Guest guest Posted October 28, 2003 Report Share Posted October 28, 2003 " News Update from The Campaign " Presidential Politics Tue, 28 Oct 2003 05:07:51 -0600 News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods ---- Dear News Update Subscribers, On Monday, The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods mailed letters to the nine Democratic presidential candidates asking them their positions on genetically engineered foods. We know how presidential candidate Representative Dennis Kucinich feels on this issue. He is the primary sponsor of HR 2916, the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, for the record, we also sent the letter to Representative Kucinich. We asked each candidate to respond to four questions contained in the questionnaire part of the letter by December 1st. They are simple " Yes " or " No " questions, so it should be easy for the candidates to respond. And we included a stamped return envelope. After we receive their responses, we will post their positions on our web site. Plus, we will issue a press release to the media detailing the results. Further, we will communicate our satisfaction or dissatisfaction to each of the candidates about their responses. And we will launch an Action Alert towards those presidential candidates who oppose labeling. The text of the letter we sent to former Vermont Governor Howard Dean is posted below. Craig Winters Executive Director The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods The Campaign PO Box 55699 Seattle, WA 98155 Tel: 425-771-4049 Fax: 603-825-5841 E-mail: label Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org Mission Statement: " To create a national grassroots consumer campaign for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered foods in the United States. " *************************************************************** October 27, 2003 Howard Dean Dean for America P.O. Box 1228 Burlington, Vermont 05402 Dear Governor Dean, As a 501©(4) political advocacy organization, we are requesting your response to four questions about your position on genetically engineered foods. This mailing is going out to all nine Democratic presidential candidates. Your response will be posted on our popular web site www.thecampaign.org and reported on as part of a press release we will be issuing to the national media. Please respond by December 1, 2003. BACKGROUND As you are probably aware, genetically engineered foods are also referred to as genetically modified foods, biotech foods, transgenic foods and foods containing GMOs (genetically modified organisms). And the new edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary lists the word " Frankenfood " as another term to describe foods that have been genetically altered. An ABC NEWS poll released in July 2003 indicates that 92 percent of the American public think " the federal government should require labels on biotech foods. " Legislation to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods was recently introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Dennis Kucinich, one of your fellow Democratic presidential candidates. These foods are already required to be labeled in the European Union countries, plus Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and many other nations. In May 2003, the United States filed a World Trade Organization case against the European Union over the moratorium that has been in place since 1998 on the importation of genetically engineered foods by the EU nations. The U.S. is also considering bringing another WTO case against the European Union over their new comprehensive mandatory labeling requirements on genetically modified foods. Finally, the United States Department of Agriculture has issued proposed rules that will allow food crops such as corn that have been genetically engineered to contain pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals to be grown within one mile of regular food crops. Organizations such as the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the National Food Processors Association have told the USDA that they are concerned that pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals may end up in the food supply. They have requested that only non-food crops, such as tobacco, be used to grow these foods. Many groups in the environmental community think that crops genetically engineered to contain pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals should be permitted to be grown only in greenhouses or other similar confined environments. RESPONSE SOUGHT TO FOUR QUESTIONS Please answer the following four questions about your position on these issues surrounding genetically engineered foods. We request your response before December 1, 2003. We will post the results on our web site and issue a press release to the media in early December. Thank you for taking the time to respond to these four questions. 1) According to a July 15, 2003 ABC NEWS poll, 92 percent of Americans want the federal government to require mandatory labeling on genetically modified foods. Do you agree that genetically engineered foods should be labeled? _____ YES _____ NO 2) The United States has brought a case against the European Union before the World Trade Organization. The U.S. holds that the EU's moratorium on genetically engineered foods is an illegal trade barrier. Do you support the U.S. case? _____ YES _____ NO 3) Would you support U.S. efforts to bring a case before the World Trade Organization to force the European Union to drop their mandatory labeling requirements on genetically engineered foods? _____ YES _____ NO 4) Which of these three positions most closely represents yours regarding crops genetically engineered to contain pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals (check one): _____ a) The USDA position - that it is okay to allow these crops to be grown with one mile of regular food crops. _____ b) The position of the food industry - that only non-food crops should be used such as tobacco. _____ c) The position of environmental groups - that these crops should be grown only in greenhouses or confined environments. Thank you for your response. Feel free to elaborate on your answers if you desire. For your convenience, we have enclosed a stamped return envelope. Sincerely, Craig Winters Executive Director The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods P.O. Box 55699 Seattle, WA 98155 Phone: 425-771-4049 Fax: 603-825-5841 E-Mail: label Web: www.thecampaign.org NEW WEB MESSAGE BOARDS - JOIN HERE. Alternative Medicine Message Boards.Info http://alternative-medicine-message-boards.info Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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