From prairie@starnetinc.com Wed Nov 17 18:52:56 1999 Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 16:46:01 -0600 From: Donna Feigel To: london@metalab.unc.edu Subject: GE-FDA meetings Please take the time to read this--this affects each of us, our children and our children's children. Time is of the essence. Our opportunity for maximum impact is right now! Yes, phone calls and letters are important. They are depending on apathy. Use your power of choice. -DF ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Does this make you "irrationally" angry? The United States Department of Agriculture's Dr. Proudin says the sector of the public that is interested in labeling genetically engineered (GE) foods is "irrational", according to an article in the July/August, 1997 issue of Conscious Choice magazine. He is quoted as stating that there is no justification for labeling, "where there can be no perceived benefit to the public other than that some sector of the public thinks it is their right to know." A Time magazine poll in January of this year indicated that 81% of respondents favored labeling genetically engineered food. The government is obviously out of touch with the concerns of U.S. citizens. Now, in a dramatically underpublicized series of three conferences, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is claiming it wants to hear input from citizens regarding their concerns about genetically engineered foods. (Only three conferences are being held nationwide. The first, in Chicago originally had only 150 seats allowed for participants.) We would like to take this opportunity to give them an earful of our opinions, which have thus far been ignored. It is often difficult to feel as though we can make a real difference, but here, on the eve of the new millennium, we are presented with an opportunity to add our voices to a chorus raised in support of positive change. Timing is everything. --Right now, this week and this month, we have the opportunity to utilize the time-honored strategy of turning our opponent's offense back on itself. The FDA whispered its invitation to U.S. citizens. With only 150 seats originally available, apparently they were hoping that no one would hear, that most of the 271 million Americans they invited to their party would not be attending. We not only heard their whisper, we intend to shout the word to all our neighbors and friends who may not have heard. They have provided us with a means by which we can focus ALL of our attention, a forum in which ALL concerned groups can gather. And the timing is perfect. --The World Trade Organization meeting is scheduled for November 30th. Citizens in Europe and other parts of the world have helped our cause, staging dramatic rallies to focus media attention on this issue. Now, we have an opportunity to let them know, via the media and via our government, that we support them as well, and that we do not support our government's efforts to strong arm them into accepting GE foods. --This is an election year. If we can mobilize over 150,000 people to rally around this issue within a mere two weeks, when only 150 responses were anticipated, we will be demonstrating the incredible electoral power we can wield. That will make our elected officials will pay attention! --A bill has been proposed in the senate this week regarding labeling of GE foods. (I believe this an indication that some proactive congressional representatives have already been checking the winds.) -- "Will the challenges [to genetically modified (GM) products] mean more farmers will seek non-GM products? Those decisions are being made now," according to the November 1999 issue of The Co-operator: Official Publication of the Cook County Farm Bureau. By speaking and acting now, we can actually influence which seeds farmers choose to plant next year. --Now is the time for the entire nation to stand together. The dates for the FDA conferences are: November 18, Chicago, IL; November 30, Washington, DC; December 13, Oakland, CA. If you live anywhere in the midwest and there is anyway you can be in Chicago on the 18th, either at the conference or at the rally--be there. If you are in the eastern or western U.S., now is the time to coordinate with other concerned citizens and groups in your area and plan your strategies. Wherever you are: write, call, e-mail, stomp, whistle, and bang on pots & pans. We are going to make some noise. We are going to make ourselves heard. No matter what actions you have taken before, act again now for maximum impact. Turn up the sound exponentially. In addition to forwarding this e-mail, please take at least one suggested action. Then, personally speak to as many people as possible (10 would be great), explain the issue and urge them to act as well. We Can Do It! --In the Chicago area alone, over 10,000 rally and actions flyers will be distributed. --Local & national news media are being contacted. --Our e-mail campaign has exponential potential. --The timing is perfect. The information below is in the form of a one-page flyer, suitable for printing and passing to friends, neighbors, family and coworkers. Following it is more detailed information about the conference and about GE foods. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RALLY FOR PURE FOOD Thursday, November 18, 11:30 AM Federal Plaza on Adams & Dearborn We are part of a vast experiment being conducted without our consent. NOBODY KNOWS the effects genetically engineered foods will have on our health or on our environment. At the very least, mandatory labeling of foods containing biotech ingredients should be required to ensure that we have a choice. European countries are not interested in being guinea pigs and have been very vocal in expressing their viewpoint. The potential for adverse effects is astounding. Genetically altered foods pose potential threats in the form of: * introducing new allergens to the food supply * creation of new and more virulent viruses * development of antibiotic resistance * concentration of toxic metals * creation of rampantly invasive new plant species * poisoning of wildlife (monarch butterflies are the first known casualty) * completely unknown and unforeseeable harms. We don1t understand all the complex relationships involved. * dissolution of small, family farms * compromising the rights of certain religious groups to observe dietary laws MENU FOR CHANGE...what you can do in addition to attending the rally: Act now for maximum impact. The World Trade Organization (WTO) meets at the end of this month. The U.S. will be stating their position on this issue. You can make a difference. 1. Call to register for the FDA conference on November 18. Contact Kimberly Phillips at (312) 353-7126. There will be only 3 conferences in the country so this is a rare and vital opportunity to express our concerns. Though registration may be closed, register your interest, and if possible, register to make comments. If you cannot get into the conference, come to the rally! 2. Call, write or e-mail the FDA Commissioner to voice your concerns. Dr. Jane E. Henney, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Dockets Management Branch H-F 305, 5603 Fishers Lane, Room1061, Rockville, MD 20852, Docket #99N-4282 . (301) 827-2410. e-mail: execsec@oc.fda.gov; Comments may be submitted via the FDA web site at www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets. Identify docket number on correspondence. 3. Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to support mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods. Such a bill is currently under consideration in the Senate. The Capitol Switchboard phone number is (888) 449-3511. 4. Contact President Clinton and Vice President Gore whose actions have supported genetically modified food production here and abroad. 5. Learn more about this issue. For more information on genetically modified organisms (GMO1s) visit the following web sites: Union of Concerned Scientists: www.ucsusa.org; click on "Agriculture"; from there click on "biotechnology." Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet: www.mothers.org Food First: www.foodfirst.org; click on "Ten reasons biotechnology will not ensure food security..." Greenpeace: www.greenpeaceusa.org; click on "genetic engineering." For more information on the rally, call Sustain at (312) 409-8019. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Our Hidden Menu -- a Letter to the Editor from former Illinois State representatives Laurel Prussing (Urbana) and Clem Balanoff (Chicago), published by the Daily Southtown Like it or not, we are all guinea pigs in a global experiment with genetically altered foods. If we were testing an aspirin substitute, our fully informed consent would be required. We would be informed of potential risks. But the mega-corporations that now control agriculture didn't have to ask before changing the nature of our food. Safeguards that apply to government-sponsored research don1t apply to agri-business. A university that does research on people without their informed consent can have its government funds yanked. But when multinational corporations genetically alter even baby foods, the American government sides with corporations to fight labeling. Our government not only fails to act on behalf of consumers, but enters into a trade war on behalf of the corporations. Europeans require labeling of genetically altered "Frankenfoods." Our government uses our tax dollars to retaliate by restricting European imports. Companies which profit from such foods want secrecy. They fight against labeling. And, thanks to campaign contributions, they have the political muscle to kill even the mildest form of regulation. As state representatives in 1994, we saw the clout of Monsanto kill a bill in the Illinois House which would have required labeling of milk from cows dosed with rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone). No one knows the long-term effects on human health of any of these vast, unregulated experiments. But Congress cares less about the dangers to all of us all than about campaign cash from agri-business. Americans should be just as concerned as Europeans about genetically altered foods. We should not allow our government to pressure Europeans into accepting unlabeled products. We should demand labeling in the United States. Our public policy--at the very minimum--should be to inform consumers about what they are buying. Europeans are using common sense. We all have the right to know what we are eating. We all have a right to not be subjected to uncontrolled experiments. We have a right to a government that defends the interests of public health over the demands of private wealth. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expressed amazement at the public's overwhelming response last year when it proposed changes to the Organic Foods Act. They have trotted out the same ingenuous act to explain why they originally allowed space for only 150 people at one of only three public meetings between the FDA and US citizens with the stated purpose of getting feedback from citizens on the issue of genetically engineered or biotech foods. The meeting, to be held on November 18th in Chicago, is the first such meeting and the only one at which the commissioner of the FDA is scheduled to be present. One portion of the debate centers around whether genetically engineered foods should be labeled as such, i.e. whether citizens have a right to choose to avoid food they feel may be dangerous to them and to future generations. This is a volatile issue of international proportions. Citizens in other countries have mounted demonstrations and marched in the streets. According to an FDA representative reached by phone the agency "had no idea that so many people would be interested in this issue." If this is the case, then they have a problem with transferring information learned in one situation to other applicable situations, a skill my nine-year-old nephew is learning in school this year. But I doubt it is true. One of the original 150 seats will be occupied by the head of the Monsanto corporation, someone whose position on GE foods is already well known to the FDA and anyone else who is familiar with this issue. Why, in a public forum supposedly created to garner the thoughts and concerns of ordinary citizens, one of only three small meetings in the entire country, would industry representatives be present at all? Why should they be allowed to occupy both precious seats and precious moments on the clock? In fact, how is it that Monsanto corporation received such prompt notification of these meetings? The announcement, dated October 18th, was not entered in the Federal Register until October 25th. By October 29th, registration was closed. Even if the seats had not filled so quickly, registration would have officially closed fifteen days after the DATE on the notice. Many local environmental groups did not receive notification until after registration closed. Yet Monsanto knew ahead of time. How many other industry representatives received timely notification? The question that begs to be asked then is who does the FDA want to hear from? Certainly not the average citizen. If things go according to the FDA's plan, the meetings could well come and go without the average citizen being aware at all. Even passionately interested citizens were frozen out and have had to fight for a place at the meetings. If you feel that the FDA should be listening to the concerns of United States citizens rather than the self-serving interests of the biotech industries in creating policy, contact them. Let them know you are concerned and outraged. Ask how many seats are being occupied by representatives of the biotech industry. This issue is about the continued viability of a healthy food supply as well as sustaining the diversity of plant life necessary for life on the earth. It is often difficult to feel as though we can make a real difference, but here, on the eve of the new millennium, we are presented with an opportunity to add our voices to a chorus raised in support of positive change. Imagine, if with only two weeks lead time, instead of 150 responses the FDA receives 150,000. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Chicago South Suburban Citizens for Pure Food