The
slogan of the OCA for this fall is "Vote Organic–Today & Everyday."
And of course by this we mean that you, along with America’s 30 million
other organic consumers, should "vote," both with your pocket
book or consumer purchases, and your political voice. Political change
is obviously in the air this fall, whether we’re talking about the elections
or about public policies on farming, food, and Fair
Trade (or should we say Unfair Trade). For a comparison of the significantly
different positions of the Presidential candidates on food, farming,
and Frankenfoods click
here…

Kerry and Bush have major differences on health,
food, and other issues, but no matter who wins the election, it will
still depend on consumers to create the pressure in the marketplace
for dismantling America’s dominant regime of factory farms, chemical
intensive agriculture, and genetic engineering. John Stauber, OCA Policy
Board Member, gives us his personal perspective on the Presidential
contest here…

Just weeks away from critical votes on ballot initiatives that would
ban genetically engineered (GE) crops in Marin, Butte, San Luis Obispo,
and Humboldt counties (California), biotech supporters and the Farm
Bureau have pumped several hundred thousand dollars into a frenzied
disinformation campaign to defeat the bans. In contrast, organic consumers,
progressive businesses, and family farmers supporting a ban in these
counties are, once again, operating with very little funding. Mendocino
County (CA) took the lead on banning genetically engineered crops in
March, followed in August by Trinity County. Organic consumers and anti-GE
activists all over the world are closely watching these ballot initiatives.
Help OCA in our efforts to spread these bans throughout North America.

The Washington Post reports that cities across the U.S. have been allowed
to hide water test results that show dangerous levels of lead due to
old city plumbing. Cities including New York, Philadelphia, Boston and
Detroit have thrown out evidence of high levels of lead to avoid the
costs associated with fixing the problem. The Environmental Protection
Agency has facilitated this deception to the public by overlooking more
than 90% of the individual municipality reports of dangerous levels
of lead in the drinking water. Lead exposure can cause serious brain
and kidney damage. Many middle- and upper-income households now filter
their drinking water, but lead is also heavily absorbed through the
skin while bathing. Learn
more…

QUICK
TIDBITS

Chiquita, Dole, and Del Monte are being sued by thousands of banana
workers in Costa Rica for poisoning them and their families with a deadly
pesticide that was banned in 1979. Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)is known
to cause cancer, birth defects, sterility and liver damage. The class
action lawsuit is demanding payment for damages described as "wanton
and reckless acts…and outrageous and malicious conduct." The
banana giants have reportedly offered to settle out of court.
Learn more…

CHINESE
ORGANICS
In China, the expansion of the organic industry is now keeping pace
with the explosive growth found in much of the rest of the world. Last
year domestic sales of organic goods in China hit $8.8 billion and the
industry is expanding at 30% per year. Learn
more…

BIOPIRATES
SELLING GENETIC MATERIAL OF INDIGENOUS BRAZILIANS
A biotech company is illegally selling the genetic material of Brazilian
tribal peoples. Coriel Cell extracted blood from as many as 200 indigenous
people in Brazil and is selling the blood online for $85 per sample
to other companies interested in identifying and ultimately patenting
positive characteristics within those genes. The Brazilian government
has asked the U.S. government to take action, as the company was caught
doing the same thing back in 1996. Learn
more…

The U.S. Senate has introduced a bill that would ban soda pop and junk
food vending machines in schools receiving federal funding. The bill,
known as the Childhood Obesity Prevention Act, would also prohibit the
advertising of junk food in schools, and provide more foods low in fat,
calories and added sugars (eg. fruits, vegetables and whole grains).
Get involved by visiting the OCA’s
"Appetite for a Change Campaign" website. Please
contact your U.S. Senators to support the Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Act (S. 2894). The congressional switchboard phone is (202)225-3121.

The Rodale Institute has found that supporting organic agriculture reduces
negative impacts on global climate change. Conventional farming uses
large amounts of synthetic fertilizers made from fossil fuels. The manufacture
and use of these petroleum-based products make up as much as 30% of
the agriculture industry’s output of carbon dioxide. Organic farmers
rely on manure and other organic matter for fertilization, which the
Rodale Institute reports actually allows carbon to be stored safely
in the soil. Buying locally grown foods also protects against unneeded
greenhouse gas emissions. On average, food travels 1,500 miles in the
U.S. before landing on the dinner table. Learn
more…

Organic gardening and lessons on permaculture have recently been introduced
to over 12,000 schools in South Africa. According to South African Education
Minister Naledi Pandor, "Learners have become familiar with permaculture,
an organic system of farming and gardening that combines people and
plants in a way that produces more energy than it uses. In addition,
many schools now use their projects to implement active learning. They
grow their own food, harvest, conserve and manage water, recycle waste,
generate income for the school, run outreach projects and much more."
Learn
more…