What's the big deal with GMOs?
It's this simple: there are serious health risks associated with GMOs. (Read more at that link or read a basic GMO definition here.) Here's an excerpt:
“Genetically modified foods… Are they safe?
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) doesn’t think so. The Academy reported that “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM asked physicians to advise patients to avoid GM foods.” (Source)
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karen says
I live in Arkansas and I saw a billboard this week that was a picture of a farmer, and the caption said something like “Who cares about protecting our environment? I do” and at the bottom it said MONSANTO. I about crashed my car laughing so hard!
KitchenKop says
Yes, that’s pathetic and hilarious at the same time.
Susan K says
Hi All,
I’m in California working on the campaign as a volunteer, and I’m conservative and Christian. This issue will probably be wrongly portrayed as a liberal, granola, greenie thing. We’ve got to mobilize mothers, teach them that this is their issue. It’s wonderful to find forums like this where everyone is on board, but I’d love to see us preach outside the proverbial choir and get the message into the pews! So let’s reach out to the women who don’t yet get it. Host a showing of “Future of Food” or “The World According to Monsanto” in your home, have a short discussion about it, and then when your friends are fired up, ask them to host a showing to educate five or ten of their friends.
We’ve got to get busy countering the lies. Most of what I encounter is that conservatives don’t like regulation, and that it will cause too many lawsuits. We’re not asking for regulation, but Information! As long as companies are honest, there’s no problem. Just tell us what’s in the food–if it’s so great, why not label it? Let the information flow and the market will take care of itself. There is no incentive for lawsuits, the initiative was written very much with small and medium sized businesses in mind, so don’t believe their lies. We could spread the truth like wildfire if we try. We’re going to need money for this thing to succeed, it’s true, and I love the Money Bomb! But let’s get active too. You know how much money the opposition can spend; we’ve got to raise as much as we can, but we can never compete on their terms. We’ve got passion and truth, though, and love for our families to motivate us–this is the stuff Monsanto knows nothing about. I’ll bet most of you are like me and find lots of like-minded people on-line, but your family or church friends don’t get you. These are the people we need to get on board. Start educating them, using the movies. If you are in CA and want to get involved, go to labelgmos.org or carighttoknow.org.
KitchenKop says
Good suggestions, Susan!
This is what I love about the Real Food movement, it’s for *everyone*, no matter who they are. We all care about good health and we *all* deserve to know what’s in our food!
Thanks for all you’re doing to help with this campaign!
Kelly
Annie says
Thanms fkr the explanation. I admit I’m just learning about GMO’s so not too familiar with everything. So if it passes in CA, how long before IL catches on?
Annie says
Can someone explain what the money goes towards. Is it just lobbyists?
Ann Marie @ CHEESESLAVE says
About 90% of the money goes to the fund for advertising for the ballot initiative in California. The other ~10% will go as a reserve for other states that want to fight to label GMOs in the future.
The opposition has already hired lobbyists (Big Tobacco I believe) to get people to vote against this proposition. They are going to spend a ton of money to convince people that GMOs are not bad and that there is no reason to label them.
Even though we currently have an 80% approval rating (most people will vote for this proposition to label GMOs), we need money to counter their arguments. TV commercials are especially important and they are very expensive. I’ve seen really great propositions in CA fail because the opposition had more money and ran a lot of really convincing commercials — of course, they were all lies.
Kenedi - Real Food Whole Life says
Just found your blog this morning. I always feel a bit sick to my stomach whenever I hear the name Monsanto. What great news!
leigh says
I finally learned about Monsanto by watching the documentary “The World According to Monsanto.” Very helpful in making me understand just what it’s all about. I highly recommend it for anybody on the fence or as a reference for the uninformed.
Susan says
Things are very tight around here, but I did donate $10. I hope everyone else does, too. They need money to get the word out so the masses will understand, because as of right now, this isn’t something we are hearing a lot about in California. I signed the petition while visiting my health food store, but other than that, we simply aren’t hearing about it. California could be the first domino that sets the example for the rest of the nation, but we can’t get the dominos falling until enough people understand what GMOs are about. And that takes money!
Beth says
You just made my week! So glad that it’s at least on the ballot. Many people honestly won’t care and will keep eating GMOs but at least let us have the label so WE can make the choice of what we eat.
Marilyn says
I agree with you, Beth. But, I think they don’t care because they don’t know. (I’ve been there, I am sad to say.) It has been within the last two years we began to eat real food. Our life has totally changed for the better in many ways. Those around us scratch their heads when we talk chickens, farmers, raw milk. They just don’t want to admit yet they have been duped~as we all have! We started eating real food because of a major health issue. To us it is a life decision. Others can only see the higher prices. They don’t get it because they don’t know. They don’t know because they are not educated in real food. However, as they see our lives change for the better, they will have to ask themselves why. I have had many people ask us about what we are doing and why. I know they are at least thinking about it. And, YES! I forward KellytheKitchenKop to them when an appropriate article comes my way. At least in the state of California, it will be in the media and news. It will get people talking and thinking. We can change the world, One coversation at a time! And just think when our children are older and they know better! 🙂
Schmidty says
/sheesh ….have you ever clicked ‘no’ on stumble upon where it asks ‘is this safe for work?’ …by accident? *ahum* …I could NOT find the food category. LOL
stumbled, tweeted, FB’d and will continue to do so