Letter to the Editor: Vote YES on I-522
Saturday, October 19, 2013
To the Editor:
Please join me in voting YES on I-522 (Label Genetically Engineered Foods).
The YESon522 campaign depends on many small donations and dedicated volunteers who care about our right to know what is in our food. The ‘NO on I-522’ campaign will spend over 17 million dollars in its attempt to defeat I-522—virtually all ‘NO on I-522’ contributions are from out-of-state courtesy of Monsanto, Bayer Crop Science, DuPont, DOW Chemical, and BASF; Grocery Manufacturers Association provides contributions for many other corporations. Don’t let out-of-state transnational corporations dictate your right to know.
I-522 is in compliance with global GMO labeling laws and current standards. Right now 64 nations require GMO labeling. Labeling GMO foods gives everyone in Washington State the same access to more information. Not everyone has access to organic sources or Non-GMO labeled food, or can afford to buy them. Regardless if people are wealthy or have limited incomes or whether they live in a city, small town, or rural location have the right to know what is in their food. Opponents to transparency in labeling had the same complaints over two decades ago regarding the current labeling requirements that have provided information for many to make clearer choices on the food they buy. GMO food science is a relatively new technology and we all deserve the right to know what we ingest whether one is for or against GMO technology.
Washington State is not the only state advocating for GMO labeling. Maine and Connecticut passed GMO labeling laws this year. Alaska legislated a partial GMO label to protect their fishing industry in 2005 (our state fishing industries support I-522). States often prepare the way for federal laws, not the other way around. To learn how I-522 will really work and list of all YES supporters go to YESon522.
Nancy Morris
Shoreline
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5 comments:
Thank you, Nancy Morris. Very well said!
The dream of the 90s is alive in Shoreline.
Genetic modification of food crops and animals is not something that was invented by large corporations in the last few decades---- it's a process that humanity has engaged in for thousands of years. I for one would prefer that the wheat I buy have been engineered to need far fewer pesticides than heirloom varieties.
I-522 is a solution in search of a problem. Why should we let scaremongering inflate our grocery prices?
To Anonymous (2):
Dr. Michael Hansen, chief scientist of the Consumers Union, after intensive review recommends I-522 to give good information and would not raise prices (YesOn522 website). The scaremongering is actually from the NO campaign supported by 6 transnational corporations. Many people confuse hybridization, a practice used by humanity for hundreds of years to be the same as GMO technology. It is not. And other reports dispute the claim less pesticides are used; such reports of less use come from the GMO industry itself and not from independent researchers. Other reports actually show the opposite on pesticide use.
And I also thank Nancy Morris for her clearly written letter in support of I-522. Labelling of GMO's is the most logical thing we can ask for.
The health impacts of GMO's, regardless of what you may hear from the No side, are completely untested, especially the longterm impacts. Just today there was a report on KUOW that told about a study of impacts from DDT on obesity. It was shown that even though DDT has been banned for 40 yrs, there are still health impacts "genetically" from ancestors who were exposed!!
So all these claims (mostly paid for by the proponents of GMO's or influence by their supporters) that GMO's have been proved safe are specious. There is no proof they are safe.
We are playing genetic roulette!
Vote YES on 1-522!
Thank you!
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