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'This is the time! Connecticut gov signs first GMO labeling law in US
Published time: December 12, 2013 16:44
Edited time: December 13, 2013 16:06
The governor of Connecticut hosted a ceremonial signing outside an organic restaurant in the city of Fairfield on Wednesday to commemorate the states passing of what could be the first GMO labeling law of its type in the United States.
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Now with Connecticut taking the lead, Gov. Malloy hopes other states will do the same.
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Malloy was flanked by state lawmakers from both the right and the left at Wednesdays event, and Republicans and Democrats alike are now aligning themselves in the fight.
This bill moves forward and reinforces our fundamental right to know what is in our food so we can make informed choices about what we feed our families, said Rep. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield-Trumbull), according to reporter Christina Chiarelli. Consumers may or may not wish to purchase foods that they know to be genetically modified, but they need the information made available to them to make those informed choices.
Passing this bill is courageous and monumental, added Rep. Philip Miller (D-Essex). It is an affirmation for healthy, sustainable agriculture and responsible stewardship of our food supply. The ever growing grassroots efforts of Connecticut citizens has come to fruition with the passing of this legislation. I thank Governor Malloy for being a champion of our right to participate in building our economy as fully informed consumers and citizens.
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Malloy signs state GMO labeling law in Fairfield
Genevieve Reilly
Published 4:55 pm, Wednesday, December 11, 2013
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Governor Dannel P. Malloy samples a juice drink with Tara Cook-Littman, second from left, after a ceremonial bill signing of Public Act 13-183, that requires the labeling of genetically engineered foods, at Catch a Healthy Habit Cafe at 39 Unquowa Road in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday, December 12, 2013. Cook-Littman, of GMO Free CT, has been the driving force championing the GMO labeling law in the legislature. Photo: Brian A. Pounds
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Connecticut is the first state to enact such legislation, but the rules will take effect only after at least four other states enact similar legislation. The bill also requires that any combination of Northeast states with a combined population of at least 20 million must adopt similar laws in order for the Connecticut regulations to take effect.
"This is a beginning, and I want to be clear what it is a beginning of," Malloy said, before putting pen to paper. "It is a national movement that will requiring (food) labeling."
Malloy said residents must speak up when they go food stores and are unable to find detailed lableing of food ingredients. "This is the time," he said. "You better get ready; people are coming and this is not a movement you are going to stop."
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Hwang said the efforts to win approval for the GMO labeling bill underscore the reality that grassroots movements can, and do, make a difference.
Phlem
(6,323 posts)Wow common sense still exists!
-p
seattledo
(295 posts)to make sure it didn't pass. Proof that my ballot, and everyone else I checked-on that I knew voted for it, was thrown away:
http://info.kingcounty.gov/elections/ballottracker.aspx
Phlem
(6,323 posts)your ballot doesn't show as "processed"?
If so WTF!
-p
It shows "Tracking Point #1."
While bored at work, I just went through all 112 of my coworkers and every single conservative that I know had their vote counted. Of the right thinking people I know, only half of them had votes that didn't count. I guess I shouldn't complain because it is a net positive.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)...what the corporations are occultly doing to their daily bread (so to speak).
In a democracy, there is no excuse (save corporate BS) for blocking people from knowing what is being done to their food in the name of corporate profit. NO. EXCUSE.
Whatsoever.
bbgrunt
(5,281 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)I was very sad it lost in California and then in Washington. Oh PLEASE let it spread. If it's so great, LABEL IT!!!!!!!!!
Wilms
(26,795 posts)TheSarcastinator
(854 posts)I haven't heard, read or witnessed a single report of this from domestic news sources: why is it that RT seems to be the ONLY place to cover this story for US audiences? RT is hardly a bastion of truth in reporting, but fer chrissakes.....this is just more proof our "news" media is a joke.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)http://fairfield.dailyvoice.com/politics/malloy-serves-historic-gmo-labeling-law-fairfield-restaurant
It's important national news, IMO.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)(It all sounded so good back in 2008.)
Obama selects former Monsanto lobbyist to be his TPP chief agriculture negotiator
Negotiations for the TPP have been occurring over the last few years, although under a veil of secrecy that left even Americas lawmakers out of the process. Leaked documents have revealed some specifics, leaving consumer watchdog groups suspicious over a process intended to streamline labor policies and food labeling guidelines that would align the U.S. with partnering countries..
Individuals connected to some of the nations largest corporate interests have been involved in the process, including former Monsanto lobbyist Islam Siddiqui: who is the head agricultural negotiator for the TPP on behalf of the U.S. Prior to his work as a GMO lobbyist with CropLife, he worked as the head agricultural trade advisor for the Clinton administration.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/26/islam-siddiqui-obama-nomi_n_333972.html
Trans Pacific Partnership and Monsanto
The chief agricultural negotiator for the US is the former Monsanto lobbyist, Islam Siddique. If ratified the TPP would impose punishing regulations that give multinational corporations unprecedented right to demand taxpayer compensation for policies that corporations deem a barrier to their profits.
Though TPP content remains hidden, here are some things we do know:
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*The labeling of foods containing GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) will not be allowed. Japan currently has labeling laws for GMOs in food. Under the TPP Japan would no longer be able to label GMOs. This situation is the same for New Zealand and Australia. In the US we are just beginning to see some progress towards labeling GMOs. Under the TPP GMO labels for US food would not be allowed.
<more>
http://www.nationofchange.org/trans-pacific-partnership-and-monsanto-1372074730
KoKo
(84,711 posts)proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Great article.
December 22, 2013, 11:18 am
Feinstein to Obama: Move without Congress on GMOs
By Ben Goad
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is urging President Obama to use the power of his office to require labels on food containing genetically engineered ingredients.
Legislation pending in both the House and Senate would force companies to tell consumers which products contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), though there is no clear path forward in the divided Congress.
Major agriculture and biotechnology firms oppose the effort, and have poured millions of dollars into campaigns to defeat state ballot initiatives seeking to mandate a labeling system.
But Feinstein contends that imposing a federal labeling system could be achieved through a simple directive from the president to his Food and Drug Administration.
Your administration should re-evaluate the Food and Drug Administrations outdated policy that genetically engineered food does not need to disclose this fact on required labels, the California Democrat wrote Friday in a letter to Obama.
It is my view that the FDA does have the authority to require labeling for genetically engineered food products, she said.
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