech Bill in Iowa Would Take Away Local Rights to Regulate GMOs
- 2/25 - Canadian Province Debates Going GE-Free
- 1/26 - GMO-Free Zones Movement Growing in Europe
- 1/7 - Sonoma County (CA) GMO Ban Makes the Ballot!
- 1/5 - GE Free VT Gears Up for Big
Year
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2004 HEADLINES
- 12/30 - GMO-Free Municipalities Spreading Across Italy
- 12/1 - EU Votes to Maintain Country Bans on Genetically Engineered Crops
- 11/22 - Arcata, California Bans Genetically Engineered Crops
- 11/18 - Biotech Bullies in Panic to Stop Spread of GE-Free Zones
- 11/18 - Arcata, California Bans Genetically Engineered Crops
- 11/16 - GE-Free Zones Are Spreading Across Italy
- 11/12 - Powell River: Canada's 1st GE Free Zone
- 11/8 - Arcata, California Set to Ban GE Crops
- 11/5 - Despite Industry Spin, OCA & Anti-GE Movement Will Go Forward in California
- 11/4 - OCA Press Release on Marin County Ban on GE Crops
- 11/3 - Marin County Bans Biotech Crops
- 11/2 - Labels Will Be Required on All Gene-Altered Seeds in Vermont
- 11/1 - Biotech Industry Running Scared in California
- 10/28 - USA Today Covers CA County Bans
- 10/26 - Fate of GE Crops on Ballot in 3 Counties
- 10/25 - Paul Hawken: Five Reasons to Vote for A County Ban of GE Crops
- 10/25 - Arcata, California Moves Toward Ban of GE Crops
- 10/25 - Natural food retailers “act locally” against GMOs
- 10/23 - California GE-Free Ballot Initiatives May Determine Future of Agriculture
- 10/21 - SLO GE Free Debate
- 10/21 - Arcata City Council (CA) Explores a Mendocino Style GE Ban
- 10/20 - San Luis Obispo GE Free Debate
- 10/19 - A Grassroots Battle over Biotech Farming
- 10/14 - CCOF Supports GE-Free Initiatives
- 10/12 - Farm Bureau Money Dominates in Butte County CA GE Ban Ballot Initiative
- 10/5 - California Organic Farmers Support GE Crops Ban Ballot Initiatives
- 9/30 - Marin Board of Supervisors Endorse GMO Ban
- 9/28 - Update on California GE Free Campaigns
- 9/23 - Hawaii Farmers Call for GE-Free Zones
- 9/16 - Analysis of San Luis Obispo County GMO Initiative
- 9/16 - Campaign for GE-Free Zones in Europe Goes Forward
- 9/16 - GE Contamination of Papayas in Hawaii & Thailand
- 9/13 - New Film "The Future of Food" is Inspiring the Anti-GE Movement in America
- 9/7 - Controversy over Wording of GMO Ban Initiative in Humboldt County CA
- 8/26 - GE Free Zones Around the World
- 8/24 - "Granny Green Genes" Lead the Charge for a GE Ban in Humboldt County California
- 8/23 - New "Future of Food" Movie is a Hit!
- 8/19 - California Agribusiness Vows to Suppress County GMO Bans
- 8/18 - Sonoma County California Will Try to Get GE Ban on Ballot in 2005
- 8/17 - SLO GE Free Campaign Update
- 8/12 - SLO GE Free Campaign Update
- 8/12 - California Rice Lobby Threatens to Kill County GMO Bans
- 8/5 - Organic Consumers Association: BioDemocracy News & Action Alert
- 8/4 - More News Coverage on Trinity County (CA) GMO Ban
- 8/4 - Second California County Bans Genetically Engineered Crops
- 8/3 - Trinity County, CA Board of Supervisors Vote to Ban GE Crops & Animals
- 8/2 - OCA & California County Activists Have Biotech Industry Rattled
- 7/28 - Biotech Bullies Slander OCA & Growing Biodemocracy Alliance in California
- 7/26 - GE Free Sonoma (CA) Moving Forward
- 7/23 - Debate Over Possible GE Crop Ban in California Rice Growing County
- 7/20 - Reuters on OCA & BioDemocracy Alliance Campaign in California
- 7/19 - National Farm Group Supporting GE Free County Campaigns
- 7/18 - BioDemocracy Alliance Press in Sacramento News
- 7/13 - OCA PRESS RELEASE: New Alliance forms to Defend CA Campaigns to ban GE-Crops
- 7/13 - BioDemocracy Alliance in California
- 7/12 - Marin GE ban qualifies for ballot
- 7/9 - GE Free Hits the Big Screen
- 7/1 - SLO GE Free Submits Petitions
- 7/1 - GE Crops Ban Debate in Sonoma County, CA
- 6/28 - California BioDemocracy Update
- 6/25 - San Luis Obisbo County California Will Likely Vote on GE Ban in November
- 6/18 - GMO Free Butte Makes Ballot in CA Rice Country
- 6/17 - Vermont Governor Signs Law Requiring Labeling of GE Seeds
- 6/10 - California Adrift in Biotech Legal Limbo
- 6/9 - California BioDemocracy Update
- 6/7 - SF County Government to Vote on Supporting Anti-Biotech Protests
- 6/4 - GE Free Boulder County Campaign Launched
- 6/4 - GE Free Humboldt Confronts Farm Bureau
- 6/3 - GE Free Butte Moves Forward
- 6/1 - ALERT: San Luis Obispo signatures needed- GMO Free Petition deadline is Wednesday 6/2!
- 5/26 - GE-Free Zones Spreading in Europe
- 5/24 - Pennsylvania State Legislature May Make Local & County GE Crop Bans Illegal
- 5/17 - GMO Free Vermont Alert
- 5/13 - Marin (CA) Announces Biotech Ban Initiative
- 5/10 - New Zealand Debates Regional Control over GE-Free Zones
- 5/4 - Mendocino Leading the Charge Against GMOs
- 5/4 - San Luis Obispo moving forward on GE-Ban
- 5/2 - GE Free VT - CALLS NEEDED on Farmer Protection Act
- 4/29 - Vermont Governor Signs Bill Requiring Labeling of GMO Seeds
- 4/26 - European Greens Call for a Thousand GE-Free Zones
- 4/23 - "Success" of GE & Industrial Ag in U.S. Based Upon Suppression of Democracy
- 4/23 - San Luis Obisbo (CA) Considering GE Ban
- 4/23 - Update on GE-Free Zones in Europe
- 4/23 - BioDemocracy Spreading in Butte County, California
- 4/22 - BioDemocracy Spreading in Venezuela
- 4/20 - GE Free VT - Right to Know bill on Governor's Desk - CALLS NEEDED NOW!
- 4/20 - North Dakota Petition Drive May Put Controversial GE Wheat Issue on the Ballot
- 4/13 - Why Genetically Engineered and Organic (or Non-GE) Crops Cannot Co-Exist
- 4/13 - Vermont Legislature Votes for Mandatory Labeling of Gene-Altered Seeds
- 4/13 - Controversial Gene-Altered Pharm Rice Put on Hold in California
- 4/6 - GE-Free Zones Spreading in Australia Despite U.S. Pressure
- 4/5 - Canada's Prince Edward Island Debates Whether to Go GE-Free
- 4/2 BioDemocracy Spreading in California
- 3/26 - Second Major State in Australia Bans a GE Crop
- 3/25 - GE Crop Ban May Spread Across Australia
- 3/24 - Western Australia Bans GE Crops
- 3/25 - Consumers & Farmers Call for GE Moratorium in Vermont
- 3/15 - Action BioDemocracy Under Attack: Defend the Mendocino Ban
- 3/12 - Vermont Senate Passes Historic Law to Protect Farmers from GMO Contamination
- 3/12 - Report from the Grassroots--The Mendocino Victory
- 3/12 - Mendocino GE Ban Sows Seeds of Dissent
- 3/8 - Mendocino GE Ban Rattles the Biotech Industry
- 3/8 - Canada Island May Boot GMO Crops
- 3/3 - Mendocino County bans biotech crops!!
- 3/2 -Mendocino Today, Humboldt Tomorrow
- 3/1 - More on Historic Mendocino Anti-GE Ballot Initiative
- 3/1 - Frankencrops Debate Heats Up in Vermont
- 2/27 - USA Today covers Mendocino
- 2/26 - Big Biotech Shells Out Almost $400k to Defeat Mendocino GMO Ban
- 2/23 - Biotech Industry Spends $300,000 to Stop California County from Banning GMOs
- 2/23 - Showdown in Mendocino garnering National Attention
- 2/20 - Commercial Fishermen support Mendocino's GMO Ban
- 2/10 - Californians for GE Free Agriculture Move Forward
- 2/2 - Biotech Industry in a Panic to Defeat GMO Ban in California County
- 1/15 - Biotech Industry Frantically Spending $ to Stop GMO Ban in Mendocino County, CA
- 1/12 - California County Ballot Measure to Ban Biotech Crops Scares Industry
- 1/3 - GMO-Free Mendocino Wins Legal Battle Against Biotech Industry
2003 HEADLINES
- 12/6 - County Government OKs Anti-GMO Ballot Initiative in California
- 11/20 - Ballot Initiative to Go Forward in California County Banning GMOs
- 10/13 - GE-Free Petition in Mendocino County CA Will Spark a Major Battle
- 8/21 - Mendocino County California Seeks to Become GMO-Free Zone
- 6/2 - Support for a GE Free Maine
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