Not just counties now but US cities are going anti-GM (item 1). All the other latest news in item 2

1.Arcata City Council Adopts anti-GMO Ordinance
2.Californians for GE-free Agriculture
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1.Arcata City Council Adopts anti-GMO Ordinance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Ferguson - 707.445.1645

At its regularly scheduled meeting on November 17, the Arcata City Council, by a unanimous 4 - 0 vote, became the first city in California to adopt an anti-GMO ordinance.

Ordinance 1350 adds a chapter to the Municipal Code to declare the sales, distribution, propagation, cultivation, raising or growing of genetically engineered organisms a public nuisance and subject to criminal enforcement.

"The city council was totally behind this from the start," said Jim Ferguson, former Campaign Manager of Measure M, the flawed Humboldt County anti-GMO initiative, who worked with City Attorney Nancy Diamond and Sonoma based Occidental Arts and Ecology Center Director Dave Henson crafting the language of the ordinance. "At the meeting tonight, not only did no one speak against it, but the ones who did thought the council hadn't gone far enough."

The council also directed that a letter be sent, along with a copy of the ordinance, to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, urging them to implement similar legislation.

The new ordinance takes effect in 30 days.
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2.Californians for GE-free Agriculture
NEWSLETTER NUMBER 9
SPECIAL ELECTION ISSUE - November 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Another California county bans genetically engineered organisms
2. Local Grassroots movement in California Still Growing
3. Help build the Californians for GE-Free Agriculture grassroots network.
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1. Another California county bans genetically engineered organisms

Residents in four California Counties - Butte, San Luis Obispo, Marin and Humboldt - went to the polls on November 2nd to vote on initiatives that ban the countywide planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops and other organisms. Marin County successfully passed an initiative with 62% support making it the third county in the state to do so.

In Humboldt, 35% of voters supported the ban despite the fact that advocates of the measure withdrew their own support of the initiative after discovering legal problems with the language. This would indicate that any future legislation in the county stands a very good chance of passing. In both San Luis Obispo and Butte, the measures failed to garner majority support, but gathered 41% and 40% of the vote despite being significantly outspent by agribusiness opponents such as the Farm Bureau.

On December 17th, Arcata will likely become the first city in California to restrict GE crops when its Board of Supervisors grants final approval for a moratorium. This will likely become the model for future similar city legislation. You can contact Cal GE-Free or check our web site
http://www.calgefree.org/documents/ARCATAORDINANCE.doc to view the language.

The year 2004 saw 6 counties attempting GE bans, with 3 passing. These campaigns were all launched and conducted independently, by ordinary people in those communities, most of who had no previous organizing experience. Their experiences will prove invaluable for other communities, and Cal GE-Free will gather their lessons and share them.

The next wave of county and city initiatives is likely to be characterized by more moderate language that incorporates the concerns of family farmers, and calls for a moratorium on GE crops.

Cal GE-Free is committed to supporting local efforts that protect the economic interests of farmers, and advocates for viable technological alternatives to risky GE crops.

Californians for GE-Free Agriculture believes the relatively young grassroots movement of family farmers and citizens is just starting to gain momentum. As Renata Brillinger, Director of Californians for GE-Free Agriculture recently stated, 'Genetic engineering corporations have foisted these crops on farmers and consumers without sufficient testing, regulation, or the ability to prevent contamination. This movement of county bans signals the need to pause in the headlong rush towards genetic engineering, and to engage in a statewide democratic debate about the future of this technology in California.'

You can read more about the initiatives and other recent news stories at http://www.calgefree.org/news/clippings.shtml

We will continue in our efforts to stop the further commercialization of GE crops in the state and we hope you will join us in keeping California GE-Free. Contact us if you are interested in learning about organizing a GE-Free initiative in your region.

2. Local Grassroots movement in California Still Growing

Beyond the four counties that voted on GE bans in November, the grassroots movement to keep California GE-Free is growing by leaps and bounds. GE-Free Yolo, GE-Free Sacramento, The Food Democracy Alliance (FDA) of Nevada County and GE-Free San Francisco have recently formed to join the existing network of GE-Free groups in California: GMO-Free Alameda County, GMO-Free Mendocino, GMO-Free Humboldt, GMO-Free Marin, GE-Free Santa Barbara, GE-Free San Luis Obispo, GE-Free Placer County (aka Happy Placer), GE-Free Butte County and GE-Free Sonoma County .

To get in touch with any of these groups you can visit our website at http://www.calgefree.org/news/initiatives.shtml or send an email to [email protected].

If you are interested in starting a group in your area or if you would like to be involved in some other way, please contact us today.
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3. Help Build the Californians for GE-Free Agriculture Grassroots Network

Over the next year we have set a goal of building our grassroots volunteer network up to 15,000 people statewide.

No matter how busy you are, we believe you can help us by circulating our sign up sheets amongst friends, family and to local businesses that agree to circulate our materials.

Here are a few simple things you can do.

1. Download a copy of our sign-up sheet

PDF - http://www.calgefree.org/documents/Signuptogetinvolved.PDF
Word - http://www.calgefree.org/documents/Signuptogetinvolved.doc

2. Circulate among friends, family, church members and other mlike-minded people you know who are interested in keeping California GE-Free.

3. Table at local events and farmers' markets in your area and encourage people to sign up.

4. If your local health food store is not already carrying our materials ask a store employee if they would be willing to do so. If you contact us we can then mail them materials. Stop by every couple of weeks and pick up any filled out sheets.

You can then mail the sheets to the address at the bottom.

If you would like us to mail sign up sheets please send an email to [email protected]

We would also like to hear any suggestions you have for local network building.

In April 2004 we were able to stop pharmaceutical rice from being grown in the state because the California Department of Food and Agriculture was flooded by thousands of your comments. Our future success in California depends on being able to mobilize even larger numbers of people.

DONATE TO CAL GE-FREE TODAY

Californians for GE-Free Agriculture is making a difference by working to keep new GE crop plantings out of California.

We can always use your support in these efforts that will enable us to do more grassroots trainings throughout the state over the next year.

Make a donation over $75 to support our campaign and we'll send you a free book, Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith.

Cal GE-Free now has an easy to use online donation system.

https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=2709

Thank you!
Cal GE-Free

Californians for GE-Free Agriculture is a coalition of farming, consumer and environmental organizations united to end genetically engineered agriculture in California.

Californians for GE-Free Agriculture members include: California Certified Organic Farmers, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Ecological Farming Association, Four Elements Farm, Genetic Engineering Action Network, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Organic Consumers Association, and True Food Network.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO INTERESTED FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

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