Shout it! Yes on 522!

Remember Prop 37? Californians were assaulted by loads of misinformation about the labeling of GMOs. The result? The big corporations, you know -- the ones with money -- got their way and Prop 37 was shot down by less than a 6% vote. And those of us who could see through their lies were angry. Furious, in fact.

Now Washington state has a similar proposition that will be voted on in November. Won't you join me in spreading the word about Prop 522 so that Washingtonians will hear our shouts above the clamor of corporation deception? 

The facts are that big pesticide and junk food companies don't want you to know what's in their products. They want us to be sheep and they fully intend on being shepherds. The problem is they're leading us astray and the results to our children and grandchildren are bound to be catastrophic. While I'd love to see GMOs eliminated entirely, that's not what Prop 522 is about. It's about consumers being educated and then choosing for themselves what is best for their families. This is a basic right we should have as consumers. The fact that companies continue to hide what is in our food makes me furious, as it should all Americans. We're not only being lied to, but we're being poisoned in the process and IT HAS TO STOP!

Over 64 countries and the vast majority of industrialized nations already ban or label GMOs. Why are we trailing so far behind?

All we need is for enough people to vote YES on Prop 522 in Washington. As awareness spreads, other states are sure to follow suit. The big guns are out and they're discharging their money into the cause to shoot down those of us who are demanding transparency. Monsanto alone just sunk $4.5M into the campaign to defeat Prop 522. 

The food companies are more concerned with their bottom line than our RIGHT TO KNOW. 

I'm going to be posting and tweeting a lot about this. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter and repost and retweet away! Lions, or is it liars, roar. Let's roar louder!

An Ode to Prop 37

Who us?

Know?
No. 

These are our bodies and those of our friends.
We’re eating what’s fed us.
It doesn’t depend
on whether organic
or mixed with frogs’ genes.
You’re fussin’ for nothin’.

Genetically Modified Blackberries

The modified greens
are healthy, I’m sure
‘cause the big shots don’t lie.
They’re not out to get us.
We’re not gonna die…

We’re not gonna die, right?
This food, it won’t hurt us,
for surely if harmful,
they’d all just desert us.

The labels are silly.
They’re just meant to scare you
Pass this proposition?
Really?
How dare you.

--Hana Haatainen Caye

   ©2012

An election result that has me fired up

Photo by Peter Griffin

I woke up yesterday with hopefulness in my heart. What happened in California? I wondered. Quickly, I turned on my computer, clicked on Facebook, and typed Prop 37 in the search bar. 

Then my heart fell. Hard.

Prop 37 was defeated. Seriously?? How is it that Californians could be so misled by the lies? Did they not see the huge amount of money being thrown around in an effort to keep them in the dark? Did they not see through the lies and deception? Seriously??

I am beyond perplexed at the stupidity displayed. Are we sheep? Apparently so. Sheep being led to the slaughter. 

All that was being asked was for labeling. Why is the right to know so frightening for the corporations that spent $45-$48 MILLION to keep you and me in the dark? The bottom line, folks, is we are not supposed to know what is in the food we are feeding our families. We're not supposed to know the poisons that are in the formula we are feeding our babies. We're not supposed to know. We're not supposed to know. Doesn't that infuriate you?? 

My anger is practically uncontainable at this point... and I'm not even a Californian! I didn't have the opportunity to cast my ballot against this obscenity. But my voice was heard... here on the blog and on Facebook. One person said they wished non-Californians would shut up about this. They just didn't realize that this vote affects each and every one of us. We need to stop the insanity being perpetuated by Monsanto and Dupont.

Well, it's time to put our money where our mouth is. Here is a partial list of corporations who spent an obscene amount of money spewing misinformation over the airwaves and through the mail to the people of California. I know that I will, at times, buy products from some of these companies. But when given a choice, I'll choose to spend my money elsewhere. We can't do it all, but each one of us can do something. We have to. Like my husband said, "We won't buy one more can of Campbell's soups." I'm all for that. They're lined with BPA anyway!

MONSANTO COMPANY - $8,112,069
E.I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS & CO. - $5,400,000
PEPSICO, INC. - $2,145,400
GROCERY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION - $2,002,000
BASF PLANT SCIENCE - $2,000,000
BAYER CROPSCIENCE - $2,000,000
DOW AGROSCIENCES LLC - $2,000,000
SYNGENTA CORPORATION - $2,000,000
KRAFT FOODS GLOBAL, INC. - $1,950,500
NESTLE USA, INC. - $1,461,600
COCA-COLA NORTH AMERICA - $1,455,500
GENERAL MILLS, INC. - $1,230,300
CONAGRA FOODS - $1,176,700
KELLOGG COMPANY - $790,700
SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC. - $683,900
DEL MONTE FOODS COMPANY - $674,100
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY - $598,000

It's time to hold these companies, as well as the government, accountable. While Prop 37 was just about labeling, we need to do all we can to eradicate GMOs in this country. Unfortunately, we can't count on our president for that. 

According to an article in the August issue of Whiteout Press, "From the trenches of its battle against genetically modified food, Food & Water Watch points out one seldom discussed fact. While Monsanto has been pushing its GMO foods, seeds and pesticides for decades, it’s under the Obama administration that the multi-national corporation has seen its most success."

Just look at what's happened in the last 4 years:

2009 – Food and Drug Administration approved ATryn, an anti-clotting agent that is produced in the milk of transgenic goats. This was the first U.S. approval of a GE animal.

2009 – GE papaya strain developed by University of Florida approved by USDA.

2010 – USDA approves Syngenta’s “stacked” corn variety (MIR162) that contains multiple GE traits, including resistance to a variety of corn pests.

2010 – Pioneer’s GE soybean, modified to produce increased amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic) and decreased amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic) approved by USDA.

2011 – Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa is approved by USDA, with no planting restrictions.

2011 – USDA allows planting of Roundup Ready sugar beets despite unresolved legal challenges to the department’s approval of the crop.

2011 – Syngenta’s corn variety, genetically engineered to produce an enzyme that facilitates ethanol production, approved by USDA.

2011- Monsanto announces its intention to bring its stacked Roundup ready and insect-resistant sweet corn to market in 2012.

2011- Syngenta’s insect-resistant Bt cotton is approved by USDA.

2011- Monsanto’s insect-resistant Bt soybean, the first of its kind, is approved by USDA.

2011- USDA approves Bayer CropScience’s stacked herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant cotton.

For more information on the fight against genetically modified foods in America’s food supply, visit Food & Water Watch.

It's time to suit up our armor, folks. We need to fight harder than ever before. The future and health of our children and our children's children's children depend on it!

 

SUBSCRIBE

 

 

Monsanto and Dow want us to trust them. Do you?

Do you really have a right to know? Celebrities speak out about Prop 37

Monsanto... Get your dirty hands out of my bucket!

TGIVF!

It's the last Vinegar Friday in September. Where did the month go?! It seems like just a week or so ago we were bemoaning the end of August and now October is upon us. How did that happen? Just the thought of Christmas around the corner makes me almost panicky. I am so not ready for that!!

I am so not ready for this, either. And chances are, neither will you be.

You know how I'm always posting links or writing about GMOs? Well, I never gave any thought to the possibility of how that might affect my beloved vinegar. And I guess I should have. Unless you are buying organic vinegar, chances are good you are ingesting or using vinegar that is genetically modified. Doesn't that make your blood boil?!

Photo by Jiri Hodan

Here we are, trying our best to create non-toxic homes by cleaning with vinegar, and guess what? We're failing. Not failing in that we are keeping chemically-based carcinogenic cleansers out of our homes, but failing in our attempt to keep it pure. You know what I mean? The white vinegar we use to clean our homes is made from corn and corn is, for the most part, a GMO. Monsanto has its dirty hands in our natural cleaning buckets. Damn them. (Excuse the swearing, but I'm just soooo angry).

Of course, there is an alternative. We can buy organic vinegars. But there is something in me that cringes at the thought of pouring organic DWV into my toilet to clean it. Don't you agree? It's not that the conventional vinegar will hurt the toilet or kitchen counter or hardwood floor. It's just that by continuing to buy it, I'm knowingly contributing to Monsanto. Granted, it's in a rather small way, but if I hold to principles, I wouldn't do it. But then again, I wouldn't buy bread or cereal or produce or anything else unless I researched it and knew for certain it wasn't genetically modified in one way or another and I don't do that. Who has that kind of time? I could limit my purchases to organic everything, but, quite honestly, I don't have that kind of money. It's a tough conundrum we all find ourselves in, especially since the products are not labeled to reflect the polluting of our food by Monsanto and the likes.

Here are some companies who do have money, and are using it to aid in the fight against Proposition 37 and the fair labeling of our food:

Monstanto -- $7.1 million
DuPont -- $4.9 million (you can thank DuPont for being instrumental in the outlawing of growing hemp in this country)
Dow Chemical -- $2 million
Pepsi -- $1.7 million
Coke -- $1.1 million


This is why those of you in California must get out and vote and spread as much knowledge around to the people you know about the necessity of labeling. I know you're fighting big corporations with big bucks. But you are armed with something more powerful than money. TRUTH. Stay strong, soldiers of the truth. I smell a victory.  

Trying to keep it green with vinegar,

Hana


For more information on DuPont's involvement in banning hemp in the US, read The Surprising Benefits of Hemp.

Even Russia is saying NO to Monsanto!

Officials in countries across Europe are demonstrating what it is like to have leaders who care more about your health than about money. Just last year, officials took drastic steps to protect Hungarians from the dangers of GMOs.

Genetically modified corn

Almost 1000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds have been destroyed throughout Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar said. The GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not spread from the maize, he added.

Just imagine the amount of discussion involved in the ultimate decision to destroy the crops! I'm confident this was a decision that wasn't reached without much research, thought, and perhaps even a prayer or two.

Now the news is out about Russia. On Tuesday, Russia suspended the import and use of Monsanto's genetically engineered corn, following last week's study in France that prompted heightened concerns about the the health risks of eating genetically engineered foods. According to Proposition 37 Campaign Manager Gary Ruskin, "There is a giant question mark hanging over these foods and their health risks. For those of us in California, the case for labeling of genetically engineered foods has never been stronger."

Notice, Proposition 37 is not about banning GMOs. It's simply about labeling them. Yet all sorts of big corporations are fighting it. Why?? My personal frustration over this costs me sleep at times. There is an evil force at work here, and it's wearing sheep's clothing. While Bill Gates and countless others are singing the praises of Monsanto and GMOs, the rest of us are nothing more than lab rats being fed experimental garbage. It makes me sick.

I have no doubt that people I've known and loved and died because of genetically modified food they've eaten. Can I prove that? Of course not. I'm not a scientist or a doctor. I'm simply a concerned citizen who is beyond angry that the United States government is not following suit and banning the foods that Europeans are keeping out of their countries. For me, this issue is of utmost importance in the upcoming elections, yet I can't seem to find a candidate brave enough to stand up to Goliath.

This food is poisoning our children. Since GMOs were first introduced in the mid 90s, we've seen a bizarre increase in nut allergies, with genetically modified soy as a suspected culprit. According to Scott H. Sicherer et al. in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, a protein in natural soy has cross-reactivity with peanut allergies.

Looking back to my childhood in the 60s, I don't recall anyone allergic to peanuts in my school. Peanut butter and jelly was a regular staple in the cafeteria. I took my mom's homemade Peanut Butter Fingers (delicious) for every birthday celebration throughout elementary school and every one of my classmates enjoyed them. I didn't know a single child with diabetes or celiac disease, either. The list could go on and on as to how many diseases/disorders have skyrocketed in the decades since Monsanto started tainting our food. And they have enough money to keep us in the dark. 

Here's my question: if GMOs are not a danger to us, why the campaign to keep them off the labels of our foods? Why can't the American consumers make their own choices about the food they feed their families??

Hungary cares. Russia cares. Why, oh why, doesn't America?



Additional info about the companies spending big bucks in efforts to defeat Prop 37:

Monsanto is in for $7.1 million

DuPont is in for $4.9 million
Dow Chemical is in for $2 million
Pepsi is in for $1.7 million
Coke is in for $1.1 million