Tag: prop 37

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The GMO debate – why is it so hard to figure out?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) – are they good? and/or are they bad?  This debate is raging in the public realm right now as California voters narrowly defeated a measure to label them in California (Prop 37) last year and Washington State voters are about to decide if they will be the first of the states to adopt a formal labeling requirement.   Trying to understand what the ‘right’ thing to do is very difficult as propaganda and murky science seem to rule the day.  Both ‘sides’ of the debate use the murky science and propaganda to further their respective agendas as to whether or not GMO’s should be labeled, are or aren’t safe, and what information is credible and what is not.   What makes it even more difficult is when both sides try to use the available information fit their stance on the issue which further muddies the water.   For example, whether or not GMO’s are safe is an irrelevant argument when it comes to discussing Initiative 522 in Washington.  That legislation is strictly regarding labeling and how the consumer would be informed as to whether or not a food item contains genetically modified ingredients.  Both the Yes and No side have digressed from this basic issue to introduce ‘safety’ with the supporters declaring GMO’s unsafe and proponents declaring that ‘science’ has proven these foods ‘safe’.   This leads to further debate since truly independent research on GMO’s is very limited to non-existent and industry provided research and study into the safety of GMO’s has only been provided by the companies that produce these crops and their seeds AND they only allow research on their products that is approved by them under the protocols they want.  Regardless, in relation to I-522 those arguments should be left out of the debate because clearly neither side has enough real information to declare an absolute.

The next issue is ‘trust’.  What and who do we trust?  Whose agenda (hidden or not) should we pay attention to?  Why would the Grocery Manufacturers Association try and hide the names of the companies that contributed money to defeat I-522?   Do these companies fear some type of consumer revolt if found out that they supported the defeat of this measure?  It certainly seems plausible especially when coupled against the backdrop of our recent US history with a clear distrust of Wall Street, big business, and government, or do they really fear exceptional costs when having to reformulate foods using Non-GMO ingredients?  Perhaps both, however, if not for the predisposed lack of ethics demonstrated by these companies and the elected representatives we might actually have reason to believe them.  Unfortunately for them, cynicism is ruling the day, though companies like Monsanto have only themselves and their corporate actions to blame.  What’s the solution?  The obvious one is to see these companies put some of their profits back into research that is conducted independently over a significant amount of time and having both sides accept the results – good or bad.  If bad, better to know now…if good, then that piece of the GMO argument goes away.  Is it relevant to labeling in Washington; not really but one more ‘cloud’ in the effort to make things unclear by opponents of the measure.

What about the environment?  How much dialogue is taking place regarding the impact of GMO’s on the planet?  The companies that produce the modified seeds (Monsanto, Dow, Bayer) claim that the environmental impacts are all positive.  In this case independent research has found that the impacts are not benign.  Resistant weeds and pests are becoming the norm and mono-crop planting has created soil problems.  The original touted benefits of less water, less herbicide, less pesticide, no longer are factual.  Not reassuring to say the least, but again not part of the measure in Washington.

Confused yet??  Welcome to the world of GMO’s.  One thing we can do to ‘clear the air’ is support I-522 in Washington and get the labeling requirement passed.  If you know that a food contains GMO’s and you consume it, that’s your choice and that’s to be respected.  Those that do not want GMO’s in their food should also be respected and should have an easy way to know.

 

 

 

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Do you really believe that GM foods pose no risk to you?

As I ponder the possibility that Prop 37 might not pass now that the big 6 chemical companies have spent upwards $30Million to create fear amongst the voters, it is clear to me that we are too susceptible to what we see and hear in the mainstream media (TV, Radio, Print).   It’s also clear that many Americans lack any semblance of ethics.   I realize that’s a pretty bold statement but I’ll stand behind it all day long.  I can provide a litany of examples on a daily basis where the ‘me first’ mentality blocks any reasonable approach to doing the right thing.  It’s even worse when we have allowed a corporation to become an ‘entity’ that is provided similar rights to the individual.  In the case of Monsanto, we have provided a vehicle in which, by law, is forced to act in the interests of it’s shareholders and their need for profits.  These actions often fly in the face of reason due to those profit pressures.  Since the company is inanimate, that means that decisions are being made by humans who’s first concern is taking care of their needs.  What is most disturbing in all of these folks inability to see past their own concerns is the fact that many have children.  How is it as a parent, that you would support anything that potentially puts your children or your children’s children at further risk?  That is the question I want to ask the leadership at Monsanto, Dow, etc.   Wouldn’t they want to know the long term concerns of their work on humans, especially children?  Let’s completely understand the risk, if any, before we put these types of foods into our bodies.  In addition, if I were in charge and felt that these foods were absolutely safe I would not hesitate to be part of a long term study in order to prove their safety.  I wouldn’t feel right pushing a product that I couldn’t 100% stand behind.  Let’s see that commitment from the leadership at Monsanto.  Starting to make sense??  Frankly,  without a public statement to this effect by Monsanto and the others that are against Prop 37, all of us should be skeptical of their stance.  Let’s err on the side of caution by VOTING YES on PROP 37.   At least be informed as to whether or not GM foods are part of the foods you’re eating.   No one in the companies that have created these transgenic foods is willing to be part of any human trials so the ‘science’ that could make this proposition a non issue has never been accomplished.  That by itself is enough for me to know that I have only one choice next Tuesday. YES on 37!

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Who really should ‘fear’ Prop 37

Whose afraid of Prop 37??  Well it’s clear that Monsanto, Dow, and a few others are frightened to death.   They’ve brought this upon themselves though, so we shouldn’t feel too bad for them.  It’s great that leadership in some of these companies is old school and hasn’t yet learned their lessons from the tobacco industry.   No way that negative information doesn’t leak out in this day and age.  Thank you Google! Yahoo! Netscape! AOL! and all of the others.  Add in Twitter and Facebook and we know almost instantly when these companies are trying to play games with us.   It’s pretty clear why they are afraid, but I want us to realize ‘how’ we made them afraid and where our efforts to direct this ‘fear’ should manifest next.

California’s ballot initiative process is unique.  PROP 37 is a perfect example of the power of the initiative process.  We, the People, put this forward – not the politicians, not the lobbyists.  We bypassed the ‘garbage’ that sits in Sacramento and put what we wanted to the voters.  We should be examining and learning from PROP 37’s ups and downs so that we can create even more ballot initiatives that put more power in our hands.  Our legislature has been inept for decades in California…NO WORRIES…let’s take the decision making out of their hands.   Just because something has been done for a long time a certain way, doesn’t mean that we can ‘t look at different alternatives.  It’s time for our elected officials to rally around the people and not lobbyists or influential donors.  Let’s make sure that their fears are realized by VOTING YES ON PROP 37!

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Trying to understand what’s important about Prop 37

I’m voting YES on Prop 37.  Am I biased working for a natural foods company?  Probably yes, but not in the manner you might think.  As anyone who knows me, I don’t just do something for the sake of doing something.   Discerning fact from fiction in the genetically modified foods arena is difficult since research is truly limited, especially as it relates to human impacts.  No, I’m biased because of my personal experiences with these foods and what has happened since I found ways to limit their intake in to my body.  What is particularly relevant to me is that the improvements in my health appear to be directly related to the food choices I was making.  The choice to change came at the recommendation of a friend, not because I had educated myself on these foods.   Now, having spent quite a bit of time researching  GM foods and finding evidence of that suggests that we should be concerned, it’s easier for me to ensure I eat right.  Even more poignant, the chronic disease/condition I had been diagnosed with was not in evidence at my last checkup.  No disease found!!  This is a condition that I had for almost 20 years and does not have a cure, per the doctor.  These positive results have not been for just me.  My doctor has encouraged his other patients to take this approach and though he cannot divulge too much per patient/doctor privacy laws he has told me that he has seen benefits to others.  It mirrors the same experience I’ve had with my own family.  Simply put, there is too much personal evidence for me to buy into the industry’s stipulation that GM foods are completely safe.  Your personal experience may or may not be the same.  Just because you aren’t showing signs now of issues associated with GM foods doesn’t mean the damage isn’t being done.  It also may be that these foods won’t harm a certain percentage of people too.  That being said –

What is important about Prop 37?  In a nutshell it’s information.  It took me quite a while to understand how to find foods that have not been modified or don’t contain modified ingredients.  It should be simple and the labeling provision of Prop 37 is the best solution at this time.  Is it perfect?  No, but it does the job of providing a means for the consumer to better understand their food choices.  I’m grateful that California had a process in place to get a piece of legislation on to the ballot that represents what a majority of people want.

On November 6, we get a chance to make our voice heard.   I hope you’ll join me in a resounding YES VOTE on 37.  Regardless, I also hope you’ll make the choice to eat better foods and help your body take care of itself.  That much I can stand behind, politics aside.