New Leaf Community Markets, GMO-Free Santa Cruz, and the Institute for Responsible Technology are sponsoring the "What You Should Know--The Truth about GMOs in Food Tour"on August 1, 2012 at the Louden Nelson Community Center in Santa Cruz. Two internationally renowned speakers, Jeffrey M. Smith and Ocean Robbins will talk about the grim health risks of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) present in the American diet, and speak out in support of the mandatory labeling of GMO food measure on the California ballot this fall. Smith and Ocean Robbins are part of a state-wide tour involving distinguished physicians, scientists, authors, celebrities, researchers, teachers, and others.
The Congressional Research Service estimates that 60% to 70% of processed foods in US stores likely contain genetically engineered material (also called GMOs), and consumers consume these unknowingly every day. Recent polls conducted by MSNBC and Thompson Reuters found that between 93 and 96 percent of the American public believe genetically engineered foods should be labeled so they can know what is in the food they are eating, and make informed choices. More than 40 countries, including all of Europe, Japan, and China, already label GMO foods.
Jeffrey Smith, author of the best-selling book on GMOs, Seeds of Deception, knows just how serious GMO health risks are. "As thousands of physicians are now telling patients to avoid GMOs we're hearing reports of rapid and often dramatic health improvements that result. The symptoms tha t get better include digestive, immune, and reproductive disorders, and even autism spectrum behaviors. These same problems are among those suffered by lab animals fed genetically engineered feed, and have also been on the rise in the US population since GMOs were introduced in 1996." http://www.seedsofdeception.com/about/
Santa Cruz local, Ocean Robbins is cofounder and CEO of the 30,000 member Food Revolution Network, which provides education, inspiration, and empowerment to contribute to healthy, sustainable, humane and delicious food for all. "I believe that the GMO issue represents a key point of intervention as we seek to reclaim our food systems from the controlling grip of big agribusiness and put our farms back into service of the health and vitality of we, the people." The author of The Power of Partnership, Robbins founded and has directed for 20 years Youth Environmental Sanity (YES!). He is a recipient of the Freedom's Flame Award and the national Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service. www.oceanrobbins.com
Event Details: When: Wednesday, August 1 6:30 pm: Refreshments and tabling of local groups focused on food justice and sustainability, and live music provided by Sacramento-based Glowbox 7:00 - 8:30 pm: Presentations by Jeffrey Smith and Ocean Robbins followed by Q&A 8:30 - 9:00 Refreshments and tabling, opportunity to speak with Smith and Robbins Where: Nelson Louden Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz Cost: suggested donation $5 to $10, no one turned away for lack of funds