With a keynote talk by Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser, a new coalition was launched at late September's Common Ground Fair to protect Maine farmers from the threats posed by genetic engineering. GE Free Maine seeks to create GE Free Zones across Maine through a combination of voluntary farmer pledges and town resolutions, as well as build support for efforts to protect both conventional and organic farmers from liability issues in cases of genetic cross contamination.
Maine is at a crucial juncture in the debate over genetically engineered crops. While genetically engineered corn and other crops are currently planted only on about 6,100 acres (5,100 acres of Roundup Ready Corn and 1,000 acres of Roundup Ready Soybeans) out of Maine’s 1.25 million acres of farmland, biotech companies are pushing for increases in the amount of genetically engineered corn and soybeans grown in the state. They are also planning to introduce genetically engineered trees, salmon and many other plants and animals over the next few years. This may be Maine’s last chance to say “time out on GMOs.” It may be our last chance to address concerns over the environmental and health implications of GE crops, realistically assess their effects on farmers’ livelihood, and create a legal framework to protect farmers whose crops are contaminated by GMOs. With consumers around the world demanding products free of genetically engineered organisms and Maine farmers currently taking advantage of these new markets, taking a time out on GMO’s is the only way to protect all Maine farmers. A GE Free Maine is the way life should be!
posted: April 20
Over thirty Vermont farmers and food producers journeyed to Montpelier on Friday, April 16th to present a sumptuous feast of local GE-free food and speak their concerns to legislators at the "GE-Free Food Fair: A Farm to Table Food Fair." Over fifty farms donated time or food to make this event a success. Food was prepared by staff and students at Montpelier’s New England Culinary Institute.
Farmers are speaking out in support of policies that would eliminate the threat of contamination from GE crops. "We want to see the state take a strong lead in establishing policies and laws which protect organic and non-GMO farms. The Vermont image of pure foods would be destroyed by GE contmination and I would be off my farm," said Judy Clark, an organic dairy farmer from Hyde Park, Vermont.
At 11am, a group of colorfully dressed citizens sang and juggled their way through the State House, calling upon legislators and staff to come out to the event (see video). A theatrical performance followed, choreographed by Tarin Chapin and the Floating World Dance Troupe, with spoken word by Vermont poet David Budbill. Dave Keller performed a set of acoustic blues and R&B; under the tent, and the 27 farmers who set up displays talked with legislators "who came pouring down from the statehouse," according to Kye Cochran of the Upper Valley GE Action Group. "The tent was packed with animated people talking and eating for about two and a half hours!"
The event was organized by the Vermont Genetic Engineering Action Network, with support from the Institute for Social Ecology Biotechnology Project and other statewide groups.
photos and video: Rob Fish
8 more Vermont towns against GE crops; 91 total in New England
posted: April 19
Grassroots support for a moratorium on genetically engineered crops was galvanized on Tuesday, March 2nd with the passage of an additional eight town-level resolutions opposing GE agriculture. The Vermont towns of Thetford, Chelsea, Hyde Park, Middlesex, Bennington, Shaftsbury, Weathersfield, and Rutland passed anti-GMO resolutions, on the same day that Mendocino County, California passed its historic first-in-the-nation ban on the use of genetically engineered plants and animals. There are now 79 Vermont towns on record opposing GE crops in their annual Town Meetings.
Rutland, the largest city in Vermont outside of the Burlington metropolitan area, passed its ballot resolution calling for the labeling of GE food and seeds by a margin of 2140 to 601. Many of the other town resolutions also called for a moratorium on the planting of GE crops, as well as holding GE seed producers rather than farmers liable for any damages.
A week later, Henniker, New Hampshire became the first New Hampshire town to vote against GMOs, bringing the New England total to 91 towns. Annual town meetings in Maine and Western Massachusetts are held later in the spring and early summer, and several additional GMO resolutions are expected to be introduced.
** UPDATE: In mid-May, Cummington, Massachusetts became the 92nd New England town to pass a resolution against GMOs! **
If you’d like to bring a resolution in your town, please contact us at info@nerage.org.
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