Anti-GMO Petition Receives 59,742,753 Signatures
Celebrities, scientists, and concerned citizens sign on
It isn’t a small minority anymore asking our regulators to limit biotech’s far-reaching arm. There is now an open letter endorsed by more than 59 million people asking both US and UK officials to be more prudent in questioning the hazards of genetically modified crops.
The open letter is signed by celebrities, scientists, farmers, academics in various fields, business tycoons, and every day people like you and me. It’s called the letter from America, but it is getting global attention. No longer can Americans be called sheeple. We are clearly voicing or disdain for GM crops in ever growing numbers, and our eyes are wide open.
One high-profile signatory, actress Susan Sarandon says:
“We’ve had GMOs in the US for nearly 20 years. Instead of bringing certainty and security they have raised more and more worrying questions about their effectiveness, their necessity, and even their safety. Polls show that the majority of US citizens – and in fact citizens everywhere – either want them labelled or taken out of the food system altogether. It’s important to keep pressing our elected representatives to act in accordance with this strong public mandate.”
Chef Alice Waters, Robert Kennedy Jr., Sara Gilbert, Tommy Hilfiger, Marianne Williamson, Philip L Bereano, Professor Emeritus of Technology and Public Policy at the University of Washington, Evaggalos Villianatos, former EPA Analyst and author of Poison Spring, and many others second her sentiments.
The letter points out the alarming take-over of the American farming system by GMOs stating that in the US, 94% of the soy, 93% of corn (maize) and 96% of cotton grown is all genetically modified. It is clear that this only happened with the power of biotech lobbyists and the infiltration of our government agencies.
Despite biotech monopolies on farming and seed, polls repeatedly prove that 72% of Americans do not want to eat GM foods and over 90% of Americans believe GM foods should be labeled!
Our governments are not representing the people – but the biotech companies who have paid for their providence over us.
The letter also reminds its recipients that GM crops were allowed into the market with promises of increased yields and decreased pesticide use – and they have failed at both.
Read: 6 GMO-Loaded Brands You Should Avoid Buying
If the United States Department of Agriculture was the CEO of a company that had promised its shareholders this kind of performance and had failed as badly as biotech has (with the USDA and FDA’s permission) – it would have been fired long ago.
Biotech seeds cost more (3-6 times more than conventional seeds) and the pesticides and herbicides that must be purchased to ensure their growth account for a considerable cost – both monetarily and to the health of people around the world.
The letter goes on to detail damage of GMOs to human health, and the degradation of the environment, as well as the overall denial of science which has proven both of these phenomenon to be accurate. There is no ‘independent’ research which our agencies will accept. Any studies which raise cause for concern are thrown out or ignored, and studies conducted by biotech itself are heralded as the next ‘proof’ that GMOs are ‘safe’ or ‘equivalent’ to real food.
The letter calls for us to speak out – and so we have – by the millions:
“We strongly urge you to resist the approval of genetically modified crops, to refuse to plant those crops that have been approved, to reject the import and/or sale of GM-containing animal feeds and foods intended for human consumption, and to speak out against the corporate influence over politics, regulation and science. . .
If we work together, however, we can revitalize our global food system, ensuring healthy soil, healthy fields, healthy food and healthy people.”
Be sure to add your endorsement here, US citizens, or if you live in Europe, you can email your MP via the same link. They can’t continue to ignore the masses. Keep voicing your concerns and ‘voting’ with your dollars and pounds. We won’t stop until all GM crops are destroyed, and the natural world is replaced with real, nutritious, organic food.
 | Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga. |
LAYS and FRITO LAYS chip dip All are made with Go’s and also many popular drinks. Even those small square looking pretzels that have peanut butter in them are GMO.
The US government are complicit in spreading GMO’s around the world for Monsanto.
http://realitieswatch.com/wikileaks-cables-reveal-u-s-government-planned-retaliate-cause-pain-countries-refusing-gmos/
The 59 million signatures is just one of many lies. I despise groups and organizations that think they are building their case by lies, half-truths and misrepresentations.
Half truths such as?
Half truths such as “Anti-GMO Petition Receives 59,742,753 Signatures”.
Actually that’s a straight up lie.
If you disagree, feel free to list out exactly how you came to that specific number. You wouldn’t pull it out of thin air, right? That would be lying.
Let me guess how this works:
If you scroll through the list of ACTUAL SIGNERS , one if them is “Donald Duck”. I assume that means you included every employee of the Disney corporation, right?
The author of this, Christina Sarich, Is a liar. She claims 59 million people have signed the letter, yet the article clearly states that people who “represent” 60 million people have signed it.
She then tries to disguise the lie by making the number “59,742,753”, which she cannot possibly know, so it looks like that is the actual figure. Want to know what it’s like to lie for a living? Ask Christina Sarich.
Nice try Dan – unless you count an entire group of farmers as one person, one signatory. As I stated above, not all signatories represent one person – for example, The California
Certified Organic Farmers is obviously more than just ONE farmer – it
represents a whole group of people. There are several signatories on the
list that are for a GROUP or people.The letter outlines this very clearly if you click on the links. There is no lie in the article, but a deep misrepresentation of the author in your statement.
Thanks for responding , Christina.
The title says “signatures”. 59 million people did not sign this. You are now spinning your own lie.
The funny thing is, I knew it was you before clicking the profile on your name. The only person that would even try to defend such an obvious misrepresentation is the liar herself.
Nice try hiding behind a pseudonym to make it seem like there is at least one other person in the world who can’t see that you are lying.
NO hiding – anyone can click on my Discus pseudonym or find me on Facebook, Google Plus, etc. I stand behind what I said. It is you who misrepresents; however, it doesn’t matter if there was 1 signature or millions – people don’t want GMOs. Try arguing against that, my friend.
You are mincing words. An orange is indeed different than a nectarine, but give me a freaking break. What about GMOs should people be excited or ‘for’ instead of ‘against.’ Arguing about the language chosen to represent masses of people who are sick of being poisoned is a tactic to sway the conversation from the real issues. Disease, Environmental degradation, the fact that GMOs are banned all over the word due to concerns about their safety and the absolute lack of risk assessment done by governments who have allowed them. Comment on any one of those issues if you dare.
This is exhibit A on why you should stick to your fancy stretching classes and leave agricultural issues to, you know, farmers and the scientists who support them.
1. Genetic engineering is a breeding technique, like radiation breeding or crossbreeding. It’s simply a way to alter DNA to express desired protein(s). There is zero reputable evidence that GE foods contribute to dieasese, in fact BT corn helps prevent a fungus from forming in corn, a fungus which causes birth defects in babies.
2. “Environmental degradation”. Name any form of environmental degradation that is caused by genetically engineered crops.
3. “Banned all over the world”
Seriously, learn something. GE crops are banned in exactly one country on Earth.
I will continue if and when I see that you’ve made an effort to learn something.
“There is no independent research which our agencies will accept.” So, you’ve taken your anti-GMO stance and will refuse to even consider any research/evidence whose conclusions you dislike? Interesting that anti-GMO has become a religion now, i suspect the paperwork for tax exempt status is in the works already?
I started writing about GMOs over four years ago FOR NOTHING. Not a penny. That and many other things that most people have given me grief about. I won’t be silenced and it has nothing to do with money. It is part of my responsibility to share what I know with the world. They can take it or leave it – you too , Eric. I hope you don’t perish prematurely due to your ignorance is all, but then again you might be hired to refute articles like this – I never can tell a shill from someone with their ostrich head in the ground – so good luck either way. Karma’s a %#!^#*@#^ as they say. And no religion is usually based on dogma accepted as truth without questioning. I QUESTION everything.
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd USA Pres. already predicted this matter saying: “If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
And Ronald Reagan quoted: “The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.”
The former head of the FBI was conclusive: “The individual is handicapped by coming face with a conspiracy so monstrous; he cannot believe it exists.”
How does 15 pages of 300 signatures each equates to ’59 million’ signatures…Does not math
Logically you are against yourself!!!
Not all signatories represent one person – for example, The California Certified Organic Farmers is obviously more than just ONE farmer – it represents a whole group of people. There are several signatories on the list that are for a GROUP of people, that is why ONE LISTING does not always equal ONE signature. The Letter to America site explains this very clearly.
The California Certified Organic Farmers is obviously more than just ONE farmer
Did they ask these farmers if they supported the petition? How many of them grow GMOs and Organic crops?
Oh my god. Did they actually count all the members of organizations that signed on…as a blanket rule without polling each individual?
How does 15 pages of 300 signatures each equates to ’59 million’ signatures…Does not math
http://www.theletterfromamerica.org/endorsements/
Has anyone looked at the list of promoted signators? It’s a mix of the typical quacks you’d expect (e.g. Mercola, Food Babe), people with absolutely no relevant background but recognizable names (e.g. Tommy Hilfiger, Amy Smart, Robert Kennedy Jr), and pop culture icons like Rachel Parent. What is distinctly lacking is anyone with a clue. Sorry for my bluntness, I do respect a number of the people listed. But that doesn’t mean I think they have any idea what they’re talking about when it comes to GMOs.
enjoy your cancer
dont apoligise for your bluntness …only for your complete ignorance…. it would be nice if you were blissfully ignorant but everyone on this site is aware you are knowingly ignorant… a typical troll scumbag…I vomit in your general direction … do the world a favor and eat all the gmo you can!
Complete ignorance? Ok, show me the error of my ways. Show me the evidence that demonstrates my ignorance. I’d be happy to look at any peer-reviewed scientific papers you happen to think support the beliefs behind this petition. And I will be just as happy to show you why you’re completely wrong.
ok go eat a strict diet of GMO food and when you find out that you are dying from cancer you will have all the proof you need…
You know what’s really funny? You’re attempt at provoking fear or concern only belies you’re lack of understanding of this subject. It’s actually quite amusing, from a science nerd perspective anyway.
I do eat GM plants and foods containing GM ingredients, like most North Americans. And even if I do develop cancer at some point in my life, there is absolutely no way to demonstrate that GMOs played a role because: 1) I would be a sample size of one, 2) demonstrating cause and effect in the real world when it comes to cancer is exceptionally difficult and nearly impossible without corroborating laboratory experiments (of which there aren’t any when it comes to GMOs), and 3) most cancers are simply a result of ‘bad luck’, i.e. random mutations.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/two-thirds-of-cancers-caused-by-bad-luck-not-heredity-environment-1.2888125
Thanks for the chuckle. It went well with my morning coffee. Try reading more if you want to be taken seriously.
So you’ve proven that you can write nasty internet comments. Good for you. You at least have the intellectual capacity of a 7th grader. Now let’s see if you can present a substantial argument or credible evidence like an educated adult.
I’ll start. The reason I reject quacks like Mercola, posers like Jeffery Smith, and unfortunately misguided people like Rachel Parent, is because they don’t have evidence on their side. (Note, I have great respect for Ms. Parent’s gumption and drive. It just happens that she is wrong and lacks experience and training necessary discuss this issue at a level on par with actual experts).
Why don’t you try to start catching up? Here are a couple papers I suggest you read. If you can’t access them, go to your local library and see if they can help (hint: that’s the place where they keep lots of books and where people sometimes study. I suspect, based on your response to me, that you’re not familiar with this place).
1) An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/07388551.2013.823595
2) Assessment of the health impact of GM plant diets in long-term and multigenerational animal feeding trials: A literature review
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691511006399
3) A Meta Analysis on Farm-Level Costs and Benefits of GM Crops
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/3/5/743
I don’t consider those names you mentioned quacks, of the ones I have heard of you listed. It does not take a rocket scientist to know about GMOs. As a person who grew up on a farm and still has a farm, I loudly oppose GMO anything. Right now you enjoy eating food cheaply and have a choice. If they continue it will be expensive and limited. I do not believe they should be labeled, I believe GMOs should not be allowed.
“It does not take a rocket scientist to know about GMOs”
>>You’re right. It takes a molecular biologist. Rocket scientists don’t know jack about GMOs. And yes, it does take a significant degree of education to understand GMOs. That’s why lay people so frequently get the facts wrong. It’s a very complicated and technically challenging subject.
“As a person who grew up on a farm and still has a farm, I loudly oppose GMO anything.”
>>Good for you. You almost certainly know far more about farming than me. But I doubt you can explain alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs and how that can relate to the transgene constructs used in GMOs. Have a little humility and admit your limitations.
“I believe GMOs should not be allowed”
>>A lot of diabetics would disagree with you. Did you know a significant amount, if not the majority, of insulin comes from GM bacteria? Probably not.
Dear Canadian Septic, I would suggest you put your credentials down, so others may understand you better, and may you not judge people because you do not agree with them wanting wholesome natural foods in their bodies.. Its a planet of free choice and if those that sign against GMO, choose to, irrespective of their knowledge, honour them in their free choice. I through my own choice eat as much wholesome organic food ( which is natural food in case you dont know) and I stay away from those GMO’s My health is good. How about yours? We DO NOT want companies like Monsanto by free market choice. Please do some research on GMO,,,,if you choose to, and then the lights may go on in your Head. Whatever your choice, you are honoured
“I would suggest you put your credentials down, so others may understand you better”
>>I have a PhD in biochemistry and specialize in plant molecular biology.
“may you not judge people because you do not agree with them wanting wholesome natural foods in their bodies”
>>Define “natural”. Show me a “natural” cob of corn and I’ll show you someone who doesn’t know anything about the history of corn.
You’re right, people have a right to their own opinions. They also have the right to be told when their opinions are based on pseudoscience and outright lies.
” I stay away from those GMO’s My health is good. How about yours?”
>>I’m quite healthy thanks. And I do not go out of my way to avoid foods containing GM ingredients. Ingredients like HFCS, fat and excess salt are of far more concern as these have actually been linked to negative health outcomes, unlike GMOs.
“Please do some research on GMO”
>>I have. In fact, I’ve actually done original research of my own using GMOs. I’ve read a lot of papers on this subject. Might I suggest that you stop reading junk news from sources like this website and start looking for credible sources, like reputable peer-reviewed journals.
Here’s the problem with your assertions of opinions and free choice. You can chose your opinion not your own facts and you can make your own choices as long as they don’t impinge on the choices of others.
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’” -Isaac Asimov
The typical means of any shill – discredit someone as a ‘non-expert’ without defending their actual arguments – but nonetheless, there are many ‘experts’ on the signatory list. FYI – You don’t have to be a biotech scientist to understand that GMOs can be dangerous, the same way you don’t have to be a doctor to know if you are catching a cold.
RW, I would be happy to explain why I reject arguments made by the people I have mentioned. However, most of them haven’t actually presented any arguments, so as Christopher Hitchens wisely pointed out, that which can be claimed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. However a few people above have made arguments and attempts to present evidence, like Mercola, Food Babe or Rachel Parent. Unfortunately, these people often cite unreliable studies like the infamous Seralini rat study, which have almost universally been rejected by scientists in the relevant fields.
To avoid being accused of cherry-picking an argument and setting up a strawman, why don’t you tell me what you believe is the most convincing argument that you have been presented with by any of the people who have signed this petition and I will be happy to address the claims in the argument.
And for what it’s worth, you’re right. One does not have to be a biotech scientist to understand GMOs, but one does need a significant amount of education to understand GMOs with any level of sophistication. This is not a field that any layperson can just jump blindly into after reading a few blogs and watching a couple Youtube videos. Well…I guess technically someone could do that but they would quickly make a fool of themselves.
Ban,Burn,Prosecute…yeehaw