Stuck in a Time Loop?

Four days. That's how long Congress has to pass a bill that would preempt Vermont's GMO labelng law before it kicks in onJuly 1.

Despite constant and late-night meetings, the Senators who want to preempt Vermont's labeling law keep arguing over the same sticking points.

A mandatory vs. voluntary law. On-package labels vs. QR barcodes and 1-800 numbers.

With our summer online fundraising campaign in full swing, we still need to raise about $115,000 to reach our goal by midnight, June 30. To donate online, or by U.S. mail or by phone, click here.

This morning, the writers at PoliticoPro summed up the GMO labeling law waiting game this way: "This all feels a bit like the movie 'Groundhog Day,' right?"

Every day we wake up to the same news. We're "inches" away from a deal. We're "narrowing the issues."

Stuck in a time loop. Just like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day." But that's OK. Because the closer we get to the end of this week, the closer we are to preserving Vermont's law.

For months—ever since last July when the House passed the first version of the DARK (Deny Americans the Right to Know) Act—Monsanto's minions in the Senate have been bellowing on about how it will be a "disaster" if Vermont's law is allowed to be enacted.

At first, Monsanto and Big Food dug in their heels over mandatory vs. voluntary labeling.

Now it appears they might be willing to concede on the mandatory issue—but only if they're allowed to hide their GMO ingredients behind QR codes and 1-800 numbers.

Anything but transparency.

Meanwhile, companies like ConAgra, General Mills, Campbell's, Mars, PepsiCo and others are already selling products in Vermont and other states, with the words "produced with genetic engineering" on the labels.

And those companies aren't charging consumers one extra cent for providing that information, in clear, simple language, without the need for smartphones or internet access.

Let's face it. There is no rational or economic reason to deprive consumers of this information. This battle has been reduced to a power struggle between those in Congress who see through Big Food's self-serving, bogus scare tactics, and those who have been corrupted by campaign donations from Big Food and Big Ag to the extent that they will do anything to serve their corporate donors—including trapling on states' rights and betraying the 90 percent of their constitutents who support mandatory labeling laws.

Congress has four more business days—until Friday, June 24—to get a bill to President Obama in time to keep Vermont's law from going into effect July 1. 

That means we have four days to stop them. And even if we do, there's no guarantee they won't fight to preempt Vermont's law, even after it takes effect.

We still need to raise about $115,000 to reach our summer fundraising goal by midnight, June 30. To donate online, or by U.S. mail or by phone, click here.

Consumers deserve mandatory, on-package labels. We're not backing down.

Let's win this one. And then let's work to rid the planet of GMO crops, with their toxic poisons, for good. Thank you! 

In solidarity,

Ronnie Cummins
International Director

P.S. We can't wait for corporations or politicians to do the right thing. The food movement was built from the ground up. It's success depends on grassroots support. We rely on individual donors like yourself for nearly 80 percent of our budget. Every donation counts. Please know that every donation, no matter how small, is critical to this fight. Donate online here.