HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-0904 Docs Submitted at Mtg �rUIV
"ASHLAND FOOD COOPERATIVE
Richard Katz • General Manager • manager@ashlandfood.coop
237 N.FIRST ST • ASHLAND,OR 975209 (541)482-2237
Date: September 4, 2012
To: Ashland City Council
From: Richard Katz, General Manager— Ashland Food Co-op
Re: Genetically Engineered Crops
I would like to voice my support to the Ashland City Council in approving a
letter to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners expressing the
Ashland City Council's support for a ban on the use of GMO seeds in
Jackson County.
This is an issue that is of great importance to the more than 8,000 owner
households of the Co-op, and to the farmers and citizens of Ashland and
Jackson County.
GM®BeeG®ne 15 �
[Polandrecentlybannedagenetically C�
/(
engineered crop in an effort to save the �//
country's native honeybee population.
Monsanto's Mon81o,a strain of GE corn
that se llnoducanno ongerbe sowni
neonicotinoi ,can no longer be grown in the
country after research found that ittriggers
H Q lJ�� t Vz Colony Collapse Disorder—a worldwide
(�a v plague that has caused honeybees to
die en masse since 20o6.In addition,a
S(n\ cgs Harvard:UnivershystudgpublishedIn the
�
June 2012 issue of Bulletino(Insectology) I
found a strong correlation between
imidacloprid,a neonicotinold insecticide,
and CCD.While other European countries,
including Germany and Greece; bar have ned
Mon810 due to fears that it damages the
environment,Poland is the first country to
make the connection between the crop and
CCD.Interestingly,Beeologics,one of the
research firms tackling the mystery of CCD,
was recently purchased by Monsanto.
+• 24 VegNews Think Eat.Thr!M_5e1tember OROben012
You love apples—or almonds,avocados,blueberries,broccoli,
cantaloupe,celery,cherries,citrus,cucumbers,and other foods that
depend heavily on bee pollination.Climate change,parasites,and
habitat loss are all implicated in the alarming worldwide bee die-off i
(more than a quarter of all U.S.hives have perished since 1990), 1
but a slew of recent studies finger common conventional pesticides,
such as neonicotinoids,as major culprits in colony collapse
disorder.A Harvard University study released in April showed that
bees die even when pesticide exposure is very low—less than the
exposure from a pesticide-sprayed field,for example,or from the
amount found in the high-fructose corn syrup used in feed hives.
September 20121 deliciousliving 39
WWW.YOURNEC.ORG AUG/SEPT 2012 ECONEWS.
If You Are What You Eat,
Do You Know What You're Eating ?
Kay Schaser along with fetal cord blood, was tested. Traces of
Bt toxin were found in 69% of the non-pregnant
Pesticide-producing agricultural. crops 'women, 93% of the pregnant, and 80% in the cord
comprise an increasing percentage of the U.S. and blood. TEis is particularly isturbin beca se it
global marketplace. The same chemical-industry indicates-the possibility of passing t e toxi to a
that told us DDT,-PCB and Agent Orange were future genera,on:
safe maintains that crops genetically.engineered;tq'7 Serious concerns " have also been- raised
produce toxins—as well as those designed for other about a number of-other genetically-engineeredr
characteristics—pose no health risks for humans. Sanimals and -plants,lsuch as fast-growing GMO
cheritists and consumers-howeveri�e,5tinn the -}{ Aquabountysalmon.
�accirracf those claims,and a grnating nationwide"Y Opponents of GMOs claim that, at the 'very
novemenf+_ is now, derfmandingj that products least, consumers should have thepright„to .know
containing genetically-engineered organisms which -foods contain genetically,
(GMOs) be labeled as such. engineered ingredients—of any
One of the -kifid.- Citizens of 50 Mier s
toxins of concern countries, including the 4{1
is Bt (bacillus.
VM r EU, Japan Australia,
thuringiensis), South Africa, China,
a soil-dwelling Russia,-- India-eveti3
bacterium, that 'Saudi Arabia and•J
is naturally found ?Nigeria-f_ have_• thZ4
in strains that are right.I In the U.S.,
toxic only to specific however, all efforts
classes of insect. to require labeling
When a target insect have been beaten
ingests Bt,the alkaline back by industry. The
pH of its digestive recent defeat in Vermont is a case in point.
tract liberatesioxins which essentially create holes With overwhelming support within the state, the
in cells of the gut, killing the insect. It has been legislature was poised to pass a labeling regulation
a valuable tool-for U.S. organic and conventional this year, only to back down when Monsanto'
farmers since spraying began in 1958, with no threatened to sue the state.
reported negative.health or environmental effects. talifornians,have now __epped up to-the,plate,
Bt producing plants ingested by humans, however, tbyp`assing'the legislature with a peoples'initiative.-
may be a different story. In 1995, potatoes Nearly a .million signatures were collected
genetically engineered to produce Bt toxin were statewide to qualify for the ballot, with Humboldt
approved safe by the EPA, becoming the first County showing strong support. Since successful
pesticide-producing crop in the U.S. The following passage in California will pave the way for the rest
year Bt corn and cotton were added. After just 10 of the nation,the opposition is reportedly willing to
years, they accounted for slightly over 13% and spend up to$100 million to defeat Prop. 37.
nearly 34%,respectively,of global plantings. We have a right to know what we are eating.
Industry has always maintained that Bt- Draw a ine in tie sand-and demand the labeling
producing crops are safe for human consumption of GMOs! This initiative will only pass if YOU get
because the human gut is acidic and an alkaline gut involved. Talk to your friends and neighbors,your
is required to release the toxin. This assumption clubs,your service groups.Check out the CA Right
has been called into question by ja_recent-study to.Know website at www.carighttoknow.org. To
`publisti`e-d in Reproductive T6xicity. Blood from contact the Northern Humboldt Coordinator, Kay
39 non-pregnant women and 30 pregnant women,, . Schaser,write to bkshaz @yahoo.com.
INFORM AND ACTIVATE RESOURCES {
Books
Become Personally Activated • Seeds of Deception, Jeffrey Smith, 2006. 0 , L T
• Educate yourself. • The World According to Monsanto, Marie- 1�
• Check out resources at: Monique Robin, 2010.
www.gmofreejacksoncounty.org. • Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda
• Learn about the status of the petition to of Genetic Manipulation, William F. Engdahl,
ban the cultivation of GMOs in Jackson , 2007.
County at our web site. • Genetic Roulette: The Documented Heath r
• Talk to your family, friends and neighbors Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods,
about what you've learned. Jeffrey Smith, 2007.
• Purchase and consume GMO-free foods. Videos
• Plant a garden. • The Future of Food, A Documentary, 2007.
Become Active Locally • Scientists Under Attack: Genetic Engineer- _10011^
ing in the Magnetic Field of Money, 2011.
• Get connected through our .org, n • Dr. Mercola interview with plant patholo- C1,
www.gmofreejacksoncounty.org,our so k Pagy.org, and gist, Don Huber, Ph.D.: www.mercola.com, �' J O� v
through our Facebook Page. then search for Don Huber interview.
• Attend our weekly organizing meetings. . Ripe for Change
• Join a committee - outreach,education,
technology, media, fundraising. , Websites
• Donate money. i • www.responsibletechnology.org/
Become Active Nationally �' : l www.saynotogmos.org/
�r I) . organic-center.org/science.tocreports.html
•A�duocate tor.Caldorma's GMO Ia ., Iffi . www.organicconsumers.org/
initiative: LabeIGMOs.o g. . www.stonyfield.com/why-organic/ Mission: TO protect the growth
• Keep up with othe national 'ssues genetically-modified-organisms-gmos and propagation of non-genetically
thro g O ganieGonsu ers o g . www.naturalnews.com/032510_unborn_ba engineered plants and animals by
bies_GMOs.html
_ banning the cultivation of GMOs
• • • . • http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/ I in Jackson County.
SAYING I • • • : • www.centerforfoodsafety.org/campaign/ J
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED genetically-engineered-food/crops/
FOOD. THEY OFFER NO BENEFITS I, Shopping Guide
NO MORE NUTRITION, NO MORE • www.nongmoshoppingguide.com
• ' • • ' GMO-Free Jackson County
THEY ONLY OFFER RISKS. Advocacy Organizations On Facebook: GMO Free Jackson County
D Andrew . • Institute for Responsible Technology Website: www.gmofreejacksoncounty.org
Lawyer, Center for ••• Safety i • The Center for Food Safety Email: contact @gmofreejacksoncounty.org
• Non-GMO Project
Phone:, (541) 708-1487
• The Organic Center
What is GMO-Free Jackson County? GMO FACT AND FICTION
GMO-Free Jackson County is a group of citi-
zens who are working to ban the cultivation of
GMO crops in Jackson County, in order to pro- FICTION: I would know if a GMO crop was being than 10 million acres in 22 states - predicted to
tect the safety of our food supply for genera- grown around me. reach 40 million acres by mid-decade.
tions to come. FACT: No, a GMO crop looks exactly the same
as a non-GMO crop. While crops are being developed FICTION: RoundUp (glyphosate) is a relatively
What Is GMO? and are under USDA regulations, the locations safe herbicide.
Oregon Tilth Organic Certifiers says: "GMO are kept secret from the public. After a crop has FACT: Glyphosate:
stands for genetically modified organism, which been deregulated, there are no notification re- • Has promoted an increase in plant diseases.
is a plant or animal that has been modified on quirements and biotech companies have been • Has promoted the development of a previously
the genetic level to include genetic material unwilling to provide location information. unknown pathogen which has been linked to
from organisms that would not mix in nature. infertility and abortions in animals.
This is different than cross breeding and grafting, FICTION: GMO crops and seeds can co-exist . Makes minerals inaccessible to plants, which
which are techniques which involve closely with non-GMO crops. can negatively impact livestock and possibly
related species." humans.
FACT: GMO crops cross pollinate with similar • Bioaccumulates in the soil, adversely affecting
What is bean IOCaII and where? plants and contaminate non-GMO crops. This future crops.
9 grown y damage is irreversible. The GMO sugarbeets • Kills beneficial soil microbes, damaging soil
GMO sugarbeets have been grown for seed in Syngenta is growing here jeopardize the beets microecology.
the Rogue Valley for at least two years. Grown and chard that others grow for seed as well as
by the Swiss agri-business company Syngenta, the plants that are grown from that seed. FICTION: GMO crops do not affect neighboring
the beets are genetically modified to resist farms.
RoundUp, which can then be liberally sprayed FICTION: GMO food crops are safe to eat. FACT: If there is a GMO crop close to an or-
on a field to kill weeds. Syngenta informs us FACT: Independent researchers have identified ganic farm, the organic farmer must pay for
that they are growing crops from Ashland to serious concerns about health effects of GMO costly testing to ensure their crop has remained
Grants Pass, and west to the Applegate. A plot food. According to Senator Bernie Sanders' GMO-free. If the crop is contaminated, it cannot
on Normal Ave, 2 blocks from the Ashland amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill, "A landmark be sold as organic. Both conventional and or-
Middle School garden, was planted with GMO public health study in Canada found that 93 per- ganic farmers have been threatened or sued for
sugarbeets last year; other GMO plots are in the cent of pregnant women had detectable toxins patent infringement when GMO pollen has con-
Valley View area. Syngenta will not disclose the from genetically engineered or modified foods in taminated their non-GMO crops. The GMO in-
locations of all their GMO fields and they are not their blood; and 80 percent of the babies of dustry discourages seed-saving, one of human-
required by regulators to do so.
those women had detectable toxins in their um- ity's most important innovations, and one which
bilical cords." may make or break our species in a climate-
challenged future.
I BELIEVE THAT SAVING SEEDS AND FICTION: GMO crops use less herbicide than
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY conventionally grown crops.
IS OUR • • FACT: According to scientists at the University SEED SOVEREIGNTY of Pittsburgh, "Overall, agricultural use of gly- IS THE FRONTIER.
AND ETHICAL DUTY.Vandana Shiva phosate [RoundUp] has increased from less BIODIVERSITY
Director • ._ . than 11,000 tons in 1992 to more than 88,000 BEGIN WITH SEED!
on • •• and • •• tons in 2007." Overuse of RoundUp has led to Chris Hardy
the rise of superweeds that now infest more Local