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While many will be traveling this three-day weekend to kick-start the vacation season, others will gather this Saturday, May 25th, along with people around the world to march in solidarity to “March Against Monsanto.” After writing letters, and sending emails to legislators, losing Prop. 37 (California’s Right to Know Referendum), watching farmers lose lawsuits against mega giant Monsanto; watching Monsanto lobbyists get appointed to the FDA — we say ENOUGH! As amazing at it seems, there are still people who do not know what a genetically modified organism (gmo) is — Saturday will not only be a day of standing up to Monsanto, but a chance to tell others what is happening to the food they feed their families day-to-day.
There are actions/events scheduled throughout Orange County and the surrounding areas. Information about the Laguna Beach March can be found here. I am going to that one. They also have a Facebook event page. Other marches are Long Beach, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Temecula.
Saying this is just a march is not the correct term — its the start of a revolution — organizers are part of a group of new thinkers, calling themselves Millenials and they bring along whole new ideas of activism. They are disillusioned with government, especially when they see those who are supposed to represent the best interests of it’s citizens, selling themselves to the highest bidder — corporations. They are tired of Mainstream Media acting as the mouthpiece for corporations like Monsanto.
Please listen to the brilliant Indian environmental activist and anti-globalization author Vandana Shiva:
Nick Bernabe from TheAnti-Media.org writes on March Against Monsanto’s main webpage,
“The rules of change, of activism, of consciousness, and of helping people are being rewritten by you and me, one connection at a time. The new revolution of good is coming from the grass-roots and making its way upward; this bottom-up effect is exactly what those who would like to see us silent are afraid of… The government and corporations are ingrained into the establishment; they’re comfortable in their positions. This will be their downfall.”
After the march, organizers suggest keeping the pressure on local, grocery stores — tell them you want gmos labeled or you won’t buy the product on their shelves; call food manufacturers and tell them you will boycott them until they label or stop using gmos altogether — like Kellogg (I personally like that one — I enjoy tying up their phone lines — sending them an email, in my opinion doesn’t get the message across like having to pay employees to sit and listen to complaints all day long; organize mass emailing to local politicians and mass calling to their offices when a critical vote is about to be made; support alternative media — mainstream media sold us out a long time ago because those same corporations who are screwing over the American public owns the media that sing their praises!, and start food co-ops. There a couple in Southern California I know about already:
SoLA Food Co-op and Arroyo Food Co-op. I am hoping we get one in Orange County soon.
Now is the time to stop Monsanto from doing more damage, not only to the environment but to our entire food supply. Now is the time to take action. Monsanto is gaining ground in the fight for seeds and if we don’t fight back, we will be forced to buy food that is no longer real food, but instead created in a lab! We can no longer depend on our representatives, it is time to get back to our roots — We the People!
*Sadly, the recent ruling against “Farmer Suggins”….(that’s a generic reference) in favor of Monsanto bode a long battle and war. We support those “Occupy Monsanto” folks and hope you do well.
monsanto, about twelve percent of the portfolio,,,,,so far a good return
Message from Senator Jeff Merkley:
Please sign my petition to repeal the Monsanto Protection Act
.My friends,
It’s one of the most outrageous special interest provisions in years.
Written anonymously, the Monsanto Protection Act allows corporations to sell genetically-modified seeds even when federal courts have blocked them from doing so.
Think about that: We have a process for making sure that genetically-modified seeds aren’t sold, planted and grown until we know that they don’t pose a threat to other crops or to humans.
The Monsanto Protection Act overrides that process.
It lets Monsanto and others ignore a court order designed to protect other farmers, the environment, and human health.
That’s just wrong.
And even worse, the Monsanto Protection Act was passed in secret, stuffed quietly into the budget bill that averted a government shutdown.
That’s why I’ve proposed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would repeal the Monsanto Protection Act.
Please join me – and demand a vote in the U.S. Senate that would end this outrageous special interest override of judicial decisions.
http://www.jeffmerkley.com/petition/monsanto/
Thanks Ricardo…I am sharing on twitter and facebook
Inge, thanks for such a great write up on the March Against Monsanto to be held in Laguna Beach this coming Saturday.
We are so excited. As of this moment we are very close to 1,100 RSVPs on our Facebook page. We want everyone to know that the march is well organized. We have ample amount of Safety Facilitators to ensure everyone’s safety. This is a family event in Laguna Beach. It is peaceful and children are welcome.
Immediately following the march that begins at 11:00 am (please arrive at 10:30) we will rally at 12 noon to hear 7 fantastic speakers. I am really looking forward to hearing YOU speak, Inge, about your experiences with GMOs, as well as 6-year old Alica Serratos who took on the Girl Scouts because of their using GMOs in their cookies. We have a dietitian and radio host of Smart Health Talk, Elaine McFadden and Dr. Deanna Windham of the Whitaker Wellness Center. Rounding out the speaker line up are health activists, John Diaz of LabelGMOs, Kathleen Hallal and Zen Honeycutt of Moms Across America.
We really encourage people to go to the website where they will find information on parking and how to prepare for the march. See you Saturday!
Occupy Santa Ana will be there in Solidarity.