On Nov. 5th the folks in Washington have an opportunity to punch BigAg in the nose. The 'Yes' campaign, ahead in the polls and hearts, is far behind when it comes to raising money. The 'Yes' campaign website is full of excellent info. about how/why erecting a STOP sign in Washington is important and doable.
In other parts of the world things more encouraging than here in North America. There are 64 countries with mandatory labeling laws according to the 'Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Laws Map'. This past week saw Hungary take a stand against GMO crops with a total ban and Russia announced it may ban import of products containing genetically modified organisms. The US and Canadian governments are gambling with America’s food future and security. The consequences of industrial agriculture are contributing to destruction of the biosphere and endangering humanity. Hungary should be a “role model” for other countries in the world!
Industrial Ag triggers a devastating web of pollution but without GMOs many other parts of the web would have room to adjust. As a 40 year multinational, multidisciplinary, peer reviewed study said, "If farmers could stop planting GMOs, and make the transition to organic farming, farm and ranch land would become a significant sink or sequestration pool for greenhouse gasses, literally sucking excess greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and sequestering them safely in the soil, where they belong."
We have the technology to save the planet. By abolishing industrial factory farms and GMO crop cultivation and making a Great Transition back to carbon ranching and organic farming, we could potentially sequester 100 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and bring the CO2 level back down to the safe level of 350 ppm. Organic farms produce more food, more jobs and higher incomes than industrial monocultures. Mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity and increasing food security can thus go hand in hand.
Voting 'Yes' on Nov. 5th will be a step, a big step, in that direction.
