Urgent Action Needed!

Please contact Senator Debbie Stabenow and ask her to look at The Walk a Mile Project’s research and watch GMO TRUTH Podcast #9 ASAP.

Contact Information (use one or both methods)
+ Online Contact Form: https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/contact
+ Phone: (202) 224-4822 (Washington DC office)

A Suggested Script for Calls or Emails
“Hi, my name is [INSERT NAME] and I’m contacting Senator Stabenow to politely ask that she look into some important research done by an independent nonprofit at The Walk a Mile Project (walkamileproject.com).  They have been extensively researching the GMO controversy for well over a year now, including work on both the House and Senate Hearings on GMO labeling.

I feel it’s urgent that Senator Stabenow looks into this important research, and in the very least takes a little time to watch GMO TRUTH Podcast #9 (at walkamileproject.com or on iTunes).  The arguments presented there regarding GMO labeling are extremely compelling.  I suspect that Senator Stabenow has yet to come across most of the information here, and as a legislator working on crucial GMO labeling legislation, the senator will feel more informed than ever as she continues to work on GMO labeling in the Senate.

I also ask that the senator contacts Eric Battersby, who runs The Walk a Mile Project, to discuss the situation as needed, and to clarify any information presented.  This issue is too important to ignore a key research segment, and The Walk a Mile Project is doing work on the GMO controversy that no one else is doing.  Thank you for your time.”

GMO LABELING ACTION

UPDATED JUNE 15, 2016

Currently, there is no GMO labeling legislation up for a vote in Congress, but there are two key areas where you can join the fight for labeling.

SPREAD THE TRUTH

COST
The Washington Post debunked the original study that suggested GMO labeling would cost $500 per family, which made the later Corn Refiners Association study suggesting $1150 per family look even more ridiculous. Campbell, ConAgra, Mars, Kellogg, General Mills and others have all pledged to label their GMO products without added cost to the consumer. It’s time to put this lie to rest and focus on any real issue you may have with GMO labeling, because cost is most definitely not an issue.

FREE MARKET
The majority of GMO crops in America are government subsidized corn and soy, and between those subsidies and a lack of labeling, the US government is actively suppressing the free market when it comes to GMO food in America. The free market is a vital part of the American economy, and consumers can’t actively participate in this free market if they don’t know what they are buying. GMO labeling will truly put GMO food into the free market where it belongs. Anything less is un-American.

SAFETY
The FDA’s support of the regulatory policy known as Substantial Equivalence has held back the free market, and was, as the agency admitted, based on politics, not science. With all the controversy surrounding genetically modified foods, the FDA needs to prove that these foods are safe for human consumption, not simply tell us while enforcing a lesser standard than other new food additives are held to. Show us the studies proving safety — particularly studies prior to 1996 when GMOs entered the food supply. Without clear, publicly available proof of safety, mandatory GMO labeling should be 100%, unequivocally supported, regardless of any other questions surrounding this issue. Remember, zero testing has been done on humans consuming GMO foods.

KEEP PRESSURE ON THE SENATE

Although Senator Roberts saw his bill defeated, you can still expect the Senate to keep working on a bill that undercuts Vermont’s GMO Labeling Law, instead of passing a bill that just makes Vermont’s law (or something very close to it) the federal standard. If you support Vermont’s law, you’ll want to keep pressure on the Senate to not undercut the legislation.

Much like we suggest with calling Vermont in #3 below, communicating the talking points from this podcast is a great way to make a difference. Here are a couple of links to contact your senator, and let them know the clear talking points as noted in #1 above:

+ https://action.organicconsumers.org/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18302
+ http://whoismyrepresentative.com

PLEASE NOTE: Change the World Films and The Walk a Mile Project have not researched these sites, other than to note that they are focused on taking action regarding the Senate, so please do not consider these links as an endorsement for the sites or organizations themselves.

SUPPORT VERMONT

CALL VERMONT TODAY
Vermont lawmakers are under pressure put a rider into the latest state budget bill that would give food companies until January 1, 2018 to comply with Vermont’s GMO labeling law. If the rider stays in, Monsanto, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), etc. will have much more time to push Congress to preempt Vermont’s legislation, preventing Vermont’s GMO labeling law from ever taking effect.If you want to support Vermont’s GMO Labeling Law, even if you’re not a Vermont resident, you can call Vermont’s lawmakers at 802-828-2228 or 1-800-322-5616, and show your support for keeping the GMO Labeling Law intact. Let them know that the people from other states support the law, and hit them with some or all of the talking points above.

KEEP AN EYE ON THIS CASE
The Grocery Manufacturers Association appealed the Vermont GMO Labeling Law to a higher court last year, and that case is still pending in New York (Grocery Manufacturers Association, et al. v. Sorrell, Case No. 15-1504).As reported at Law360.com, “The Grocery Manufacturers Association has led the charge against the Vermont law, arguing that it stifles free speech by forcing manufacturers to mark GMO products when there’s no concrete evidence that genetically modified ingredients are unhealthy, which is at the heart of the dispute.” (see Law 360 – Food and Beverage Cases 2016 for more)Yes, you read that right. The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is arguing that it violates free speech to tell people what’s in their food. That’s about as sensical as the “save the free market” cry that Senator Roberts gave at the Senate Ag meeting, as mentioned in the podcast here. We’ll talk more about this in a separeate blog post and will try to keep you posted on any activity here and at the GMO Controversy Blog as well.