CURRENT LEGISLATION YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Good news! - Trinity County California Votes to Ban Genetically Engineered Crops

On August 3, 2004, Trinity County, California became the second county in the nation to ban the production of genetically engineered (GE) crops and animals. By a vote of three to one, Trinity County Supervisors moved to ban GE crops and animals in order to protect Trinity's local economy, including its growing organic sector, and the environment. The decision comes in the wake of a March 2 ballot victory by voters in another Northern California county, Mendocino, banning GE crops.

This November four more of California's 59 counties (Marin, Butte, Humboldt, and San Luis Obispo) will be voting on ballot measures to ban genetically engineered organisms (GMOs). Monsanto, the Farm Bureau, and the Bayer corporation have vowed to crush this growing "Biodemocracy" movement, but public opposition to gene-altered crops has put the industry on the defensive. On May 10, Monsanto was forced to cancel plans to commercialize GE wheat, while other GMOs in the pipeline--including trees, fish, and biopharmaceutical crops, are facing increasing opposition, not only in the U.S., but also across the world.

Trinity's GE Ban has been supported by a broad cross-section of county residents, including organic consumers, farmers, businesses, home gardeners, nurseries, social workers, students, church people, teachers, environmentalists, government employees, and investment, computer and health professionals. For more information log onto:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm

(Just a note on our position with respect to GE foods. We are in favor of basic research in genetic engineering. This is nothing short of the most powerful technology in human history. We are, however, opposed to the adoption of such a powerful - life altering -- technology before we really understand it what it will do to our foods, health and the ecosystem. And if you're thinking "well, but it isn't a food safety issue?" think again. We don't know that because the safety studies haven't been done! For an exhaustive review of this topic see Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey M. Smith.)

Senate Amendment 3225 withdrawn

On June 21 Senator Richard Durbin (IL) withdrew Senate Amendment 3225 from a Department of Defense funding bill. Citizens sent 12,500 letters to Congress in just six days asking our Senators to oppose this amendment and protect our health choices!

Senate Amendment 3225 threatened to restrict access to certain dietary supplements on military bases and place strict and unnecessary reporting guidelines on manufacturers who sell vitamins and supplements on these bases. This move would have set an unacceptable precedent and could have been the beginning of other policy moves that would undermine the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). However, due to lack of support from Senate leaders and an outpouring of opposition from natural health consumers nationwide, Sen. Durbin withdrew the amendment after the issue was discussed on the Senate floor.

Senator Hatch agreed to work with Sen. Durbin and the dietary supplement manufacturers on a legislative strategy to create a system for reporting Adverse Event Reports (AER's) to the FDA. This way the issue will be given the consideration needed to create a successful model for consumers and producers. This issue will likely be included in an existing bill sponsored by Sen. Hatch and Sen. Biden, the Anabolic Steroid Control Act.

Consumer advocates

These groups inform Congress, editors, medical professionals, and researchers about natural health solutions, and keep consumers abreast of current issues, with the hopes of changing public policy and our healthcare system.

1. Integrity in Science Project at the Center for Science (Although this group has been accused of using corporate-funded research when it suits their own agenda, they also do good work such as urging the FDA to remove three of 11 scientists on one of its advisory boards evaluating the link between serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and suicide in youths because they have been paid consultants for the companies that make the drugs under investigation.)

Log onto this site - http://www.cspinet.org/integrity/about.html - to find out more about how this project seeks to:

• raise awareness about the role that corporate funding and other corporate interests play in scientific research, oversight, and publication;
• investigate and publicize conflicts of interest and other potentially destructive influences of industry-sponsored science;
• advocate for full disclosure of funding sources by individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations that conduct, regulate, or provide oversight of scientific investigation or promote specific scientific findings;
• encourage policy-makers at all levels of government to seek balance on expert advisory committees and to provide public, web-based access to conflict-of-interest information collected in the course of committee formation;
• encourage journalists to routinely ask scientists and others about their possible conflicts of interests and to provide this information to the public.

1. Campaign for Better Health- http://www.betterhealthcampaign.org/ -launched in 2003 when a group of prominent health Organizations and leaders including Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, The National Foundation for Alternative medicine and the center for mind-body medicine jointed together to address health care issues in America, including rising healthcare costs, and promote natural options. The Better Health Action Network creates a powerful voice for the millions of integrative health and wellness supporters to bring integrative health and wellness solutions to national attention.
2. Citizens For Health- http://www.citizens.org/ is the national grassroots advocacy organization committed to protecting and expanding your natural health choices. The group believes that in order to do that, natural health consumers must remain active, visible and become a permanent voice in national, state and local decisions impacting our health.

What can you do?

Become an advocate for change. Log onto the sites we listed and get proactive! As you can see from the positive reports we listed under "Good News," we can make a difference when we work together!

Look for our follow-up article, "The Politics of Health, part II," we'll tell you more about how to make an impact on health policy, and two important bills pending in the Senate. 

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References

Articles of Interest from Smart Publications Health & Wellness Update

• The Politics of Health - Part II
• The Truth Behind Flu Vaccines and Why You Should Avoid Them!
• Moving Toward an Open Standard, Universal Health Record