#223 6 M ay 2010

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Action Alert: Healthy Raw Milk! Action Alert: Protect Your Right to Know Which
OCA Takes a Stand in Massachusetts Foods Contain Genetically Modified Organisms
OCA and irate organic consumers will dump conventional pasteurized US negotiators are at an international (Codex) conference this week
milk in Boston on the steps of the Massachusetts State House and hold pushing a Monsanto-friendly agenda that could make it difficult for
a raw milk “Drink In” at 24 Beacon Street, May 10th at 8:30 am any government, anywhere in the world, to require labels on
(across from Boston Common). foods containing genetically engineered ingredients—or even
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources a company to make non-GMO claims on their product’s label.
(MDAR), under prodding from large dairy corporations and the The US is taking the anti-consumer and unscientific position
FDA, are attempting to restrict the delivery of raw milk to thou- that GMOs are “substantially equivalent” and just as safe as con-
sands of consumers throughout Massachusetts. Earlier this year, ventional foods, despite mounting scientific evidence that GMO
the MDAR issued a cease and desist order to raw milk buying foods are hazardous to human health and the environment. US
clubs who were delivering the milk to customers across the state. Trade representatives claim that non-GMO or organic and non-
If passed, the Massachusetts law could set a dangerous national GMO labels are inherently misleading.
precedent. If they succeed at the meeting, the US may then
The Massachusetts law is just the latest in a calcu- file lawsuits through the World Trade Organiza-
lated assault against small farmers and unprocessed Quote of the Week tion against any country that implements man-
raw foods in America. Over three million Ameri- datory labeling of GMOs, or even allows non-GMO
cans now prefer organic raw milk and dairy prod- “It is the single claims on packages. This is a grave threat to our
ucts over conventional pasteurized milk because of organic future—we must push back now against
its superior nutrition and disease fighting capabil- largest threat Monsanto and Obama’s pro-GMO trade officials.
ities, and because it comes from small, local pro- www.is.gd/bYZuB
ducers who pasture their dairy cows, rather than to production
feeding them GMO grains on huge, disease-ridden Video: Organic Eggs
intensive-confinement factory farms. agriculture that The USDA’s National Organic Program has ani-
Following the OCA sponsored protest on May 10, mal welfare standards that require egg-laying
the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture we have ever seen.” hens to have access to the outdoors and be able
is holding a public hearing on raw milk at 10 AM, to exhibit their natural behaviors. Unfortunately,
Conference Room A, 100 Cambridge Street, Bos- -Andrew Wargo III, the president of because the law isn’t being evenly enforced, there
ton (by Government Center, near the intersection the Arkansas Association of Con- are a wide range of conditions for egg-laying hens
with Bowdoin Street). servation Districts, quoted in a among certified organic operations. Some certi-
Bring a sign! Bring raw milk! Bring a cow! Have must-read New York Times article fied organic eggs come from farms that provide
a cow! We’re having a Raw Milk Drink-In! by William Neuman and Andrew plenty of rich green pasture for the hens to forage
If you can’t attend the hearing, please submit writ- Pollack, May 4, 2010, “Farmers in for greens, insects and worms. But the biggest
ten comments: www.is.gd/bYZ9o Cope With Roundup-Resistant industrial egg producers, who dominate gro-
Weeds.” The article describes how cery store sales of organic eggs, keep their hens
World Fair Trade Day, May 8, 2010 overuse of Monsanto’s Roundup on in giant sheds, feeding them a simple corn-soy
Fair Trade Day is an international celebration and Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GMO ration spiked with a synthetic supplement called
promotion of Fair Trade. Events will be held in over crops has resulted in a new gener- methionine that keeps the hens appearing healthy
80 countries. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, ation of superweeds that must be even though they aren’t getting the sunlight and
churches, student groups, civic associations, stores sprayed with highly toxic pesticides. forage they need. These two videos, each from
and activists host events—including Fair Trade www.is.gd/bZ06I the perspective of certified organic egg producers,
food tastings, talks, music concerts, fashion shows show the difference between these two production
and much more—to promote Fair Trade and cam- models. www.is.gd/bYZyC
paign for trade justice together with farmers & artisans.
Join the Celebration: www.is.gd/bYZfH Help OCA Get 35,000 Facebook Fans!
Thanks for increasing the traffic to OCA’s Facebook Fan Page! Last
Please Donate week, we almost hit 29,000 “people who like this,” as Facebook is call-
OCA and our international network of organic consumers and farmers ing our fans now. As one person who wrote on our wall put it, “Lots of
understand that we have a positive life-affirming solution for the global interesting info here!”
food, health, and climate crisis: organic food, farming, and ranching. Please help us reach our goal of 35,000 Facebook fans. If you’re on
But to get out our all-important message we need your support. Please Facebook, become a fan, recommend us to your friends on Facebook,
send us a tax-deductible donation today. All donations this week will and join the discussion! Our favorite post this week was from Chris-
receive a Millions Against Monsanto bumper sticker! Please donate and tina who’s looking for others interested in starting an organic farm
write “Monsanto Sticker” in the com- where the weeding will be done by geese and ducks will provide the
ments field to receive your sticker. pest control. www.facebook.com/organicconsumers
organicconsumers.org/donations.cfm

Written and edited by Alexis Baden-Mayer & Ronnie Cummins · Please post, distribute, & subscribe: organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm
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