FW: GMO ACTION ALERT

**Laura Berman l*@foodshare.net**

Hi All,
I'm just passing this on fyi.
Laura

---------------
Laura Berman
Community & Agriculture Programs manager
FoodShare Toronto

    -----Original Message-----
    From: News Update from The Campaign [n*@thecampaign.org]
    Sent: Sun 7/6/2003 7:47 PM
    To: Stephanie Weisenbach
    Cc: 
    Subject: ACTION ALERT + EU passes new labeling legislation

    News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dear News Update Subscribers,

    Representative Dennis Kucinich will soon introduce the Genetically
    Engineered Food Right to Know Act of 2003 before the U.S. House of
    Representatives. The food labeling legislation is one of six bills that
    are designed to effectively regulate genetically engineered food that
    Representative Kucinich is preparing to introduce.

    If you go to the following web page you can send an instant e-mail to
    your House Representative asking him or her to co-sponsor these bills:
    http://www.thecampaign.org/alert-house.php

    You are also encouraged to print out our form letter and mail it to your
    House Representative. Letters sent by U.S. mail get much more attention
    than e-mail. We suggest you both e-mail and send a letter by U.S. mail
    to your House Representative for maximum impact.

    EU PASSES LABELING LEGISLATION

    On July 2nd, the European Union (EU) Parliament voted to approve the
    tough new labeling legislation on genetically engineered foods. Since
    1998, the EU has had labeling requirements on some genetically
    engineered corn and soy products. In 1998 they also enacted a moratorium
    that stopped any new genetically engineered foods from being approved
    for sale in the 15 EU nations.

    The new EU labeling laws will be very comprehensive. With implementation
    of their labeling law, it is expected that the moratorium will be
    discontinued. The next step is that the labeling legislation must be
    approved by the European Council of Ministers. That is likely to happen
    later this month. If approved, it will go into effect in September and
    compliance will be required within six months.

    If you would like to read a 27-page report on the new EU regulations, go
    to the following web page:
    http://www.thecampaign.org/euregs070103.pdf

    Posted below are two articles that discuss the new EU labeling laws. The
    first article from the New York Times is titled "Europe Acts to Require
    Labeling of Genetically Altered Food." The second article from
    Associated Press is titled "Labels for genetically modified food are a
    political hot potato in the U.S." and gives the U.S. perspective on the
    new EU legislation.

    STRATEGY FOR PASSING U.S. LABELING LEGISLATION

    Now that the Europeans have their new mandatory labeling legislation, it
    is time for us to get ours passed in the United States. Polls
consistently
    show that the vast majority of U.S. citizens -- 80 to 93 percent -- want
    mandatory labeling on genetically engineered foods. Our job is to get
    that message heard by our elected officials in Washington, DC.

    As you know, members of the U.S. Congress are elected by the citizens
    of their legislative districts and states. Since we elect them, they are
    supposed to primarily represent us, not the special interests of large
    corporations. However, if members of Congress do not hear from the
    people who elect them, they will often listen to corporate interests
    that frequently provide large donations to their campaigns for
re-election.

    The good news is that if voters let their opinions be heard, most
    members of Congress will go along with their desires.

    THE NUMBER ONE REASON WE HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON
    WHY THEY HAVE NOT SUPPORTED LABELING LEGISLATION ON GENETICALLY
    ENGINEERED FOODS IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT IT
    BY ENOUGH VOTERS IN THEIR DISTRICT OR STATE.

    So it is essential to let our voices be heard. The best way to do that
    is to send a letter by the U.S. Postal Service. Yes, a letter sent by
    U.S. mail has the most impact. Personal letters are best, but form
    letters are a very effective way to communicate. Plus, by asking people
    to sign form letters, you can quickly get many others to communicate
    their desire for labeling. Most people simply won't take the time to
    write a personal letter. But, if asked, they will sign their name and
    fill-in a convenient form letter.

    E-mails are quick and simple, but they do not nearly have the impact of
    mailed letters. Sending e-mail to your members of Congress is better
    than no communication at all, but letters are still a far superior
    method to get the attention of our elected officials.

    Each one of you reading this News Update has the ability to generate
    dozens or even hundreds of letters to members of Congress by circulating
    form letters to your friends and associates. Your active participation
    in getting those letters sent to Congress can make the difference
    between success and failure. Having strong feelings on an issue is good,
    but grassroots activism is not a spectator event -- it requires active
    participation to be truly effective.

    This will be the first time the labeling legislation has been introduced
    early in a Congressional session. We have about 15 months to get it
    passed in this 108th Congress. Plus, 2004 is an election year which
    provides some great advantages. Of significant impact is the fact that
    Representative Dennis Kucinich is running for president:
    http://www.kucinich.us

    Representative Kucinich's strong position on labeling and regulating
    genetically engineered foods provides an excellent opportunity to get
    this issue discussed in the upcoming election debates. Plus, the debate
    over genetically engineered foods is a major trade issue since the
    United States has filed a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against
    the European Union.

    The Campaign will soon be sending out questionnaires to all the
    presidential candidates asking their positions on the issue of
    genetically engineered foods. We will inform you of the responses we
    receive and post them on our web site.

    Please take part in the current ACTION ALERT by sending both an e-mail
    and letter to your House Representative. Thanks!
    http://www.thecampaign.org/alert-house.php

    Craig Winters
    Executive Director
    The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

    The Campaign
    PO Box 55699
    Seattle, WA 98155
    Tel: 425-771-4049
    Fax: 603-825-5841
    E-mail: l*@thecampaign.org
    Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org

    Mission Statement: "To create a national grassroots consumer campaign
    for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass
    legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered
    foods in the United States."

------ End of Forwarded Message

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