Maine Governor Signs GMO Food Labeling Bill

Last week, Maine Governor Paul LePage signed legislation making Maine the second state to require labeling for genetically engineered (GE) foods. The GE food labeling will not take effect until five contiguous states enact similar legislation. In 2013, 50 bills were introduced requiring labeling in 26 states. Already 64 countries around the world label foods that contain GM ingredients, including all of Europe, Russia, China, Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia. It is clear that labeling is favored among consumers but that the food and chemical industry giants will stop at nothing to prevent necessary transparency. According to Center for Food Safety, it was recently revealed that the food industry is working to?preempt state GE labeling laws?at the federal level.?Two campaigns boldly challenged the mega-billion-dollar biotech and Big Food establishment by launching state GMO labeling initiatives?California?(Proposition 37) in 2012 and Washington State?(I-522) in 2013. ?The state of Colorado may be next to decide on mandatory GE food labeling. Let’s keep the momentum going!

New Investigation Finds Hazardous Chemicals in Kids? Clothing

A new investigation by Greenpeace has found a broad range of hazardous chemicals in children?s clothing and footwear across a number of major clothing brands. The study, A Little Story About the Monsters In Your Closet, tested a total of 82 children?s textile products, from 25 countries worldwide, confirming that the use of hazardous chemicals is still widespread?even during the manufacture of clothes for children and infants. The brands tested included fashion brands and sportswear brands such as, American Apparel, Disney, GAP, and Nike. All products were investigated for the presence of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and certain products were also analyzed for phthalates, organotins, per/poly-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs). All the hazardous chemicals mentioned above were detected in various products. The study is part of Greenpeace?s The Detox campaign which was launched in 2011 to expose the direct links between global clothing brands, their suppliers and toxic water pollution around the world.? As a result of the campaign, Greenpeace has been able to convince big brands including Zara, H&M and Valentino to commit to clean up their products and work with their suppliers to ensure that no more hazardous chemicals are used to make the clothes we wear.

Gateway Garden Recipes: A Cookbook Supporting Huntington Station?s Organic Gardeners

Hungarian plum dumplings, collards with ham hocks, Grandma Lucia?s uncooked tomato sauce?the 60-page Gateway Garden Recipes is as diverse as the gardeners who cultivate the soil right in the middle of Huntington Station. All the recipes?from appetizers to desserts?are gardeners? favorites and reflect their heritage. Fresh vegetables are the focus, although some recipes incorporate meat. The organic Gateway Park Community Garden is managed by nonprofit Long Island Community Agriculture Network, a project of the Open Space Institute. Funds raised are used to buy compost, seeds and other materials for its 115 raised beds, as well as to support children?s eco-literacy programs. Nearly 150 low-income children from the town day camp, Project Play and the Tri-CYA drop-in center gardened at Gateway this past summer. Donations of $10 ($5 of which is tax deductible) plus $3 for mailing will help support Gateway Garden. The cookbooks also make a good gift for supporters of local food. Make checks payable to Open Space Institute/LICAN project and mail to: Nancy Berg, 22 Biltmore Circle, Huntington Station, NY 11746