News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

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" News Update from The Campaign " <newsupdate

 

Exciting changes taking place at The Campaign

Sat, 1 Jan 2005 17:52:11 -0600

 

News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

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Dear News Update Subscribers,

 

Happy New Year!

 

This News Update will discuss some significant changes The Campaign is

making as we begin 2005 in order to improve our effectiveness as a

non-profit political advocacy organization.

 

First, we are changing our name from The Campaign to Label Genetically

Engineered Foods to simply The Campaign. While our primary focus will

still

remain on passing legislation to require the mandatory labeling of

genetically engineered foods, as you are probably aware, we are also

involved in related issues that need our attention.

 

These include:

 

.. Protecting organic crops from cross-pollination by biotech crops

.. Safety-testing of all genetically engineered crops

.. Proper regulations for crops that are genetically modified to

produce pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals

 

Second, during January we are moving our main office to Virginia in

order to

be closer to Washington, DC. As you are probably aware, The Campaign

encourages and participates in legislative efforts on the city, county

and

state level. However, it is federal legislation that ultimately must be

passed to effectively regulate genetically engineered foods in the

United

States. By moving our main office to Virginia, we will be able to

increase

our visibility and presence on Capitol Hill.

 

Third, we have hired a new Executive Director, Kristin Anderson, who

will

operate out of our Virginia office. It has been my pleasure to serve as

Executive Director since The Campaign was formed. While I will remain

very

actively involved in the management of The Campaign, my title and

position

will now be that of President. Alexander Schauss, PhD, will change his

position from President to Chairman of the Board.

 

The Campaign's new Executive Director, Kristin Anderson, graduated from

Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs with a

Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy

degree.

We are excited to have Kristin on our team. She knows a great deal

about

genetically engineered crops and believes passionately that these risky

foods must be regulated much more effectively by the U.S. government.

 

Fourth, we are launching a major effort to pass city and county

" resolutions " on genetically engineered foods. This will support the

passage

of the federal legislation.

 

The Campaign is creating many support tools that will assist grassroots

activists and concerned citizens in passing city and county

resolutions.

 

These include:

 

.. " Turn-key " City and County Council Resolutions

.. Introductory Letters, Educational Flyers and Petitions

.. " Meet-Up " Meetings, Internet Blogs and Online Forums

.. Public showings of The Future of Food across the country

 

There is an old saying that " all politics are local politics. " These

local

resolutions will send a powerful message to state and federal elected

officials. We predict that once five or ten of these city and county

resolutions are passed, a " domino effect " will take place and activists

throughout the country will see the effectiveness of this strategy to

support federal legislation.

 

Fifth, before the end of January, we will be giving The Campaign's web

site

a fresh new look, along with implementing some advanced computer

technology.

For example, we are setting up an Internet Blog to provide editorial

comments and highlight activities around the country. And our Online

Forums

will play a far more active role in networking and broadcasting the

latest

news.

 

The engine that powers our e-mail messages will be updated to allow us

to

incorporate addresses and zip codes. This will allow us to let people

know when

there are local events taking place in their area.

 

For example, The Campaign and PCC Natural Markets are teaming up to

bringing

the producer/director of The Future of Food, Deborah Coons Garcia

(widow of Jerry

Garcia), to Seattle on January 14 at the University of Washington, Kane

Hall,

Room 120, 7-10 PM. We are showing this outstanding documentary on

genetically

engineered foods followed by a panel discussion. Our current e-mail

system does

not allow us to send out an e-mail to just the people in a particular

geographic

area, such as Seattle. Our new e-mail system will offer that valuable

feature.

 

We are very excited about all the new developments and feel they will

greatly enhance our ability to advance towards our goals. Thanks for

your

continued support and activism. The best is yet to come!

 

Sincerely,

 

Craig Winters

President

The Campaign

PO Box 55699

Seattle, WA 98155

Tel: 425-771-4049

E-mail: label

Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org

 

 

 

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