1. Join the Virtual Rally for the Right to Know! Tell Congress to Label GM Food! / ACTION for people in the US
2. Protests mount in US over GM foods
3. Protesters gather in Salem to denounce influence of Monsanto corporation
NOTE: Good to see so much intelligent press coverage of GM issues in the US - though it's hard to work out what's meant by the "studies carried out at large scale" that have shown "no negative effects of GMOs on people". Maybe these "studies" come from the same fairytale land that gives rise to the "belief" of "scientists" - cited in the same article - that "GMOs can be responsive to the growing rate of human population".
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1. Join the Virtual Rally for the Right to Know! Tell Congress to Label GM Food!
Center for Food Safety
http://bit.ly/ek1npy
In Spring 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that labeling of GE foods would remain voluntary, even though there was no indication that any company would voluntarily label genetically engineered foods--and in the 11 years since, none have. Meanwhile, companies who have eliminated GE ingredients to add "NON-GE" labels. These responsible companies face burdensome regulations, while the FDA lets other companies continue to use GE ingredients in secret.
The United States may soon be the only country in the world that does not require labeling of genetically engineered food.
Congress must step up and fill the gaping regulatory hole left by the FDA to protect American consumers by requiring mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.
Here in America, we pride ourselves on having choices and making informed decisions. Under current FDA regulations we don't have that choice when it comes to GE ingredients in the foods we purchase and feed our families.
Take Action Now! Contact your Senators and Representative and encourage them to support legislation requiring mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods! http://bit.ly/ek1npy
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2. Protests mount in US over GM foods
PressTV
Mar 28, 2011
http://bit.ly/gBqO42
Americans have staged protests in many cities throughout the United States against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) used that make foods 'unsafe.'
As the movement for labeling genetically modified foods gathers pace in the US, demonstrators also held protest rallies in Washington outside the White House on Saturday.
Protesters say despite the claim made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992, there is compelling evidence that GMOs are not safe and labeling foods as organic does not guarantee that they are GMO-free.
Monsanto, a very powerful agricultural biotechnology corporation which patents and sells genetically modified seeds, throws its weight behind the federal government to keep GMO labels from being placed on food products. This could explain why unlike countless countries, the US refrains from passing any rules on banning the GMOs.
"Individuals who make a personal decision not to consume food containing GM ingredients can easily avoid such products. In the US, they can purchase products that are certified as organic under the National Organic Program. They can also buy products which companies have voluntarily labeled as not containing GM ingredients," Monsanto said on its website.
While the age-old small farming industry of the United States is on the brink of extinction, a large movement is needed to counter the lobbying of agribusiness, experts say.
GMOs are those organisms whose genetic materials have been altered using genetic engineering. In these techniques DNA molecules from different sources are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. The DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes.
Scientists believe that GMOs can be responsive to the growing rate of human population. While the studies carried out at large scale show no negative effects of GMOs on people, possible long-term adverse health effects still remain a source of concern.
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3. Protesters gather in Salem to denounce influence of Monsanto corporation
Oregon farmers, worried citizens question use of genetically modified organisms
http://bit.ly/e6w7Vb
Opponents of genetically modified organisms rallied Saturday before the Oregon State Capitol in Salem to discuss Monsanto's control over national agricultural business, its influence on politics through lobbying and the proliferation of GMOs in farming practices.
The "Rally for the Right to Know" was held in conjunction with rallies in other state capitols and Washington, D.C., as part of the Organic Consumers Association's "Millions Against Monsanto" campaign.
Event organizer Sabrina Siegel, a Eugene resident, became involved with "Millions Against Monsanto" after learning about the possible health effects of GMOs.
"As a mother I became very nervous and disturbed about the whole thing," Siegel said. "I just became worried as a parent to help all children, not just my children. It motivated me to teach people about the issue."
Rally participants spoke of the importance of supporting legislation to require food producers to list what ingredients are genetically modified.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved GMOs for consumption, but controversy remains because of Monsanto's close political ties with government regulating agencies. One current issue is the Obama administration's appointment of Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto lawyer who served as the corporation's vice president of public policy.
"The reason that GMOs are even allowed to exist is because it is to Monsanto's tremendous financial benefit. They have slowly but surely over the last 20 years bought off our legislators to deregulate all the regulations that the FDA provides," said JP Sayles, a speaker at the rally and author of politicalfinancereform.org. "The lobbyists will come in with a check and say we need this legislation to read this way, and they will literally write the legislation and hand it to the senator, along with a check for their campaign donations."
In a statement to "Millions Against Monsanto," U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a democrat from Ohio, asked participants to support three bills he plans to put before Congress to mitigate negative impacts of GMO foods. These bills include the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, the Genetically Engineered Safety Act and the Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection Act.
Monsanto has become one of the largest producers of GE agricultural products ”” one of the most prominent being crops containing genes resistant to the herbicide Roundup.
Farmers in Oregon have shown criticism for GE crops, fearing contamination between conventional crops and Monsanto's genetically modified crops.
In April 2010, an Oregon-based company, Geertson Seed Farms, filed suit against Monsanto for planting herbicide-resistant alfalfa seeds without adequate environmental studies. In June, the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in Monsanto's favor, lifting a national ban against genetically modified alfalfa.
The National Research Council concluded in a 2010 report on genetically modified crops that there is a substantial net economic and environmental benefit. The council also reported, however, that the use of the genetically engineered crops resulted in an increase in weeds resistant to herbicides and that improved yields could diminish over the long term.