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ARCHIVES / ABOUT / SUBSCRIBE TO GENEWATCH Vermonters
Vote Against the Genetic Engineering of Food At their annual town meetings early in March 2002, the residents of 28 Vermont towns voted overwhelmingly to show their opposition to genetically engineered food and crops. In the 31 towns that debated resolutions on genetically engineering, only one (Rochester) voted against the resolution. Two towns tabled, and the remaining 28 towns passed resolutions against genetic engineering. In the capital city of Montpelier, voters approved their resolution by a 2-1 margin (1,577-752). Most of the resolutions included language
stating that genetically engineered (GE) foods have been shown
to cause long-term damage to the environment, to impair the integrity
of rural, family farm economies, and to adversely impact human
health. Many resolutions called upon state legislators and the
Vermont congressional delegation to support labeling of GE foods
and seeds, as well as to enact a moratorium on the growing of
GE crops. In addition, eight
towns took steps toward ending the use of engineered crops within
their towns; some declaring a town moratorium, others actively discouraging
the planting of GE seeds within the town. Local moratoria and other
such measures were passed in Westfield, Jamaica, Greensboro, Calais,
Marshfield, Ripton, Walden, and Charlotte. "Once again,
Vermonters have spoken out through their town meetings on an issue
of vital importance to our towns and all of humanity," said
Heather Albert-Knopp of the Institute for Social Ecology’s
Biotechnology Project, based in Plainfield. The Project provided
information and support for activists who wanted to bring the resolutions
to their towns. Staff members at the Vermont Genetic Engineering
Action Network and the farm advocacy group Rural Vermont were also
involved in the effort. "The more
people know about genetically engineered food, the more they oppose
it, but so far corporate lobbyists have prevented the state and
federal governments from acting," Albert-Knopp said. "In
our town meetings, however, people’s real concerns can take
precedence over special interests." Susan Borg, who
presented the resolution in Lincoln, said, "I don’t want
GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in my food, especially because
they have not been tested. Also, we can’t have GE pollen blowing
into our farms. Contamination will make organic farmers lose their
certification. Farms will be lost, which will hurt the property
tax base. This problem affects everybody. Besides, the idea that
Monsanto can sue farmers for growing crops that were contaminated
with their own GE pollen—and win—is appalling." "It’s
about the freedom to govern ourselves," said Ben Grosscup,
who spoke in favor of Marshfield’s resolution. "The biotechnology
industry, the federal government and international bodies like the
World Trade Organization are trying to make us forget that we can
have that kind of freedom." Resolutions opposing
the genetic engineering of food passed in Montpelier, Calais, Marshfield,
Walden, Putney, Plainfield, Woodbury, Jamaica, Lincoln, Waitsfield,
Wheelock, Greensboro, Wolcott, Monkton, Ripton, Hinesburg, Randolph,
Bristol, Moretown, Warren, Fayston, Marlboro, Charlotte, Westfield,
Newfane, Brookline, Montgomery, and Westiminster. Starksboro passed
a similar resolution at last year’s town meeting. Town select
boards have previously passed such resolutions in Norwich, Guilford,
and Dummerston, and the Burlington City Council has called for labeling,
thorough regulation and clearer liability rules regarding GE crops
and food in a resolution passed in September of 2000. 43 municipalities
in the US now have resolutions against genetic engineering––33
of them are in Vermont. |
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