Recently, I spoke at a press conference in Hartford about the GMO labeling bills in CT. Below is my statement. It came from my heart. Click HERE for an article about the day.
"We are proud to announce the growth of the Right To Know GMO CT coalition that is bringing together individuals, organizations, farmers, restaurant owners and national organizations to send a strong message that we will not stop until CT residents have the right to know what is in their food.
I represent the Grass Roots Movement that has been the
heart and soul of the CT GMO Labeling movement. Mothers, fathers, grandparents,
aunts, uncles, farmers, chefs, dietitians, and Dr.s among others, have come
together to demand our right to know what is in our food. Such a simple
request - the right to know what is in our food so we can choose whether or not
to feed our families GMOs. A right the citizens of 62 other countries,
including all of Europe, Japan, China, New Zealand, and Australia already
enjoy. But not here in America where we are shopping totally blind, worse than
that, we are being misled to believing we are buying non GMO products when we
see the word natural on a package (show bag of corn chips and how misleading it
is, example of the desperate need for labeling so consumers can make informed
choices.)
We are grateful to Representative Miller,
Representative Urban and all of our legislative champions for carrying the
torch and building on what Rep Rich Roy started last session. We could
not ask for a better support. We are hopeful that the 2013 CT legislature
will be brave and put OUR right to know above any corporate interests that try
to squash our right to know. No corporation has a right to decide what is
best for my three beautiful children. I am their mother and I am
responsible for doing what is best for them - please give me the tools to make
that choice.
While the jury may still be out as to whether we can
say definitively that GMOs are harming us, I have read enough studies that
raise serious doubts in my mind as to whether GMOs should be consumed by
anyone. And remember, GMOs were NEVER proven safe by our own Government.
Before anyone asks us to prove they are dangerous, go ask our own
government to prove they are safe and they will not be able to provide you with
one government funded long term study proving they are safe.
CT is a member of the Coalition of States for GMO
Labeling, a national movement of the grass roots campaigns across this country
that is 37 states strong and growing. In CT, we gain momentum and
strength every day as more CT residents learn what GMOs are and become angered
at how they have been kept in the dark. May 2013 be the year that
CT decides to put the rights of it's citizens above corporate interests such as
their bottom line.
