Picnic was the plan for "Monsanto" Protest

Feb 18-22, San Diego hosted some of the world's
most esteemed scientists and policy makers
as part of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) 176th Annual Meeting.
One of many speakers was Robert Fraley,
the father of Agricultural Biotechnology.
He is one of the most influential men on the earth today,
setting a new course for the future
of farming unlike anything that has been
known on the earth for 1000's
of years. Dr Fraley has influenced the lives of more than
12 million farmers on more than 282 million acres
in twenty-three countries worldwide.
From what he said in his talk, this is only
the beginning of what Monsanto Company has
in mind. While he spoke, about 70 youth and
their parents paraded up and down
in front of the Convention Center
in protest to his speaking while others
engaged passerbyes.

A picnic--a GMO Peaceful Protest Eat-in,
was the plan the 20-year old organizer
had in mind.

Alexandra had made cookies to share
with local organic food lovers
and visiting scientists at the AAAS annual meeting,
February 21.

Date:   2/27/2010 12:45:50 PM   ( 14 y ) ... viewed 1824 times

10:43 AM
February 26, 2010










This was one of the signs
at the "Monsanto" Protest
made by 20-year-old Alexandra.


STORY BY ALEXANDR
one of FIVE SEED PLANTERS
IN A POT TO LESSEN THE TENSION
BETWEEN GMO and ORGANIC LOVERS


Food is a way to communicate heart and soul between individuals, families, and friends. It is the basis of the different cultures in the world, and bridges the gaps lost in translation and communication. Whether we are aware of it or not, we all have an intimate relationship with our food and it is vital to realize which foods we allow into our bodies. When we let good inside, we radiate our good feelings outward.

I have had a long struggle with food in my past, and have seen the differences in altering my diet. Growing up I ate a diet laden with processed foods, sugar, and hydrogenated fats. Looking back, I recall my feelings of sadness and how upset I would feel about my outward appearance to the world. It wasn’t until I chose to embark on a lifestyle change that made me realize how important it is to feed our bodies with the purest ingredients. Upon following my new path in life, I began introducing whole foods into my diet. I fell in love with the farmers market, the kitchen, the garden; before I knew it the nightmares of my past diet seemed so distant. I started helping Joe Rodriguez of J.R. Organics sell his beautiful food at the Hillcrest Farmers Market every Sunday to relay my love of local and organically grown food.

When I heard about the AAAS convention in San Diego and the speech planned to be given by Robert T. Fraley of Monsanto I wanted the presence of organic food lovers to be there as well. I had the intentions of staging a peaceful eat-in outside of the convention center, an idea I received from one of my friends. I envisioned a picnic outside of the convention center, to celebrate all foods organically grown and treated with love. On the day of the eat-in I brought fresh greens, beets, and carrots from J.R. Organics. I also baked chocolate banana chip cookies made with all organic ingredients, to share with whoever came as well as the scientists in attendance.

Although the eat-in did not pan out the way I had envisioned, I felt good knowing that a lot of individuals who showed up to the convention center had the best intentions: to educate the public about genetically modified foods. The cookies and the produce were the only organic foods present for the picnic, but I know they helped to communicate the idea of feeding our bodies with food grown with love.

After the demonstration, I met with my friend Leslie who asked me to plant a beet seed in his small planter. He explained to me the importance of the seed I was to plant, that I would be in the company of very important individuals who attended the AAAS convention. Learning that my fingers were about to touch the same soil that Robert T. Fraley had touched just hours before gave me the idea of hope that some day in the future, there can be a bridge of communication between the organic and non-organic visions of agriculture. I planted the seed.





Hey Alex! Thanks for the cookies!
I hope you make some more soon that
we can send to Robert and Tami!
Love,
Leslie


SHIFTING THE NATURE OF THE WORLD
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1578350




Robert, Leslie, and Tami February 21, 2010.
around 1:25 PM, Sunday afternoon.
Room 6C, San Diego Convention Center,
AAAS 2010 Annual Meeting. Robert is Dr. Robert T. Fraley,
Chief Tecnology Officer for Monsanto Company,
Leslie Is Your Enchanted Gardener, Plant Your Dream
popular blogger, and
Tami is Tami Craig Schilling, Director,
Strategic Communications & Operations,
Monsanto Company, Public Affairs.


SHIFTING THE NATURE OF THE WORLD

Robert Fraley, the father of agricultural biotechnology,
spoke on "Sustainable Solutions for Doubling Crop Productivity by 2030"
at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
176th Annual Meeting in San Diego. AAAS is the most prestigious
science organization in the nation with members rooted in
national policy. After his talk, I approached Robert Fraley with the idea
that It's time for GMO and Organic Lovers to talk.
I approached him with the idea of lessening
tension through dialogue.

Robert Fraley, Executive Vice President
and Chief Technology Officer at the Monsanto Company.
the man who has influenced the lives of more than 12 million farmers
on more than 282 million acres in twenty-three countries worldwide.
said yes to the idea.

He planted a beet seed in a sugar cane
bagasse pot to grow out the intention
as did four other key players through the day.
I handed him a copy of the
Monsanto Company literature
that was placed on the seats.
I asked him to write me a note.

He wrote:
"Leslie,
Let's close the gap!'
Robert Fraley










Dr. Peter Agre, current president of AAAS shared the

Nobel Prize in 2003 for chemistry. He was one of five scientists who advised President Obama
on his science platform.
Agre is devoted to to human rights issues, and has set his sights on ameliorating malaria in Africa.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/22/reality-bites/



There are approximately 23 Plant Your Dream Blogs
written between February 18-25 on my experience
at the 176th Annual meeting of AAAS This represents
approximately 60 hours of work. I have
20 more hours of debriefing and followup I would
like to do about the conference.

HERE IS ONE I WORKED ON THIS
MORNING

THE "MONSANTO" PROTEST
AT THE AAAS SCIENCE MEETING:
A COMMENTARY
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1579480

Your feedback on what I have written
is welcomed.

BIOENGINEERING TO CROP UP WHEN
SCIENCE GROUP MEETS!

PROVE IT!
IS ORGANIC BETTER?
Dr. Maaren Chrispeels, the scientist quoted
in the BIOENGEERING CROP OUT ARTICLE speaks up.


GOOGLE
AAAS 2010 annual meeting Your Enchanted Gardener
to read some of them, or go to the PLANT YOUR DREAM
BLOG INDEX HERE.





Anthony Russo, of Biosmart compost friendly
sugar cane bagasse alternative eating ware
is one of the sponsors of the Plant Your Dream Blog.

LINK to
BIOSMART, THE DINNERWARE PLATES
MADE OF SUGAR CANE BAGASSE
RATHER THAN STYROFOAM

If you would like sponsor
these freelance writings that intend
to foster a dialogue between GMO and organic Lovers,
please contact me through the
my Curezone email
or through my personal email.
Your name will be listed on
a blog of sponsors of the dialogue. You may
ask your contribution remain anonymous.


ART UPLOADED
11:44 AM
February 23, 2010




I was given a United Nations Peace Medal in 1983 by Robert Muller,
then Assistant Secretary General of the U.N. for the work I would do
in my life. The image is the UN Peace Medal Surrounded by
beet seeds. That story is told here.
http://lesliegoldman.com/AboutLeslie/id33.htm


WHAT ALEX's INVITE SAID
THAT CIRCULATED THROUGH THE SAN DIEGO
COMMUNITY BEFORE LAST SUNDAY

Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Location: San Diego Convention Center
111 West Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

Beginning tomorrow through Sunday, thousands of scientists from all
over the world in the field of biotechnology* will come to the San
Diego Convention Center, here in our city.

It is said to be the largest science conference in the nation.

What will they be discussing? Genetically engineered plants!

We don't want our food created in a lab!
We are human beings who just want delicious, naturally grown, organic food!!

------------------------------------------------
**WE WANT OUR FOOD GROWN IN HEALTHY SOIL!**

**WE WANT OUR FOOD TO BE NATURAL!**

**WE WANT OUR FOOD TO BE PURE!**

**WE WANT OUR FOOD UNTOUCHED BY HARMFUL PESTICIDES!**

**WE WANT OUR FOOD GROWN FROM SEEDS NOT TEST TUBES!**

**WE WANT OUR FOOD GROWN WITH LOVE AND CARE!!**

**WE WANT OUR FOOD GROWN BY AN HONEST HARD WORKING FARMER!!**

------------------------------------------------

The time has come to speak up and DEFEND YOUR FOOD!

-------------------------------------------------

JOIN US as we gather to picnic and celebrate all that is organically grown.

We will celebrate food grown the natural way, the way our earth
intended it to be grown!

We are going to have a peaceful potluck outside the convention center!

Yummy food = happy people!

BRING:

*An organic dish of your choice
*Some lawn chairs
*Beach towels
*Posters/signs/etc...
*Guitars, musical instruments of all kinds
*Organic plants you may be growing!
*Positive vibes, good attitudes!
*YOUR FRIENDS/FAMILY/NEIGHBORS!
*SMILES :)


SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010
TIME: 11AM-2PM (Lunch time!)

We are meeting at this time because Monsanto will be speaking then.



SPREAD THE LOVE! SPREAD THE WORD! :)

PEACE!

*
NOTE FROM LESLIE

This was not a biotechnology gathering, per se,
it was a gathering of scientists from mahy disciplines,
however, Alexandra is correct in another sense.
Biotechnology has not the inside track, it appeared
my observations of the AAAS Annual meeting.
Many scientists I talked to, and talks I heard,
indicated that those speaking favored biotechnology
as we know it now.

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