Mendocino County vies to go GM-free

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Mendocino County vies to go GM-free

In a wonderful example of grassroots activism, citizens in Mendocino County,

California have gathered enough signatures to get an initiative on the ballot.

The initiative would ban the " propagation, cultivation, raising, and growing of

genetically modified organisms " in Mendocino County.

 

As the saying goes " All politics are local politics " and this is a classic

example.

 

" We're ready to take this to the people, " Els Cooperrider, of the Mendocino

Organic Network, told the Mendocino Beacon. " Why should the biotech corporations

control our local food supply? If Monsanto has its way, genetically modified

organisms will cause irreversible harm to the economy and the environment of our

county. It's up to the citizens to protect our property rights from unwanted

GMOs. "

 

Many of Mendocino County's vintners support the initiative, saying they are

concerned that GMOs will contaminate their vines and harm the county's growing

organic wine market.

 

Katrina Frey, director of sales for Frey Vineyards, called the initiative " an

insurance policy to protect Mendocino County's multimillion-dollar exports of

conventional and organic agricultural products. "

 

" Knowing the political climate of Mendocino County, I think the initiative's got

a good chance of passing, " said Glenn McGourty, the University of California

Cooperative Extension viticulture adviser for Mendocino and Lake counties.

 

Congratulations to the activists in Mendocino County! You are setting a fine

example for the rest of the nation. And with the power of the Internet,

concerned citizens from around the world will be watching and reporting on this

exciting development!

 

 

 

 

 

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