Tierra Azul Projects for Sustainable Living
www.tierraazul.20m.com
What is the Message of this Gandhian Style Direct Action Related to Genetically Modified Foods? (from fall 2002)
Community Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods
As an act of community education, we have been going to various supermarkets in the Denver metropolitan area to label genetically modified foods marketed to children, or to do some other type of action. This "community labeling" is a symbolic act, meant to raise community awareness about GM Foods.
- 93% of Americans want labeling of GM foods according to a recent ABC News poll. Other polls show between 80% and 90% of people. And approximately 70% of products on the supermarket shelves have GM ingredients.
- The EU, Russia, China - all have labeling or even moratoriums to address this issue. India, Brazil and Mexico have banned the growing of GM foods. These countries are joined by many others, while the U.S. is continuing to push GM foods on them and not mandate labeling at home.
- We do not want to eat these foods, because we really do not know what the effects will be on the human body and the natural environment. Some of these products have already caused deaths and serious health and environmental effects.
- Insurance companies do not want to insure genetically modified food technology.
The claim of the entities that produce this biotechnology is that these products are completely safe for consumption. If that is true, then at least one basic question should arise:
Is there a significant body of evidence that shows that these foods are safe?
Our current action and website are to raise awareness and to make an appeal to reason and compassion, that some clarity might be arrived at concerning this issue. It is an inquiry into how we might live well, through knowledgeable and compassionate choices.
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