Awakened Woman e-magazine
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	Genetically Engineered? NOT!
Photo by Brock Dolman Occidental Arts & Ecology Center

By the will of the people: GE hits the wall By Patricia Dines   Unbeknownst to many Americans, we are already eating genetically modified foods. These highly risky and untested "Frankenfoods" have been introduced invisibly into our food supply -- without labeling. When I learned that, I was horrified. I knew I had to do something. But when I looked at the time, energy, and resources that major corporations were pouring into these efforts -- including Monsanto, who was literally betting their entire corporate future on this "life sciences" technology -- I was quite intimidated. How on earth could we have any impact on this? But the dangers were too frightening not to try to stop them. And so I educated myself and spread the word, hoping for the best possible outcome. Now, five years later, I'm amazed at how far we've progressed toward that goal. The future of GM (genetically modified) food is now much less certain -- thanks to inspiring, dedicated, and courageous work by activists around the world and especially in Europe. Our actions are making a difference. * A NUMBER OF MAJOR FOOD CORPORATIONS HAVE INITIATED STRONG ANTI--GM POLICIES (Not all have been implemented.) Malcolm Walker, head of Britain's 770-store Iceland food chain, announced that he won't use GM plants and bacteria in any of the approximately 400 Iceland brand foods. Baby food companies Gerber and Heinz are banning GM ingredients in their products. Kirin Brewery, Sapporo Breweries, and the Japan Tofu Association, decided to either ban GM ingredients completely or put a major marketing effort into selling GM--free products. Mexico's top producer of corn flour for tortillas is avoiding GM grain. (They are the second largest importer of American corn.) Grain giant Archer Daniels Midland announced they would not buy soybeans and corn co-mingled with GM varieties, insisting that farmers and grain elevators separate GM from non-GM grains. And they are paying more for the non-GM grains. (Archer Daniels Midland purchases a third of all U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat.) A division of Honda Motor Company announced that they are building a soy--handling plant in Ohio to supply the sharply rising demand for non--GM soybeans in Japan.  * GOVERNMENTS ARE ACTING FOR STRONGER ANTI--GM POLICIES. The European Union has essentially called a moratorium on new types of gene--altered crops -- even in the face of multi--million dollar sanctions by the World Trade Organization (WTO) for what they perceive as a restraint of trade. Britain extended to 2003 its ban on the commercial growing of GM crops so that assessments of their safety can be made. Japan, the largest importer of American crops, wants mandatory labeling of GM products. Even the US now has a mandatory GM labeling bill on the floor! (See below.) * INCREASING NUMBERS OF GROUPS are expressing concerns about GM -- including farmers, environmental, and health groups -- and are creating statements and policies to support a non--GM future. * MAJOR PERIODICALS are now providing information about citizen and scientist concerns about GM organisms (GMOs). (This story had been seriously under--reported.) * GROWING EVIDENCE shows that the predicted risks are real -- such as Cornell University's report that Bt corn pollen harms Monarch and other butterflies and moths, and Dr. Pusztai's (peer--reviewed) research showing the harm of a GM potato to human health. * GLICKMAN LISTENS (KIND OF)! In May, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman -- who has been an ardent supporter of GM foods -- shocked everyone by saying that these foods shouldn't be forced down the throats of unwilling consumers. (We have yet to see if he'll respect us or just try to convince us, but at least we've gotten his attention.) * EVEN BANKS SAY "SELL". In July 12, 1999, Europe's biggest bank advised several thousand of the world's large institutional investors to sell their shares in leading companies involved in the development of GMOs, because consumers do not want to buy them.   But -- the battle isn't won. There are still many people (including government representatives) who believe biotech's unproven promises and dismiss valid scientific concerns; GM food is still on our shelves, with more in the pipeline; and biotech corporations still have a lot of financial and political power to wield for their cause. The corporations are still trying to change our minds, attempting to invalidate our concerns as baseless fears, rather than treating seriously the many scientific, humanistic, moral, and spiritual issues their activities bring up. We must continue to express our concerns, and to insist upon thorough pre--testing and labeling in accord with the precautionary principle: first do no harm. WHAT YOU CAN DO. * EDUCATE YOURSELF and pass the words to others. For links to excellent resources, see <http://www.monitor.net/~cap/ge.html>. * TELL THE FDA that you are opposed to GM food, and insist on mandatory, extensive pre--market safety testing and labeling. Support the scientists calling for a moratorium on the sale of these foods until they have been tested and labeled. Submit your comments before Jan 13, 2000 at <www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets>. Or submit them at <www.foodsafetynow.org> and have them sent to the FDA plus copies to your U.S. Representatives. Remember how our comments made such a difference with the unacceptable proposed national organics law! * WRITE YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. State your concerns. Encourage them to sign the Bonior/Kucinich letter which calls on the FDA to require mandatory labeling and safety testing of GM foods. And encourage those in the House of Representatives to support and co--sponsor the "Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act". Find information and form letters at <www.thecampaign.org/newsupdates>. For more information on contacting representatives, see <www.monitor.net/~cap/email.html>. * CALL FOOD COMPANIES. Tell them you won't buy their products unless they are GM--free. Call your favorite brands, supermarkets, the large food companies. Even just one call a day for a week helps! Europeans had great impact by communicating with their food companies, thus impacting the whole supply chain. For a list of food companies and phone numbers, email Judy Kew at <Judy_Kew@greenbuilder.com>. * SIGN PETITIONS. For instance, the Mothers for Natural Law Mandatory Labelling petition at <www.safe--food.org> and the "Women say No to GMO's" petition at <www.organicsdirect.co.uk/gm.html> * SUPPORT THE COALITION LAWSUIT against the FDA, which insists on mandatory safety testing and labeling of all GM foods (Alliance for Bio--Integrity, et. al. v. Shalala). This suit brought to light that even the FDA scientists are concerned about the risks of GM foods -- concerns not reflected in FDA policies. For more information, see <www.biointegrity.org>. * BUY ORGANIC AND NON--GM FOODS. Support your health, our environment, and those farmers and companies making positive choices for our future. * SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS ON THE FRONT LINES, who work so tirelessly on our behalf, keeping us informed and helping us take constructive action on these issues. * STAND FOR A BETTER FUTURE. And, while we stand clearly and speak about how the corporation's GM path threatens our beloved planet, let's also stand clearly and speak another vision for our future -- based on loving the earth, growing our food non--toxically, and honoring natural design from humility -- for that is how we receive the most beautiful rewards that life's journey has to offer. Regardless of what this time period may bring, it is crucial for all of us to maintain our inner peace and our ability to love and forgive those whose ignorance leads them to attempt harm. In this way, the larger sacred dimension of the Universe can work through us to bring healing to our planet. Rosa Zubizarreta, Oakland 2001 (c) Patricia Dines, 1999. All rights reserved. Patricia Dines has been a professional writer and trainer for 16 years. She is founder of Community Action Publications, a community--based organization that creates and distributes information on a variety of health and environmental topics, including organic food and agriculture. For more information, see http://www.monitor.net/~cap   UPDATE, December 12, 1999 Fast food burger chains move to ban GMOs! From BioDemocracy News #23 ***Farmers Weekly, a newspaper in the UK, reported on Dec. 3 that US--based Burger King now claims to be GE--free. Although Burger King has yet not formally announced a ban on genetically modified foods in North America, they told Farmers Weekly that no genetically engineered ingredients are used in their products, including French fries. McDonalds may follow suit in banning GMOs, according to Fraser's Potato Newsletter in Canada, a food industry journal. Another of North America's biggest processors, LambWeston, is believed to be using up all its GM supplies before the year end,the newsletter adds. However, according to Marnie Glickman, Washington,D.C--based Political Director for the Organic Consumers Association, "Consumers should not trust PR statements put out by companies such as Burger King and McDonald's, nor put a lot of credence in unsubstantiated rumors circulated by industry insiders. Coca--Cola representatives, for example, have recently told campaigners from our organization that they are GE--free, but have stubbornly refused to put this in writing. Companies like Coca Cola, McDonald's, and Burger King will stay on our list of Frankenfoods companies to boycott until they announce publicly, and offerscientific proof, that they have completely banned genetically engineered ingredients from their products."       The protests against the World Trade Organization brought GE and many other issues to the public's attention. Read Starhawk's report of her experience on the streets of Seattle.

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