Los Angeles to become largest GMO-free zone in the US

la-to-become-largest-gmo-free-zone-in-the-us

Los Angeles lawmakers are considering a ban on the cultivation, sale and distribution of genetically modified organisms. Although some US cities already introduced GMO bans, this would make Los Angeles the largest GMO-free zone in the US. This news is coming just days after Mexico announced a complete ban on the growth of GMO corn.

Last week, Los Angeles City Councilmen Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell introduced a motion to curb growth and proliferation of GMO seeds and plants within the city. 

The councilmen said the proposal aims to protect local gardens and city-grown food from future contamination from GMO seeds. However, this motion would not impact the sale of food containing GMO ingredients.

"The pending ordinance would be symbolic more than anything else, but we do feel it's an important step to have the second-largest city in the nation declare itself as against genetically modified seeds," said head of Learning Garden and Seed Library of LA David King, who assisted in creating the motion. 

This would be one of the most powerful pieces of legislation to pass in the fight against Monsanto that has ever been seen — especially in the Monsanto-owned United States, where even the USDA has given Monsanto’s genetically modified creations special ‘speedy approval’ access to their regulation techniques, writes Natural Society.

​O’Farrell said suspicions that powerful new pesticides, incorporated into plant DNA via genetic engineering, have devastated worldwide honeybee populations by 40 to 50 percent in 2012. 

Koretz said in a statement that a growing number of problems are being traced to GMOs. He cited examples like "the evolution of 'superbug' insects which are growing immune to the pesticides engineered within GMO crops" and "'seed drift' (for example the recent finding of GMO-pollinated wheat growing in an Oregon farmer’s field)." 

With this motion and GMO bans all over the world the pressure from community is growing with each passing day and more and more scientists are backing claims that GMO is not safe. 

An international group of over 90 scientists, academics and physicians released a statement early this week saying there is no scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs for humans, as proponents like Monsanto attest, and that any GMO cultivation should take internationally-approved precautions. (RT)

And even though this move by LA would be more of a symbolic nature it is still a great victory for anti-GMO movement. We are all aware there are much bigger problems than GMOs, but this is a very good example of how informed minds can come together and push the human race into a healthier future.

Featured image: Floating Azalea Maze and Waterfall (Chadar) and Central Garden, Getty Center by http://www.flickr.com/photos/24879135@N04/9705084417

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