Support a GE Free zone in Victoria

If you live in Victoria please sign the petition at the site below. If yo don’t live in Victoria please pass this one to someone who does. A GE Free zone resolution will be discussed at Victoria City Council soon.

http://www.victoriavoice.ca/ge_free_victoria

Liberals committed to evidence-based policies

Liberals committed to evidence-based policies

In mid-September, one of our volunteers emailed a pair of questions to candidates in all 42 BC electoral districts. These are the two questions that were asked of each candidate include:

1. If elected, will you give Health Canada the resources and the mandate to conduct a comprehensive, independent, science-based assessment on the safety of genetically engineered foods?
2. What will you do to increase public awareness in your district of genetically engineered food and toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids?

Previously we posted the responses and positions of the Conservatives, Greens and NDP. In today’s final blog, we bring you the positions of your Liberal Party of Canada candidates running in BC.

Dr. Hedy Fry, Liberal Party candidate in Vancouver Centre framed the problem and solution this way: “At the heart of this matter is the consumers’ right to know just what it is they are consuming. The government’s failure to recognize this right is, in my opinion, a major driving factor in the public’s distrust in GMOs. I believe that information provided to Canadians should be accurate, understandable, informative – not false or misleading – and verifiable.  … I fully support the mandatory labeling of GE/GMO foods, a position I have held since my time as a physician and Chair of the BC Medical Association Council on Health Promotion.”

Next door in Vancouver Granville, Liberal Party candidate Jody Wilson-Raybould stated that “A Liberal government will ensure that Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have the resources they need to ensure Canadians’ food is safe. All decisions we make, particularly those that affect the safety of Canadians, will be based on science and facts. We will ensure the federal government rebuilds its capacity to deliver on evidence-based decision-making.  I will work with the Liberal party and the federal government to ensure that we study all the evidence on mandatory labelling and implement the policies that evidence demands.”

On the topic of pesticides, Jessie Adcock, Liberal Party candidate in Port Moody-Coquitlam stated that “A Liberal government will continue to stringently regulate pesticides to ensure they pose minimal risk to human health and the environment… Furthermore, we will continue to work with other governments to align the processes used to regulate pest control products and ensure the protection of Canadians’ health and our environment.”

Brad Layton, Liberal Party candidate in Skeena-Bulkley Valley was the first to send the following compilation of Liberal Party positions on the subject of GMOs:

“Access to sufficient, safe, healthy, adequate food is a fundamental human right. A Liberal government will always prioritize protecting the health and safety of Canadians. We will work consultatively with provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal organizations, community groups, and producers to ensure that Canadians have access to healthy, affordable food. The CFIA must be able to depend on adequate funding by our government to sustain its programs to safeguard the health of Canadians. A Liberal government will ensure that the food you buy in the grocery store is safe.

Liberals stand for strong, evidence-based scrutiny of our food supply chain and fully agree that the government must always act to protect consumers and farmers when making these decisions. The federal government—the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in conjunction with Health Canada— is responsible for keeping Canadians safe by monitoring and reviewing our food products, as well as the policies and science that support our food safety system. Unfortunately, these departments have suffered multiple cuts under the Harper Conservatives, which undermine the government’s ability to safeguard our food supply. Of particular concern are reductions in the number of frontline food safety workers—including researchers and scientists who are tasked with evaluating food products.

We have also heard the concerns of farmers and concerned citizens about GMOs, and the effects of cross-contamination on the survival of non-GMO and organic crops must be addressed in a manner that effectively balances the needs of farmers, trading partners and consumers. Biotechnological innovation has been, and will continue to be, crucial to agricultural competitiveness and productivity. However, the growing prevalence of GMOs should not come at the expense of the viability of non-GMO and organic strains of crops. A Liberal government would place a moratorium on the approval of Roundup Ready Alfalfa until a comprehensive study is completed on its impact on non-GMO and organic strains.

The strengthening of our export markets is absolutely critical for the health of the Canadian agricultural sector, which is why we must balance innovation with the best interests of our farmers and consumers.

A Liberal government will ensure the federal government rebuilds its capacity to deliver on evidence-based decision-making. We will study all the evidence on mandatory labelling and implement the policies that the data demands.”

We at GE Free BC hope that these past 4 blogs outlining the four national party’s response to our questions about GMO’s in Canada have been helpful to any of you who expect the federal government to play a strong role in food security, health protection, and a sustainable food system.

Echoing Food Secure Canada’s slogan, we encourage you to “Eat. Think. Vote.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NDP’s pan-Canadian Food Strategy

NDP’s pan-Canadian Food Strategy

In mid-September, one of our volunteers emailed a pair of questions to candidates in all 42 BC electoral districts. These are the two questions that were asked of each candidate include:

1. If elected, will you give Health Canada the resources and the mandate to conduct a comprehensive, independent, science-based assessment on the safety of genetically engineered foods?
2. What will you do to increase public awareness in your district of genetically engineered food and toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids?

Unfortunately, the questions were emailed only to Conservative, Liberal and Green candidates because all three of these parties included on their national campaign website easily retrievable email addresses for each of their candidates. For some unfathomable reason, the NDP didn’t.

Fortunately, someone pointed us to a policy document entitled Everybody Eats, which is the NDP’s proposed pan-Canadian Food Strategy. Today’s blog will highlight components of this NDP strategy that relate to the two questions we asked the other candidates.

Here are some of the relevant features from the NDP Everybody Eats publication which can be found at http://xfer.ndp.ca/2014/food-strategy/FoodStrategy-EN-PRINT.pdf

• Allocate resources for the assessment of new technologies used in food production.
• Address conflicts of interest in food safety, and ensure that food safety decisions are made in the public interest.
• Develop clear, accurate and verifiable labelling for products that have undergone genetic modification.
• Ensure that economic costs and benefits are included as a factor in new regulatory approvals for GM seeds.
• Protect Canada’s heritage seeds and breeds.
• Ensure that plant varieties remain in the public domain following the expiration of plant breeders’ rights.
• Preserve the right of farmers to save and condition seed for their own use.
• Promote best practices to reduce input costs through more efficient, innovative and sustainable equipment and production methods.
• Work with industry and researchers to develop and promote techniques that reduce fertilizer and pesticide load and run-off as much as possible.
• Promote healthy soil management.
• Monitor and protect the health of pollinators.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow, in our fourth and final blog on the federal election, we will review the responses and positions of the Liberal candidates.

Echoing Food Secure Canada’s slogan, we encourage you to “Eat. Think. Vote.”

Green Party candidates urge precaution, safety testing, and labelling of GMOs

Green Party candidates urge precaution, safety testing, and labelling of GMOs

In mid-September, one of our volunteers emailed a pair of questions to candidates in all 42 Federal Electoral Districts in British Columbia (BC). Yesterday, we posted the responses (or lack thereof) received from the Conservative candidates running in BC. Today we bring you the views of your Green Party of Canada candidates running in BC.

These are the two questions that were asked of each candidate:

1. If elected, will you give Health Canada the resources and the mandate to conduct a comprehensive, independent, science-based assessment on the safety of genetically engineered foods?
2. What will you do to increase public awareness in your district of genetically engineered food and toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids?

The Green Party of Canada has had a focused, unambiguous position on genetically engineered organisms (GMO) for several years. This is not a made-for-election platform. It is a one-pager worth reading: http://www.greenparty.ca/en/policy/vision-green/economy/genetic-engineering

Some key excerpts from their Vision Green:

• “Require mandatory labelling of all GE foods and food ingredients.”
• “Maintain the ban on GE wheat and oppose GE alfalfa.”
• “ …be guided by the precautionary principle, which balances the economic benefits of innovation with public health and ecological integrity.”

In response to our two questions, these are a few highlighted responses from the Green Party of Canada’s candidates running in BC:

Chris George, Green Party candidate in North Okanagan-Shuswap wrote: “In addition to banning neonicotinoid pesticides, we will ensure the quality and wholesomeness of food by strengthening the monitoring of all pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotics, and insecticides in food production, processing and storage, with the goal of an orderly reduction in detectable residues of these substances until they reach undetectable limits.”

Kyle Routledge, Green Party candidate in New Westminster – Burnaby is “quite concerned with the lack of regulation regarding GMOs and I feel that much more research must be conducted to determine what the potential long-term implications may be from ingesting GMO food.” This is echoed by Peter Tam, Green Party candidate in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, who “definitely wants an independent and science-based assessment of GMO and GEO and health effects.”

Robert Mellalieu, Green Party candidate in Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola would “increase education in schools and through publicly funded advertising about the dangers of chemical foods and the benefits of real food.”

Richard Hosein, Green Party candidate in Fleetwood-Port Kells adds that “We must end federal subsidies to the GMO industry” and “the Green Party will protect and promote the farmer’s right to save and use non-GMO seed without penalty.”

Over on Vancouver Island, Glenn Sollitt, Green Party candidate in Courtenay-Alberni would “support the creation of designated organic agricultural areas that are GM, GE and Roundup free and are showcased as such.” Frances Litman, Green Party candidate in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke summarized the Green Party approach to Canadian agriculture policies as: “reduce the dependence on chemical inputs, rebuild and protect natural soil fertility, value quality produce and support local economies, reduce waste and increase the number of farm families.” Jo-Ann Roberts, Green Party candidate in Victoria added that “We will develop a National Agricultural and Food Policy that would improve food safety and boost nutritional health, provide food security and support local food markets, reduce corporate control of the food supply, improve agricultural research, stop the loss of agricultural land to development, support agricultural stewardship, and assist farmers in climate change adaption.”

Last words on this topic are from Elizabeth May, Green Party national leader, and candidate in Saanich-Gulf Islands who states that “we believe that local organic agriculture must play a role in mitigating climate change, providing food security, restoring soil health, improving human health, protecting water, and providing sustainable livelihoods for citizens. We must restructure our agricultural markets to sustain farming and provide farm families with a fair share of the consumer food dollar. We want to expand local small-scale agriculture and support a rapid transition to organic agriculture rather than subsidizing costly agro-chemicals, industrial food production, and genetically modified crops.”

Several Green Party responses quoted Dr. Lynne Quarmby, Green Party candidate in Burnaby North-Seymour who has said: “The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada are not protecting us from the risks of GMO crops. It is not clear to me that they could protect us, even if properly resourced and mandated. What can be done is to require mandatory labeling of all GMO foods. Canadians armed with knowledge when they shop can regain control of the food that sustains us.”

Thank you for reading. Don’t forget to stay tuned as posts over the next two days will review the NDP and Liberal positions on GE crops and foods in Canada.

Echoing Food Secure Canada’s slogan, we encourage you to “Eat. Think. Vote.”

Conservative candidates in BC refuse to answer our GE questions

Conservative candidates in BC refuse to answer our GE questions 

In mid-September, one of our volunteers emailed a pair of questions to candidates in all 42 Federal Electoral Districts in British Columbia (BC). Starting today, over the next four days, we will give you a summary of what we know about the federal party policies and individual candidate views, one party per day, starting with the Conservative Party.

These are the two questions that were asked of each candidate:

1. If elected, will you give Health Canada the resources and the mandate to conduct a comprehensive, independent, science-based assessment on the safety of genetically engineered foods?
2. What will you do to increase public awareness in your district of genetically engineered food and toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids?

Today’s will be a short post. Forty-two (42) emails were sent to Conservative candidates in BC. Two (2) emails were returned because of invalid email address. No response was received from any of the other 40 Conservative candidates.

Stay tuned. Other candidates have indicated that they care about the safety of what we eat and about the consequences of unregulated agricultural biotechnologies. On each of the next 3 days, we will summarize the positions of the federal Greens, New Democrats, and Liberals (the order was randomly selected).

Echoing Food Secure Canada’s slogan, we encourage you to “Eat. Think. Vote.”

See the Future of Food in Coquitlam 11th April

One of the seminal movies on GE foods.

First long term study of GE crops underway

You may remember the Seralini study of a couple of years back which demonstrated potential linkages between GE crops and health including cancer.

A $23 million study has now gotten underway to test the effects of GE crops on health – this will be a major systematic independent study of GE crops and much needed, as currently (believe it or not) GE crops are approved in North America based on the evidence presented by the companies that make these crops. In other words, there is no independent testing of these foods that many people are consuming unknowingly.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/11/largest-international-study-into-safety-of-gm-food-launched-by-russian-ngo

Where in the world are GE crops?

Through 2015 CBAN will be releasing a series of state of the art reports on GE crops as part of the national GMO Inquiry in Canada.

The first report outlines where GE crops are grown, check it out at:

http://gmoinquiry.ca/where/

GE Free BC and CBAN press release on the GE apple

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Canadian Groups Demand Market Stay Closed to GM Apple, as US Government Approves Genetically Modified “Non-Browning” Apple

February 13, 2015. Ottawa. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and the Society for a GE Free BC are raising the alarm after learning that the US government has approved the first genetically modified (GM) apple.

“The Canadian market needs to remain closed to this GM apple,” said Lucy Sharratt of CBAN. “Health Canada should not approve this apple. Consumers and farmers simply don’t want it on the market.”

The small BC company, Okanagan Specialty Fruits, owns the GM apple which is genetically modified (also called genetically engineered) to not turn brown after being cut, for 15-18 days according to the company. If approved by Canadian regulators, this would be the second GM fruit on the market anywhere in the world, after a US-grown papaya, and it would be the first GM fruit grown in Canada.

The US Department of Agriculture has approved the GM apple for growing and sale in the US, and the US Food and Drug Administration is now engaging in a voluntary food safety assessment consultation with the company.

A 2012 survey commissioned by the BC Fruit Growers’ Association and the Federation of Quebec Apple Growers showed that 69% of Canadians don’t want it approved.[1] Just last year, a petition asking the BC government for a moratorium on the GM apple was submitted with over 7,000 signatures, gathered by the Society for a GE Free BC in 20 communities.

“This apple is an outrage,” said Teresa Lynne of the Society for a GE Free BC, “We don’t need it and we don’t want it.”

The company says that GM apples in grocery stores would be labeled with the company’s trademark, but they will not be clearly labeled as genetically modified. The company promises a similar label on any food products that have ingredients from the GM apple but it’s not clear how this would be implemented or enforced.

“We would never sell this GM apple in our stores. Our customers don’t want it and I don’t see a benefit for the apple industry,” said Robert Horricks, BC orchardist and CEO of Blush Lane Organic Markets, Alberta.

Over 77 stores as well as two food distributors in BC, and some across the country, have already pledged not to sell the GM apple. Major food companies including McDonald’s and Gerber have already stated that they have no plans to source or sell this genetically modified apple.[2]

“All Canadian retailers and food manufacturers should urgently reassure their customers that they will never sell or use this GM apple,” said Sharratt.

The BC Fruit Growers Association has already asked the Canadian government to halt approval of the GM apple because of market rejection concerns.

Organic apple growers in BC have long opposed the GM apple because of contamination concerns.

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For more information: Lucy Sharratt, CBAN, 613 809 1103; Teresa Lynne, Society for a GE Free BC, 604 475 4457; Robert Horricks, Blush Lane Organic Markets, 403 869 9594

Notes:

[1] Poll available at http://www.bcfga.com/files/file/Report%20on%20GE%20survey%20-%20July%203%202012.pdf

[2] Statements from McDonalds and Gerber available at http://www.foe.org/projects/food-and-technology/genetic-engineering/no-gmo-apples

Tell the BC goverment to carry out the review it promised on the GE apple

We need your help and support even more now the GE apple has been approved in the US.

Please sign the petition to stop the GE apple – every time someone signs a message is sent to the Minister of Agriculture Norm Leitnick telling him to carry out the review the Liberal government promised about the GE apple. This may not make a difference on its own, but we also now have 77 stores across BC committed to not selling the GE apple. So please go to the link below and sign on, and contact us at gefreebc07@yahoo.ca if you want more info.

http://www.change.org/p/norm-letnick-review-the-possible-effects-of-the-gm-apple-on-the-bc-apple-industry

Ask you local store not to sell the GE apple

Please go to your local store and ask them to commit to not selling the GE apple. You can find a sample letter to take into your store and one to be signed by the store here

So far 77 stores across the Province have signed. The more that sign, the less chance there is the GE apple will ever make it to market. If the investors in the GE apple don’t think there is a market for it, they will pull funding and the GE apple will disappear, as happened with the GE pig being development at Guelph University.

Then let us know if your local store has signed – email to gefreebc07@yahoo.ca

oops we forgot the photo of Blue Moon Organics!!!

Roots Natural Organic Foods in Maple Ridge says we won’t sell the GE apple

Thanks Roots Natural Organic Foods for your commitment.

Blue Moon Organics pledges to not sell the GE apple

Congratulations to Blue Moon Organics.

http://www.bluemoonorganics.com/

Blue Moon Organics​ delivers certified organic fruits, veggies, groceries and dog food. they signed the letter today promising not to sell GM apples if the Cdn Govt approves it. Reward this hardworking family business if you are looking for convenient organic food for your family!

Glysophate found in kids nutritional supplement

Disturbing findings about gylsophate content in childrens’ nutritional supplement.

Lab Results Are In: Glyphosate Found In PediaSure Product Samples, Speculated To Be From GMO Soy, Corn Herbicide Treatments

Monsanto under attack from Moms across America

Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt took on Monsanto chief Hugh Grant at the company’s Annual General Meeting – and won, winning 53% of the vote on a call for Monsanto to reform its practices and safeguard the health of millions of children exposed to its toxic products – and Roundup in particular. In her own words, this is what took place … In the lion’s den: my victory against Monsanto – The Ecologist

Monsanto Shareholder Meeting Gets Heated – Corporate Intelligence – WSJ

NO scientific consensus on GE crops

We often hear supporters of GE crops saying that there is a scientific consensus they are sage. Well here is a statement signed by over 300 scientists saying there is no consensus on this.

“No scientific consensus on GMO safety” statement published in peer-reviewed journal
Press release, European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER), 29 Jan 2015

http://www.ensser.org/media/

A statement signed by over 300 scientists and legal experts to the effect that there is “No consensus” on the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops and foods has been published in a peer-reviewed open access journal, Environmental Sciences Europe.[i] It now belongs to the body of open peer-reviewed scientific literature and stands as a citable publication.

Outrage Over US Secret Approval of Genetically Engineered Trees

The International Campaign to STOP GE Trees, Dogwood Alliance & Biofuelwatch
Outrage Over US Secret Approval of Genetically Engineered Trees
Groups Condemn US for Bowing to Industry, Ignoring Widespread Public Opposition

New York (29 Jan. 2015) ­– Groups from around the world [1] today joined together to denounce the US government for allowing the first genetically engineered tree, a loblolly pine, to be legalized with no government or public oversight, with no assessment of their risks to the public or the environment, and without regard to overwhelming public opposition to GE trees.

CBAN launches key new study – 20 years of GMOs

Press Release

CBAN Launches “GMO Inquiry 2015”
20 Years of unanswered questions on genetic modification in Canada

January 27, 2015. Ottawa. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) has launched a major public investigation to dig behind 20 years of uncertainty around genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and farming in Canada. The project will be called GMO Inquiry 2015.

“We’re stepping up with our own inquiry because our government doesn’t track the impacts of GM crops and foods in Canada,” said CBAN Coordinator Lucy Sharratt. “Our government doesn’t even tell us where GMOs are on our grocery store shelves. After 20 years of secrecy and confusion, Canadians deserve some real information about the impacts and risks.”

In 1995, the Canadian government approved the first genetically modified (GM, also called genetically engineered or GE) crops and foods: 8 herbicide-tolerant canola varieties as well as the first GM soybean (also herbicide-tolerant), two types of GM delayed-ripening tomatoes (both withdrawn from the market by the companies), and the first varieties of Monsanto’s GM insect-resistant potatoes (also later withdrawn from the market by the company).

“Our government introduced genetically modified crops without a public debate or any GM food labelling for consumer choice,” said Taarini Chopra, also of CBAN. “It’s time we get to the truth about how GM technology is changing food and farming in Canada. Critical questions about the impacts of GMOs on our health, our environment, and our economy, remain unanswered.”

CBAN will publish new research throughout the year, examining the major questions of environmental, economic and health impacts of GMOs in Canada.

In 2015, CBAN will investigate:
1.     Where GM foods and crops are found across the world, and how much is grown in Canada;
2.     The impacts of GM crops on the environment;
3.     The issues raised by GM foods for consumers, including safety;
4.     The impacts of GM crops on farmers;
5.     The state of GMO regulation in Canada;
6.     Whether or not we need GM crops to feed the world.

CBAN invites Canadians to send in their questions to help shape the inquiry at http://www.GMOinquiry.ca

CBAN says their inquiry is urgent because the government has already approved GM 2,4-D- and dicamba-tolerant crops and could soon approve unprecedented GM foods, including the first-ever GM apple and the first GM food animal in the world (a GM salmon).

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More information: Lucy Sharratt, CBAN, cell 613 809 1103; Taarini Chopra, CBAN, cell 226 606 8240.

The GMO Inquiry 2015 (www.GMOinquiry.ca) is a project of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) http://www.cban.ca. CBAN is a campaign coalition of 17 organizations that researches, monitors and raises awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN members include farmer associations, environmental and social justice organizations, and regional coalitions of grassroots groups. CBAN is a project of Tides Canada Initiatives.

US Human Trials of GM banana for Africa Widely Condemned

Press Release issued by Alliance For Food Sovereignty In Africa and US Food Sovereignty Alliance

Kampala, Uganda and Seattle, Washington- 10th December 2014

The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is a Pan African platform comprising civil society networks and farmer organisations working towards food sovereignty in Africa has submitted an Open Letter to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Wendy White from Iowa State University and the Human Institutional Review Board of Iowa State University expressing fierce opposition to the human feeding trials taking place at Iowa State University involving genetically modified (GM) bananas.

Sign the petition to stop the GE apple

We need your help and support – for two minutes! Please sign the petition to stop the GE apple – every time someone signs a message is sent to the Minister of Agriculture Norm Leitnick telling him to carry out the review the Liberal government promised about the GE apple. This may not make a difference on its own, but we also now have 76 stores across BC committed to not selling the GE apple, and we expect more in the new year. So please go to the link below and sign on.

http://www.change.org/p/norm-letnick-review-the-possible-effects-of-the-gm-apple-on-the-bc-apple-industry

contamination by GE apple will lead to loss of organic apples

The organi  certification board has informed an organic apple grower that any grower who has GE Apples in the vicinity of their farm will
lose their organic certification.

Help stop the GE apple if you care about your food, your health and the environment. Go to https://gefreebc.wordpress.com/apple/ to see what you can do in your community. So far 76 stores across the Province have signed saying they won’t stock the GE apple – is there a store near you you can approach to ask to do the same?

396 incidents of GE contamination in 63 countries mapped

We know there has been large-scale contamination of non-GE crops by GE crops, now all the details have been recorded in this very interesting scientific study published in the International Journal of Food Contamination:

http://www.foodcontaminationjournal.com/content/1/1/5

Crowdfunding to raise funds for a new study by Seralini

Many of you will know about the recent study by Seralini which demonstrated potential negative health affects of Glysophate, the main ingredient in Monsanto’s Round-Up Ready (TM). This was one of the first longer term studies of glysophate – over a two year period as opposed to the 90 days studies carried out by industry. We happened to be in Paris when the article was published, and it made front page of Le Monde – a sharp contrast to the North American media where there was limited if any coverage.

Seralini had to retract the article, despite an outcry by large numbers of scientists. Now he wants public support to carry out another study – see below for details.

GE sweetcorn on the decline?

A survey carried out by Vigilance OGM, a Quebec based member of CBAN, found that out of 137 tests across the country for GE sweetcorn, only one proved positive. So maybe people are voting with their wallets and purses and not buying sweetcorn. We hope so, and we’ll do some more tests next summer to check.

See the media release by CBAN below:

Breaking news: McDonalds says no to the GE potato

A couple of days back we blogged that a GE potato has been approved in the US – and now McDonalds have said they won’t buy it.

http://modernfarmer.com/2014/11/mcdonalds-refuses-buy-genetically-modified-potatoes-fries/?omhide=true&utm_source=Modern+Farmer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2561572cc3-Weekly_11_1511_15_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e8a89c7e43-2561572cc3-75442181&mc_cid=2561572cc3&mc_eid=83cfbbe773

McDonalds US to their credit also said they won’t buy the GE apple which is being developed here in BC.

While in the end we need adequate regulation and testing of any new products, retail campaigns can keep these items off the shelf in the short term.

You can help us stop the GE apple by going to your local grocery store and getting them to commit to not selling it – go to https://gefreebc.wordpress.com/apple/ for details of what to tell your store and a letter they can sign.

GE potato approved in the US

Please see below CBAN’s summary which is now posted at:
http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Crops-and-Foods-Not-on-the-Market/Potato

There is a story in the Guardian UK Nov 8 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/08/innate-potato-simplot-gm-watchdogs

Lots of GE crops are approved but never make it to market. More on this story when we get updated information.

Humboldt County in California votes to ban GE crops

Humboldt County, California recnetly passed a Genetic Contamination Prevention Ordinance, GMO Ban Initiative, Measure P, which will “prohibit the propagation, cultivation, raising, or growing of genetically modified organisms in Humboldt County”.

We need to be doing the same in BC – help us with our campaigns by becoming a member of GE Free BC – please go to the donate button on our home page.

Municipal candidates say no to GE across the Province

GE Free BC wrote to about 600 candidates in the upcoming municipal elections, and we have posted the responses we got on our blog!

Almost 100% of the candidates that responded said no to GE crops and animals! We know from the 2013 Union of BC Municipalities resolution asking the Provincial government to ban GE crops and animals that municipal level can make strong statements in favour of sustainable agriculture and against GE. And we now have 15 individual municipal level GE Free zones in BC, including Richmond and North Vancouver.

If you want to make a difference in your municipality, get in touch at gefreebc07@yahoo.ca

Coquitlam municipal candidates’ views on GE

Coquitlam 2014 candidates speak out about GE crops in responses to two questions (responses in no particular order):

1. What is your position on the cultivation of genetically engineered crops, and why?
2. What are you prepared to do to increase public awareness about genetically engineered crops, as well as herbicide and pesticide use, including neonicotinoids?

Jack Trumley (speaking for Protect Coquitlam): 1. I’m a biologist so my views are pretty clear. I don’t support GMOs. Once you start down this road it becomes a slippery slope trying to stop it. Food is no longer in the public’s control but becomes now in the hands of corporations.

Municipal candidates views on GE from Port Moody

Port Moody 2014 candidates speak out about GE crops in responses to two questions (responses in no particular order):

1. What is your position on the cultivation of genetically engineered crops, and why?
2. What are you prepared to do to increase public awareness about genetically engineered crops, as well as herbicide and pesticide use, including neonicotinoids?

Rick Glumac: 1. I’m not in favour of cultivation of genetically engineering crops. I prefer organic foods because I know what I’m eating. Genetic engineering is circumventing the natural process of evolution and can introduce unforeseen issues into the ecosystem.

Municipal candidates’ views on GE from Port Coquitlam

Coquitlam 2014 candidates speak out about GE crops in responses to two questions (responses in no particular order):

1. What is your position on the cultivation of genetically engineered crops, and why?
2. What are you prepared to do to increase public awareness about genetically engineered crops, as well as herbicide and pesticide use, including neonicotinoids?

Eric Hirv: I am aware of genetically engineered crops to create crops that don’t produce seed so that farmers need to buy seed each year.

Vancouver municipal candidates’ views on GE

Vancouver 2014 candidates speak out about GE crops in responses to two questions (responses in no particular order):

1. What is your position on the cultivation of genetically engineered crops, and why?
2. What are you prepared to do to increase public awareness about genetically engineered crops, as well as herbicide and pesticide use, including neonicotinoids?

Mercedes Wong: 1. I think all of us need to be as informed as possible when it comes to genetically engineered crops – crops with modified DNA to make them pest and drought resistant. In Canada, much of our corn, canola and soy crops are genetically modified.

What municipal politicians think about GE: Nanaimo and Oceanside

Candidate positions in Nanaimo and Oceanside Alec McPherson, incumbent candidate for council in Area A of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), with his background in science, brings strong knowledge to his GE positions: “Genetically engineered field crops cannot be controlled. They disperse their pollen (male genetic contribution) via wind, insects, birds, to neighbouring farms. GMO field crops like corn pollute the pure strains. Mexico has banned GM corn but farmers are still finding GM infiltration. GM plants have been developed to withstand the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate) but many areas in North America are finding weed resistance and the emergence of superweeds. New developments to combat superweeds combine genes resistant to glyphosate and 2,4-D. The long term safety of glyphosate and 2,4-D has not been firmly established. GM plants engineered with the bacterial Bt gene to combat the corn borer kill many useful insects and have given rise to corn borer resistance. The control of farmers by a few seed companies is increasing. Farmers opting for GM production must buy their seed from the corporation each year and cannot save any harvested seed for next year’s planting. Neonicotinoids, which are used on non-GM plants as well, are extremely toxic to insects, but also to birds and mammals to a lesser degree. They are nerve poisons. Neonics have come under scrutiny and have been banned in parts of Europe. The honey bee hive collapse has been linked to this insecticide. GM corporations Syngenta and Bayer are the biggest suppliers of this lethal family.” Qualicum Beach council candidate Barry Avis echoes the concern about corporate dominance: “I do not support the cultivation of genetically modified crops. Large corporations will be in charge of all our food production, small scale farmers will suffer and the quality of our food will be suspect.” As does incumbent Lantzville candidate Andrew Mostad: “I would much rather the cultivation of genetically engineered food crops be curtailed for several reasons. Their increased cultivation encourages multinational corporations to patent genetic codes. There is not enough data on the health impacts of ingesting these crops, and the data that is there shows some major health consequences to eating this food. As well, it opens up non-GMO farmers to severe liabilities if there is cross contamination with a neighbour’s field who is using GMO crops.” In Area F of the RDN, candidate Rick Ethier is committed to expanding this rural community’s deployment of “farm to the fork” projects on sustainable family farms, the very antithesis of industrial GMO monoculture. In Area E of the RDN, candidate Gordon Wiebe subscribes to the position articulated by the David Suzuki Foundation: “The safety of GMO foods is unproven and a growing body of research connects these foods with health concerns and environmental damage. For this reason, most developed nations have policies requiring mandatory labeling of GMO foods at the very least, and some have issued bans on GMO food production and imports. In Canada we do not.” Agreeing with this David Suzuki Foundation position, Qualicum Beach council candidate Anne Skipsey went on to add: “I do not support the cultivation of genetically engineered crops. Having spent 5 years working in the natural foods industry, I support organic farming practices and go out of my way to find non GMO produce and products for my family.  I believe genetically modifying crops is a dangerous experiment and we should not be unknowingly exposed to these products.  The Federal Government needs to introduce requirements for any GMO products to be labelled as such so that as citizens we can make informed purchasing decisions.” Qualicum Beach incumbent mayoralty candidate Teunis Westbroek is one of the many progressive voices across the province who are prepared to “lobby the Provincial Government to legislate the prohibition of importing, exporting and growing plants and seeds containing genetically engineered DNA and raising GE animals.” Qualicum Beach council candidate Neil Horner: “Let’s start with the neonicotinoid issue. From what I can tell, these substances are one of the main culprits behind the precipitous drop in the bee population. This being the case, I suggest a rapid response is needed to restrict these substances to the limit of the Town’s authority.” Several council candidates in nearby Parksville provided their GE positions:

What municipal candidates think about GE: Gulf Islands

Maybe it has something to do with living on an island, and the mindful pursuit of all things healthy. So maybe we should not be surprised that when GE Free BC asked individual candidates standing for municipal elections in BC for their positions on GE crops, as well as herbicide and pesticide use, there was an impressive response from the candidates running for election to the Islands Trust Council. For those not yet familiar with this governance, the Islands Trust is a unique federation of local governments created 40 years ago serving islands in the Salish Sea, across an expanse of over 5,000 square km of land and water!

Here’s a sample of what we heard from the Islands Trust candidates.

What municipal candidates think about GE: Metchosin

Two years ago Metchosin District declared themselves a GE Free Zone, and have since worked hard through the AVICC to encourage all communities on Vancouver Island to follow their lead. Metchosin’s continued commitment is evident from the responses we received from current municipal election candidates.

From incumbent Councillor Moralea Milne: “I do not approve of GE crops, animals or fish. The science, coming as it does from the industry, is not to be trusted. The studies are akin to the days of the tobacco companies insisting through their scientific studies that there was no proof that tobacco causes cancer. I am worried about long term consequences to human health, and to the ability of traditional and organic farmers to keep their crops free from GE contamination (and possibly losing organic certification and market share).”

From Council candidate Kyara Kahakauwila: “I do not support the cultivation of GE crops.  Manipulating crops can and will have long term negative effects on humans who consume them, on the environment connected to their growth, and on the long term viability of the crop itself.  In our daily lives, we already have enough contaminates to contend with, we do not need to “modify” our food sources too!  As a Council we can work with our farming community to help develop better ways to communicate and educate our residents to consume locally grown, unmodified foods.”

Council candidate Andy MacKinnon comments that “we need much more research about the effects of genetically modified crops on pollinators and on other plant species.”

And from Council candidate Anne Richmond: “Genetically engineered crops that are intended specifically for industrial agriculture, such as those designed to resist herbicides, promote long-term environmental degradation and unknown impacts on the total biosphere, so I am very much opposed to that type of crop, because of the system-wide impacts and the dependence on industrial produced seeds, leading to ever-lower diversity and ultimately high risk of failure.”

We at GE Free BC commend all of the well-informed candidates in Metchosin who are truly committed to a healthy, GE Free future for their fellow citizens.

What your municipal candidates think about GE: Saanich

As we promised, we are reporting back on what we heard from candidates in the upcoming municipal elections – starting with Saanich.

questions to ask candidates in upcoming elections

Municipal elections are upon us! Here are two questions you could ask candidates by email or at all candidates meetings. In the next few days we are going to post some of the replies we have received from candidates on Vancouver Island with their views of GE crops and animals.

Questions:

What is your position on the cultivation of genetically engineered crops, and why?

What are you prepared to do to build awareness about genetically engineered crops and also herbicide, pesticide and neonicotinoid use?

GM fish company fined by Panama government for violating environmental regulations

See the press release from CBAN below:

October 28 2014.

Ottawa. The Government of Panama has fined the company AquaBounty for breaching numerous national environmental laws during its ongoing research and development of a genetically modified (GM) Atlantic salmon. The GM fish eggs were shipped from Canada, provoking fears of environmental contamination in both countries.

understanding synthetic biology

Also known as extreme genetic engineering, if you wondered what it’s about and why you should be concerned about it, check out this 10 minute video:

http://www.synbiowatch.org/2014/10/synthetic_biology_explained/

Join the non-GMO Facebook party tonight at 7pm

To celebrate GMO awareness week in Vancouver, which was proclaimed by the Vancouver Mayor this Tuesday, we are holding a Facebook party tonight. Go to https://www.facebook.com/GEFreeBC.

On the Mayor’s proclamation see:

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Vancouver+kicks+food+awareness+campaign/10308676/story.html

Vancouver Mayor to proclaim GE Awareness Week

Come to Whole Foods Market on Cambie and West 8^th Avenue in Vancouver, which will host a reading of the proclamation at a press conference on Tuesday, October 21^st at 11:30 am.

GE Free BC has been working with the Vancouver Food Policy Council and other groups to create awareness about GE crops and animals and what can be done about it in Vancouver.

Councillor Andrea Reimer will read the proclamation. GE Free BC will be present, as will Joe Rogoff, Whole Foods Market Regional President in the Pacific Northwest, and Ian Walker of Left Coast Naturals.

Events during the awareness week, which will run from the 20th-26th October, include a dinner at Graze Restaurant in Vancouver on the 20th October, and a Facebook party on the 23rd October. See the graphics below for timing.

US farmers sue Syngenta for $1 billion about GE corn

In North America we may think GE crops are the norm (in fact it’s only corn, soy, canola and sugar beet where we have seen GE crops predominate), but in other parts of the world there are serious concerns. This includes China which has stopped imports of GE corn from the US, leading to a fall in US corn prices, leading to a lawsuit against Syngenta by US farmers.

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/Syngenta_Sued_for_$1_billion.php

Help stop GE rice

This from colleagues at Greenpeace in the Philippines. For the CBAN background paper on GE rice go to: http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Crops-and-Foods-Not-on-the-Market/Rice/Golden-Rice-GM-Vitamin-A-Rice

Greenpeace South East Asia’s ‘Yes to Ecological Agriculture, No to Golden Rice’ project team needs your help. We only have 3 remaining days to rally as much support for a thunderclap directed to the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture to stop the commercialization of GR and instead support the work on ecological farming.

It takes only 5 seconds to join. Here’s how:

Click on this link

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/17028-world-food-day-2014

and choose to support either with Facebook or with Twitter–or both (If you have a Tumblr account then you can use it too).

You will be asked to authorize access of Thunderclap to your account (don’t worry, it’s a secured platform, you are basically just allowing the app to post on your behalf on the date the campaign message will be unleashed by everyone who has supported it, just think about a massive flashmob on FB and Twitter). Thunderclap’s interface is user-friendly so the next steps should be easy.
Once you have added your support, you can also boast about it on your social media accounts that you have supported a great cause 😉 by sharing on Facebook and/or tweeting about it.
Please help us get the word out and exceed our target. Please sign-up.

Thrifty’s will not sell the GE apple

Thrifty Foods have let us know that they will not knowingly sell any GMO produce item, and have had this policy in place for a number of years. They have advised growers of this position

If it is approved Thrifty Foods will NOT stock the apple or any apple that they find is a GMO variety.

Thank you Thrifty’s, and for more on our campaign to stop the GE apple, go to:

https://gefreebc.wordpress.com/apple/

Vancouver City Council supports GE awareness week October 20th

GE Free BC has had numerous discussions with Vancouver City Council and the Vancouver Food Policy Council over the last year or so about what Vancouver City can do to express its concerns about the spread of GE crops and animals.

So we are happy to announce that Vancouver City Council is sponsoring GE awareness week in Vancouver during the week of the October 20th. Please look out for and join us at the following events:

Mayor Robertson or Councillor Reimer will make a proclamation of GE awareness week at Whole Foods on Cambie.  We will keep you posted of the date and time and other events around the proclamation.

We will have a kick off dinner at Graze restaurant in Vancouver on the 2oth October at 6pm

We will have a Facebook Party on the 23rd October from 7pm to 9pm with lots of prizes

We will keep you posted over the next week about these events.

GE crops feed corporate profit, not hungry people

Proponents of GM crops tell us  we need genetic modification to feed a growing population and reduce global hunger. This extensively researched new report from CBAN examines the global evidence on GM crops to  expose the many ways in which GM crops threaten the environment and farmers’ livelihoods, and overlook the real causes of hunger. Using case studies from around the world, the report shows that there is no place for GM crops in an ecologically sustainable and socially just food system.

http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/Feeding-the-World

Okanagan sommunities say no to GE crops

Two communities in the Regional District of the North Okanagan have said “keep Ge crops out” in their Official Community plans. That makes 13 Official Community Plans across the Province that have committed to try and stop GE crops. You can see the full list below.

Congratulations to Bee Safe Monashees for their amazing commitment to local, sustainable and just agriculture, and which has been leading this work.

http://www.beesafemonashees.org/

13 Official Community Plans in BC say no to GE crops

• Strathcona Regional District Electoral Area “B” (Cortes Island) Official Community Plan
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District EA “B” Seaford Official Community Plan
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District EA “E” Beaver Creek Official Community Plan
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District EA “F” Cherry Creek Official Community Plan
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District EA “B” Official Community Plan
• Powell River Regional District EA “C” Official Community Plan
• Sunshine Coast Regional District Roberts Creek Official Community Plan
• Island Trust Galiano Island Official Community Plan
• Island Trust Lasqueti Island Official Community Plan
• Cowichan Valley Regional District South Cowichan (Electoral Areas “A”. “B” and “C”) Official Community Plan
• Bella Coola Regional District
• Regional District of the North Okanagan Area “D”
• Regional District of the North Okanagan Area “E”

Salmon Arm votes to go GE Free

On Monday the 8th September Salmon Arm added its name to the long list of communities in BC passing a municipal resolution to go GE Free. The vote was unanimous, as has been the case in all the communities that have passed similar resolutions (except one).

Congratulations to the campaigners in Salmon Arm!

If you want your community to go GE Free, see the resources section https://gefreebc.wordpress.com/resources-for-ge-free-bc/

Or get in touch at gefreebc07@yahoo.ca

Here are the GE Free communities in BC:

September 2014

BC GE Free Communities

Our definition of a GE Free Zone is a municipality or group of municipalities which has passed a resolution against GE crops and animals within its jurisdiction.

As of September 2014

GE Free Zones in BC

• Powell River (2004)
• Salt Spring Island (2004)
• Denman Island (2004)
• Nelson (Nov 3, 2008)
• Kaslo (Jan 13, 2009)
• New Denver (Sept 8, 2009)
• Rossland (May 11, 2009)
• Richmond (May 29, 2012)
• Saanich (Nov 2012)
• Metchosin (Nov 2012)
• Cherryville (March 8, 2013)
• Telkwa (March 11, 2013)
• City of North Vancouver (June 10, 2013)
• Roberts Creek (2013)

51 municipalities within the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities AVICC, resolution passed April 2013 – for AVICC members go here http://avicc.ca/about-the-avicc/avicc-members-2/)

All BC municipalities passed a resolution asking at the Union of BC Muncipalities in September 2013 “that UBCM ask the British Columbia government to legislate the prohibition of importing, exporting and growing plants and seeds containing genetically engineered DNA, and raising GE animals within BC, and to declare, through legislation, that BC is a GE Free area in respect to all plant and animal species.”– for details go here https://gefreebc.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/bc-municipalities-vote-to-tell-province-to-ban-ge-crops-and-animals/

11 Official Community Plans in BC say no to GE crops

• Strathcona Regional District Electoral Area “B” (Cortes Island) Official Community Plan
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District EA “B” Seaford Official Community Plan
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District EA “E” Beaver Creek Official Community Plan
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District EA “F” Cherry Creek Official Community Plan
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District EA “B” Official Community Plan
• Powell River Regional District EA “C” Official Community Plan
• Sunshine Coast Regional District Roberts Creek Official Community Plan
• Island Trust Galiano Island Official Community Plan
• Island Trust Lasqueti Island Official Community Plan
• Cowichan Valley Regional District South Cowichan (Electoral Areas “A”. “B” and “C”) Official Community Plan
• Bella Coola Regional District

 

 

 

BC govt breaking its promise to review the GE apple

GE Free BC has received the response below to its request that the BC Government carry out the review of the potential impact of the GE apple on the BC apple industry it promised.

Write to the Ministry of Agriculture and your MLA using the sample letters on our apple campaign page https://gefreebc.wordpress.com/apple/

And go to your local store and ask them to commit to not selling the GE apple, using the letter and information in the link above. 50 stores in BC have done this already.

Below the email from the Minister of Agriculture which does not address the main concern the Minister raised in 2012 when he promised to carry out the review, which is the potential economic impact of the GE apple on the BC apple industry. If this was an issue in 2012, why is the government not addressing it now?

The Ministry of Agriculture did explore the issue and discussed with federal officials. As a result, in response to a similar motion by UBCM in 2013, the province reported back that:

“Responsibility for the evaluation of the safety of GE products rests with the Federal Government. BC considers that the Federal food safety and environmental evaluation processes for genetically engineered products must be kept current to ensure a safe food supply. The process must be transparent, based on good scientific analysis, and acceptable to independent scientists.”

Any food in Canada that may be a product, or contain a product, of Genetic Engineering (GE) must be approved by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). More information on GE and other novel foods can be found at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/gmf-agm/index-eng.php or http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/plants-with-novel-traits/eng/1300137887237/1300137939635

The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to share the information and opinions that British Columbians express with our federal counterparts, as it is the Federal Government’s jurisdiction to approve or deny foods for production in Canada. Alternately, you may wish to contact Health Canada directly and express your views on GE safety issues or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about labelling of GE food products.