Organic Bytes #225: Millions Against Monsanto

May 21, 2010

Health, Justice and Sustainability News from the Organic Consumers Association

http://www.organicconsumers.org

Edited by Alexis Baden-Mayer and Ronnie Cummins

Organic Consumers on The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-cummins

Organic Bytes on the Radio: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19418.cfm

Organic Consumers Association’s Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/organicconsumers

Organic Consumers Association’s Facebook Group:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=58644&uid=2354420887

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=58644&uid=2354420887

Organic Consumers on Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/organicconsumer

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In this issue:

* Quote of the Week: Monsanto, Haiti’s “New Earthquake”
* Alert of the Week: Monsanto’s Poison Pills for Haiti – Take Action in Solidarity
with Haitian Farmers Who Vow to Burn Monsanto’s Fungicide-Coated Seeds
* Video of the Week: Monsanto Plant Shut Down by Activists in Europe
* June 22-26, 2010: US Social Forum in Detroit
* Little Bytes

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Quote of the Week

Monsanto, Haiti’s “New Earthquake”

“A new earthquake” is what Haitian peasant farmer leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste of
the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) called the news that Monsanto will be dumping
60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds on Haiti,
seeds doused with highly toxic fungicides such as thiram, known to be extremely
dangerous to farm workers. Hybrid seeds, like GMO seeds (in contrast to Creole
heirloom or organic seeds) require lots of water, chemical fertilizers, and
pesticides. In addition if a small farmer tries to save hybrid seeds after harvest,
hybrid seeds usually do not “breed true” or grow very well in the second season,
forcing the now-indentured peasant to buy seeds from Monsanto or one of the other
hybrid/GMO seed monopolies in perpetuity. Monsanto wanted initially to dump GMO
seeds on Haiti, but even the corrupt Haitian government knew that this would spark a
rebellion, so Monsanto clevewrly decided to dump hybrid seeds instead. The Haitian
small farmers organization has committed to burning Monsanto’s seeds, and has called
for a march to protest the corporation’s presence in Haiti on June 4, for World
Environment Day.

READ MORE: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20852.cfm

For more information on OCA’s Millions Against Monsanto campaign go to:

http://organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

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Alert of the Week:

Monsanto’s Poison Pills for Haiti

Take Action in Solidarity with Haitian Farmers Who Vow to Burn Monsanto’s Toxic
Fungicide-Coated Hybrid Seeds

Since gaining their independence from France more than 200 years ago in a bloody
slave uprising, Haitian farmers have wisely protected their seeds and nurtured
native crop varieties. They know that true food security is maintained by farmers
who save, trade and breed indigenous seeds using traditional organic methods.

As Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, the Executive Director of the Peasant Movement of Papay
(MPP), wrote earlier this year, “We need to establish seed banks and have silos
where we can store our Creole seeds. Local, organic seeds are the basis of food
sovereignty. It’s urgent that Haitians buy local seeds. … What’s the danger we
face today? It’s that food aid from USAID and others is getting dumped in the
country.”

USAID and Monsanto have a poison pill for Haiti, designed to the make the island
nation into a slave colony once again, except this time they won’t be slaves for
France, but rather for Monsanto and corporate agribusiness. Join the Haitian people
and the growing global movement of Millions Against Monsanto.

Take action:

Tell USAID to support local organic seeds, not Monsanto’s poisoned present.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20877.cfm

Donate to the distribution of local, organic seeds within Haiti:

http://seedsforhaiti.org/

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PLEASE DONATE! OCA Needs Your Help to Fight Monsanto and Spread the Organic Revolution

OCA and our international network of organic consumers and farmers understand that
we have a positive life-affirming solution for the global food, health, and climate
crisis: organic food, farming, and ranching. But to fight Monsanto and get out our
all-important message we need your support. Please send us a tax-deductible donation
today. If you give OCA a donation we’ll send you a free “Millions Against Monsanto”
bumper sticker so you can spread our message in your city, town, or rural community.
Please donate and write “Monsanto Sticker” in the comments field to receive your
sticker!

PLEASE DONATE http://organicconsumers.org/donations.cfm
__________________________________

Help OCA Get 35,000 Facebook Fans!

We are so close! Last week, Organic Consumers Association’s Facebook page topped
34,000 fans, people like Suzanne who writes, “What would we do without you guys
fighting for all of us?”

Please help us reach our May goal of 35,000 Facebook fans. If you’re on Facebook,
become a fan, recommend us to your friends on Facebook, and join the discussion! Our
Facebook fans are active! Over 100 people have commented so far on the article we
posted about Haitian farmers who have vowed to burn Monsanto’s seed “donation.”
Genevieve says, “Yes, the Haitians need assistance, but please don’t insult their
intelligence by telling them they’d be better off eating poison.”

Join the discussion on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/organicconsumers
__________________________________

Video of the Week:

Monsanto Plant Shut Down By Dutch Activists

Check out this great activist-produced video documenting Monday’s action shutting
down Monsanto’s Dutch offices and greenhouses.

On Monday, 50 people with the action group ‘Roundup Monsanto’ blocked both gates of
the Monsanto seed company near Rotterdam in the Netherlands. ‘Roundup Monsanto’
wants Monsanto to back out of the seed market, and demands an end to patents on
seeds and living organisms. Monsanto and other agro-chemical multinationals are
lobbying the Dutch government and the EU for legislative changes that would make it
easier for large companies to take control of the seed market and food production.

Watch: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20861.cfm

To Download and print one of OCA’s “Millions Against Monsanto” campaign leaflets,
“Ten Things Monsanto Does Not Want You To Know” go to:

http://organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

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June 22-26, 2010: U.S. Social Forum in Detroit Another World is Possible! Another
U.S. is Necessary!

What is the U.S. Social Forum?

The U.S. Social Forum (USSF) is a movement building process offering a space to come
up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is an
opportunity to declare what we want our world to look like and start planning the
path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn from each other’s experiences
and struggles, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, build
relationships, and align with our international brothers and sisters to strategize
how to reclaim our world.

One of the USSF’s 14 major program tracks is “Climate Justice: Sustainability,
Resources and Land.” This track focuses on building power, resiliency and
sustainability through movements for ecological, social, energy and environmental
justice, with an emphasis on food security, agriculture and small farms.

Learn more: http://organize.ussf2010.org/workshops
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Little Bytes

Nestle Announces it Will Stop Using Ingredients like Palm Oil that Drive
Deforestation http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20860.cfm

Once Again, Feces from Factory Farmed Cattle Contaminate Lettuce in Latest E. Coli
Outbreak http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20857.cfm

What Does Goldman Sachs Have to Do With Factory Farms?

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20851.cfm

Reform and Consumer Consciousness Buoy US Organic Sector

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20872.cfm

Research Links Pesticides With ADHD In Children

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20845.cfm

__________________________________

Message from Our Sponsor

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__________________________________

ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION
6771 South Silver Hill Drive
Finland, Minnesota 55603
Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652

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A New Documentary Inspires Detroit Activists
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by Grace Lee Boggs

A new documentary illustrates a different kind of American Dream
taking hold in Detroit.

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All Hands on Deck
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by Riki Ott

What can you do about the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico?

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Making a Difference Makes You Happy
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New studies find that activism brings greater life satisfaction
along with freedom, competence, and connection to others.

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***** Signs of Life: Small Stories About Big Change *****

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In India, Fake Money Is Payback
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Paying bribes to officials at all levels of government is common
in India, but an advocacy group for the poor came up with a way
to fight back: Make money worth nothing more than the paper
it’s printed on.

READ MORE:

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Roads Aren’t Just for Cars Anymore
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The United States has lagged behind Europe in promoting bicycle
transportation, but that’s about to change. Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced a new policy encouraging
cities and states to include the needs of bicyclists and
pedestrians in their transit infrastructure planning.

READ MORE:

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More States May Create Public Banks
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By 2011, only one state will have escaped the credit crunch that
is pushing other states toward insolvency: North Dakota. North
Dakota is also the only state that owns a bank. Now, several
states are either studying the prospects of a state-owned bank or
are considering legislation to make one possible.

READ MORE:

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:: MORE SIGNS OF LIFE FROM COCHABAMBA, WASHINGTON, AND CANADA

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***** US Social Forum *****

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:: A Personal Invitation to the US Social Forum
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The national coordinator of the US Social Forum, Adrienne Maree
Brown offers her brief, heartfelt list of reasons to come to
Detroit to participate in the 2010 USSF, June 22-26.

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:: WHAT ARE SOCIAL FORUMS?

Imagine a gathering of people from all walks of life, coming
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movement big enough for all of us.

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:: OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Also in Detroit, June 17-20, the Allied Media Conference
brings together media makers from all over the United States
interested in using participatory media as a strategy for social
justice organizing.

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And, in Washington D.C., June 11-14, the Network of Spiritual
Progressives/Tikkun holds its National Conference, featuring
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Kucinich, Bill McKibben and other key thinkers, in a discussion
about the future of our country.

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***** Did you miss… *****

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Highlights from the last newsletter:
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:: BUILDING THE WORLD WE WANT: INTERVIEW WITH MARK LAKEMAN
City Repair helps people create new, people-friendly
visions for their communities.

http://online.yesmagazine.org/t?ctl=166536E:0FE897AF8305A86161CF06BD0767514D8B33FD9282452D6B&

:: LIVING LARGE IN A TINY HOUSE
Dee Williams chose to downsize and now lives in a
84-square-foot home. She says she has never been happier.

http://online.yesmagazine.org/t?ctl=166536F:0FE897AF8305A86161CF06BD0767514D8B33FD9282452D6B&

:: DEPAVING PORTLAND
The residents of Portland are literally tearing their
city up. Who says cities have to be islands of concrete?

http://online.yesmagazine.org/t?ctl=1665371:0FE897AF8305A86161CF06BD0767514D8B33FD9282452D6B&

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***** From the Publisher *****

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Winning the Frame Game
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by Fran Korten

As our society approaches major transitions, we may welcome or
resist the changes … How we react will rest partly on how we
frame those changes.

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***** National Bike Month *****

PHOTO ESSAYS

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Biking Wittwer Family
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Join Travis Wittwer for a day of bike commuting with his children
in Portland, Ore.

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Bamboo Bike Making
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“With every bike that leaves our workshop, we see a person who has
made something to be proud of, something useful that he or she
worked hard to create.”

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VIDEO

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A World on Two Wheels
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What if bicycles ruled the road? Here’s a glimpse at what a
society based on the power of two wheels looked like–not that
long ago.

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Pedal People Put the Cycling in Recycling
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What’s a cleaner, quieter alternative to garbage trucks?
Bicycles!

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