Charlemont, MA Resolution on a Moratorium on Genetically Engineered Crops
Charlemont,
MA,
US
Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted 5/1/06 by Town Meeting
Source File: http://www.nofamass.org/programs/pdfs/Charlemont.doc
Text:
To see if the town will vote to make the following resolution:
Whereas Genetically Engineered crops have not been proven safe for people or the Article for Town Warrant regarding Genetically Engineered Organisms environment;
Whereas Genetically Engineered crops have been found to contaminate other crops and local species through cross pollination;
Whereas Congress and other regulatory agencies have not adequately addressed the issues of safety concerning these Genetically Engineered crops, prompting citizens across the nation to adopt local guidelines;
Therefore we the citizens of Charlemont hereby resolve:
(1) To encourage a local moratorium on the growing of Genetically Engineered crops until there is adequate scientific evidence that these products are not harmful to us or our environment.
(2) To call upon our state and federal governments, including the Massachusetts Legislature, the U.S. Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to support the mandatory labeling of all Genetically Engineered foods and seeds, and to support the assignment of liability to the corporate developers of Genetically Engineered crops (rather than to farmers.)
(3) To ask the Clerk to send copies of this article to the elected representatives of this town, to the Governor, the Commissioner of the Department of Food and Agriculture, our Congressional Representative John Olver, and Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry.