PROTECTING CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM TOXIC PESTICIDES
JANUARY: The OCA alerted the readers of Organic Bytes about Dow Chemical and the EPA meeting behind closed doors to remove the ban on the toxic termite pesticide Dursban. After Dursban was conclusively linked to brain damage and birth defects in kids and adults, it was banned, but Dow convinced the EPA to reverse the ban. Thanks to your overwhelming response to the OCA alert, which catalyzed public outrage across the country, the backroom deal was nullified and the ban on Dursban was reinstated. http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-dow.htm

CREATING A SAFER GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
FEBRUARY: The OCA informed you of new efforts by the biotech industry to legalize the "Terminator" gene, an experimental genetic engineering (GE) technique that makes plant seeds sterile. The technology would benefit GE seed producers by forcing farmers to purchase new seeds every year, but scientists are deeply concerned about what could happen if this experimental "suicide" trait spread from crops into wild plants via pollen drift. Thanks in part to your deluge of emails to the United Nations, those efforts by the biotech industry were stopped, and the terminator has been (at least temporarily) terminated. http://www.organicconsumers.org/un.htm

SUPPORTING FARMERS AGAINST CORPORATE INTIMIDATION
MARCH: The OCA called on organic consumers to support a national cheese manufacturer that was considering a ban on its dairy farmers using Monsanto's controversial genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rBGH). Due to health and safety problems from the synthetic drug, bovine growth hormone is banned in Europe and Canada. Tillamook Dairy rightfully wanted to advertise that its cheeses were rBGH-free. But Monsanto, as it has done with other rBGH-free dairies for a decade, threatened Tillamook with a lawsuit. Thanks to calls and emails from the OCA national network and concerned consumers, Tillamook's board of directors stood up against Monsanto and voted to go rBGH-free.Tillamook's move has inspired a number of other dairies to ban rBGH. http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbghlink.html

DEFENDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE ACADEMIC ARENA
APRIL: The OCA rallied its network in a massive letter-writing campaign to the University of California Berkeley. The campaign was launched because Dr. Ignacio Chapela was denied academic tenure for speaking about the current problems Mexico is having with GE corn contamination. Chapela's department was heavily pressured by the biotech industry who wanted the college to carry out industry sponsored research on genetically engineered crops. Thanks in part to everyone who took action, the University reversed its prior decision and granted Dr. Chapela his well-deserved tenure. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/ignacio052305.cfm

REFORMING GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO BENEFIT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
JULY: OCA has begun mobilizing its forces to reform the forthcoming 2007-2012 Farm Bill. Currently, 80% of the U.S. Taxpayers' $20 billion annual agriculture subsidies go to large corporate and factory farms. OCA is gathering support from citizens and policymakers on federal, state, and local levels to change the subsidy system to support family farms and transition to organic agriculture. As an example of how to do this, in July, Woodbury County, Iowa, became the first county in the nation to offer tax incentives to organic farmers. County Supervisors approved up to $50,000 in tax credits for each farmer converting from conventional to organic agriculture. http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/taxbreak071805.cfm

PASSING GROUNDBREAKING ANTI-SWEATSHOP LAWS
AUGUST: OCA worked with the San Francisco Sweatfree Coalition to pass a law making the city government of San Francisco sweatshop-free. In addition to purchasing from certified non-sweatshops, the ordinance also includes special purchasing preferences for organic, local, and fair trade products. The San Francisco model demonstrates the future of diverting millions of dollars of taxpayer money from sweatshops and corporate farms, to local businesses, union shops, and organic family farmers. http://www.organicconsumers.org/fair-trade/reform091605.cfm

PROTECTING CONSUMERS BY WATCHDOGGING INDUSTRY
AUGUST: Due to a lack of federal oversight, some body care companies began making millions of dollars in profits by falsely labeling their conventional products as "organic." OCA's consumer pressure campaign, OCA's body care alliance of over 400 businesses, and a lawsuit filed by OCA and Dr. Bronner's Soaps finally shook the foundation of the USDA, and on Aug. 23, the agency yielded to OCA's demands and opened the National Organic Program to body care and all other nonfood products. Now consumers can know they are buying federally regulated, truly organic products when they see the "USDA Certified Organic" symbol on the label. http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/

PRESERVING CITIZENS RIGHTS TO HAVE CONTROL OVER LOCAL POLICIES
SEPTEMBER: OCA supporters sent over 10,000 emails to legislators in two weeks, urging California legislators to resist a "Monsanto Law" which was aimed at preventing local cities and counties from banning GE crops. Thanks to your response, legislators held the current three county GE bans in place (Mendocino, Marin, and Trinity counties), which were originally enacted by ballot initiatives and legislative action in these counties. But the biotech corporations have counter-attacked, passing "Monsanto Laws" in a dozen states. We need your continued vigilance and support to stop the next round of Monsanto Laws in California and other states across the country in 2006. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm

FIGHTING THE SNEAK ATTACK ON ORGANIC STANDARDS IN CONGRESS
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER: OCA and our allies generated 320,000 email letters and calls to Congress asking lawmakers to reject a last-minute rider to the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations bill designed to weaken the control and review of the organic community's traditional watchdog, the National Organic Standards Board over what synthetic substances and non-organic ingredients can be used in organic processed foods. Unfortunately the House/Senate Conference committee ignored our letters and calls and rammed through the Sneak Attack rider in late-October. The battle for organic integrity is not over, however. OCA will be back in 2006 to reverse this rider and restore organic community control over strict organic standards. http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

DEFENDING LOW INCOME FAMILIES FROM CUTS IN FOOD STAMPS
OCTOBER: A big thanks to all of you who responded to the OCA's alert regarding impending agriculture appropriations cuts in Congress. The original proposed Budget Reconciliation bill would have cut $3 billion in conservation programs and food stamps to low-income Americans. Your letters helped stop Congress from cutting food stamps (at least temporarily). Unfortunately, corporate agribusiness lobbyists got most of what they wanted, slashing funds for sustainable agriculture and farm conservation programs, while maintaining $20 billion in annual taxpayer subsidies to the nation's largest chemical-intensive and genetically engineered farms. The new Farm Bill comes up for Congressional debate next year. The Farm Bill is a major piece of legislation that stipulates how $175 billion of our tax dollars will be spent on food, farm, and nutrition programs over the next five years. The OCA will be a major player on this front, fighting for family farmers, low-income Americans, and transition to organic agriculture programs. Please give us your political voice and your financial support. http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/agbill102105.cfm

STOPPING FACTORY FARM DAIRY FEEDLOTS FROM CALLING THEMSELVES ORGANIC
NOVEMBER: We'd like to thank all of you who responded to our action alert exposing corporate feedlots who are defrauding consumers by falsely labeling their factory farmed dairy products as "organic." OCA supporters generated over 30,000 letters to the USDA and National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in less than a month. The NOSB met in November and, reeling from the public backlash, the USDA decided to begin the rulemaking process that could close these loopholes in the organic standards. The process will begin in early 2006. The OCA will play an integral role in that process, keeping organic dairy standards strict and enforceable. http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/

BREAKING THE CHAINS: BUY LOCAL, ORGANIC, & FAIR MADE
DECEMBER: OCA members in over 100 cities have come together with labor, environment, consumer, and independent business groups to put our consumer dollars where our values lie, and to support healthy and sustainable local businesses and producers. As part of a growing international movement for Fair Trade, health, justice, and sustainability, organic consumers are saying "No" to Wal-Mart and the other "Big Box" chains, while supporting locally or regionally-based green and organic alternatives. As part of December's "Buy Local Month," thousands of OCA network members are working to "Break the Chains" by organizing rallies, house parties, educational events, and film showings. http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc.htm