When I go on-line to find information I frequently land in someone's blog, so I wanted an on-line identity to thank and interact with the many people who provide me with needed information and inspiration.
"What happens when a private company with a long history of producing some of the most toxic chemicals on the planet and now produces our food starts facing public pressure from a growing national grassroots movement to label their products to conform with basic principles of democracy and transparency?
Well, if the company in question is Monsanto, then you take a page out of Big Tobacco’s playbook and hatch a secret plan to enlist public university scientists to bury the potential harm of your genetically engineered crops by whitewashing negative studies and systematically demonizing your opponents in the media to mislead elected officials and the American public about the safety of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and their accompanying toxic pesticides."
It has been quite a battle to get GMO food labeled as such, fortunately the "non-GMO" companies have stepped up to the plate and started labeling their products so that consumers can make informed decisions about what they buy to nourish their bodies. When I buy non-organic food, I seek out food that is labeled non-GMO. If Monsanto has its way, we won't have that right. Next week the HR 1599 bill will be going before congress, and this morning I took the time to write President Obama, my members of Congress, and the FDA, and asked them to vote no on HR 1599*.
This bill was brought to my attention this morning on one of my favorite blogs, A Garden for the House, by Kevin Lee Jacobs. He stated, "HR 1599 is a
Monsanto-backed bill that would ban both the federal government and individuals
states from labeling genetically-modified foods. The legislation would also
prevent cities and counties from banning genetically-engineered crops even if
local farmers and residents want them to.” He also stated that, “The bill potentially prevents business that don’t
use GMO products – and wish to inform you of that – from using their own
voluntary label.”
It is no secret that the Monsanto company is pushing the bill to get passed. Not only is our health affected by this bill, but the future of the American farmers is affected also.
*If you want to take a stand against GMOs you can write your members of Congress by going to Food Democracy Now! and using their computer formatted form. You also have the option of adding your comment to the letter they provide for you. Here is the comment I added to the form:
After being
diagnosed with an autoimmune disease I have made a conscious effort to become
more aware of the food in which I am eating to nourish my body and help it
heal. I am working hard to avoid unnecessary preservatives or toxins in the
food I eat. I depend upon labels to help me stay informed. I do not wish to eat
GMOs, so I rely on the food label to help me find foods that will help in my
healing process. It frightens me that Monsanto feels it has the power to take
that right away from me. As the person elected to lead our great country, I
hope you give the citizens and the states the right to label food so we can
stay informed about what we are putting into our bodies. Please, do not let
Monsanto corrupt science, democracy and our food supply, please vote NO on HR
1599. Thank you.
Normally I'm not an advocate, but I feel strongly about this issue. I don't want to preach, I just want to get the word out.
