Oregon Rural Action Urges YES ON MEASURE
27!
Oregon Rural Action is a grassroots membership organization
in Eastern Oregon working for social justice, agricultural and economic
sustainability, and stewardship of the land, air, and water.
We believe that we have the right to know
what is in the food we eat!
By voting YES on Measure 27, we can choose to label
genetically engineered (GE) foods. Genetic engineering involves
taking a gene from one species and splicing it into another to transfer
a desired trait. This process does not occur naturally, where natural
barriers limit the transfer of genetic traits between different
species. Genetic engineering is relatively new and incomparable
to traditional animal and plant breeding techniques.
Oregon can become the first state trusted
for GE food labeling in the U.S. Many other countries already
require labeling. Since many of our nationally known brands already
sell food overseas that is free of GE ingredients, or are at least
required to label such foods, it is right that we have the same
consumer opportunity here in Oregon.
Labeling genetically engineered foods is
the only method to ensure that you have a choice and are in control
of what your family eats! Vote YES to protect the health
of our children.
Our choice of food is too important to be left
to the corporations selling chemicals and biotechnology contracts
to farmers for bottom-line stockholder profits. Given the corporate
scandals we’ve seen this year, why should we trust the food
corporations to tell us what regulations are best? We believe that
family farmers have the right to be free from corporate control
and liability for a technology outside their influence.
If GE foods were as wonderful as the corporations
would have us believe, why won’t they label to showcase GE
ingredients?
Your YES vote on Measure 27 gives you the power
to make your own decision about GE foods.
Ulee Yanok, Vice President, Oregon Rural Action
www.oraction.org
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