How Mendocino Country Got a GMO Ban...
In Conversation with Katrina Frey of the Frey Organic Winery.
UKIAH, Calif. AP) - Mendocino County voters approved the nation's first ban
Tuesday on the raising and keeping of genetically engineered crops or
animals.
"They had the money, we had the people," said Els Cooperrider, who led the
local ballot measure.
Date: 3/21/2012 4:16:24 PM ( 12 y ) ... viewed 7216 times
Mendocino County GMO Ban
Lots of inspiration in 2012 will push back GMOs. Katrina Frey of the Frey Vineyard, the oldest certified organic winery, reflects on how Mendocino County became the first County in California to push back Monsanto.
(L to Right) Katrina Frey, Leslie Goldman, Your Enchanted Gardener, and Jonathan Frey. Katrina was an active participant in Proposition H that crreated the first Ban on GMOs in a California County.
Spoke to Katrina Frey today.
Katrina remembers well how Mendocino County Turned back Monsanto
Now is the time to build on this example.
"The campaign was the brainchild of Els Copperider. We thought we sponsor a citizens initiative to inform the citizens of mentodico about the dangers. We didn't realize that it would quickly become a spotlight for the national Biotech industry. We were engulfed in a mountain of propaganda and misinformation. In the end, we had the advantage of great grassroots networking, and a educated voting public. They outspent us 7-1 but we won by a margin of 56.9. " says Karina Frey
"Since then the biotech industry has become more devious in resisting these kind of campaigns, but there are six or seven gmo free counties."--
Katrina tells me.
Mendocino County bans biotech crops!!
Mendocino County votes to ban biotech crops
PAUL ELIAS
Associated Press
Wed, Mar. 03, 2004
UKIAH, Calif. AP) - Mendocino County voters approved the nation's first ban
Tuesday on the raising and keeping of genetically engineered crops or
animals.
The move represented a big black eye for the biotechnology industry, which
spent more than $500,000 to defeat the measure in a county of 47,000
registered voters.
"They had the money, we had the people," said Els Cooperrider, who led the
local ballot measure.
With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Measure H had support from 56
percent of voters in the area known for its wineries.
Opponents of the measure could not be immediately reached for comment. Their
campaign headquarters in Ukiah was vacant with a "for lease" sign on it.
Led by organic vintners and farmers, backers of the ban raised and spent
close to $100,000.
The ban will have little direct effect inside Mendocino County, since there
are no known genetically modified crops raised in the area.
But Mendocino County's organic growers said they would use the law as a
marketing tool, especially in Europe, where opposition to genetically
engineered foods is fierce.
The victory is also expected to embolden similar movements in neighboring
Northern California counties as well as elsewhere in the county.
One of the Arguments that The Biotech Industry likes to say is that their has been Genetically Modification of Plants All Along.
One of the arguments that the Biotech Industry likes to say is that we have always been doing "Genetic Modification,: What they are doing with cell invasion is a far cry from what Luther Burbank was suggesting.
Blurring Lines of Genetic Modification
"One comment I’ve heard frequently in discussions about transgenic plants is how the description “genetically modified” is a misnomer given how much we’ve modified the genetics through traditional breeding. Some proposed changes to how the EPA may regulate the use of this technology serve as a good example of how the distinction between old and new methods of modification may not be that important."-- Promoting dialogue among scholars, policy experts, and the public about the role of science in society
Here is a quote from Luther Burbank in "The Training of the Human Plant" 1907.
I will be making more comments on this later:
I have come to find in the crossing of species and in selection,
wisely directed, a great and powerful instrument for the transformation of
the vegetable kingdom along lines that lead constantly upward. The crossing
of species is to me paramount. Upon it, wisely directed and accompanied by
a rigid selection of the best and as rigid an exclusion of the poorest, rests the
hope of all progress. The mere crossing of species, unaccompanied by selection, wise supervision, intelligent care, and the utmost patience, is not likely to result in marked good, and may result in vast harm. Unorganized effort is often most vicious in its tendencies.
Luther Burbank used Classical breeding, Katrina tells me.
Here is an Online Text Version of The Training of the Human Plant
With A Few Weeks Remaining in a Fantastic Ten Week Campaign, Pamm Larry is Calling for Many More Volunteers to Push Us Over the Top. April 22 is the Last Day to Qualify Our Ballot Initiative.
This is a ten week campaign to get on the California Ballot with an initiative. Pamm Larry told me we had 500,000 signatures as of March 27, 2012. We need 850,00-800,000 Signatures that pass inspection and are approved. This is the focus. This is the need. How will you help? The campaign begins February 15 once the Attorney General approves the wording that will go on the ballot and runs through April 22, a day that celebrates Earth Day in many cities.
RELATED PLANT YOUR DREAM BLOGS IN THIS SERIES
Uncle Sam Marries "Anti" GMO
This is where we are headed, as I see it.
850,000-800,000 SIGNATURES TEN WEEKS TO GET THEM BETWEEN FEB 15-APRIL 22, 2012
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