Destroying .6% of a GM crop might be Domestic Terrorism?

Now, let me preface with this – it is pretty much not OK to destroy another person’s property. But, a person has a face where as a multi-national corporation like Syngenta has, well, no face, no spine, but lots and lots of Money.

So learning that the person(s) who destroyed 6500 acres of Syngenta owned GM sugar beets in Oregon earlier this month will potentially be charged with Domestic Terrorism and Economic Sabotage has eyes rolling painfully (at least my eyes are sore)…

Maybe “economic sabotage” is buyable … But I have to try real hard to believe Syngenta is going to experience any actual fiscal setback since their 2012 sales were $14.2 BILLION.

But Domestic Terrorism?! Firstly, it’s a whopping 6500 acres of Sugar beets. The US harvested 1,004,600 acres of sugar beets in 2008. If someone had managed to destroy, say, 900,000 acres of sugar beets, then maybe… maybe I could consider it terrorism. Sure, sugar beets make up 55% of US sugar … But, 6500 acres is less than a percent of total production. To be exact, it’s .6%.

So sure, if you catch the person(s) who took the time to destroy these crops, charge them with trespassing or destruction of property or vandalism or whatever. But this is NOT terrorism.

 

Way to Go!!

According to media outlets, the Twin Cities March Against Monsanto had a turnout of a few hundred people. According to photographs, the march itself was about 10 people wide and 5.5 blocks long.

Courtesy of Patrick Tsai (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy)

So, who’s right?

Well, no need to get in a face off with the media, those who attended know it was an awesome turnout and that the March went incredibly well. All day we were threatened with thunderstorms – none arrived. Not even a smattering of rain! Woo hoo!

While not a hippie love fest, it was a peaceful event, with only some chalk graffiti to slightly tarnish our Capitol reputations (worry not, about 8 volunteers showed up at 8:30p.m. to scrub the Capitol sidewalks!).

The Right the Farm Bill Postcard Petitions went great! The MN House and Senate Ag Committees will receive, respectively, 512 and 531 postcards in support of a Minnesota GMO Labeling Law. Woot Woot! These numbers don’t include all of the completely illegible cards or those missing zipcodes and cities! Each day, for more than a month, the Chairpeople of these committees will receive another 10-20 cards supporting GMO Labeling.

The speakers enthused crowds and raised some amazing points. Patrick Tsai of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy took and posted videos of some of the speakers as well as these awesome photos – THANKS, PATRICK!  Additionally, Steve Suppan of IATP wrote a fabulous article on the event.

All in all, this is just to say THANK YOU for making the March Against Monsanto a success. We will be marching again REAL soon – so stay tuned and in the mean time, follow closely the amazing allies who are working to forward this cause every day!

If you weren’t able to make it – or if you just want to hear them again, links to the speeches are below.

• Atina Diffley
• Nancy Brown of Right to Know MN
• Steve Suppan of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

 

Final Budget!

We made it to a T … well, we’re over by $0.15 … We would have had a great donation to some like-minded non-profits if the wind hadn’t foiled our plans!

Thank you all so much for your generosity during the fundraising for this event! You are amazing!

Special thanks, once again, to our sponsors!

• The Birchwood Cafe
• Chowgirls Killer Catering
• Green Rock Radio AM 950
• Clancey’s Meats
• Organic Valley
• Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op
• Seward Co-op & Deli
• Eastside Food Co-op
• Northeast Farmer’s Market
• Emerald Organic

AM 950 – we should all be listening!

Thanks so much to Dale & at Green Rock Radio AM 950 for having us on his show on Saturday, May 18. Green Rock Radio, dedicated to disseminating knowledge about sustainability, considering all facets of life, hosts guests far ranging: bee keepers, solar panel experts, gardening experts and more. We had a great time conversing (listen to it here!) and after a great talk, Green Rock Radio then sponsored half of the porta potties with a $300 check! Woot woot!

Food Freedom Radio: Food Freedom Radio believes that individuals and communities can be empowered to make their own food choices and, in doing so, become more aware of our connection to each other and the world. In combining the perspectives of science, faith, family, and community, we believe that a trust economy can be created which builds and supports businesses and organizations that do food “right.” We believe that Food Freedom Radio is a dialogue space for resources and tools that open up opportunities for individuals and groups to take traditional, out-dated and sometimes harmful food systems and turn them into healthy, vibrant, life-giving food communities. They will be hosting Nancy Brown of Right to Know on Saturday, May 25th! Give them a listen!

Producers to support …

Some great producers have also stepped to the plate in making the March Against Monsanto happen!

Organic Valley:  Organic Valley is the label of the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool (CROPP) cooperative, based in Southwestern, WI. CROPP formed in 1988 and has grown to include 1,723 independent, small, family farms in 33 states and four Canadian provinces. You can find their products at most every Minnesota food co-op! The Organic Valley Co-op is passionate about sustainability in all realms: water, soil, independent farms, and employee well-being and is a great information hub and grassroots lobbying group, dedicating resources toward sharing information about pertinent issues facing the food industry. On top of all of this, the Organic Valley growers donated $150 to the Twin Cities March Against Monsanto.

Emerald Organic: Emerald Organic delivers heirloom quality dry-aged organic grass-fed beef, organic pork, and poultry products to your home. Their current line of organic grass-fed beef products are sourced from family farms in the sand hills of Nebraska, the home of organic grass-fed beef. They are actively promoting the Twin Cities March Against Monsanto and offering discounts on orders for TC MAM attendees. On top of this, they’ve donated $500 to sponsor the launch of Writing the Farm Bill with Art!

Fooderies You Should Eat at!

Twin Citians know that we are blessed to live in an enlightened food mecca… Organic, local eateries abound … stop in to some say THANKS to these awesome companies who took their support of sustainable food a step farther by sponsoring the Twin Cities March Against Monsanto!

Clancey’s Meats: Located in Linden Hills Mpls, Clancey’s meats has been up and running for 10 years, working with the same SE Minnesota farmers since for the duration.  Their selection will make you drool: beef, goat, lamb, pork, poultry, bison, wild game including elk & boar AND fish!!  And, without even communicating with the TC March Against Monsanto organizers, Clancey’s donated $200 to the event! Thank you, CLANCEY’S!!

Birchwood Cafe: Tucked into the Seward Neighborhood of Minneapolis, Birchwood Cafe specializes in delicious meals featuring local, organic ingredients grown on small, family farms AND some of the yummiest desserts in the upper midwest. No joke. Icing on the cake, Birchwood Cafe has put a March Against Monsanto flyer in their Mississippi News Box & donated $100 to the March! We ❤ Birchwood Cafe.

Chowgirls Killer Catering: Big Thanks to Chowgirls Killer Catering of Minneapolis! The organic, boutique, locally sourced catering company might be the only of its kind (it’s the only one I’ve ever heard of!). They also show their Mpls Pride, hosting art openings, musical performance and more at their homebase in Northeast Minneapolis.
It’s wedding season – are you looking for a caterer that reflects your values???
All of this builds up to (drum roll, please!) – Thanks, Chowgirls! We REALLY appreciate your $200 sponsorship of the Twin Cities March Against Monsanto.

Co-ops Rock

Co-ops really do Rock when it comes to the Twin Cities’ March Against Monsanto. Why Choose Co-op? Because Seward Co-op (Seward Neighborhood, Mpls), Eastside Food Co-op (Northeast, Minneapolis), and Mississippi Market Natural Foods (St. Paul), are proving how different co-ops are.

Seward Community Co-op: A founding member of the Principle Six (P6) Cooperative Trade Movement, Seward Co-op is committed to guiding it’s members toward the products that meet their highest values. Seward Co-op is committed to serving its diverse neighborhood, and is also committed to supporting a Fair Food Movement. Their generous donation of $50 was our the first sponsorship check we received! Thank you, Seward!

Eastside Food Co-op: The youngest of the Twin Cities food co-ops, also known as the little co-op that could, wears its heart on it’s sleeve. Their store is covered in murals dedicated to their hopes for a future food system. This hope is what led them to join the Principle Six (P6) Cooperative Trade Movement and why they eagerly sponsored the march by donating chairs and tables as well as $100! Thanks, EFC!

Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op: Mississippi Market, with two locations in Saint Paul, has been community owned since 1979! Their missions pretty much explains it all: “Mississippi Market creates positive change in the community by influencing the production, distribution and enjoyment of food” and sponsoring the Twin Cities March Against Monsanto with an incredible (drum roll please) $450!! Mississippi Market is on the way to the Capitol (if you’re up for a small Saint Paul adventure) – stop in a grab your snacks and tell them THANK YOU!

 

No fundamental right to choose what you eat??

In 2010, the FDA, in response to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s lawsuit regarding the banning of raw milk sales, stated:

• “Plaintiffs’ assertion of a new ‘fundamental right’ to produce, obtain, and consume unpasteurized milk lacks any support in law.” [p. 4]

• “Plaintiffs’ assertion of a new ‘fundamental right’ under substantive due process to produce, obtain, and consume unpasteurized milk lacks any support in law.” [p.17]

•  “There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food.” [p. 25]

• “There is no ‘deeply rooted’ historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds.” [p. 26]

• “Plaintiffs’ assertion of a ‘fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families’ is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish.” [p. 26]

• FDA’s brief goes on to state that “even if such a right did exist, it would not render FDA’s regulations unconstitutional because prohibiting the interstate sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk promotes bodily and physical health.” [p. 27]

• “There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract.” [p. 27]

What?!?! No fundamental right to grow and consume my own food? No fundamental right to sell my tomatoes to my next door neighbor?

And icing on the cake, no fundamental rights unless enumerated by law??

MN MAM Budget

Can you loan sound equipment? The march will save more than $200
Some 6’x3′ tables? The march will save $30!
Some megaphones? The march will save $15 each!

Everything you Need to Know About the March Against Monsanto!

Rain OR Shine We Will March Against Monsanto

Location: the Minnesota Capitol Grounds.

Time: The march will start at 1p.m. at the Capitol Grounds, we will march through Downtown St. Paul (appx: 2 miles) and return to the Capitol Grounds; a rally and resource fair is to follow. There is NO registration.

Carpooling: We have created a Facebook Event for Carpoolers.

• Post where you are coming from & how many seats you have available. 
• Post where your are coming from and how many seats you need.

FREE MINNEAPOLIS BUS

• Eastside Food Co-op – Leaving at 11:30 am
• Minneapolis Art Institute – Leaving at 12:00pm
• Seward Co-op – Leaving at 12:30pm

******
Take proper precautions! 

• Communicate with your rideshare ahead of time. 
• Bring a friend!
• Do not ride if you don’t feel safe!

**This is just a venue to connect – we take no responsibility for your decision to share a car.

MetroTransit Bus Information

A map of Free Parking.

• **ADA Accessible recommendations: Parking Lot F and Centennial Parking Lot

Leave no Litter Behind!

• We will be fined for any trash left behind (this include dog poop!)
• Bring bags for your trash on the march (we will provide garbage cans at the rally!)

Dogs

• We strongly discourage your from bringing your dog (unless it is a service dog). There will be thousands of people in an energetic setting, which can be very stressful for dogs.
• Some people are afraid of dogs – we want everyone to be comfortable.
• If, despite this, you choose to bring your dog – bring poop bags and clean up after your dog!

We will march from the Capitol at 1p.m.

• The route is 2 Miles – Wear comfortable walking shoes! 
• A map of the route (for those who need to shorten the length, please choose a location to join in!)
• Bring Signs!
• Bring your Kids, Nieces, or Nephews!  This is a family friendly event!
• There is NO registration.

The rally begins upon return to the Capitol ~ 2:30p.m.

• Bring a blanket or chair.
• Bring sunscreen, an extra shirt, a poncho … anything you’d take for a day at the park.
• Bring snacks! We will not have a food vender at the event.
• We will provide SOME bottled water, but please bring your own!

Speakers:

• Atina Diffley – Organic consultant, farmer, author of Turn Here Sweet Corn
• Nancy Brown – Right to Know MN
• Steve Suppan – Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
• Deborah Ramos – the Zenteotl Project

Musicians:

• Synister Dane and the Kickapoo Disco Cosmonauts
• Gabe Barnett & the Big House Rounders
• Ocho

Resource Fair Attendees:

• Right to Know MN
• Land Stewardship Project
• Organic Consumers Association
• Move to Amend
• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
• Food Freedom Radio AM 950

The Rally will end by 6:00p.m., plus or minus some time.

Help promote! Here is the flyer. Print and share on your community boards – Grocery Store, American Legion, Churches, Schools, and more!

Learn About (and Patronize!) Our Sponsors!

• Co-ops Rock!
• Fooderies you should eat at.
• Producers to support!
• Awesome radio shows on AM 950

A HUGE Thank you to
Atina Diffley, Nancy Brown @ Right to Know MN, Lisa at Food Democracy Now!, Katherine Paul @ Organic Consumers Association and more for their help and feedback! They are sponsors of our sanity these past few weeks… Not to mention some of the fine folks keeping the momentum of the food movement alive and well!