[cgfc-discuss] [Biodemocracy]Organic Bytes-- Organic Food and News Tidbits with an Edge

Wed Sep 17 17:03:41 CDT 2003

ORGANIC BYTES
Organic & Food News Tidbits with an Edge 
Issue #20 9/17/2003 
By Organic Consumers Association

IN THIS ISSUE:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
FARMERS AND CONSUMERS DERAIL THE WTO
HOLD THE WATER
GE COTTON BITES
WEIRD FUN NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE WHEAT, THE WHOLE WHEAT, AND NOTHING BUT THE WHEAT
KRAFTY KRAFT RUNNING SCARED ON GE CORN
TOO MUCH OF A BAD THING
KUDOS TO YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU!
SEEDS OF DECEPTION
TAKE ACTION

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Although I go before you, please comrades, maintain firm in the
struggle." Last written message from Lee Kyung Hae, a Korean farm
leader, who stabbed himself and died after climbing to the top of a
police barricade in Cancun Mexico on September 10 with a sign that read
"WTO Kills Farmers," part of a mass demonstration against the World
Trade Organization.

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FARMERS AND CONSUMERS DERAIL THE WTO
As the Fifth Ministerial meetings of the World Trade Organization in
Cancun Mexico come to a close, media outlets around the world are
broadcasting the news that little to nothing was accomplished, thanks to
a rightfully belligerent coalition of developing nations known as the
G23. Led by African nations who staged a walkout from the talks, Brazil,
India and China and the 23 nation coalition essentially refused to
negotiate, in protest of the $1 BILLION PER DAY that the wealthy nations
of the North spend on farm subsidies---subsidies, mainly to corporate
agribusiness and factory farms, that are making it impossible for
farmers in the poor nations of the world to compete in the global
market. The lack of consensus among WTO member nations themselves
resulted in extra media attention on the protesters outside, including
the OCA and its 20 person delegation of organic farmers and consumers.
Many of the rallies and street marches this past week were dedicated to
Lee Kyung Hae, a Korean farm leader who sacrificed his life on the
Cancun police barricades to bring global attention to the fact that
thousands of farmers and rural villagers are literally dying all around
the world due to the policies of the WTO. 
http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/cancun_winning.cfm

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HOLD THE WATER
The OCA spearheaded a major press event in Washington DC last week as
members of the natural products industry gathered at a national trade
show called Expo East. OCA's press conference focused on the fraudulent
practice of a number of leading body care corporations who are
advertising their products as "organic" by including water as an organic
ingredient. Covered by a variety of media, including the Washington
Post, Indy Media, and Mothering Magazine, the press event preceded a
meeting of the Personal Care Task Force (PCTF), a committee of industry
leaders that are slowly hammering out organic body care standards for
recommendation to the USDA. OCA was also in attendance at the PCTF
meeting, announcing that it is currently working with Rutgers University
on a scientific analysis of diluted hydrosols. The results of the study
will finally reveal specifically how much added water is being included
as a so-called "organic" ingredient in these products. Stay tuned.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/

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GE COTTON BITES
In India the financial figures for the 2002 cotton growing season have
finally been crunched. Although Monsanto convinced many of India's
farmers that buying the more expensive GE cotton seeds would result in
higher yields and better cotton, the reverse is actually true. Crop
yields for GE cotton were 5 TIMES LESS than traditional Indian cotton
and the income from GE cotton was 7 TIMES LESS than conventional cotton
due to Monsanto's cotton having lower quality short fibers. As a result
of the insurmountable deluge of debt accrued from paying more for the GE
seeds and having a cruddy crop, more than 70 Indian farmers have
committed suicide in the last three months.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/bt_cotton.cfm

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WEIRD FUN NEWS OF THE WEEK
How does a farming community protect itself from becoming another urban
suburb? Ask the Ottawa County Planning Commission in Michigan. In order
to protect themselves from urban sprawl, the county is now distributing
brochures to potential new residents with scratch 'n' sniff stickers
that smell like...well...uh...er...manure. Mark Knudsen, director of the
county's planning and grants department said, "The whole purpose is that
people should not move into a rural area unless they're willing to
accept and embrace the practices that happen on a farming operation."
Apparently the county has been receiving an annoying number of calls
from new residents who have moved into this rural farming area from the
city, complaining about the sound of tractors and the smell of animals.
(Source: Holland Sentinel 9/17/2003)

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THE WHEAT, THE WHOLE WHEAT, AND NOTHING BUT THE WHEAT
Japan has announced to the US that if GE wheat is approved here, it is
likely they will completely discontinue importing wheat from American
farmers. This makes up a total of 2.5 million tons of US grown wheat
each year---enough to put thousands of family farmers out of business.
Tsutomu Shigeta, executive director of Japan's Flour Millers Association
told reporters this is strictly a "business matter", based on Japanese
consumers' dislike of genetically engineered foods. Similarly, South
Korean officials gave the US similar warnings in May. In the meantime,
Monsanto continues to test its new GE wheat in fields across the US,
despite staunch farmer opposition throughout North America.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/japan_wheat.cfm

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KRAFTY KRAFT RUNNING SCARED ON GE CORN
The OCA, along with the GE Food Alert (GEFA) network has just received
results from our laboratory analysis of Kraft foods. We've been watching
Kraft closely for more than two years, since we found illegal and likely
allergenic traces of Starlink corn in their Taco Bell products (a
genetically modified corn that the USDA has deemed unsafe for human
consumption). The most recent test results reveal Kraft is sourcing its
corn ingredients from GE-free suppliers. Of the 7 products we tested,
only one of them tested positive for GE ingredients at a level
unacceptable by European standards. The OCA and GEFA have been
pressuring Kraft to go GE free, based on its market influence as one of
the world's largest distributors of food products. Although Kraft has
not yet stated that they are going GE free, many of their ingredient
suppliers have, including Azteca, the world's largest corn mill.
Underlining the success of the global anti-GE foods movement, all major
food companies in Europe have already removed genetically engineered
ingredients from their foods, including Unilever, Nestle, Novartis,
McDonald's, and all major supermarkets. In the U.S. partial bans on
Frankenfoods have been announced by a number of companies including
Frito-Lay (corn), McDonald's (potatoes), and Gerber (baby foods).
Although Kraft is remmoving GE corn from its products, they are still
using milk in their dairy products from cows injected with Monsanto's
recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. http://krafty.org/

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TOO MUCH OF A BAD THING
Scientists are trying to raise public attention about the fact that
global overuse of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide is leading to weed
resistance. "Farmers are planting too many Roundup Ready crops," said
Stephen Powles, an expert on weed resistance at the University of
Western Australia. Mark VanGessel, a weed scientist at the University of
Delaware spoke of the Roundup (glyphosate) pesticides saying, "My gut
reaction is that we do need to limit the use of glyphosate-resistant
crops." In response to the issue that farmers are purchasing and
applying a toxic chemical that is no longer working, Monsanto
spokesperson Greg Elmore said people are overreacting. In other Roundup
news, Denmark officially banned the pesticide this month, saying the
toxic chemical is not breaking down in the soil and, as a result, is
polluting their water at a level that is 5 times what is considered safe
for the environment and human health.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/weed_resistance.cfm
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/monsanto_roundup_banned.cfm

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KUDOS TO YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU!
While the GE market collapses, organics and Fair Trade are exploding!
Ben & Jerry's is testing a new line of organic ice cream in San
Francisco. The 7-Eleven store chain is now stocking organic chips. Price
Chopper Supermarkets is releasing a line of 20 of their own organic
products, including veggie burgers, chips, and soymilk. Dunkin' Donuts
will be selling Fair Trade espresso beverages at every one of its stores
(which is way more than Starbucks can say).  It's true, money is power,
and the current market trends are revealing that consumers, like you,
are wielding their hard earned cash in an increasingly ethical manner.
Put simply, if you want to buy it, they'll provide it. The food
revolution is powered by two main fuel sources---your heart and your
pocketbook. Your ethics, intelligence and commitment are impacting
everything---from your family's health, to a clean environment, to a
strong and sustainable economy-----from the healthy worm in the
pesticide free soil to the small family farmers who can proudly help pay
for their kid's college tuition. In short, we're all making this a
successful and positive Movement together. Keep up the good work!
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/organic_growth.cfm

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SEEDS OF DECEPTION
More good news--- there's a great new book out, serving as a sort of
Silent Spring of GE foods. Although just freshly released, the book is
receiving a landslide of national acclaim and rave reviews. The most
effective activist/consumer is an educated one, so check out Jeffrey
Smith's "Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about
the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You're Eating"
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/seeds_of_deception.cfm

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TAKE ACTION
If any of the issues above spark your desire to take action, please
visit OCA's Action Center for instant faxes, petitions, volunteering and
donation opportunities. http://www.organicconsumers.org/action.htm

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FOR MANY MORE FOOD ISSUE DAILY HEADLINES:
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