Protesters organized by We Are Change Colorado rallied in front of The Denver Post Tuesday afternoon. They called for mandatory labeling of products containing GMOs in Colorado, as well as more media coverage. [Photo by Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu]
Organizers said they called for more media attention and hoped to raise awareness of what GMOs are and to promote a Colorado ballot initiative that calls for labeling GMOs in food, sponsored by Right to Know Colorado – GMO.
“We Are Change Colorado decided to come out here today because the Denver post has failed to talk about the Colorado Right to Know GMO labeling petition,” said activist Bruce Baumann, of We Are Change Colorado.
Larry Cooper of Right to Know GMO – Colorado, who did not attend the GMO roast, said he filed a proposal for a ballot initiative with the State Legislative Council. The initiative calls for mandatory labeling of food products containing GMOs in Colorado.
The path to get an initiated proposal onto the statewide ballot consists of many steps, including a review and comment session and opportunity for opponents to appeal the proposal.
Brian Loma, center, of March Against Monsanto – Denver, explains what GMOs are to men passing the GMO roast Tuesday. GMOs are organisms that have been genetically altered, often by the addition of DNA from bacteria or other plants or animals. [Photo by Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu]
Bauman said The Denver Post had not covered the issue since that Supreme Court victory in March.
However, Denver Post Director of Newsroom Operations, Linda Shapley, said, “We know that there’s something planned, but we just can’t cover everything. If their petition makes the ballot there will certainly be more coverage on it.”
Currently, the Colorado Secretary of State’s website shows that only one ballot initiative has made it through the process to be on the official fall ballot.
Meanwhile, 145 proposed initiatives have been brought before the State Legislative Council and are either in the process of approval, or have been withdrawn.
GMOs are organisms genetically modified at the DNA level. Kris Custer of We Are Change Colorado said GMOs are not the same as natural genetics, but include outside DNA injected into the natural genetic material.
Monsanto is a major corporation that produces many genetically modified seeds, as well as other products.
“Basically, Monsanto is playing Mother Nature,” Custer said.
Protestors gathered in front of the Denver Post at Colfax and Broadway Tuesday afternoon to urge mandatory labeling for products with GMOs in Colorado. Photo by [Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu]
“We’re trying to educate The Denver Post and other media as well, you know, that this labeling bill is in the process of getting put on the ballot.”
The GMO roast included street theater and music, provided by George Peele, of Denver, who was dressed as a honey bee.
George Peele of Denver dressed as a bee at Tuesday’s GMO roast because he said GMOs can be harmful to bees. The protestors were organized by We Are Change Colorado, a subsidiary of the national organization by the same name. [Photo by Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu]
“We chose a GMO roast – a fun, family-friendly environment … so that people can come out and learn about GMOs,” Bauman said.
Matt Steen who saw the group while he was working across the street said this was the first he learned of the ballot initiative.
“I think people need to be educated about what is in their food,” Steen said, “rather than just eating it because it’s there and saying, ‘Oh whatever, it doesn’t matter I’ll eat it right now.'”
Learn more:
Colorado initiatives submitted for review and comment for 2014 ballot –
We Are Change Colorado
http://wearechangecolorado.org
Right to Know Colorado – GMO
http://www.righttoknowcolorado.org
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