GMO Update
YOURTRUTH brings you the latest news on GMOs and how to take action in this important October '09 update!
Tools of Action
Petition Against Genetically Manipulated Rice
Tell Your Representatives to Label GE Food
Resources
Greenpeace Calls for no GE Fish
New York Times Covers the Non-GMO Project
Transcript
Thanks for tuning in to this update on genetically modified food. Back in March, YOURTRUTH released an episode on GMOs about the harmful effects genetically modified foods have on your health and the environment. We want to let you know about some important news that's come out and, more importantly, what you can do to make a difference.
Successful actions against genetic engineering have been taking place all over the world, including right here in America. An August 29th New York Times article reported that our friends at the Non-GMO Project have begun their own campaign to test organic and natural food products and label those that are virtually free of biotech ingredients. Hundreds of products already claim on their packaging that they do not contain genetically modified ingredients, but with little consistency in the labeling and no proof that the products have actually been tested. The new labeling campaign hopes to clear up such confusion. Participants in the Non-GMO Project include major players in the organic and natural foods business, like Whole Foods Market.
Whole Foods plans to place the project's seal on products it markets under its "365" store brand. The project's seal, a butterfly perched on two blades of grass in the form of a check mark, will begin appearing on packaged foods this fall. The project will try to guarantee that manufacturers have ensured that ingredients contain no more than 0.9 percent of biotech material. That is the same threshold used in Europe, where labeling is required if products contain higher levels.
On September 22 a federal district court judge in San Francisco ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's deregulation of genetically engineered RoundUp Ready sugar beets in 2004 was illegal. The judge affirmed that the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) violated the law when it failed to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement before deregulating sugar beets that were genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, marketed by Monsanto as Roundup. This is a huge victory for Organic Seed Alliance and the Center for Food Safety, who launched the lawsuit back in January 2008.
It looks like safe food activists and concerned citizens are making a difference in the fight against genetically modified foods. And it's starting to happen all over the world!
In April Germany reported that they would ban cultivation and sale of Monsanto corn MON810, which prompted Monsanto to react with an unsuccessful lawsuit against the German government. Several other European Union countries including France have banned GMO corn cultivation.
In August, ActionAid Pakistan and thousands of farmers held rallies to voice their concern about the government's decision to allow Monsanto to start BT cotton trials in the country. The aim is to sell the seeds on a commercial basis next year. In Pakistan 77 million people do not have enough to eat, yet the government is actively offering incentives to Multinational Companies to grow these gm crops which will have devastating effects on both food security and the environment.
On September 15, the Vietnam News Agency reported that Vietnam is one of five neighboring nations considering issuing a declaration against the use of genetically modified soybeans. The other members of the group are Myanmar, Thailand, China and Laos. Vietnamese officials report that several non-modified varieties of rice, soybean and potatoes it had received from other members had brought promising results.
GM food and seed issues are truly global in nature and it can be hard to figure out where to begin making your voice heard. But there's no need to feel overwhelmed. Here are a few fast ways you can take action!
You might remember seeing a petition we included as a tool of action to stop the genetic engineering of fish. Unfortunately, it's still happening today. But there's good news! As of August 31, 2009 no country has permitted commercial farming of transgenic fish thanks to increasing pressure applied to the government by safe food advocates. If you haven't already please take a look at the petition to FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach that takes a stand against genetically engineered fish once and for all. The release of genetically engineered fish can cause potentially devastating environmental and human health impacts. A 2001 National Academy of Sciences report states that the release of genetically engineered fish into the environment may threaten the survival of wild species.
Here is a petition you can automatically send to your Senators and Congressperson. Tell them you support The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, which would require labels on gene altered food, and the Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act, which would call for federal standards for safety assessments of these experimental foods now in our stores. The messages have already been written for you, all you have to do is a fill out a little bit about yourself.
Or you can send one to the man himself. Go to responsibletechnology.org, click on Take action and labeling petition to Tell President Obama to support mandatory labeling of GM foods.
If you love chocolate and candy made by Hershey's you might want to check out this petition. Tell Hershey not to use genetically modified beet sugar for their products.
Greenpeace has a video and a petition you can sign to take action against genetically manipulated rice, which feeds billions of people around the world.
You can also send a petition to tell the only manufacturer of bovine growth hormone to stop putting this dangerous additive in our milk!
For Facebook users, we recommend joining the group GMO Truth Alliance. They have an incredible amount of links and resources where you can get GMO-related news and information.
If you're not satisfied with your grocery store's products, you can talk to the store manager about providing non-GMO options. They are typically very open to comments and suggestions from loyal customers.
And before you head out to the grocery store, you can take the Non-GMO shopping guide with you which is available through responsible technology's website.
The battle against GM food is far from over, and there's so many different ways you can help the cause! This is one food fight you can't miss!
