Hooray for Oregon

http://www.deathrattlesports.com/archives/8388/victory-for-gmo-free-movement-plantings-halted-in-oregon/ [1]

The ongoing food fight between massive biotech companies and grassroots activists has continued on the west coast, with a monumental vote on the mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods looming in California this November.

The GMO-free movement took home an important victory on August 16 against canola in the latest round between the two sides, as GMO canola plantings were halted due to a successful lawsuit in Oregon.

The suit was field by the Center with Friends of Family Farmers and three specialty seed producers of Willamette Valley, challenging the Oregon Department of Agriculture's recent temporary rule approving the planting of GMO canola on important farming land without even having a public hearing or commenting period.

The plaintiffs argued that the area, which includes a great deal of small farms and profitable, vibrant organic farming communities, would be at risk through widespread GMO cross-contamination as well as additional superweeds from GMOs, pests and diseases that are known to follow such lab-created crops around.

Many doctors are recommending GMO-free diets and studies have continued to come out showing harmful effects of all GMO crops, which are banned in several countries and labeled in many dozens more, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to avoid GMOs due to cross-contamination.

They take away the right to choose truly natural and healthy food, and that is why consumers are awakening to the prospect of a GMO nightmare that may well be irreparable.

The plaintiffs said they "look forward to a fair and open review process that reasonably evaluates the purported value and legal basis for ODA's proposed opening of 1.7 million acres in the Willamette Valley to industrial, GE canola growth earmarked for biofuel production at the expense of Oregon's invaluable organics industry."

For more info on the filing, check out the news article that originally ran.

While the victory is a welcome one considering the need for more awareness, advocates of healthy food and health (and farming) freedom should be aware: Public hearings and comment periods aren't guarantees of the halting of plantings by any means.

GMO alfalfa was approved despite a monstrous outcry from across the country to the dismay of many activists. The need for more awareness and more campaigning at the grassroots level will remain constant until the public servants of the U.S. and its states listen to the people and their overwhelmingly negative reactions relating to GMO foods and crops.

Nicholas Tomasi is an AP-Award winning journalist and author turned health researcher. He currently runs AltHealthWORKS, a website dedicated to alternative medicine, organic food and the GMO-free movement.