This is from the San Jose paper on the amendment to prevent locals from interfering with GMO proliferation...

Date:   8/16/2005 1:03:03 PM ( 19 y ago)

express your opposition here:

Meanwhile, PLEASE VOICE OPPOSITION to any efforts to pre-empt local control of seeds by calling or writing (sample letter) to:

1. Your represenatives. To find out who represents your area, click here.

2. The Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-9)

http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/templates/SDCTemplate.asp?cp=MemberPage&pg=senhom...

http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/templates/SDCTemplate.asp?pg=senators&cp=MemberList

3. Fabian Nunez (D-46), Speaker of the Assembly

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a46/mainpage.htm



FARMERS WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF GENETICALLY ALTERED CROPS ON ENVIRONMENT

Associated Press


Bans on genetically engineered crops and animals in three California counties have triggered a national backlash.

Since late last year, 14 states have passed bills that bar towns, cities and counties from regulating genetically engineered crops -- a direct reaction to the California counties' first-in-the-nation bans on growing such plants.

Now the movement has circled back to California, where a state senator from the agriculture-dependent Central Valley wants to undo county controls by establishing state authority on the issue.

Sen. Dean Florez's proposal has sparked protests by biotech foes and municipal leaders, underscoring the growing tension between consumers and biotechnology supporters.

Florez, D-Bakersfield, said it should be the state's job to regulate crops by passing laws that affect everyone in California. The state will end up with a patchwork of standards if all 58 counties adopt different rules, he said.

``There should be some uniformity and conformity,'' Florez said. ``We have statewide standards for pesticide, fertilizer and labor law.''

Genetically modified crops -- also called GMOs -- are grown from seeds genetically engineered with bacteria genes to make the plants resistant to weed killers or bugs. Proponents argue that genetic engineering increases farm production and streamlines farming costs.

Mendocino, Marin and Trinity counties have passed laws banning the use of genetically altered seeds. Voters in Humboldt, San Luis Obispo and Butte counties rejected similar ballot measures.

Residents of Sonoma County are set to vote on a similar ban in November.

Florez is calling for a special Assembly Agriculture Committee hearing on his proposed state bill next month.

Florez supports a debate on the health and environmental impact of genetically altered crops, but said it should take place in the Legislature.

Opponents said the measure would undercut voters in counties that passed anti-biotech laws last year -- even though those counties have no biotech crops.

``We see this as a violation of local democracies,'' said Renata Brillinger, director of Californians for GE-Free Agriculture.

Some farmers are worried about the potential effects of introducing genetically altered crops into the food supply and the environment. They say those impacts haven't been adequately studied.

``It's a reckless approach to handling agriculture and the ecosystem,'' said Peter Martinelli, an organic farmer in Marin County. ``Why are we willing to risk the natural biology of plant species with these Franken-seeds?''

The League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties oppose the Florez bill.

``The language of the bill pre-empts us from placing any restriction on field crops,'' said Karen Keene, a legislative representative for the association of counties. ``It goes beyond the biotech issue.''


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