January 2006 | Choice Eating
Chicago to Host Biotech Food Conference
January marks the beginning of a three month-long campaign by local and regional sustainable groups to increase awareness about the hazards of genetic engineering in agriculture.
Local sustainable food advocates warn that in 2006 Illinois is a likely target for so-called “pre-emption” legislation that will take away the right of local jurisdictions to pass restrictions on the growing or selling of genetically engineered crops or seeds.
The GMO (genetically modified organisms) crop awareness campaign will culminate in a gathering that is timed to coincide with the expected April arrival in Chicago of thousands of delegates from the Biotechnology Industry Organization for their BIO conference.
However, a counter-revolution BIO conference, Bioethics Imperative 06, is being planned to run at the same time. At this alternative conference, local and global leaders from the GMO -free agriculture and local food security movements plan to present practical and proven methods to achieve a safe, healthy and secure local food supply, which is not dependant on dwindling supplies of oil. Also on the agenda: ways to preserve small family farms, farmland and the environment, and smart, sustainable and practical solutions for public health and safety.
In addition, in April the Joint International GMO Opposition Day (JIGOD) also is expected to kick off in more than 30 countries including India, Indonesia and some in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Amercia.
Closer to home, a variety of regional groups are participating in the local information campaign including GeneWise, GEAN, Family Farm Defenders, The Dill Pickle Food Co-op, True Nature Food Co-op and The National Family Farm Coalition.
The first public event and networking meeting to discuss the local food security movement, the campaign against genetic engineering and the fight to protect indigenous control over food will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 22, at Schmidt Academic Center, DePaul University, 2320 N. Kenmore Ave. The event is free and open to the public.
The Midwest movement is part of a larger growing movement both nationwide and globally to ban genetically engineered crops.
The biotechnological industry claims that genetically altering the crops allows for better taste, yields and could help solve world hunger problems. But the anti-GMO groups say there is mounting evidence that GMO crops lead to adverse human and environmental health effects, and could damage both local and global food systems.
The issue is especially contentious in California, where there is a vocal movement to ban the controversial crops. However, the bio-technological industry has successfully lobbied to pave the way for genetically-altered food. In 2005 alone, 14 states passed so-called “pre-emptive” legislation that took away the right of local jurisdictions to pass restrictions on the growing or selling of genetically engineered crops or seeds, according to the Organic Consumers Association.
For more information, visit genewise.org; geaction.org; environmentalcommons.org/preemption-undemocratic.html; or organicconsumers.org/monsanto/antibiotecfilm.cfm.
— Conscious Choice
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