Sonoma West Times & News: "March Against Monsanto rallies in Sebastopol"
Emerald
http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/march-against-monsanto-rallies-in-sebastopol/article_f3067f8e-1d4d-11e6-aa01-3792a5a2a7aa.html
March Against Monsanto rallies in Sebastopol
Posted: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 4:12 pm
by Krista Sherer Sonoma West Editor
On Saturday, May 21, activists and supportive residents of West County will join millions across 42 countries for a peaceful protest against Monsanto. The campaign coined the March Against Monsanto (MAM) was organized locally by Occupy Sonoma County and is a people’s global movement working to raise awareness around Monsanto’s genetically modified (GMO’s) seeds and crops, as well as safety concerns around the company’s herbicide Roundup.
“West County and Sebastopol has a very long history of supporting organic agriculture and has many organic farmers,” said Occupy activist Rebel Fagin. “Monsanto is not a part of the organic movement in the slightest.”
Not only do Occupy activists have concerns of cross-pollination of organic crops from Monsanto “Roundup ready” seeds (genetically engineered seeds that have had their DNA altered to allow them to withstand the herbicide glyphosate), the group is also apprehensive about glyphosate, the number one agent in Roundup, that is sprayed in on crops and many city parks.
Fagin said pesticide is frequently sprayed on the lawns of playgrounds and children often put items they play with in their mouths that have rolled in the treated grass.
“People should care,” he said.
Deer Domnitz, media spokesperson for Occupy Sonoma County, said the health concerns around glyphosate are one of the reasons she joined the campaign.
“Glyphosate was classified as a probable carcinogen for humans by the World Health Organization,” Domnitz said. “It’s really important for us in Sonoma County that we have a ban on GMO’s and are aware of the spraying of glyphosate in public parks.
It is not unheard of for cities to ban the use of glyphosate in public places. In February of 2014, the City Council of Richmond, California unanimously voted to enact a 12-month ban on all toxic pesticides including glyphosate. It was called the Intergraded Pest Management Ordinance (IMP) and claimed, “pesticides shall only be used as last resort, following other feasible IMP efforts including cultural, mechanical, and biological methods. When it is deemed necessary to use pesticides, the least-toxic pesticides shall be used.”
Domnitz said the group hopes to get the herbicide off the market and make people aware of not eating or buying GMO foods. The only safe bet is buying organic, Domnitz said.
“Even if it’s labeled non-GMO, they are still sprayed with glyphosate as a drying agent,” she said.
Monsanto Corporation introduced GMOs into the food supply in the mid-’90s. GM foods are currently either labeled or banned in 64 countries —yet there is no requirement to identify them at all in foods sold in the U.S.
The demand for GMO labeling and non-GMO food alternatives continues to climb, with states like Vermont enacting mandatory GM labeling legislation (effective July 1, 2016) that will require food corporations to let consumers know if their products contain GM ingredients.
It’s all about the money, Domnitz said and if people don’t buy GMO foods, the corporations making them will change with the demand. Large companies such as Dannon Yoghurt, Del Monte Foods and Campbell have stopped using GMO products, or offer organic choices.
“When people learn about GMOs, they no longer want to buy them, which is evidenced by the growing number of major corporations that are removing GMOs from their foods,” said Occupy activist and concerned mother Stephana Morales.
The march will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Plaza at McKinley Street and Petaluma Avenue The march will be led by the Hubbub Club down Petaluma Avenue, followed by a rally from 3 to 5 p.m. with speakers, music and entertainment. Political comedy will be provided by Swami Beyondananda, music by Kym Trippsmith and Kate Willens and food created by Lydia’s Kind Foods.
The event is family friendly and will have a “pay what you can” plant sale with a free seed exchange. The organizers of the event ask that people bring extra seeds to share.
More than 25 local organizations are in support of Occupy Sonoma County’s efforts. Some of the organizations are Occupy Petaluma, Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) North Coast Chapter are just a few.
“Monsanto doesn’t mean us any good,” Fagin said. “They’re just making a profit, they don’t care about our health. It could be anything, it just happens to be food.”
If interested in Occupy Sonoma County, please visit http://OccupySonomaCounty.org or call 707-877-6650. For a complete list of MAM events and for up-to-date reporting on the global MAM movement, please visit http://www.march-against-monsanto.com/may21.