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SOLUTIONS ACROSS AMERICA
GE Free Maine | GE Free Sonoma | NYSAGE | The Campaign to Label GE Foods
Consumers and farmers across America (from Maine to Hawaii) are taking action to protect their communities from genetic pollution by passing local laws banning genetically engineered crops. Cities, counties and townships are recognizing the rights of organic farmers and others who are losing more money every year as contaminated GMO pollen from neighboring fields gets into their crops. In response, the biotech industry and corporate agribusiness have aggressively lobbied to pass state-level "Monsanto laws" that take away the rights of local governments to regulate genetically modified organisms. At least 12 states have passed these laws and now the industry lobbyists have set their sights on California, the nation's most important agricultural producer.
The Organic Consumers Association's step-by-step tutorial to creating GE-Free zones:
- A petition is drawn-up and circulated among the residents of the given county asking to support having a referendum on the next election's ballot regarding making the county a GE-Free zone.
- Upon obtaining the required number of petition signatures (several thousand signatures are typically required), the specific text of the ballot initiative and proposed ordinance are created and slotted for placement on the next election's ballot.
- Prior to the election, great effort is put into educating voters and decision-makers about the issue.
- The proposed GE-Free Ordinance is voted on, and if it passes, it becomes a legally binding ordinance.(NOTE: This is an abridged version of the OCA's instructions. For more information complete with samples of GE-free ordinances, click here.
We are proud to announce that THE FUTURE OF FOOD has been part of the grassroots arsenal for many GE-free campaigns!
GE Free Maine
Launched in September 2004, GE Free Maine is a statewide coalition that seeks to create GE Free zones across Maine through a combination of voluntary landowner pledges, town resolutions, and statewide education efforts. Focusing efforts on building an information clearinghouse on genetic engineering, they have developed literature and held public tours and video showings to promote alternatives and raise awareness of the risks. The coalition used The Future of Food in their educational efforts, saying they found it to be an instrumental organizing tool.
GE Free Maine passed the first town meeting resolution in the town of Brooklin opposing genetically engineered crops. The resolution declared Brooklin a GMO Free Zone. GE Free Maine will soon launch a campaign calling for a comprehensive plan to protect all Maine farmers from the contamination threats posed by GE crops. The plan will include placing all liability on the companies patenting the seeds, support for GMO free niche markets and community notification, as well as moratoriums on GE trees, salmon, grass, and pharmaceutical producing crops.
The Future of Food comes to Portland ME November 30, featuring a discussion from GE Free Maine on Opening Night!
For more information on GE Free Maine or to get involved, please visit www.gefreemaine.org
or call 207-244-0908. Email: info@gefreemaine.org.
Maine Farm courtesy of GE Free Maine
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GE Free Sonoma
On November 8, 2005, a small majority of Sonoma County residents voted "No" to a measure that would have put a 10-year moratorium on the production of GE organisms in their county. Although Measure M failed to pass, 44.4% of voters or over 60,000 people supported the bill in spite of a $700,000 TV, radio and media blitz from the opposition, led in part by the chemical industry. Many supporters believe Measure M would now be law if it hadn't been for the deceptive advertising campaign that barraged the public with misinformation and fear.
Before the vote, volunteers and grassroots campaigners used The Future of Food in their efforts to gain "Yes" supporters. 100 precinct walkers went door to door with over 5,000 copies of the film, giving it to people who promised to show it to five undecided voters. Every independent video store in Sonoma County carried the film, renting it out for free to interested citizens. Dozens of small and medium screenings happened during the campaign and on October 22, a big screening in Healdsburg, CA was planned with filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia in attendance to answer questions.
For more information on GE Free Sonoma or to get involved, please visit
www.gefreesonoma.org
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New York State Against Genetic Engineering (NYSAGE)
NYSAGE is primarily a coalition of statewide food co-ops and CSAs (Community-Supported Agriculture), but includes partnering and supporting organizations involved in farm, food, environment, and health issues across NY State. They work to inform people about the hazards of unregulated, untested, unpredictable, uncontainable and un-recallable GMOs in crops and, therefore, food. NYSAGE is currently focused on ensuring that food protection exists at the basic farm level, and advocate for a seed labeling bill. They also seek legislation that would hold producers of GE/GM/transgenic seeds and plants liable for crop contamination, and not farmers.
This past June, NYSAGE coordinated a lobby day in Albany, and filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia joined Michael Hansen of the Consumer's Union to speak to the organization. Over fifty copies of The Future of Food were circulated among assembly members and senators during weeks before lobby day, and the film became NYSAGE's education tool.
For more information on NYSAGE or to get involved, please visit www.nysage.org
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The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
The Campaign is a non-profit political advocacy organization working to pass legislation to label GE foods. After a meeting with the group's executive director, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich agreed to become the primary sponsor of such legislation and The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, HR 3377, was introduced into the US House of Representatives in November 1999. Companion legislation, S 2080, was subsequently introduced into the Senate by California Senator Barbara Boxer in February 2000.
Their website is an amazing grassroots resource that outlines action steps you can take to help pass this legislation into law, and includes letters, literature and helpful suggestions. They have also set up special issue sites devoted to saving organic food, regulating pharm-crops and, coming soon, "No GMO Rice". You can join their e-list to receive Action Alerts about impending issues and what you can do about them.
A veritable navigation tool into the world of legislative action, for more information please visit www.thecampaign.org
On November 23, 2005, THE FUTURE OF FOOD opens in Seattle featuring The Campaign's Executive Director Craig Winters and filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia as opening night speakers. For details, please visit www.thefutureoffood.com/grassroots
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