First off, here are the a few local races I'm most enthusiastic about and invested in:
- Saltzman + Alegria for BART Board
- Bartlett + Peeples for AC Transit Board
- Yes on Alameda County Measure B1
At the state level, I'm absolutely sure of Yes on 30 (fix the budget!), No on 32 (don't silence our voices), and Yes on 34 (replace the death penalty with justice that works!). I've got strong leans on most of the rest, plus there's LOTS of good informational resources out there. I'll probably write up the state propositions last.
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1 comment:
thanks Jeff.
I feel very strongly about the GMO issue and would like to convince you to vote for the labeling of GMO foods, and endorse your help in limiting its use.
Why is it that if food is completely free of harmful chemicals, and grown with regard to sustainability, that you have to PAY to get it labeled as such (certified organic), BUT if you’ve sprayed it with known toxins, you can plunk it out on the shelves for free? In fact, foods grown non-organically are the ones that should be tested, proved safe, and labeled.
In the long process of evolution, organisms evolve with certain foods, and the foods adapt to the organisms. In many cases, the process of consumption can benefit the eater AND the eatee (spreading of seeds especially). Although that might not be the case with modern humans, it is certain that we and our foods have a LONG history together. The relationship is much more complicated than people realize… even completely natural foods have toxins in them… the green of a potato, the phytic acid on rice. Human physiology has learned to mitigate many of these toxins, and human culture has learned ways to mitigate the effects of others (washing rice, fermenting foods, procedures for turning corn into masa…)
Introducing new genes into the mix, doing a couple years of experiments and calling it “safe” is completely ridiculous.
Even just having to label GMO food is not a good solution. . if a new, dangerous gene in introduced to the environment, one that NOTHING has had a chance to adapt to, it will be a horrible situation. There is no recalling genes that spread to the wild. If we suddenly realize that the GMO Corn genes we are consuming in all high-fructose corn syrup products (almost ALL mainstream foods) (without knowing it) causes cancer in the 2nd generation, we are f*****d. This experiment is IRREVERSIBLE, and we are participating in it without being asked.
GMO have spread to wild and to non-gmo crops, as a reasonable person could guess it would. This threatens the choices of people who do not wish to consume those foods, threatens biodiversity, threatens our very food supply. And the fact that Monsanto has sued farmers for having some of these infected plants on their farms… plants present because of seed drift… plants not wanted by the farmer being sued, is just evil.
GMOs threaten the biosphere, threaten our food supply, threaten our ability to choose what we eat and threaten our ability to grow food for ourselves. What could be more dangerous that that?
Thanks for your time,
no, I did not address that issue in my book!!! (No Eat Not Food: The search for intelligent food on planet earth. The book is for 8 to 12 year olds and introduces concepts of organic food & sustainable agriculture through the adventures of a visiting alien, www.mountainpathpress.com )
-rick sanger
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