CA - Mendocino county bans GMOs

[theoceansnerves]

March 3, 2004

Ukiah, (Mendocino County) California -- In a sweeping victory, Mendocino County yesterday (March 2) became the first county in the nation to ban the growing of genetically altered crops and animals.

Mendocino County voters defeated the world’s largest producers of genetically engineered foods and seed, which pumped a record $621,000 into a county of 47,000 voters.

Under the guise of CropLife America, Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical and a consortium of other biotech multinational corporations shattered spending records in this small agricultural county.

But CropLife America was no match for thousands of Mendocino County farmers, business owners, vintners and families who joined the largest, most successful grass roots campaign the county has ever seen to fight the encroachment of genetically altered crops.

more at http://www.gmofreemendo.com/press_releases/2004-03-03.html

[arcane1]

1. sweet!

:yourock:

[govegan]

2. Hey Hey, Ho Ho, GMO has got to go

As summarized by Daily Grist:

Northern California's Mendocino County yesterday passed a voter
initiative that bans the growing of genetically modified (GM) crops.
The surprising 56-44 percent victory capped the county's most
contentious and high-profile election ever, in which the initiative's
backers were outspent by a whopping 6-1 margin. Supporters of
Measure H raised $93,525, while opponents marshaled $621,566 --
$600,000 of which came from CropLife America, a Washington,
D.C.-based industry group that counts GM giant Monsanto among its
members. The initiative is likely to have little practical effect --
there are no GM crops currently grown in Mendocino County, where the
biggest cash crop is (presumably all-natural) marijuana -- but the
David vs. Goliath victory has enormous symbolic value, as it is the
first anti-GM measure passed in the U.S., where efforts by industry
to squelch protest have been fierce. "They got the money," said
triumphant initiative creator Els Cooperrider, "we got the people!"

Their link in the Sacremento Bee:

http://www.gristmagazine.com/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=2094%3E

Hey, Hey, Ho Ho, only the first, we will pass some mo'.

[cprise]

3. This is nice but

...what are the chances this will be struck down by NAFTA?