This is a list of Monsanto companies that use GMO or genetically modified organisms sent by Jan Vette, Village of Oak Creek, Sedona, AZ. For an easy Monsanto GMO reminder, print and carry the chart with you.
Sedona AZ (June 2, 2013) – Americans, it is about the food on your table this time.
Anna Galland of MoveOn.org Civic Action wants the public to get involved to defeat the move by Congress that will enable Monsanto to disallow GMO labeling by the FDA, the States, and other health agencies, and to absolve itself of any wrongdoing if the court system finds genetically engineered seeds and foods to be harmful.
In Galland’s words, “We blew past our initial goal to support campaigns taking on Monsanto around the country…but with the farm bill, and its Monsanto-sponsored amendments, coming to a vote next week, now is the time to act.”
MoveOn Civic Action launched a campaign with the rallying cry that Monsanto spent nearly $6 million on lobbying last year and the “Monsanto Protection Act,” which was written anonymously and passed in secret, allows Monsanto to keep selling genetically engineered seeds – even if a federal court says they may pose a health risk.
Monsanto has now successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress for an amendment into the farm bill that would block GMO labeling laws moving forward in states like Vermont and Connecticut.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is demanding a floor vote to repeal it, but to keep Monsanto from winning its protection against federal courts and consumers will require fast action. The farm bill has already passed the House and is being debated in the Senate now.
What can be done now?
“We know that we’ll never be able to outspend Monsanto, but with help, we can out-organize them with smart, well-timed, targeted campaigning,” MoveOn organizers propose.
You may contact your Senators and House of Representatives now to voice an opinion, and visit www.MoveOn.org for more information and to sign a petition.
Get engaged. It truly is about the food on your table this time.
Sources:
1. “Lobbying Spending Database—Monsanto Co, 2013,” OpenSecrets.org, accessed May 21, 2013
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000055
“How the Monsanto Protection Act snuck into law,” Salon, March 27, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=290195&id=68663-24058440-WHMoGCx&t=5
2. “‘Monsanto Protection Act 2.0′ Would Ban GMO-Labeling Laws At State Level,” International Business Times, May 20, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=290225&id=68663-24058440-WHMoGCx&t=6
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You did it!
Congratulations Connecticut, we passed the first GMO labeling law in the country! This GMO labeling victory belongs to each and every one of you. Yesterday was an historic day that we will all remember. We are so thrilled that many of you came to the Capitol to share it with us. After a unanimous vote in the Senate on Saturday night and an overwhelming vote in the House yesterday of 134-3, it is clear your legislators heard you!
One week ago, we never would have believed that we would be standing at a press conference with Governor Malloy and the leadership in both the House and Senate. We will always be grateful to our champions in the House and Senate. We feel it is very important that we write our legislators, the House and Senate leaders and the Governor to say thank you for supporting our right to know.
To find your legislator CLICK HERE.
To e-mail Governor Malloy CLICK HERE.
Representative Larry Cafero (Minority leader of the House) larry.cafero@housegop.ct.gov
Representative Brendan Sharkey (Speaker of the House) Brendan.sharkey@cga.ct.gov
Senator John McKinney (Minority Leader of the Senate) http://ctsenaterepublicans.com/contact-mckinney/
Senator Donald Williams (President Pro Tempore of Senate) http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Williams-mailform.php
While we know that many of you have concerns about the trigger clause that remains in the bill, this is a very strong bill that we should be very proud of. It represents the highest standard developed by GMO labeling leaders throughout the country.
Once the exemption for farmers was removed by the Senate Saturday evening, the bill contained strong language that could be a model for the rest of the country. We consulted many professionals and the consistent advice we received was that the trigger clause did not diminish the integrity of the bill. We have nothing to fear, the Connecticut GMO labeling law will be a catalyst for states throughout the country to join us.
We have faith in our fellow GMO labeling warriors in other states, if WE could do it, we know THEY can do it. We have made peace with the trigger clause and we hope you can all do the same. If you were at the press conference yesterday, then you heard from leaders that travelled to CT from NJ, PA, ME, and MA. Hearing them speak with such passion and conviction gave everyone great comfort. We will now rally behind other states.
We have only just begun our work together. We hope you will all continue to work with us to achieve a GMO Free Connecticut.
With Gratitude,
Tara and the Team at GMO Free CT
http://www.GMOFreeCT.org
http://www.facebook.com/GMOFreeCT
http://www.twitter.com/GMOFreeCT
Please celebrate with us and be a part of history.
We are writing tonight with a great deal of excitement for tomorrow. You have been an integral and essential part of making a GMO labeling law a reality here in CT. We invite you to join us tomorrow as we celebrate and ask law makers from across the United States to join CT and mandate GMO labeling.
We will be meeting at noon in the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue, on the 2nd floor in the open gallery toward the front of the building. We will spend some time with one another and at some point soon after that, we will hold a press conference in the Capitol. Please be flexible with us in that it is difficult to know the exact time of the press conference because many CT law makers will be attending and making statements. In addition, it is very likely that the House will pass the bill tomorrow.
We are expecting Governor Malloy to join us. Speaker Sharkey may also be joining us. While this was a hard fight, we are asking and know that everyone will treat all the speakers with respect.As the CT Mirror reported today, “Connecticut’s legislative leaders Saturday acknowledged [our] movement that has muscled its way from the scientific fringe to political mainstream.”
Let’s keep in mind that in the end, they heard us. Our voices joined in unison and we were loud enough to be heard above the industry trying to keep us in the dark about the food we are eating. With how close we are to the end of the legislative session, it would have been very easy for Governor Malloy and Speaker Sharkey to let the clock run out without reaching an agreement. But, they didn’t.
This is an incredible accomplishment and we want to use our GMO Labeling Bill as a catalyst for other states to act. We will be joined by the Northeast leaders from the Coalition of States for GMO Labeling, including the rock star farmer, Jim Gerritsen from Maine and Zofia Hausman, the Documentary film maker from PA. Lisa Stokke and Dave Murphy from Food Democracy Now will also be joining us all the way from Iowa, once again.
We are grateful to all of you and want you to be a part of all the excitement. We hope to see you! We will post updates on Facebook and Twitter as the day progresses.
Join us tomorrow, Monday, June 3rd at noon at the Capitol building in Hartford to thank our legislators. We will be joined by our fellow GMO labeling warriors from around the North East to show that we are united. The North East leaders from the Coalition of States for GMO Labeling are traveling to CT to show their support and to assure us that they will accomplish what we have started in CT. More details to follow. See you tomorrow!
Please be a part of history.
Breaking News: Senate Amends and Passes a Strong GMO Labeling Bill
A short while ago, the Senate amended and voted on HB 6527, the GMO labeling bill voted on by the House last Thursday. After several days of intense negotiation between the Senate, the House, and the Governor’s office, a compromise was reached this afternoon. All four leaders of the House and Senate, Senator Williams, Senator McKinney, Representative Sharkey, and Representative Cafero, are all sponsors of the amended bill.
Today’s GMO labeling agreement is historic and we are proud to have played a role in its development. YOU should all be proud. Connecticut will now set the standard for states around the country to follow. We are grateful to all who worked to make this possible. Thank you to all our champions in the House and the Senate.
The amended version of the bill is without the exemption for farmers grossing less than 1.5 million dollars, which undermined the entire intent of the bill. However, there is a more reasonable trigger clause included. The bill will go into effect when “Four states, not including this state, enact a mandatory labeling law for genetically-engineered foods that is consistent with the provisions of this subsection, provided one such state borders Connecticut; and (2) the aggregate population of such states located in the northeast region of the United States that have enacted a mandatory labeling law for genetically-engineered foods that is consistent with this subsection exceed twenty million based on 2010 census figures.” While we believe we have a right to know what is in our food today, we are satisfied that the language of the GMO labeling bill will give CT consumers transparency in labeling that will allow them to make informed decisions once the law is triggered.
This agreement will provide momentum for our fellow activists throughout the country as they fight to know what is in the food they feed their families. We are confident that our counterparts throughout the country and the northeast will accomplish what we have in Connecticut. We pledge our support to them. We urge lawmakers across the country to follow Connecticut’s lead and give their citizens the right to know.
We just took on the most powerful industry on the globe and the power of the people triumphed. Congratulations to each and every one you. The House will be voting on the bill after the weekend.
If you would like to read the new version of the bill, click here http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/lcoamd/2013LCO08508-R00-AMD.htm.
With Gratitude and Excitement,
Tara and The Team at GMO Free CT
We have moved mountains this week at the Capitol. We are seeing real movement and willingness on the part of our law makers to do the right thing and pass a legitimate GMO labeling bill this session.
We were able to flood their phone lines, inboxes and facebook pages. Now we need you to show up in person to keep the pressure on. We know this is very last minute and you all have very busy lives, but we need your presence! Please join GMO Free CT and all our partners on Monday, June 3rd at noon. We will notify you about the location on Sunday. Please feel your power, each and every one of you counts!
Together we are making history, taking back our government and standing up to the most powerful industry on the globe.
We look forward to standing with you on Monday.
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You did it! GMO Free CT thanks you for your incredible support. Speaker Sharkey told an advocate at yesterday’s… http://t.co/N1K2VVVV7s about 1 hour ago
CT First in the Nation to Pass GMO Labeling Bill… http://t.co/ky3Y6slrVM about 13 hours ago
Connecticut House votes 134-3 and passes the GMO labeling bill! http://t.co/OGupX7cUea about 23 hours ago
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Breaking news, Sedona Times Publishing and SedonaEye.com News —
I’m thrilled to report that the Senate’s version of the must-pass budget bill will strip out the Monsanto Protection Act.
Now we need to get the votes and stare down the House.
Keep up the pressure and let’s push all the way to the finish line!
Sign my critical petition right now and tell Congress to say NO to the Monsanto Protection Act:
http://www.stopthemonsantoprotectionact.com/merkley-mo/
Onward,
Senator Jeff Merkley
Big agrochemical companies and their buddies in Congress were confident, thinking they’d found a back door to sneak through an extension of the Monsanto Protection Act.
They didn’t count on you.
This week, hundreds of thousands of Americans made their voices heard, coming together and signing our petition, demanding Congress reject the Monsanto Protection Act.
The pressure worked. Today the Senate removed the Monsanto Protection Act from the must-pass budget bill.
We’ll take a moment to celebrate. But then we’ll get back to work, building a movement to take on the special interests. Please donate $7 right now, and help keep up the momentum!
While the battle in the Senate is won, the war is far from over. We can’t let up until this bill reaches the President’s desk because we know the industry and their allies in the House will keep trying to bring back this outrageous and anti-democratic special interest giveaway.
I’m counting on you to keep the pressure on. I’m also counting on you to help me fight back against the inevitable attacks.
I’m not afraid to take on these big fights against the special interests. But make no mistake, they’ll throw everything they’ve got at me.
Will you please help me build a grassroots movement to overcome their attacks and distortions?
Your donation of $7 before Monday’s big fundraising deadline will help show that grassroots power trumps big special interest money:
http://takeaction.jeffmerkley.com/page/m/16c21c44/6cca21e3/6040dcfb/158b12b4/1110720882/VEsF/
Thanks for all that you do.
Senator Jeff Merkley
What’s next?
http://news.yahoo.com/u-midwestern-farmers-fighting-explosion-superweeds-170056591–finance.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory
STOP BUYING CANCER!
Tell the EPA and FDA to Immediately suspend Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide —- Write EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.
“The World Health Organization just reclassified Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup as a ‘probable carcinogen.’ Stop giving Monsanto a free pass to make us sick. Immediately suspend the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup.” The report states that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, “probably” causes cancer.
Until now, the EPA and FDA have resisted classifying Roundup as a carcinogen and banning its use. But after this report, the EPA now states that it will “consider” these new findings. We need to make sure that this new information actually spurs them to action.
Invented by Monsanto in 1974, Roundup is the most widely used weed killer in the United States – nearly 200 million pounds are used on food every year. It’s commonly used on crops like wheat and soy, and residues of it are routinely found in food and water. While Monsanto officials and government regulators have routinely insisted that it does not accumulate in human tissues, independent studies have found significant concentrations of its active ingredient glyphosate in human urine and breast milk.
This latest study by the cancer research arm of the WHO, which was published in the medical journal The Lancet Oncology, placed Roundup’s active ingredient in its second highest category of cancer risk, classifying it as a “probable carcinogen.” Among other findings, the authors of the study stated that there is evidence that glyphosate can cause non-Hodgkins lymphoma in humans and other cancers in rats and mice.
The EPA has already acknowledged that long-term exposure to high levels of glyphosate can cause kidney and reproductive damage. And these new findings come after a report by a senior MIT researcher last year that connected glyphosate to a number of human diseases due to its antibiotic effect in humans, as well as endocrine disruption, impaired liver detoxification, and lowered nutrient absorption.
Those findings led the researcher to state: “I’m certain at this point that glyphosate is the most important factor in an alarming number of epidemic diseases.
“Carcinogenicity of tetrachlorvinphos, parathion, malathion, diazinon, and glyphosate,” The Lancet Oncology, March 20, 2015
“Dangerous Pesticides Showing Up More and More In Our Urine and Breast Milk,” Alternet, June 4, 2014
“EPA: Technical Factsheet on Glyphosate”
“Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance,” Interdisciplinary Toxicology, November 2013.