Vote YES on Prop 37
VOTE YES ON PROP 37! The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act of 2012.
YES on 37 now endorsed by Whole Foods!
Recent Updates:
•The French GMO Study Sept. 23rd 2012
A few researchers from France were able to carry out a two year study into the effects of Monsantos GM corn. This study was carried out in secret. This study had to be carried out in secret because if one wants to purchase GM seeds from Monsanto a contract needs to be signed. The contract stipulates that you will not conduct research on the seeds.
Three Months vs Two Years the Importance of the French study.
This study represents the first time a 2 year study has been conducted on GM corn seeds. The only other test of this seed was done by Monsanto over a 3 month period. A key element to these studies is the time periods involved. Because the French researchers discovered that the detrimental effects do not show up until after the 4th month. This can lead one to believe that the Monsanto tests are kept short intentionally or not. But the fact remains that when the study is allowed to go longer than 3 months we begin to see the negative effects. This makes studies that last 3 months or less USELESS!
Studying the effects of GM corn + Pesticides.
The French study involved the GM corn seed NK 603. A variety produced to withstand heavy applications of the herbicide Round Up™. Previous studies were only conducted on the seed; the French study included the seed, the seed +the Round Up and Round Up on its own. This is a logical line of study, because farmers are applying herbicide to the GM seed and it makes sense to study all the possible variations rather than just the seed.So to summarize we have 3 groups of rats eating 3 different diets:
- GM corn seed
- GM corn seed + Round Up™
- Round Up™
The Dead Rats
The dead rats from all 3 groups were then dissected to see want had happened. The most detrimental effects were seen in female rats. Who had over-sized tumors 94% of them being of the mammary glands. In the male rat population the tumors were mostly in the kidneys but there were also some in the mammary glands. The researchers indicated this points to a hormonal disruption because breast cancers were related to hormonal deficiencies. These results were for the rats fed just GM corn. This indicates that even without the herbicide Round Up™ GM corn is highly toxic to living organisms. There is evidence here that GM corn seeds interfere and disrupt the hormonal balance of living organisms. And, the imbalance is capable of causing large tumor growth in living organisms.The results of the rats receiving just Round Up™ indicate they suffered from severe problems with the cells of their livers, kidney, placenta and umbilical cord, they all died prematurely. When the seeds and Round Up were combined there was also an overall toxic effect.
Anyway you 'round up' the findings of this research, the first of its kind, the preliminary findings don't look good. Possibly warranting further research and a ban on using this seed and a ban on approving anymore genetically modified seed crops.
•According to reporting by the Nutrition Business Journal, Proposition 37 "The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act of 2012" is considered likely to pass!
Sept. 19th 2012
While this is true we must not rest. There are large amounts of money being poured into the campaign against this act. The money is coming from likely sources such as Monsanto, DuPont, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Nestle and Dean foods.
The "NO on Prop 37" Campaign is a Fraud don't be deceived!
The campaign urging you to vote "No" on Proposition 37 is a complete fraud. The groups behind this fraudulent campaign are not small farmers and business people. They are huge corporations with vested interests. This disclosure is taken from the "No on 37" website: "Paid for by No on 37: Coalition Against the Deceptive Food Labeling Scheme, sponsored by Farmers, Food Producers, and Grocers. Major funding by Monsanto Company, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and more than 40 food company members."
The 40 companies listed is a who's who of Multi National food conglomerates. Do you see any small farmers/business people on this list!?
A list of the donors to the campaign:
Abbott Nutrition
BASF Plant ScienceBayer CropScience
Bimbo Bakeries USA
Bumble Bee Foods, LLC
Bunge North America, Inc.
C. H. Guenther & Son, Inc.
Campbell Soup Company
Cargill, Inc. - They have a strategic partnership with Hain Celestial
Clement Pappas & Company, Inc.
Clorox Company
Coca-Cola North America - Proud new owners of Honest Tea, they also own Odwalla
ConAgra Foods
Council for Biotechnology Information
Dean Foods - Proud owners of Horizon Organic Milk and Silk Soy Milk
Dole Packaged Foods Company
Dow AgroSciences LLC
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.
General Mills, Inc. - The proud owners of Lara Bar, Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen
Grocery Manufacturers Association
H.J. Heinz Company - Hain Celestial
Hero North America
Hershey Company - Owners of Dagoba Organic Chocolate and Sharfen Berger.
Hirzel Canning Company
Hormel Foods Corporation
House-Autry Mills, Inc.
Idahoan Foods, LLC
Inventure Foods, Inc.
Kellogg Company - Bear Naked, Kashi
Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc.
Kraft Foods Global, Inc. - Boca Foods Back to Nature
McCain Foods USA, Inc.
McCormick & Company, Inc.
Monsanto Company
Nestle USA, Inc.
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
PepsiCo, Inc.
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Reily Foods Company
Rich Products Corporation
Richelieu Foods, Inc.
Sara Lee Corporation
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Solae, LLC
Sunny Delight Beverages Company
Syngenta Corporation
The J.M. Smucker Company
A number of the companies with strong ties to the organic food industry are on this donor list. But, there is a disturbing conflict of interest because genetically modified foods threaten organic food purity. How can a company support organics not want the proper labeling of GM foods? The USDA organic seal is a very valuable and companies are happy to advertise that their food is organically grown. But they are against properly labeling their GM foods.
LABELING GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD
Labeling Genetically Modified Food is not a scheme, as they would like you to believe. Labeling Genetically Modified Food is full disclosure. When a company makes a product they are proud of they are usually happy to advertise it. Why then does Monsanto or DuPont not want to let consumers know that they are eating genetically modified food? One claim I heard is that it would be too costly. Well they should have factored in the costs years ago when they brought these products to market.
Companies that produce genetically modified seeds and the companies that use genetically modified ingredients in their food products know that consumers will reject Genetically Modified foods. That is one reason they resist full disclosure labeling of their products. Across Europe, Asia, India and S. America there have been large protests against G.M. foods and seeds and lawsuits against the companies who make these products.
Further Considerations for Labeling Genetically Engineered Food
Companies that produce genetically modified seeds and the companies that use genetically modified ingredients in their food products know that consumers will reject Genetically Modified foods. That is one reason they resist full disclosure labeling of their products. Across Europe, Asia, India and S. America there have been large protests against G.M. foods and seeds and lawsuits against the companies who make these products.
Further Considerations for Labeling Genetically Engineered Food
Genetically Engineered Foods Have NO Benefit to the Consumer.
Consider that simple fact. Ponder it deeply, let the truth of it sink in. Genetically engineered foods only benefits the companies who produce the seeds. But, there is a risk to the consumer, to everyone a risk which has not been fully calculated. The risks are to human health, environmental health and food/economic sovereignty.
Risk to Health - No one really knows what will happen to humans if they consume genetically engineered foods of the long term.
Risk to the Environment - No one really knows what will happen to the environment from genetically engineered crops. Reports are now coming in, reports of superweeds, that are growing bigger stronger and resistant to herbicides.
Risk to Food/Economic Sovereignty - Genetically engineered seeds are the property of the companies that make them, because they are considered intellectual property.
California is the 8th largest economy in world, the passing of this measure will have ripples across the country. Historically California is a leader and when it happens in California other states follow suit.Genetically Modified Foods Threaten Food Sovereignty
This is one of the real dangers I see besides the health issue. Genetically modified seeds threaten the ecosystem and basic food sovereignty. Foods we eat start as seeds in a field and when plants mature they are harvest and some of the grain/seed is saved for planting the next year. But this is not the case with G.M. seeds, as some are designed to be sterile. This forces farmers to buy more seed the next year. And, you need a license to grow Genetically Modified foods and chances are you will be sued if you are found to be growing G.M. seeds with a proper license. What is happening is a wholesale take over of the entire food chain. Fewer and fewer companies are controlling more and more of the food that is found in grocery stores.
This is in no way an advancement because concentrated power like this over something essential as food is a threat. But, there are ways around this threat. One is to begin labeling genetically modified foods and educate people about the threat these foods pose. Another is to shop at farmers markets and begin growing your own food. Find a CSA and talk to others about finding what you need locally. And, buy organically grown grains because as of now they are still safe. Also avoid the foods on this list, as the risk of contamination from genetic modification is higher than other foods.
This is in no way an advancement because concentrated power like this over something essential as food is a threat. But, there are ways around this threat. One is to begin labeling genetically modified foods and educate people about the threat these foods pose. Another is to shop at farmers markets and begin growing your own food. Find a CSA and talk to others about finding what you need locally. And, buy organically grown grains because as of now they are still safe. Also avoid the foods on this list, as the risk of contamination from genetic modification is higher than other foods.
The Top 10 Most Genetically Modified Foods Are
- Corn
- Soy
- Wheat
- Canola
- Potatos
- Rice
- Beets
- Papaya
- Salmon
- Alfalfa
A few more thoughts on Bio-tech industry and G.M. Seeds.
G.M. Seeds are Self Defeating
For hundreds of years farmers have saved seeds for planting the next year, often selecting seeds from their healthiest plants to try and improve their yield. Farmers have also been known to hybridize seeds crossing species to try and make an improvement. But, this is way different then Genetic Modification, which is done in a lab and involves gene splicing of bizarre combinations. Such as Round Up™ Ready Soybeans. Which have the toxic herbicide Round Up™ in the gene structure of the plant. This is so farmers can spray large amounts of this toxic herbicide on their crops without killing them.
Besides the unknown dangers of eating this Soy what is it doing to the environment? What happens when pollen from these crops mixes with other plants? It is a big experiment but we are now starting to see the outcome of this Frankenstien like horror. We are now starting to see a new breed of Superweeds! Yes you heard correctly Superweeds. Weeds that have adapted to receiving heavy doses of Round Up™ and are now resistant to the herbicide. In response to this Monsanto has advised farmers to increase the variety of herbicides they spray on their land. But the irony here is that
THIS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF USING ROUND UP™ READY SEEDS IN THE FIRST PLACE!
THIS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF USING ROUND UP™ READY SEEDS IN THE FIRST PLACE!
You can make a difference. Vote Yes on Prop 37
Folks what concerns me is that this is just the beginning. We have yet to see what decades of this will bring and honestly I shudder to think what will happen. But, our strongest vote is the vote with our dollar and Monsanto and others know this. Which is why they resist proper labeling of their products. This madness can stop if people reject their products but people need to know first and proper labeling is the first step in the process.
So Vote Yes on Prop 37 - Vote to have Genetically Modified Foods labelled in California.
So Vote Yes on Prop 37 - Vote to have Genetically Modified Foods labelled in California.
This piece was written and compiled for Zebra Organics by Mark D'Aquila, flower essence practitioner, www.essencealchemy.com.
5 years ago