Road to Victory
Ronnie Cummins Organic Consumers Association
Essay of the Week: Prop 37 and the Future of Food by Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan – New York Times columnist and arguably the most influential food writer in America – weighed in yesterday in support of California’s Prop 37 GMO labeling ballot initiative.
In his essay announcing his endorsement, Pollan talks about the growing food movement as an economic and a social movement, and then asks: Is it yet a political movement? Possibly. If Prop 37 passes, it could go on to change the political conversation around our entire industrial food chain – not just in California, but in the entire country.
California Update: Volunteers Needed on the Road to Victory
With less than a month remaining until election day, Nov. 6, the mass media are reporting that Prop 37, the California ballot initiative to label genetically engineered foods and ban the routine food industry practice of marketing GMO-tainted foods as "natural," is likely on the road to victory.
As a growing number of commentators point out, victory for the GMO right to know forces in California will have global consequences, dramatically increasing consumer demand for organic and non-GMO foods, and dramatically decreasing market share for genetically engineered foods and crops. But now is not the time for overconfidence. Monsanto, Big Ag, and Biotech are flooding the airwaves in California with $35 million worth of misleading ads and outright lies, designed to confuse California voters.
Our two most powerful weapons are the alternative media (especially the internet and social media) and our grassroots forces on the ground, leafleting shoppers at supermarkets and contacting likely voters over the telephone. We now have 5,000 volunteers on the ground and on the phone, but we need 15,000 more to lead us to victory in these next four weeks. If you live in California, please volunteer to leaflet. If you live outside California, please volunteer for our upcoming phone bank to call registered voters in California.
Support the OCA and OCF
Don't let $35 Million Kill GMO Labeling in California!
The polls so far in California have been running strongly in favor of the YES on 37 campaign – but could $35 million in ads change that?
Years ago, GMO right-to-know forces enjoyed a similar lead in an Oregon Ballot Initiate, but were defeated by a massive barrage of TV ads by Monsanto and corporate agribusiness.
Could $35 million of ads, flooding the California airwaves, mean the end of GMO labeling in California, too?
Thanks to the overwhelming response from organic consumers like you, the OCA and OCF have donated more than $1 million to the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act. Thank you to all of you – from all over the country – who have stood with us in this fight.
For those who haven't joined in yet, now is the time. Early voting has already started, and in less than five weeks it will all be over. Please help us win this historic, grassroots-driven GMO labeling initiative by making a donation today. And please pass this message along to everyone you know who cares about food safety. Thank you!
DONATE TO THE ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION (tax-deductible, helps support our public education work against GMOs and chemical food, and our work on behalf of organic standards, fair trade and sustainable farming)
DONATE TO THE ORGANIC CONSUMERS FUND (non-tax-deductible, but necessary for our legislative efforts in California and other states)
Hollywood Celebs Join Our Campaign in California: Spread the Message
No matter how much money Monsanto pours into the No on 37 campaign, it's never going to be able to find people who go to the grocery store looking for genetically modified food to eat and feed their families. If there were people like that, Monsanto would love the idea of labeling! But they just don't exist. There are organic consumers, locavores, and non-GMO shoppers, but there is just no such thing as a GMO-foodie. Monsanto may have more money, but we have the overwhelming people power. Early voting has already begun (it started Monday, October 8). In less than a month, the election will be over. Let's not be left wishing we'd done more to help everyone we know in California get the facts they need to vote Yes on 37.
One easy thing you can do is to share the Yes on 37 ads. A new one just came out this week with Danny DeVito, Bill Maher, Jillian Michaels and many other celebrities who support California's Prop 37.
New Studies Highlight Increasing Dangers of Pesticides
They’re everywhere. And they’re making us – and especially our kids – sick.
Two new studies out this week reveal just how pervasive pesticides are in our environment, and how they are wreaking havoc with our health.
In the UK, the Institute of Science in Society issued a report titled: Why Glyphosate Should Be Banned. Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, has contaminated land, water, air, and our food supply, according to the report, which says the maximum permitted levels of Glyphosate are set to rise by100-150 times in the European Union if Monsanto gets its way.
Another study, by the Pesticide Action Network North America, reports that more than 1 billion pounds of pesticides used annually nationwide have contributed to an array of health problems in youth, including autism, cancer, birth defects, early puberty, obesity, diabetes and asthma.
READ THE INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE IN SOCIETY REPORT HERE
READ THE PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK STUDY HERE
Food Babe to President Obama: Label GMOs!
Did you see what Vani Hari of FoodBabe.com did at the Democratic National Convention?
She grabbed a place near the stage in front of the TV cameras, and when Obama's USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke at the convention, she held up a sign saying "LABEL GMOs". Vilsack – the former Biotech Governor of the Year – is responsible for the decision that allowed Monsanto to push its GMO alfalfa, sugar beets and sweet corn into the market – without labels. Vani Hari's action was captured live on TV and made national news. Afterward, she made an inspiring video about the experience.
OCA Is on Pinterest!
Check out our new Pinterest page for do-it-yourself resources and sustainable living projects, plus the latest news on organic food and gardening. Learn how to build a greenhouse – or how to help pass California's GMO labeling initiative.
Want to share a great article from the OCA on organic gardening, or the future of food? Maybe your followers would be interested in a great photo from the Prop 37 GMO labeling campaign? Now you can Pin it!
You can also help grow awareness of OCA and the work we do by letting your Facebook friends and Twitter followers know about our new account. Thanks!
Little Bytes
Essential Reading for the Week
Organic Baby Food May Soon Contain Who-Knows-What
Flu Shot Being Forced on Health Workers
Beyond the Nov. 6 Election: Interview with Climate Crisis Leader Bill McKibben
Message From Our Sponsors
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ronniecummins@organicconsumers.org