Feb. 7, 2016

 

ESSAY OF THE WEEK

The Trouble with Iowa

Yes, the Iowa caucuses are over. The winners announced, more or less. But this article, which appeared in Harper’s Magazine this week, is timeless.

Author Richard Manning begins with this quote, from Donald Trump: “I’m driving through these beautiful fields. I want to grab that corn like you’ve never seen. So rich, so beautiful.”

And then Manning goes on to describe all the ways in which that corn—and the millions of acres of GMO soy, and Iowa’s hog and chicken factory farms—are polluting Iowa’s (and other states’) water, producing food that is making us sick, and perpetuating corporate monopolies of our food systems. Manning writes:

It seems to defy reason that this anachronistic farm state — a demographic outlier, with no major cities and just 3 million people, nine out of ten of them white — should play such an outsized role in American politics. But Iowa is not over. In fact, it may be more relevant than ever. Grasping the corn as Trump suggested leads us not just to the tensions of immigration but to all the central issues of the campaign — to health care and obesity, to our nation’s worst environmental problems, to poverty and income inequality, and to the entrenchment of a corporate oligarchy. We are what we eat — all of us, not just Iowans.

Every once in a while an article comes along that does a brilliant job of connecting the dots between corporate corruption, food, farming, the environment, health and politics. This is one of those articles.

 

Read the article

 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

Twisted Logic

“Contrariwise, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.” – Lewis Carroll

Yesterday (February 3, 2016), the Senate Ag Committee met, again, to discuss what to do about a federal standard for GMO labeling.

Once again, Monsanto, Big Food and their devoted politicians in Washington D.C., engaged in another round of hand-wringing over what they claim will amount to doomsday for food companies: having to comply with Vermont’s GMO labeling law, by July 1.

The argument they love to put forth is this: Requiring food companies to comply with state laws requiring mandatory labeling of GMOs will result in a nightmare of confusion and costs.

The solution they put forth is this: a voluntary federal labeling law, preferably involving QR codes.

The question we ask, over and over again: If you’re that concerned about slight variations in state GMO labeling laws, why not just pass a mandatory federal labeling law that meets or exceeds Vermont’s standards? That’s what consumers want. That’s what the citizens in more than 60 other countries already have.

Instead, we hear the same old refrain

This, from Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), quoted by PoliticoPro:

"You can see that asking for more time [to work on a compromise], I don't know if that gets anything done or not given the strong feelings on both sides. But we are going to have to come together or we are going to have a wrecking ball in the food industry."

And this recent statement, from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA):

“Further on food labeling, NASDA supports ‘a voluntary, federal system so as to avoid a patchwork of state-by-state standards’ for foods ‘containing or not containing’ genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

It defies logic. Unless, of course, your real intent is to protect Monsanto and Big Food by legally sanctioning their right to deceive consumers.

If the real concern is a state patchwork, the solution is clear. A mandatory federal standard solves the problem.

We believe states should have the right to pass their own GMO labeling laws. If the federal government is willing to pass a uniform mandatory labeling law, that meets or exceeds Vermont's standards, we could support that.

On the issue of voluntary vs. mandatory? No compromise.

TAKE ACTION: Demand Mandatory Labeling of GMOs--Not Voluntary Labeling or QR Codes!

Text "LabelGMOs" to 97779 to join OCA's mobile network and take action!

Tweet your Senators: @(add your Senator’s twitter handle): I want a mandatory, not voluntary GMO labeling law! #LabelGMOs #RightToKnow

 

ACTION ALERT

False Promises

One of Monsanto’s favorite (false) claims is that the proliferation of GMO crops leads to reduced pesticide use. The latest study to refute that claim, published this week in Environmental Sciences Europe, says that glyphosate use has risen almost 15-fold since Monsanto’s "Roundup Ready" genetically engineered crops were introduced in 1996. (Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup).

Monsanto also loves to falsely claim that glyphosate is harmless, despite study after study suggesting otherwise.(Not to mention that last year the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen).

How much should you care about a 15-fold increase in the use of glyphosate?

"The dramatic and rapid growth in overall use of glyphosate will likely contribute to a host of adverse environmental and public health consequences," said Dr. Charles Benbrook, author of the new study.

One of those (many) consequences, according to the world’s leading natural health website, Mercola.com, is that glyphosate damages your mitochondria. Damaged mitochondria are linked to hypertension and diabetes, allergic inflammation and autoimmune inflammation—conditions that are all on the rise, especially in the U.S. where 75-85 percent of all processed foods contain ingredients derived from Roundup Ready corn, soy, canola and sugar beets, to name a few.

A mere coincidence that instances of diabetes, allergies and autoimmune disease have risen, alongside the increased use of glyphosate? You decide.

Meanwhile, glyphosate is up for review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which promised a decision by the end of July, then pushed the deadline to end of 2015. And then went radio silent.

While the EPA drags its feet on whether or not to renew approval of glyphosate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) refuses to tell consumers how much glyphosate is left behind on the foods they eat.

It’s enough to send your blood pressure soaring.

TAKE ACTION: Tell EPA’s Neil Anderson: Ban Monsanto’s Roundup Now!

More on the latest study of glyphosate use

Tweet it now!

Text “Roundup” to 97779 to join OCA’s mobile network and take action!

 

 

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Bird by Bird

In “Bird by Bird,” author Anne Lamott tells the childhood story of her little brother, who had to write a school report on North American birds. He procrastinated.

Then, the night before the report was due, her brother finally sat down with his encyclopedias. That's when he realized how many birds there were to report on. Overwhelmed, he looked up at his dad, and said, “How am I ever going to get this done in time?”

Dad: “Bird by bird, buddy. Bird by bird.”

Sometimes that’s how we all feel, right? We look around and see so many wrongs that need righted. So many issues that need addressed. And we wonder, how will we fix it all?

But it isn’t all doom and drudgery. As we look around, it’s clear. All of the issues we care about—our food, our health, our democracy, pollution, biodiversity, economic justice, global warming—they’re all connected. Fix one issue, and we’re on our way to fixing them all.

Thank you. For helping us tackle the issues that are so critical to everyone who lives on Planet Earth.

Issue by issue. One by one. Bird by bird.

Donate to the Organic Consumers Association (tax-deductible, helps support our work on behalf of organic standards, fair trade and public education)

Donate to the Organic Consumers Fund (non-tax-deductible, but necessary for our GMO labeling legislative efforts)

VIDEO OF THE WEEK Organic Ambitions     Cue the bagpipes . . . Scotland just launched what officials call an “ambitious new action plan to help organic food and farming build a more sustainable future, regenerate the rural economy and conserve biodiversity and natural resources . . .” Key to Scotland’s new strategy, according to its architects, is: . . . spreading knowledge about the economic, environmental and social value of Scottish organic produce, increasing the strength of the whole supply chain and boosting skills through knowledge of best practice and training. Building resilience by strengthening the ability of the sector to conserve and enhance Scotland’s natural capital will also be vital. Work begins early this year on a programme to deliver these desired outcomes. It’s a strategy we’d like to see replicated around the world, and one we wholeheartedly support. So far, at least according to an official website Scotland has not yet joined the UK, Ireland and other countries in signing on to France’s 4 per 1000 Initiative. The initiative, launched at the COP21 Climate Summit in Paris in December, incorporates organic regenerative agriculture into nations’ official plans to address global warming. We hope Scotland will sign on to the 4 per 1000 Initiative. Here in the U.S., we need to insist that the U.S. sign on. Watch the video TAKE ACTION: Ask President Obama to Sign on to France’s 4 per 1000 Regenerative Ag Climate Solution! Or text "Obama" to 97779 to sign the petition! Tweet it now! More on Scotland’s Organic Ambitions: Scotland’s Organic Action Plan 2016 – 2020
ORGANIC STANDARDS Raising the Bar     OCA has always fought for the integrity of organic standards. So when a new trade group, the Organic & Natural Health Association, entered the scene, we signed up. What does this new trade association mean for consumers? Assurance that brands associated with this new organization are held to a new standard in organics, one we call Organic 3.0. Here’s why this is important, according to OCA’s Ronnie Cummins: The Organic & Natural Health Association fills a void in today’s market for a trade group that is dedicated to serving the needs of suppliers, retailers and consumers who seek truthful, unbiased and credible information, based on the latest health- and nutrition-based science and research, about organic and natural products. America’s 100 million organic consumers and 100 million natural health consumers, working together, can be a mighty force for positive change, moving society toward a future which is organic and regenerative, while fighting off the increasing attacks against organic foods and natural health from Big Ag, Big Pharma, and their indentured scientists, propagandists, and political officials. Read the press release More on Organic 3.0 More on the Organic & Natural Health Association
TRAVEL TALK ¡Bienvenido!     OCA and our Regeneration International Project have teamed up with our sister organization in Mexico, Vía Orgánica, to offer our first 10-day eco-tours in the central highlands of Mexico. Register today to experience the beauty of San Miguel de Allende, plus organic farm tours, visits to three World Heritage cities and ecological sites, trail rides and nature walks, hot springs, organic farming and cooking workshops. Immerse yourself in nature. Join in lively discussions with OCA International Director, Ronnie Cummins, and other staff. Build solidarity with the international organic food movement. You’ll spend most of your nights at Vía Orgánica’s teaching farm, just outside San Miguel. The Ecological Ranch serves as an educational farm and training center for farmers, students and activists in the organic food movement. The ranch includes a natural retreat center with adobe buildings, walking trails, solar power, rainwater catchment, and greywater and composting systems. Tour dates are March 19-28 or April 22-May 1. Cost for accommodations and all-organic meals is $1250 per person. Deadlines for registering are February 19 for the March 19 tour, and March 22 for the April 22 tour. For more information or to register contact: tour@organicconsumers.org Learn more
LITTLE BYTES Essential Reading for the Week     Eat Real Food for Optimal Health and Weight   Big Campaign Cash for Clinton from Monsanto Lobbyist   Box Tops: The Brilliant Marketing Ploy of Processed Food Companies Keeping Your Family Addicted   Following an Email Trail: How a Public University Professor Collaborated on a Corporate PR Campaign   Washington State Seeks Judgment against Food Trade Group   Exercise and Endorphins Make You Happy

 

ronniecummins@organicconsumers.org <ronniecummins@organicconsumers.org>