--- begin forwarded text
>Good news!
>This morning the Minneapolis City Council adopted a resolution calling for
>labeling genetically modified foods, and encouraging the inclusion of
>organically-grown food options in the public schools and other City agencies.

----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000
Subject: resolution in .txt format

Resolution No.
URGING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS  TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD
VENDORS AND TO URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LABEL AND TEST GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED (G.E.) FOODS, AS WELL AS TO ASSIGN LIABILITY TO THE COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPERS OF G.E. TECHNOLOGY.
WHEREAS, consumers of any food product have the right to complete
confidence and thorough knowledge of any ingredient in their food or other
products; and
WHEREAS, genetically engineered (g.e.) foods have not been adequately
tested by any federal agency for long-term impacts on human health or the
environment; and
WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests only that
companies engineering foods state that g.e. foods are safe, but requires no
further testing; and
WHEREAS, numerous bioengineers and related distinguished scientists have
gone on record stating this technology clearly is different from
traditional breeding methods and is highly probable to exhibit a host of
undesirable health and environmental risk factors,
WHEREAS, competent scientific researchers have suggested that g.e. foods,
seed, and other products could pose risks to the environment, including
damaged soil ecology, harmful effects to wildlife, increased use of farm
chemicals, and other potential effects; and
WHEREAS, scientists and other researchers  have indicated that g.e. crops
may harm beneficial insect species, such as Monarch butterflies, as well as
threatened and endangered insect species; and
WHEREAS, g.e. materials could have serious impacts on levels of toxins in
food, antibiotic resistance, cancer, immuno-suppression, and allergic
reactions, and may be particularly threatening to children and the elderly
; and
WHEREAS, in the event of a serious health impact and an ensuing lawsuit,
the federal government has not yet assigned liability to the commercial
developers of g.e. foods; and
WHEREAS, g.e. foods are growing in prevalence in the United States and
around the world, without sufficient regulation or research; and
WHEREAS, many community organizations, representing farmers and sustainable
agriculture interests, as well as consumers, environmentalists and others,
have argued for a moratorium on g.e. foods (http://www.GEFoodAlert.org),
and some countries have effectively-if not officially-instituted a
moratorium, including France, Italy, Denmark, Greece, and Luxembourg ; and
WHEREAS, the European Commission has agreed on terms to guarantee the
labeling of g.e. foods; and
RESOLVED, that the City Council of Minneapolis hereby requests the Mayor
and the Board of Supervisors? to write a letter to the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and United
Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) stating that all g.e. foods should
be labeled clearly, that all g.e. material should be thoroughly researched
and regulated, that liability should be assigned to the commercial
developers of g.e. foods, and that, until these materials are proven safe,
that the FDA, the EPA, and the USDA should establish a moratorium on these
products; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Minneapolis City Council endorses House Bills
3883 named the "Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act," and 3377 and its
companion Senate Bill 2080 named the "Genetically Engineered Food
Right-to-Know Act."
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Mayor and the Board of
Supervisors to request that all City departments and agencies, including
those in City Hall, give preference to certified organic food vendors
during any and all contract negotiations; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Mayor and the Board of
Supervisors to require that, by January of 2001, special events held by
City departments and City agencies, including those in City Hall, give
preference to caterers that avoid g.e. ingredients and use certified
organic foods and Minnesota Grown organic foods; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on the Environment urges the Mayor
and the Board of Supervisors to urge the Minneapolis School District to
serve certified organic lunches; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council urges the Mayor and the Board of
Supervisors to request that the Department of Consumer Assurance provide
educational materials about g.e. foods to grocers and where possible to the
general public in Minneapolis.

--- end forwarded text


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