OREGON ON BOARD: DEMANDING GMO RIGHT TO KNOW

Right to Know Movement Heads to Oregon

There is a chance California won't be alone this November in the Right to Know Genetically Engineered Foods campaign. While we've just seen state legislatures in Vermont and Connecticut back down from passing similar GMO labeling legislation, even in the face of overwhelming public support, organizers in Oregon have a chance to take a cue from California and get an initiative on this year's ballot.

Oregon's Right to Know initiative, which mandates labeling for genetically engineered foods, has been jumping through the administrative hoops of the initiative process since March and is expected to emerge from that process ready for signature gathering at the beginning of June. That will give volunteers four weeks to gather at least 100,000 signatures before the initiative deadline. For the Oregon Right to Know initiative to succeed, they need your help. If you live in Oregon, visit the campaign's web site and volunteer to help gather signatures. Whether you collect signatures from your friends, family, and co-workers, collect at your church, or table at the farmers market, everyone's help is needed.

For more info visit the website or contact Scott Bates, the initiative's chief petitioner at scott@oregonrighttoknow.org and (971) 266-0920.

Organic and Non-GMO Farmers and Gardeners File Petition to Prohibit Growing Genetically Engineered Crops in Jackson County, Oregon

• Group expects measure to be placed on the November ballot by initiative petition.
  GMO-Free Jackson County, May 3, 2012
  Straight to the Source
  
  

Medford, OR - A group of organic and non-GMO farmers and gardeners who feel threatened by the recent introduction of genetically engineered crops within crosspollination range, plan to ask voters to pass a County ordinance that will protect their livelihood, farms and gardens from damage by prohibiting the growing of genetically engineered crops in Jackson County. A student from Ashland High School, spoke Tuesday night at the Ashland City Council meeting, alerting them to the fact that gene drift threatens their ongoing seed-saving efforts for beets and chard due to the growing of genetically engineered sugar beets in Ashland.

The group has filed a prospective petition with the Jackson County Clerk that details the proposed ordinance. If passed by voters in November, the law would take effect the following year.

Volunteers are preparing to gather signatures on the initiative petition as soon as it is approved for circulation, which is expected to be around Memorial Day. They will have until August 8th to obtain 4,668 valid signatures of registered voters in the County.

For more information or to become involved in these efforts, GMO-Free Jackson County can be contacted at 541-708-3151, www.gmofreejacksoncounty.org, on Facebook, and at the Master Gardener Spring Fair at the Jackson County Expo this weekend.  
Source:  http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25418.cfm