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Are "Organic Spies" Dividing Us?
This is my early morning response to the
entities on the internet now calling themselves
"Organic Spies," I am in many ways a simple Enchanted Gardener
and feel more at home with
garden bug life, bees, and flowers that interacting
with unnamed Entities and Invisible Planetary Forces
that prefer to hide behind the guise of
keeping secret who they are or their names.
The Organic Spies (OS) Entity appears to be in our lives
now to correct some wrongs in our thriving organic industry,
however, the Entity --OS--makes me
wonder what kind of Operating System and Rules
of Natural Law they are playing with here.
As a person who bleeds green as well as works
dedicately to come from a Heartspace, I generally
draw to me others who have a similar Heartspace
and are out for the Public Good. In my decade
long experience giving service to the Organic Trade
Association (OTA), one of our leading Lobbyist
groups in Washington, I have met many of the leaders
of the Organic Movements and its elders. Two of
the most dedication and kind hearted are Julia Sabin
and Kelly Shea...Read on, dear Friends and Allies!
...
Date: 6/5/2011 7:29:01 AM ( 13 y ) ... viewed 2097 times &
FULL ABSTRACT
This is my early morning response to the
entities on the internet now calling themselves
"Organic Spies," I am in many ways a simple Enchanted Gardener
and feel more at home with
garden bug life, bees, and flowers that interacting
with unnamed Entities and Invisible Cosmic Forces
that prefer to hide behind the guise of
not revealing who they are or their names.
The Organic Spies Entity appears to be in our lives
now to correct some wrongs in our triving organic industry,
however, the Entity know has OS--makes me
wonder what kind of Operating System and rules
they are playing with here.
As a person who bleeds green as well as works
dedicately to come from a heartspace, I generally
draw to me others who have a similar heartspace
and are out for the Public Good. In my decade
long experience giving service to the Organic Trade
Association (OTA), one of our leading Lobbyist
groups in Washington, I have met many of the leaders
of the Organic Stakeholders as well as Grassroots
Activists in my own city of San DIego.
Two of the Organic Stakeholders who have impressed
me deeply are Julia Sabin and Kelly Shea, two women
who I honor for their remarkable gifts in business
as well as capacity to build bridges for the Organic Movement
and its agenda.
It is for this reason, I gave more than 15 hours between
June 3 and June 4 to let the Entities known as Organic Spies
get under my skin and propel me to defend OTA, Julia
and Kelly. This report contains a few of my initial summations
that I send your way as we become one United Organic Movement
helping to win back our Organic Seeds.
I listen closely to nature crying out.
I hear her saying, Each of you, Rise Up.
Each of you Be an an Organic Uprising
Standing Up for Nature's Original Technology!
Be of one Movement, One Voice!
Collaborate. Your World so Deeply needs
Peace Making and Peace Makers.
Sending this out with Love to all who who
build up the Organic Movement, rather than
tear it down.
Leslie Goldman
Your Enchanted Gardener
June 5, 2011
World Environment Day
San Diego, CA
POSTED ON THE TREE HUGGER SITE
7:45 am
June 5, 2011
on World Environment Day
Put in more than 21 hours of valuable time so far, looking at this project inspired by Organic Spies. My latest take is on the Old Plant Your Dream Blog, Are "Organic Spies" Rallying to Divide Us?" http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1820014
Check it out.
My Most succinct writing is on the New Plant Your Dream Blog Post, "Julia Sabin, Kelly Shea: Esteemed Advocates of the Organic Agenda." http://plantyourdream.net/?p=1998
Over time, I will be glad to explain my points of view why I stand up for the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and these two board members that I have watched in action for many years.
I See and Seed now that rather than division coming out of this huge investment of energy, a new seed is now being planted that will give us back our organic seeds. The Tipping Point is Now if we all come together, working as a Team. I am calling forth a unity within the Organic Movement from Organic Stakeholders to Grass Roots Activists. I live in both these worlds.
The Tipping Point--Each of us an being an Organic Uprising, each of us Standing Up for Nature's Original Technology--is a won battle
as we learn to collaborate.
http://plantyourdream.net/?p=1498
Check out my Youtubes for updates on where the Organic Stakeholders stand. They are great people, among them
Walt Robb of Whole Foods Market, Gary HIrshberg, of Stonyfield
Farm, George Seimon of Organic Valley, and many, many others.
We have a host of great non-profits working in our behalf
and you can see a list of them on the bottom of Jeffrey Smith's
Institute for Responsible Technology Site here.
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/
CHECK OUT SOME OF MY BEST VIDEOS
HERE
http://plantyourdream.net/?page_id=50
and catch what I said in the Huffington Post
about Chewing on Food Safety:
A National Conversation is Needed
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesliex/chewing-on-food-safety-a-_b_750967.html
I am a full time blogger and have studied many of these issues.
Be well all of you.
I am sure we will grow from this.
To the youth, who are doing their best to
fix our world, I salute you.
I accept you mean well.
Everything Good needs a good looking over.
Nature wins out in the end.
Leslie Goldman
Your Enchanted Gardener
World Environment Day
June 5, 2011
7:41 am
San Diego, CA
ARE ORGANIC SPIES--I.e, THE GROUP
NAMING THEMSELVES "ORGANIC SPIES"
RALLYING TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER OUR
ORGANIC MOVEMENT?????
RECEIVED FROM
ORGANIC SPIES
JUNE 4, 2011
Hi Leslie,
Organic Spies commented on your link.
Organic Spies wrote: "Organic Spies Hi Leslie, we appreciate your passion, activism and your fascinating website. We heard Kelly Shea is a nice person, and we are happy she has been have helpful to you. Regardless she should not be on the board of the OTA. Her parent company, Dean Foods had $12.1 Billion in Sales for 2010, a majority of this is not organic and we estimate a majority of the products are GE or use GE animal feed for their dairy production. A majority of GE crops in the U.S. are used for animal feed. We are preparing an Official Statement about Kelly Shea and her conflict of interest, but are triple checking our fact sources as we did with our documentary. Please Research this information and learn more about Dean Foods and how they are against labeling of GE foods. This is the income statement that will show sales. http://www.facebook.com/l/81650/finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=DF+Income+Statement&...
This Show's Dean Foods Brands http://www.facebook.com/l/81650/deanfoods.com/brands.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/l/81650/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Foods"
MY COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FB SITE
ORGANIC SPIES
JUNE 4, 2011
LESLIE WRITES:
FYI, The non GMO shopping guide is a collaboration of jeffrey Smith's Institute for Responsible Technology and the Non-GMO Project. Jeffrey is one of the primary advocates of the Tipping Point to label and educate people about the problems of GMO Contamination and health hazards.
Non-GMO Shopping Guide
http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com
16 hours ago · Like · · Share
LESLIE WRITES:
Leslie Goldman White Wave, Silk, and Horizon Organic are all under the influence of Kelly Shea. She has been highly supportive of my efforts to launch my Spring Campaign, Standing up for Nature's Original Technology, each of us being an Organic Uprising.
16 hours ago · Like
ORGANIC SPIES WRITES:
Organic Spies Organic Spies Hi Leslie, we appreciate your passion, activism and your fascinating website. We heard Kelly Shea is a nice person, and we are happy she has been have helpful to you. Regardless she should not be on the board of the OTA. Her parent company, Dean Foods had $12.1 Billion in Sales for 2010, a majority of this is not organic and we estimate a majority of the products are GE or use GE animal feed for their dairy production. A majority of GE crops in the U.S. are used for animal feed. We are preparing an Official Statement about Kelly Shea and her conflict of interest, but are triple checking our fact sources as we did with our documentary. Please Research this information and learn more about Dean Foods and how they are against labeling of GE foods. This is the income statement that will show sales. http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=DF+Income+Statement&annual
This Show's Dean Foods Brands http://deanfoods.com/brands.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Foods
9 hours ago · Like · 1 person
RESPONSE FROM
CHRISTINE BUSHWAY
CEO OF THE ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION
ON THE TREE HUGGER SITE
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/organic-trade-association-responds-to...
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has responded to (criticism...) levelled against it in a recently released short documentary. I wrote about this film earlier this week along with additional commentary by organic food pioneer and former OTA board member, Arran Stephens.
OTA representatives have responded to the charges and Stephens has clarified his position.
In a letter sent to OTA members obtained by TreeHugger, Executive Director and CEO, Christine Bushway, responds to the claim that the OTA doesn't support labelling of GMO foods.
As the GMO issue has gained steam, I am often asked by members whether OTA will get involved. My response: How can we not be involved--we are the Organic Trade Association! In fact, OTA scored a permanent and decisive win by successfully suing the state of Ohio to stop efforts by Monsanto to silence truthful claims about the absence of GMOs in organic dairy. Let's be clear--the decision to file this lawsuit was unanimously approved by OTA's Board. In spite of the obvious David and Goliath situation, the board that has been attacked went way out on a limb and litigated to protect the industry.
OTA has actually had an official position calling for mandatory labeling of GMO foods since 2000, and both OTA's Board and staff continue to be actively engaged in fighting the proliferation of GMOS to protect organic agriculture and trade and preserve farmer and consumer choice.
I have unfortunately grown accustomed to the circular firing squad, but the Organic Spies video took it to a new amazingly low level. It is destructive and cowardly to make conspiratorial accusations without full disclosure of who's behind these allegations. These tactics will not get us closer to mandatory GE labeling. The irony is that in my almost three years with OTA and dozen full board meetings, never once has any Board member expressed hesitance to do what is right for organic. Regardless of their business size, type or structure, our Board members make decisions to benefit the trade as a whole, with the integrity and respect you'd hope for from elected representatives.
GO TO THE LINK FOR THE REST OF THIS POWERFUL
RESPONSE
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/organic-trade-association-responds-to...
MY FAVORITE RESPONSES
ON THE ORGANIC SPIES SITE
Saturday, JUNE 4
9 pm
Changemaker Emmes Organic Spies, with all due respect you need to do some research of your own if the name "Jane Sooby" doesn't ring a bell. I recognize her name as an OFRF staffer. Given her job, she obviously knows organic standards and policy inside and out. 1000% agree with her that staying anonymous loses cred, and that the primary result of your mis/information campaign will be reduced public trust and support for organic.
9 hours ago · Like
Dave Alexander · University of Denver
As someone that's been in the organic food business for 22+ years, I can say that this piece does have a few points that deserve consideration, though the general approach in focusing on a few board members and bending reality to fit a storyline is disingenuous. It is patently unfair to say the OTA and specifically some members of the board have intentionally obstructed efforts to ban or label GM Foods. Yes, some board members may now work for organic subsidiaries of big food companies, but most have been working for the organic divisions long before they were purchased by the parent companies. As to why there aren't more small organic farmers on the board? Running an organic farm, especially a small one is all consuming, and most simply don't have time for it. Secondly, in the reality of Washington DC today, special interests and lobbyists with big money are almost always going to win vs what's in the best interest of the general public. The OTA vs the Agro-chemical lobby is truly a David and Goliath situation - I don't know this for a fact, but I bet if you added up the entire operating budget of the OTA for the last 10 years, it'd still be a fraction of what Monsanto, Novartis, DuPont, ADM, Cargill, etc. have spent on lobbying in a year or two. The OTA has done a great job leveraging the meager resources it has. If you want to do something about the lack of progress on GM labeling and bans, contact your Senator and Congressperson, and insist they support banning / labeling GM AND campaign finance and lobbying reforms to prevent corporations and lobbyists from influencing legislation. Third - The farm bill is a perfect example of the above- it ladles out gobs of money subsidizing unhealthy foods and agricultural practices that contribute to obesity and all the other ills mentioned in the video. If corn, soy, and other commodities weren't so heavily subsidized and cheap, they wouldn't be in everything. At least the last farm bill had something for organic agriculture in it - largely due to the efforts of the OTA and the people you're targeting. Lastly, President Obama and Ag. Secretary Vilsack rolled over and approved GM alfalfa and sugar beets recently.... with friends like that, who needs enemies? In my opinion, the OTA and people on the board have done a lot to advance the cause of organic agriculture with minimal resources vs. unimaginable resources and influence from the agri-chemical lobby. If you want to help, write your legislators, and make a donation to the OTA.
3 · Unlike · Reply · Subscribe · Friday
June 3, at 12:29pm
Posted on the Tree Hugger site...
LESLIE RESPONDS
POPULAR LINKS
FOR ORGANIC SPIES
THE TREE HUGGER PIECE
PRINTED
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/charges-of-corruption-taint-organic-t...
TREE HUGGER STORY
ORIGINAL
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia  on 06. 2.11
JUNE
A new short film claims that the board of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is undermining the ethic of of the organic movement. The film, embedded below, was released by an anonymous person or group called Organic Spies, suggests that at least four current board members of the OTA are in conflict of interest because the companies they represent overwhelmingly rely on genetically engineered ingredients, something that is anathema to the organic movement.
Jeff Nield is the operations manager for FarmFolk/CityFolk Society
a nonprofit organization that works to cultivate
a local, sustainable food system.
INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ABOUT
ORGANIC SPIES
FROM THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/organicspies?v=info#info_edit_sections
The Organic Trade Association is the only federal lobbying and policy organization representing the organic movement to U.S. law makers. After years of internal conversations among organic leaders about the corruption of the Board of Director's of OTA's and their failure to make progress on labeling of GE foods, silence is no longer acceptable. The Board of Directors of the OTA uses their personal agenda, profiting from lost cost GE foods, to continue to deny the mandate to label GE foods, even though the entire organic marketplace supports GE labeling.
Below are Links revealing how Julia Sabin VP/GM of Smuckers and President of the Organic Trade Association Tim Smucker CEO of Smucker's profit from Genetically Engineered Food. Also links to political contributions and other key information
Julia Sabin’s Smuckers stock sales:
http://biz.yahoo.com/t/29/7343.html
Tim Smucker’s 5 year compensation:
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/12/ceo-compensation-11_Timothy-P-Smucker_MKD...
Tim Smucker’s Political Contributions:
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/tim-smucker.asp?cycle=10
Jenny Smucker’s Political Contributions:
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/jenny-smucker.asp?cycle=10
OTA Annual Report: No discussion of GE Labeling and GE farmer contimination:
http://ipaperus.ipaperus.com/OTA/OTAAnnualReport/OTAAnnualReportFall2010/
Monsanto’s Income Statement:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=MON+Income+Statement&annual
Show seed ownership chart by prof. howard: https://www.msu.edu/~howardp./seedindustry.html
General Mills Sales by Segment:
http://generalmills.com/Company/Businesses/US_Retail.aspx
Smucker’s Brands Almost all have GE foods:
http://www.smuckers.com/family_company/brands/
OTA Board Treasurer Chuck Marcy, Board Member of B&G Foods. Almost all of B&G's brands and GE and his bio is almost all with GE profiteers
http://ir.bgfoods.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=176473&p=irol-govBio&ID=205339
(read less)
SPIES AMONG US
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ORGANIC SPIES
IN THEIR OWN WORDS FROM THEIR FACE BOOK PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/organicspies
Jane Sooby
You would be more credible if you weren't anonymous. I also have a very big problem with organic in-fighting. You seem to be forgetting the main effort: growing a viable alternative to the conventional industrialized food system. Seems to be a trait of progressives: we are best at fighting amongst ourselves and diluting our energy away from targeting Monsanto, Syngenta, Cargill, etc. etc. etc.
Thursday at 2:38pm · Like ·
Organic Spies Jane, the potential impact of this documentary was taken extremely seriously. Many conversation were discussed prior to launching it. This documentary is not about the Organic Spies, but rather the 10,000's of organic food activists who have been emotionally tormented for decades by companies that sell GE food made by monsanto that oppose GE labeling. If you look at General Mills, 2.5% of their $10.3 Billion in U.S. sales is from Small Planet, one of their 3 brands Larabar, is not organic. How can an OTA board member advocate a GE labeling policy to Federal Politicians when labeling would have a catastrophic effect on sales at General Mills. Drastic measures must be taken, we are at a crisis point with GE contamination. The OTA must accept responsibility for their failure and change course. The OTA must be reformed, it starts with the Board of Directors. http://generalmills.com/Company/Businesses/US_Retail.aspx
Thursday
June 2, 2011
at 3:15pm · Like · 4 people
http://www.facebook.com/organicspies
MORE MISINFORMATION FROM ORGANIC SPIES
I will take this one on later!
Got to go to the Farmers' Market!
Why have 30 countries around the world banned or labeled GE foods, and they do not have a 6,500 members Organic Trade Association. We needs victories and labeling. look at the links for Dean Foods, $12.1 Billion in Sales in 2010, we estimate a majority of that is from products with GE animal feed from the brands on the links below. Dean Food’s 50 brands
http://deanfoods.com/brands.aspx
Here is the income statement of Dean Foods, look at.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=DF+Income+Statement&annual
34 minutes ago
INTERESTING FROM THE ORGANIC SPIES
SITE
https://www.msu.edu/~howardp./organicindustry.html
GOOD ONE FROM ORGANIC SPIES
http://farmwars.info/?p=4913
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