Two Oregon Counties Vote to Ban GE Crops

[Sara S]

'Tide is Turning' as Oregon Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Ban of GE Crops

Published on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 by Common Dreams

Ronnie Cummins: "These victories make it clear to agribusiness giants like Monsanto and Dow that the day has come when they can no longer buy and lie their way to victory." - Lauren McCauley, staff writer

In a victory for sustainable food advocates everywhere, two counties in Oregon on Tuesday voted to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops.

Despite an onslaught of spending by agribusiness giants such as DuPont and Monsanto, voters in Jackson County and Josephine County overwhelming took a stand for measures protecting "seed sovereignty and local control" of food systems. The Jackson Measure 15-119 passed 66-34 percent, while the Josephine County Measure 17-58 passed 58-42 percent.

"It's a great day for the people of Oregon who care about sustainability and healthy ecosystems!" GMO Free Oregon wrote on their Facebook page after receiving the final tally.

“Tonight family farmers stood up for our basic right to farm,” cheered Elise Higley, Jackson County farmer and campaign director for the Our Family Farms Coalition, in a statement following the vote.

To read the full article https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/21-1

[The A Team]

'Tide is Turning' as Oregon Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Ban of GE Crops

Published on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 by Common Dreams

Ronnie Cummins: "These victories make it clear to agribusiness giants like Monsanto and Dow that the day has come when they can no longer buy and lie their way to victory." - Lauren McCauley, staff writer

In a victory for sustainable food advocates everywhere, two counties in Oregon on Tuesday voted to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops.

Despite an onslaught of spending by agribusiness giants such as DuPont and Monsanto, voters in Jackson County and Josephine County overwhelming took a stand for measures protecting "seed sovereignty and local control" of food systems. The Jackson Measure 15-119 passed 66-34 percent, while the Josephine County Measure 17-58 passed 58-42 percent.

"It's a great day for the people of Oregon who care about sustainability and healthy ecosystems!" GMO Free Oregon wrote on their Facebook page after receiving the final tally.

“Tonight family farmers stood up for our basic right to farm,” cheered Elise Higley, Jackson County farmer and campaign director for the Our Family Farms Coalition, in a statement following the vote.

To read the full article https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/21-1

Thanks for sharing this, I was in Jackson County when this happened.... just awesome!

Also Lane Co. (city of Eugene and surrounding area) passed a food bill of rights -

With the help of CELDF, Support Local Food Rights has drafted an Ordinance recognizing rights to a local food system, to seed heritage (seed saving) and to rights of natural communities (nature), banning genetically modified (GMO) agriculture countywide and stripping corporations of their so-called “rights”.

Community Rights Lane County endorses and supports this monumental movement to take back our rights!!
An excerpt from The Local Food System Ordinance of Lane County:
Section 1. Purpose.

We the people of Lane County believe that ecology, economy, and food are inseparable and that the health of one fosters and enhances the health of all.

We the people of Lane County know that the local food system of Lane County is essential to the well-being of residents, farmers, local food producers, consumers, and our local economy, and is dependent upon the health of the natural communities of Lane County.

We the people of Lane County assert that our local food system can function and thrive only where there are protected rights to local food and seed heritage, and rights for natural communities; all of which are anchored by the right of the community to self-government; and that our local food system can exist and endure only in the absence of seed patents, genetically engineered organisms, and corporate and government interference in the aforementioned rights.

We the people of Lane County assert that our right to local self-government is inherent, fundamental, and inalienable, and that our U.S. Declaration of Independence proclaims that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.

We the people of Lane County affirm that the Oregon Constitution guarantees “that all men, when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.”

We the people of Lane County understand that corporate constitutional rights, state preemption, and other civil laws and regulations that benefit corporations may be used to usurp the will of the people, thereby rendering the people of Lane County powerless to legislate matters of county concern, including the protection of our local food system and our natural communities.

Now, therefore, the people of Lane County hereby adopt this Ordinance, which shall be known and may be cited as the “Local Food System Ordinance of Lane County.”

Yes we can!

[EmeraldMatra]

Come celebrate this victory with the Occupy Sonoma County GMO Campaign on Monday, Memorial Day, 3-8 PM at the Sebastopol Grange. https://occupysonomacounty.org

Thanks for sharing this, I was in Jackson County when this happened.... just awesome!

Also Lane Co. (city of Eugene and surrounding area) passed a food bill of rights...