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Support GMO-Free Sonoma County

by GMO-Free Sonoma County
The goal: GMO-free Sonoma County!
The Sonoma County group has a short time to get enough signatures for the
next ballot. They're looking for endorsements, donations, help with tabling
and phone banking, etc
* Please pass this vital information on to others you think it will
interest. *

Hi all -

Below is an article announcing an exciting local action that can make a
huge difference to both protect local agriculture from GMOs, and take a
stand against GMO pollution in general. The goal: GMO-free Sonoma County!
Inspired by Mendocino's recent success at banning GMO crops (against
powerhouse GMO corporations), numerous other counties are following suit.

** I strongly recommend supporting this anyway you can. It's exciting,
ground-breaking, and very meaningful. Because of the risks that GMO drift
presents to all farmers and ecosystems, plus our health, there is a
groundswell of GMO bans happening, in the U.S. and internationally. What a
great opportunity to have the community's wishes heard!

The Sonoma County group has a short time to get enough signatures for the
next ballot. They're looking for endorsements, donations, help with tabling
and phone banking, etc. To find out what you can do, see
http://www.GEFreeSonoma.org. (There's also more general info on this topic
at http://www.dragonflymedia.com/cg/cg3107/reclaimcommons3107.html.>

NOTE: GMOs are Genetically Modified Organisms, which is another term for GE
or Genetically Engineered.

>> A key point that the article below doesn't mention: GMOs are polluting
crops all over the world - often keeping farms from being certified
organic. But, organic or not, there's a bigger cost: When Monsanto's seeds
drift onto another farmer's farm (and it's spooky how much Monsanto is
checking this out), Monsanto sues the farmer for having their seeds
illegally!! This is stunning. First their seeds (predictably) tresspass,
harming their neighbors. And then the victim has to pay for the privilege!
Monsanto is suing farmers for this all over the world.

Most farmers just pay to settle, rather than take on the giant. But one
courageous Canadian farmer, Percy Schmeiser, fought them all the way to the
Canadian Supreme Court - and, sadly, amazingly, lost. But feels there are
ways the outcome did forward the cause (more at
http://www.percyschmeiser.com).

And now a group of organic Canadian canola farmers are filing for class
action status, to hold the GMO corporations liable for the way that GMO
canola infiltration has made it impossible for them to be GMO-free and thus
certified organic.

>> To me, as long as Monsanto is not taking responsibility for it's gene
pollution - and in fact expects others to pay for the priviledge - our ONLY
sane response is "Don't have those things anywhere near me or our farmers."
It's the only move left. And it's a move that protects not just organic
farmers, but all farmers (Monsanto is suing any farmer with their seeds on
their land) - plus our backyards, our ecosystems, and our health.

Let's stand together in unity for sanity.

P. Dines
The Organic Guides
http://www.healthyworld.org

p.s. I'm writing a more detailed article on this for the upcoming West
County Gazette. If you have a periodical and want to talk about me doing an
article on this for you, please email me at <PDines [at] compuserve.com>.

--- FORWARD ---

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material
is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **


http://www.pressdemocrat.com/local/news/22gefree.html

Signatures sought for bioengineering ban
Sonoma County group hopes to put measure on November ballot
June 22, 2004
By CAROL BENFELL
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A coalition of environmentalists and organic farmers said Monday they will
seek a ballot measure to prohibit genetically modified plants, livestock
and fish in Sonoma County.

The group, GE-Free Sonoma County, says bioengineered organisms have not
been sufficiently studied and may threaten human health, natural
biodiversity and markets abroad for farm products.

The signature drive follows on the heels of Mendocino County voters'
endorsement of a similar measure in March, and as a half-dozen other
counties statewide also seek to prohibit genetically engineered organisms.

"This is about protecting farmers' rights and our agricultural economy, the
public health of our citizens and the integrity of our natural ecosystems,"
said David Henson, director of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, an
organic farming and teaching nonprofit group in Occidental.

But Lex McCorvey, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau,
denounced the group's use of what he called scare tactics.

"They're trying to scare the public into thinking food is not safe, and
that's not true," McCorvey said. "Genetically modified foods have been
available in this country for 10 years and no adverse effects on human
health have been reported in any medical literature."

Spokesmen for CropLife America, one of the biotech companies that spent a
total $675,000 in a failed effort to defeat the Mendocino measure, could
not be reached for comment late Monday afternoon.

Proponents of the measure include the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club,
restaurateur John Ash, organic vineyard manager Phil Coturri and Julian
Kayne of the organic Straus Family Creamery in Marshall in Marin County.

Hanson and others said Sonoma County needs an ordinance because state and
federal laws don't protect the public or the environment from the
unintended consequences of using genetically engineered organisms (GMOs).

Already, pesticide-resistent DNA from modified cotton, canola and corn has
spread to related weeds such as malva and wild radish. As a result, highway
crews will have to begin using stronger herbicides in affected areas,
Hanson said in a press conference Monday.

The proposed Sonoma County measure, unlike the Mendocino County measure,
exempts animal and human food that already contains GMOs from the ban, and
allows the altered organisms to be used in medical and agricultural
research.

Changes to the measure, including allowing a beneficial GMO into the
county, could be enacted by a unanimous vote of the five-member Board of
Supervisors.

The measure would expire in 10 years unless supervisors vote to renew it
for another 10-year term.

Proponents need 14,500 signatures to get the measure on the November
ballot, or 29,000 for a special election.

Marin and Butte counties have already qualified anti-GMO measures for the
ballot, and signature gathering drives for similar measures are under way
in Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, proponents
said.

You can reach Staff Writer Carol Benfell at 521-5259 or
cbenfell [at] pressdemocrat.com.

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