ROBERTS-STABENOW BILL WOULD WIPE OUT #GMO LABELING FOR ENTIRE USA - FOREVER.

The Roberts/Stabenow bill just passed the cloture vote, which was 65 yes, 32 no.  This means that there will be 30 hours of debate on the bill and then a simple vote, where they only need 51 yes votes, so this means the bill will undoubtedly pass.

Here are two articles from the Hill -- one about amendments Leahy filed and one on the money protest, which was OCA--they threw money onto the Senate floor while yelling "Monsanto Money" and "Senator Stabenow listen to the people not Monsanto"

Also, here is the press statement that we put out about this:

News Release
Consumers Union
Policy and Mobilization Arm of Consumer Reports
Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Consumers Union: Important Questions Remain About Loopholes in GMO Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today in a procedural vote moved to begin debate on the Roberts-Stabenow GMO labeling bill that would wipe out states’ ability to require GMO labeling and replace it with an ineffective federal program.
Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives for Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports, issued this statement following the cloture vote:
“We're disappointed that the Senate has pushed this bill forward when important questions remain about potential loopholes that would sharply limit its effectiveness. The FDA raised issues about language that could exempt most GMO products on the market. Moreover, this bill – which blocks state GMO labeling laws immediately -- doesn't require the USDA to establish the new national standard for two years, leaving a legal vacuum that would undermine GMO labeling already occurring in the marketplace.  We urge Senators to listen to the nine out of ten consumers who support mandatory, on-package GMO labeling and oppose this bill.”
Consumers Union is urging consumers to call their Senators at 1-855-977-1770 to oppose the Roberts-Stabenow GMO labeling bill, and to support meaningful, mandatory on-package labeling for GMO foods. To learn more, visit ConsumersUnion.org/RightToKnow.
***
Contact:  David Butler, dbutler@consumer.org or Kara Kelber, kara.kelber@consumer.org, 202-462-6262
Consumers Union is the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports.  Consumers Union works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace. Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization.  Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually.  Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website, and other publications.

ORGANIC FARMERS' WIN LEGAL RIGHT TO PROTECTION FROM #GMO CONTAMINATION

COURT RULES ORGANIC FARMERS CAN SUE CONVENTIONAL GMO FARMERS WHOSE PESTICIDES ‘TRESPASS’ AND CONTAMINATE THEIR FIELDS

Jun 30, 2016 by Casey Coates Danson

[Translate]

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Source: http://www.globalpossibilities.org/court-rules-organic-farmers-can-sue-conventional-gmo-farmers-whose-pesticides-trespass-and-contaminate-their-fields/

Purveyors of conventional and genetically-modified (GM) crops — and the pesticides and herbicides that accompany them — are finally getting a taste of their own legal medicine.

Minnesota’s Star Tribune has reported that the Minnesota Court of Appeals recently ruled that a large organic farm surrounded by chemical-laden conventional farms can seek damages for lost crops, as well as lost profits, caused by the illegal trespassing of pesticides and herbicides on its property.

Oluf and Debra Johnson’s 1,500-acre organic farm in Stearns County, Minn., has repeatedly been contaminated by nearby conventional and GMO farms since the couple started it in the 1990s.
A local pesticide cooperative known as Paynesville Farmers Union (PFU), which is near the farm, has been cited at least four times for violating pesticide laws, and inadvertently causing damage to the Johnson’s farm.

The first time it was realized that pesticides had drifted onto the Johnson’s farm in 1998, PFU apologized, but did not agree to pay for damages. As anyone with an understanding of organic practices knows, even a small bit of contamination can result in having to plow under that season’s crops, forget profits, and even lose the ability to grow organic crops in the same field for at least a couple years.

The Johnson’s let the first incident slide. But after the second, third, and fourth times, they decided that enough was enough. Following the second pesticide drift in 2002, the Johnson’s filed a complaint with the Minnesota Agriculture Department, which eventually ruled that PFU had illegally sprayed chemicals on windy days, which led to contamination of the Johnson’s organic crops.
PFU settled with the Johnson’s out of court, and the Johnson’s agreed to sell their tainted products as non-organics for a lower price, and pull the fields from production for three years in order to bring them back up to organic standards. But PFU’s inconsiderate spraying habits continued, with numerous additional incidents occurring in 2005, 2007, and 2008, according to the Star Tribune.

After enduring much hardship, the Johnson’s finally ended up suing PFU in 2009 for negligence and trespass, only to receive denial from the district court that received the case.

But after appealing, the Johnson’s received favor from the Appeals Court, which ruled that particulate matter, including pesticides, herbicides, and even GM particulates, that contaminates nearby fields is, in fact, considered illegal trespass, and is subject to the same laws concerning other forms of trespass.

In a similar case, a California-based organic farm recently won a $1 million lawsuit filed against a conventional farm whose pesticides spread through fog from several miles away, and contaminated its fields.

Jacobs Farm / Del Cobo’s entire season’s herb crop had to be discarded as a result, and the court that presided over the case acknowledged and agreed that the polluters must be held responsible (http://organicfood.einnews.com/article/1088-…).

Precedent has now been set for organic farmers to sue biotechnology companies whose GMOs contaminate their crops

The stunning victories of both the Johnson’s and Jacob’s Farm / Del Cobo against their chemical-polluting neighbors is huge, in that it represents a new set legal precedent for holding conventional, factory farming operations responsible for the damage their systems cause to other farms.

And with this new precedent set, many more organic farmers, for instance, can now begin suing GMO farmers for both chemical and genetic pollution that drifts onto their farms.

Many NaturalNews readers will recall the numerous incidents involving lawsuits filed by Monsanto against non-GMO farms whose crops were inadvertently contaminated by GM material. In many of these cases, the defendants ended up becoming bankrupted by Monsanto, even though Monsanto’s patented materials were the trespassers at fault.

Be sure to check out the extensive and very informative report compiled by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) entitled Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers for a complete history of Monsanto’s war against traditional American agriculture: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/CFSM…

But it appears that the tables are now turning. Instead of Monsanto winning against organic farmers, organic farmers can now achieve victory against Monsanto.

In other words, farmers being infringed upon by the drifting of GM material into their fields now have a legal leg to stand on in the pursuit of justice against Monsanto and the other biotechnology giants whose “frankencrops” are responsible for causing widespread contamination of the American food supply.

Genetic traits are highly transmissible, whether it be through pollen transfer or seed spread, and organic and non-GMO farmers have every right to seek damages for illegal trespassing when such transmission takes place.

It is expected that many more organic farms will step up and begin seeking justice and compensation for damage caused by crop chemicals, GM materials, and other harmful invaders.

For too long, Monsanto has been getting away with suing farmers whose crops have become contaminated by Monsanto’s patented genetic traits and chemical materials, and winning.

Thankfully, the justice system seems to now recognize the severe error in this, and is now beginning to rightfully hold polluters and trespassers responsible. Monsanto, your days are numbered.

THE LITTLE STATE THAT DID! PASSED LEGAL MANDATE FOR #GMO LABELS!

Friday, July 1st - TODAY is the VERY FIRST DAY that the state of Vermont Celebrates it's Historic GMO labeling Bill - And WE Could not Thank Them Enough! 

Dear K, 

Let freedom ring! From the green mountains of Vermont to the forests of Maine, to the rolling hills of Connecticut and the beaches of California, we have stood up these past years for one simple thing - the basic constitutional right that mothers and fathers know what’s in the food they're feeding their children and that we, as Americans, can walk into a grocery store and determine by personal, individual and sovereign choice the foods that we wish to eat.

No one! Not a single corporate executive, not a gaggle of incompetent Senators, nor an army of corrupt lobbyists have the right to deceive us and our fellow citizens about the food that we should eat. No matter what they say, no matter what lies they tell, We, as citizens, have this right, not the corporations and those who would deceive us for their own personal gain. And yet while we celebrate this truly historic victory in Vermont, we could be just a few days away from seeing this law reversed by a federal compromise bill brought to the table by these very same corporate interests - a bill masquerading as a federal GMO labeling bill, that fails to deliver what 98% of the American people have asked for.

And so in the wake of this victory, this past week has been the darkest chapter that our labeling and food movement has ever faced. We are in our darkest hour. It is a deep betrayal that our Senators could side with Monsanto and corrupt corporate interests within the Organic Trade Association (OTA) in a secretive backroom deal for 30 pieces of silver. 

But mark our words, justice will be served. As an organization, Food Democracy Now! is Iowa born and bred. One thing we know besides farming and growing corn is politics - and make no doubt that our state's motto "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" is the central force that drives us now, and at all times.

Here in Iowa, where 94% of our corn and 97% of the soy is GMO, We want to raise a glass in celebration to our heroic friends and allies in Vermont who have bravely stood up to the most powerful corporate forces on the planet and won. 

Make no mistake about it, this fight is far from over. Please take a look at our good Vermont farmer friend who asks you to join us on this ride.

Please SHARE this Historic Moment far and wide with friends and family this 4th of July! 

Facebook link here - https://fdn.actionkit.com/go/1965?t=4&akid=1889.160877.KPLEeq

We hope that you enjoy this weekend with friends and loved ones and remember our rights that we celebrate this 240th year as Americans we're not won easy and without a fight!
They said we couldn't do this 5 years ago. That it would be impossible, when we went to California and fought them in Prop 37. But then we lost and lived to fight another day. We beat them the next year in Connecticut and Maine, but Monsanto got their clauses. We lost the ballot initiative Washington state in 2013, but won the very next spring in little state of Vermont.
Now their Whole world Quakes as we have landed in Washington DC, where what should be a garden of democracy for the people has become a snakepit of deceit. Just remember that our rights were won by farmers who left their fields to fight a tyrannical Parliament and monopolist Monarch. They thought they were mighty then, but our ancestors laid them low.
Have no doubt about this course, it is not easy, the forces that are lined up against us are powerful - and we have just begun to fight!
From Iowa to Vermont, we will stand with in good times and we will stand with you in bad! We raise a glass to our allies in Vermont tonight for standing up for our rights! And to those who write corrupt bargains, all you get is a pint of Roundup for the troubles you've caused.
They cannot beat us fairly, they have to bend the rules. This is not democracy, and they must pay the price! Don't worry, justice is coming! And Vermont's farmers ask that you join them on this historic ride.
Defend Vermont at any cost. As the sun sets on your first day, we will rally for this cause!
Thank YOU VERMONT, small in geography, but a Giant of a Heart!

Remember, democracy is like a muscle, either you use it or you lose it!

 

Thanks for participating in food democracy! WE GOT THIS!

 

Dave Murphy

Founder / Executive Director

Food Democracy Now! team

US SENATE TO USA: WHAT YOU EAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

The US Senate voted to advance the bill to ban GMO labels Find out how your Senators voted and send a message – Food & Water Watch action alert A majority of Senators voted to move the DARK Act forward for a final vote onJuly 6. If ultimately passed, this bill would STOP state laws to label genetically engineered foods. It would take away GMO labels in stores that are already being provided in advance of Vermont's GMO labelling law. It would create an unenforced national "standard" for labels that includes 1-800 numbers, bar codes, and websites that create the illusion of labelling and nothing more. This bill is unjust and would limit access to labelling information to those with a smart phone, a good data plan, cell reception and the extra time to read a website about every package of food, instead of an on-package label that tells consumers what they need to know at a glance. See how each of your US Senators voted — then click the link below their photo to send a message to thank them for their vote or hold them accountable. Go to: http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/VoteCenter?page=voteInfo&voteId=23792 Moving the DARK Act to a final vote Jun 29, 2016 Senate Roll call 117 114th Congress 2nd Session Accepted: 68-29 Source: Food & Water Watch http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/VoteCenter?page=voteInfo&voteId=23792 __________________________________________________________Website: http://www.gmwatch.org Profiles: http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/GM_Watch:_Portal Twitter: http://twitter.com/GMWatch Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/GMWatch/276951472985?ref=nf

NO TO "DARK ACT" -DEADLIEST BILL OF ALL - RONNIE CUMMINS

View This Email On the Web

The darkest DARK Act of them all . . .   Dear Kat, The long-awaited Senate bill to kill Vermont’s mandatory GMO labeling law was unveiled last week. It’s worse than we imagined, the darkest DARK Act of them all. The bill proposed by Sens. Pat Roberts and Debbie Stabenow is an anti-consumer, pro-Monsanto masterpiece, bought and paid for by some of the greediest, most deceptive corporations in America. It’s full of loopholes and exemptions.  It allows food companies to “disclose” GMO ingredients using barcode technology and websites, instead of clear words, in plain view, on the package. It won't kick in for another two years, even though many food companies are already labeling in order to comply with Vermont’s law. And here’s the best worst part: The Roberts-Stabenow bill gives food companies permission to flaunt the law by ensuring that there will be no penalites, no consequences, if they fail to comply.  That's not a law. That's a joke. I don’t know if we can stop this brazen attack on states’ and consumer rights. But I know we have to try. Natural health leader Mercola.com, your loyal ally in the GMO labeling battle, has stepped up to help us meet our summer fundraising goal by offering to match your donation. Please help us reach our goal bymidnight June 30, so we can wage the final leg of this fight. You can donate online, or by phone or U.S. mail, details here. Roberts and Stabenow didn’t act in time to keep Vermont’s long-awaited mandatory GMO labeling law from taking effect on July 1. But as soon as both the House and the Senate return after the July 4 holiday recess, Monsanto’s hired guns will move heaven and earth to ram this bill through Congress. This federal, so-called “mandatory” labeling law doesn’t require labels on some of the most common GMO ingredients.  It allows regulatory agencies to set thresholds so high that many, or most GE ingredients wouldn’t have to be labeled. It also provides for defining “genetic engineering” in such a way that GMO corn and soy, the main GMO crops grown in the U.S., could be exempt. The Roberts-Stabenow bill is so weak, it wouldn’t be worth the Senate’s time to vote on it, except for this one fact: If passed, the bill will achieve Monsanto’s two primary goals—overturn Vermont’s law, and give food companies a permanent free pass to deceive the public. We owe it to ourselves to see this battle through to the end. Please call your Senators, visit their offices, then call them again. If Congress fails us on this issue, we will use every resource we have to launch massive boycotts of the brands and companies behind this bill, including factory farm producers of meat, eggs and dairy. And with your help, we will do everything in our power to make sure that the Congress members who sold us down the river never serve in office again. Please help us take advantage of Mercola.com’s generous offer to match any donation made by midnight June 30. You can donate online, or by phone or U.S. mail, details here. In solidarity, Ronnie Cummins International Director P.S. We still need to raise about $50,000 to reach our goal bymidnight, June 30. Win or lose the labeling battle, we have our work cut out for us if we want a regenerative, not degenerative food and farming system. Please know that every donation, no matter how small, will be matched by Mercola and will help build a better food movement. Donate online here.

USPIRG: ROBERTS/STABENOW SELLOUT ON #GMO LABELS UNACCEPTABLE

NEWS RELEASE  

Contact

Bill Wenzel,

U.S. PIRG

STATEMENT ON STABENOW-ROBERTS COMPROMISE ON LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

STATEMENT OF U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP (U.S. PIRG)

STABENOW-ROBERTS COMPROMISE on LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

Contact: Bill Wenzel, Agriculture Policy Program DirectorT: (202) 461-2451 | C: (608) 444-0292

Background: Legislation providing citizens with the basic right to know whether the food they are feeding to their families contain genetically engineered (GE) ingredients has been introduced in more than 30 states with Vermont, Connecticut and Maine enacting GE labeling laws. These legislative proposals have been met with fierce opposition from the biotechnology, farm and grocery manufacturers lobbies that have spent millions to defeat legislation in the states. With the Vermont law set to become effective on July 1, 2016, those powerful special interests have turned to Congress for relief.

On March 16, 2016, the Senate refused to consider legislation introduced by Sen. Roberts (R-KS), Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, to preempt state GE legislation and impose a voluntary GE labeling standard (S.2609). The strong bi-partisan vote to defeat the Roberts’ bill, labeled the DARK Act (Deny Americans the Right to Know), was in response to the demand of millions of consumers nationwide. Subsequent to the vote, Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, General Mills, Mars, ConAgra and other large food companies joined Campbell’s Soups in announcing plans to label products containing GE ingredients.

Statement: “The message from consumers to Congress regarding the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) products and ingredients has been crystal clear from Day One – only a mandatory national standard requiring prominent, on-package labeling is acceptable in legislation preempting state GE labeling laws. QR codes, smart labels and other off-package labeling are unacceptable alternatives. Consumers who do not want GE products or ingredients should not need to have smart phones, download apps, or spend time searching the web for information that should be readily available on the product that’s in their hand when they are grocery shopping.

The compromise reached by Senators Stabenow and Roberts allows companies the option of using off-packaging labeling, which makes it harder, if not impossible, for all consumers to know whether products contain GE products and ingredients, and falls far short of our expectations for a national mandatory GE labeling standard. We oppose the Stabenow-Roberts GE labeling compromise, and urge all Senators to once again hear the voices of the 90 percent of Americans who demand nothing short of mandatory, on-package labeling of all GE products and ingredients, and vote “no” on the compromise.”

NO "DEAL", ROBERTS/STABENOW! MANDATORY #GMO LABELS ONLY!

Subject: MESSAGE I SENT TO SENATORS TODAY on the DARK ACT from Howard Vlieger

I writing to ask you to OPPOSE the Stabenow/Roberts compromise on GMO labeling. This is a TOTAL denial of our constitutional rights. What right could be more fundamental than knowing what is in our food?

GMOs have NEVER been proven safe and there is a growing body of independent scientific studies showing many reasons for concern for the health of those consuming GMOs.

Couple this with the fact that more than 80% of GMO crops are resistant to glyphosate based herbicides and glyphosate residues are showing up everywhere (grains, bread, breast milk, baby food, cereal, water systems and much more). Glyphosate is a potent antibiotic and broad spectrum chelator and is wreaking havoc in the health of animals and people around the world. Just this AM it was announced that glyphosate herbicides will NOT be registered in the EU.

We deserve to know if GMOs are in our food. More than 90% of the citizens in our country want "ON LABEL" wording if food contains ingredients of GMO crops. Do what is right for the consuming citizens of this country, NOT corporate contributors. PLEASE vote NO on the Stabenow/Roberts legislation.


Thank you!


HOWARD VLIEGER
4947 US 75 Avenue
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