Fwd: True Food Network News--May, 2001

[Guest guest]

TRUE FOOD NETWORK NEWS: MAY 2001

 

--FEATURES

 

--ACTION UPDATE

 

--TAKE ACTION

 

--TRUE FOOD NETWORK SURVEY

 

--Q & A

_______

 

::::FEATURES::::

 

--Protesters Descend on FDA to Demand Labeling of

Gene-Altered Food: Bush Administration Appears

Ready to Keep Americans in the Dark

 

OAKLAND, Calif. - While hundreds of thousands of

Americans have signed petitions and urged government-

mandated labels on gene-altered food, the Bush

Administration appears ready to reinforce an existing

policy that allows GE foods into the food supply without

safety testing or labeling requirments. On May 2, 2001,

dozens of blindfolded consumers, concerned parents,

and environmentalists assembled outside the Food and Drug

Administration's (FDA) West Coast Regional office on

to protest the Bush Administration's failure to

require labels on genetically engineered (GE) food.

FDA's public comment period on this proposal ended

on May 3rd, but there's still plenty you can do. See our

TAKE ACTION section below.

 

Read the full story:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/archives/

010425-tf-fdaaction.html

 

 

--Maryland Becomes First State to Ban Open-Water

Genetically Engineered Fish Production

 

BALTIMORE, April 13, 2001 -In an effort to

prevent genetically engineered fish from affecting native

species, the Governor of Maryland, Paris Glendening, signed

a bill enacting a five-year ban on the release of GE fish

into any state waterway that flows into any other body of

water. This is the first ban of its kind to be passed in

the United States.

 

Read the full story:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/inthenews.html

 

 

::::ACTION UPDATE::::

 

--First National Day of Action Against Food Retailer's

Use of Genetically Engineered Foods A Success

 

Thank you to all of the True Food Network members who

joined us in calling on Trader Joe's to stop their use of

genetically engineered food! The National Day of Action on

April 17th was a great success!! For the first time in the

United States, people took action across the country to

demand the end to the retailer's use of this dangerous

technology. In 21 cities in 9 states, True Food Network

members, local activists, and Greenpeace campaigners held

protests, leafleted, and took direct action at Trader Joe's

stores.

 

The campaign will continue until Trader Joe's agrees

to stop using genetically engineered food!

 

Join the Trader Joe's Petition Drive!!!

 

As a follow up to our National Day of Action, from now

until June 30th, Greenpeace and local groups from around

the country are launching a Trader Joe's petition drive.

 

We need you to join this effort!

 

This is a great opportunity to educate your neighbors,

friends, and fellow Trader Joe's shoppers, and send a

message to Trader Joe's! Download petitions from the

True Food Network web site and take it to work, school,

the library, grocery store . . . wherever you talk to

people.

 

You can download the petition from:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/graphics/tj_petition.pdf

 

You can also get Trader Joe's fact sheets at:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/graphics/Traderjoes.pdf.

 

Send the completed petitions to

Heather Whitehead

Greenpeace

965 Mission Street, Suite 625,

San Francisco, California, 91403.

 

If you have any questions or difficulties downloading the

petition or fact sheet, contact Heather Whitehead at

heather.whitehead, or (415) 512-9024.

 

PS. The first ten people to send in 500

petition signatures will get a Greenpeace

True Food t-shirt or shopping bag!

 

Get the inside scoop:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/

archives/010424-tf-trader_joes.html

 

Join thousands of people across the country

and send an email to Trader Joe's:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/listmanager/

takeaction.pl?action_id=27

 

::::TAKE ACTION::::

 

--Still Want to be Heard?

 

May 3rd was the last day the FDA was accepting public

comments on labeling of genetically engineered foods.

What's next? Labeling legislation will most likely be

re-introduced in Congress this month. We will keep you

updated.

 

Meanwhile, keep the heat on! Visit our Action Center

where you can send an email or fax, or learn how to

get involved in your community!

http://www.truefoodnow.org/take_action/index.html

 

 

::::TRUE FOOD NETWORK MEMBER SURVEY::::

 

All of us at Greenpeace want to hear from you. Whether you

feel we are addressing your concerns about GMOs effectively,

or want to see more about a particular aspect of the

campaign, we'd love to hear your thoughts! The survey

takes just a few minutes, and is great help to the

True Food Network community. Besides, by filling out the

survey, you will receive a True Food Network members

only " treat. "

 

You can fill out the survey by logging on to:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/gmo_fun/survey.html

 

::::Q & A ::::

 

Read the answers to your latest questions! We have also

compiled the most frequently asked questions about GE foods,

including research and labeling.

 

Visit:

http://www.truefoodnow.org/speak_out/index.html