The Power of Grassroots Activism: Are Wal-Mart and Big Food Lobbying the FDA for a GMO Labeling Law?
High-level executives from some of the U.S.'s largest food corporations are meeting with the FDA behind closed doors this week to lobby for a mandatory GMO labeling law. Could it be that bad press and consumer backlash have dulled the enthusiasm of these former biotech cheerleaders? Or is Big Food just cozying up to the FDA so it can derail the growing organic and anti-GMO movement and finagle a federal labeling law so toothless it won't be worth the ink it takes to sign it?
Either way, it's a promising sign that the grassroots movement to label GMOs, with its multi-pronged strategy that includes consumer boycotts of companies and organic "Traitor" brands, is gaining traction. OCA Director Ronnie Cummins analyzes Big Food's latest move and what it could mean for the future of GMO labeling laws.
Kellogg's Kashi brand cereals have been in trouble before. Now it turns out that the brand's parent company, Kellogg's, donated $791,000 to defeat Prop 37, the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act. Just one more reason to boycott the brand, along with the fact that the Cornucopia Institute tested Kashi's GoLean cereal and found it to contain 100% GMO soy. And the fact that consumers have filed a class action suit against Kashi alleging Kashi deceptively advertised its GoLean and TLC products as "all natural" when in fact they contain GMOs.
Let Kellogg's know - by signing the boycott and posting to the company's Facebook page - that you won't support the companies and brands that don't support consumers' right to know! If you're looking for certified organic, non-GMO cereals why not try Nature's Path? This loyal, true-blue organic company donated a whopping $607,000 to support Prop 37.
Tweet this:Because @Kelloggs_US spent $790,700 against my right to know about GMOs - I'm buying @NaturesPath instead http://ow.ly/gFLmU #Boycott
Post this on Kashi's Facebook page: Kelloggs spent $790,700 against consumers right to know about GMOs. Boycott all Kelloggs products and replace them with Organic non-GMO Nature's Path. Share this post and learn more here: http://ow.ly/gFLmU
Takin' It to the Streets: Groups Plan Nationwide Protest of Citizens United
Get Involved! Tell Obama You Want Money Out of Politics!
In August, President Obama said: "I think we need to seriously consider mobilizing a constitutional amendment process to overturn Citizens United (assuming the Supreme Court doesn't revisit it)."
That was before we knew the total price tag - $6 billion - for the 2012 elections . . . and after Prop 37, the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act was defeated by $46 million in corporate donations. So now would be a great time to remind the President that voters are fed up with a system that lets corporations hijack our democracy.
You can start by joining a nationwide protest on Jan. 19. Thanks to a group called Money Out/Voters In, people across America will take to the streets in a national day of action to demand a constitutional amendment to get money out of our elections and to call for unobstructed voting rights for all.
Events are on the calendar already in more than 60 towns and cities. Can you attend an event in your area? Or better yet, can you host an event in your town or city?
Activists had barely turned in their 350,000 signatures to get I-522, a GMO labeling initiative, on the ballot in Washington State when opponents came out swinging. The first industry group to denounce the initiative is the Northwest Food Processors Association.
In a press release, the Portland, Ore.-based trade group trotted out the same tired arguments trade groups used to defeat Prop 37, the California Right to Know GMO labeling law. We know from painful experience that it doesn't matter that their arguments are baseless. What matters is that the opposition has cranked up the propaganda machine already, before the initiative has even been certified. Can millions in donations to defeat the campaign be far behind?
One of the important lessons we learned in California is that it's not only how much money you raise, for media consultants, on-the-ground voter education and TV and radio advertising. It's how early on in the campaign you raise it. Our post-election polling on Prop 37 was clear: If we had raised just a few hundred thousand more dollars, and raised it early enough to hit the airwaves sooner than the last week of the election, we could have won in California.
That's why we're starting now to raise money for Washington and Vermont. Your donation today will help us get our message out to Washington and Vermont voters early enough to make a difference. And win. Please help us start building a strong campaign today! Thank you!
Join Occupy Monsanto in DC for a GMO-Free Inauguration
The White House is no doubt in party-planning mode for the upcoming Jan. 21 inauguration of President Barack Obama. But Occupy Monsanto is planning a party of its own. Come to DC on Jan. 21, and join Occupy Monsanto and food activists to demand that President Obama fulfill his 2007 campaign promise to label genetically modified foods!
President Obama's track record on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been abysmal so far. During his first term he placed former Monsanto employees in positions of enormous power at the FDA, EPA and the USDA. Not surprisingly, these pro-biotech hired guns are having a field day pushing through new GMO crops, rigging the Farm Bill in Monsanto's favor and flagrantly disregarding the growing chorus of scientists who are demanding more - not less - rigorous safety testing of GMOs.
President Obama has four more years to honor his campaign promise and listen to the 90% of Americans who want GMO labeling. But there's little chance he'll do it unless we pressure him. So let's get started. Pull out those warm clothes from your closet, and join Occupy Monsanto on Jan. 21 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Activists will gather in Dupont Circle at 9:00 AM and depart for the National Mall at 9:30 AM
"Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being." - Vandana Shiva
Two award-winning director/producers have launched a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to finish production of their next project: SEED: The Untold Story. This will be the third documentary for Jon Betz and Taggart Siegel, who were involved in the direction and production of Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? and Real Dirt on Farmer John. Can you help them finish this important film on seeds? They need to reach their goal by Jan. 25, or they'll lose the pledges they've raised so far. And don't miss the middle of the trailer, where OCA Director Ronnie Cummins talks about Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta - the major seed companies who own the majority of our seed stock.
Ever thought about trying Green PolkaDot Box, the national door-to-door discount distribution service for organic and non-GMO foods, but just weren't ready to commit to a full membership? Now's your chance to take Green PolkaDot Box for a spin. For a limited time, Green PolkaDot Box is offering a $10 Trial Membership. To take advantage of this limited-time offer go to the website and begin shopping. Select the items you want and add them to your shopping cart. Then click on the checkout button and fill in your zip code. When you check out you'll be able to see the savings on your order calculated as if you were a member, so you can compare the difference with or without membership. You'll then have the option to purchase a membership and receive the difference in cost benefits. After you receive a Green PolkaDot Box and evaluate the convenience, quality and savings on your first "trial" order, you can decide to become a member. If you do, you can apply your $10 towards the $50 annual membership fee.
Green PolkaDot Box is one of the few, if not the only, online merchants that refuses to carry any genetically modified foods and ingredients.
Ever thought about trying Green PolkaDot Box, the national door-to-door discount distribution service for organic and non-GMO foods, but just weren't ready to commit to a full membership? Now's your chance to take Green PolkaDot Box for a spin. For a limited time, Green PolkaDot Box is offering a $10 Trial Membership.