Seed Keepers

[LINDARAY@att.net]

Hi Pat,

 

The nutshell is that genetic modification forces breeding across species boundaries that Nature would not have permitted to reproduce, and for which the invaded organism has no coping skills to throw it off.

 

What people can do:

 

They can go to their local chain grocery's Customer Service counter, get the phone number &/or the mailing address of that grocery chain's head produce buyer, call &/or write it and make clear to the buyer that they will not shop in that store if GMO produce is carried there.

 

They can write to their Congress critters and make their no-GMO position known.

 

They can call the 1-800# on the labels of canned goods which state "GMO-free" or "no-GMO" and thank that company for not using GMOs and for specifying "GMO-free" on the label.

 

They can call the 1-800# on the labels of canned goods which do not indicate "no-GMO" or "GMO-free" and ask if there are any GMOs in the product. Then tell the company that they want to see it on the label.

 

They can vote with their shopping dollars, and talk it around among their friends.

 

They can write to the USDA and the FDA and express their concerns.

 

There is a shocking level of ignorance in the general public on this subject.

 

Thank you for asking,

 

Linda
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-------------- Original message from Underwood Gardens <info@underwoodgardens.com>: --------------

Linda-

When I speak to groups about the value of heirlooms, what is the most valuable, basic information I can offer on the GMO issue and what they, regular people, can do if they feel compelled to do something?

Thanks.

Pat

On Feb 23, 2008, at 10:49 AM, LINDARAY@att.net wrote:

Half of the entire problem with growing GMOs is that yes they do cross-pollinate. It is not only an excellent argument, it is a required one and cannot be ignored.

 

Cross-contamination is a separate issue from the equally-valid issue of safety of GMO ingestion. Or the patenting of traditional unalienable genomes.

 

Whether the GMO survives in overwintered soil, in the scat of a travelling animal, in the wind, or in some pollinator's stored reserves, the DNA gets out and does its thing. That's a major problem.

 

The intelligent solution would require GMO test crops to be grown in a completely closed environment *if at all*, with legal repercussions to the *GMO grower* if anything gets out.

 

There. Now the argument is no longer upside down. Lastly,

 

"...this is basic plant sex people, don't get blinded by your rage)"

 

On the contrary, this is informed opposition. I've already got 20+ active years in this GMO drekk. I have excellent reasons for every facet of my position which I shall not waste listmembers' valuable time arguing further. You may keep singing your song until Monsanto runs over you with a tank if you want to.

 

Monsanto et al want to patent your heirlooms, Lucy. Believe it. They want it to be illegal for you to grow them. Trust me, it's true. They want you to get stuck in this argument with all of us, so that we all get disgusted with speaking up against them. You're helping them to quiet their opposition.

 

L

off this thread and praying.

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On Feb 22, 2008, at 5:13 PM, mayo.eh wrote:

   You might want to read about Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian grower sued by Monsanto because their GMO pollen contaminated and ruined his crop!   http://www.percyschmeiser.com/

    The website above explains the reason for, and the beginning of, the lawsuit.  The movie by Deb Garcia “The Future of Food” brings the story up to date, explaining how Percy lost (not only the lawsuit but his life savings) and Monsanto won this ridiculous suit.  There are interviews with other farmers as they experience the problem themselves and show their anger at first, then do an about-face after Monsanto gets to them.   It’s definitely worth watching.   http://www.thefutureoffood.com/

Greenly,
Mayo

By the way, it’s great to have this up and going with seed and plant questions.  Thank you, Lawrence.


Because when I grow beet or sweet chard seed organically to supply organic farmers and gardeners, some of the GMO pollen will get into the female flowers of my organic beets or chard and then my organic seed will be contaminated.  Then someone tests the seed and finds GMO and then it would no longer be organic nor pure and I would have my crop rejected.  I did not ask for the pollen to come and contaminate my table beet seed or swiss chard seed - it is trespassing on my place - but I (or other organic seed grower) would be the loser - the victem.  Don' t think that is worth caring about?

On Feb 22, 2008, at 3:50 PM, Woody wrote:

Did you know that the few companies that control sugar beet production (and
beet sugar production) in the USA are quietly switching over to ROUNDUP
READY     sugar beets with MONSANTO technology?  Yes, right now as we
converse,  beet seed growers in Oregon's Willammett Valley are transplanting
planting vernalized plugs for the first mass seed crop of GMO seed.
This means:
Beet Sugar and all products that contain this ingredient will most likely be
GMO
Pollen from GMO sugar beets will soon be flying all over the sugar beet seed
growing regions potentially contaminating table beet seed  and swiss chard
seed.
Organic seed growers are threatened by GMO contamination!!!!
The Organic Seed Alliance along with High Mowing Seed and the Center for
Food Safety and others has filed suit against the USDA APHIS for allowing
this without proper environmental impact revi ew  but there will be no
imediate injunction against the planting out of this GMO material.  See
www.seedalliance.org for more information.
I wonder if  B.T. Cabbage won't be next.  And then what?  The government
continues to approve these monsters without due process and prudent review.
The government continues to resist demands to require labeling of GMO
products.

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