GET THE FACTS - THE TRUTH ABOUT MEASURE M

By now you have seen and heard the outrageous lies from the opposition about Measure M costing millions, banning vaccines, hurting farmers.

Here are the facts:

Measure M does not ban any existing vaccine or medication, and does not limit medical research, production, or treatment. It only affects living GE organisms - as clearly defined in the ordinance. Vaccines, even live GE vaccines, do not fall under this definition. This has been confirmed by doctors, veterinarians, scientists, and other experts. (See new statement from UC Berkeley Microbial Ecologist Ignacio Chapela: http://www.gefreesonoma.org/pdfs/vaccine_statement.pdf)

Also - read our new factsheet on Vaccines.

Measure M clearly requires that violators not taxpayers pay for all enforcement costs. (Read the initiative for yourself: http://www.gefreesonoma.org/pdfs/A/A1_Initiative_Text.pdf)

Also - read our new factsheet about the Real Costs of Measure M - Separating Fact from Fiction.

Measure M actually protects family farmers from the costs of genetic contamination: loss of crops, seeds, and markets, and aggressive patent lawsuits by Monsanto. (http://www.gefreesonoma.org/gefacts.html#farmers)

Measure M is supported by over one hundred local family farmers, as well as the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), the Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fisherman's Assn, The Sierra Club, The North Bay Central Labor Council, and thousands of local restaurants, small businesses, nurses, doctors, veterinarians, teachers, and concerned citizens. (http://www.gefreesonoma.org/supporters.html)

The opponents of Measure M are saying a lot of alarming things; who can you believe? Who is behind their million-dollar opposition campaign?

The National Farm Bureau is an insurance seller and lobbying organization among the 20 largest in the US. They have financial ties to chemical and genetic engineering corporations like Monsanto, and have a reputation for siding with big agro-biz over small farmers. (See: http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2000/00july-aug/monks.html)

Opponents of Measure M pretend to be organic farmers. Sonoma County Farm Bureau ex-president Steve Dutton lists himself in the sample ballot as an "organic farmer"; in fact, he used more than 21,000 pounds of pesticides on his farm last year. (Source: Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner's Office)

Opponents of Measure M pretend to be environmentalists. Did you get a phone call or mailer claiming that Greenpeace is against Measure M? It's a lie: Greenpeace supports Measure M, and is one of the leading organizations opposing GE foods. (See http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering) also see their new press release supporting Measure M.

Opposition spokesperson Patrick Moore is not with Greenpeace he is paid by the biotech companies which make GE crops. (Get the truth: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2046 and http://www.mindfully.org/GE/GE4/Patrick-Moore-Treason15jun02.htm)

The opponents of Measure M have little regard for the truth... and a lot of money. They think they can buy this election with slick ads and mailers.

Many of your friends and neighbors don't know these facts. They don't know who to believe, who to trust unless you tell them. We need your help - we can win this fight, if we get the truth out. That takes people, to knock on doors and make phone calls. Over 90% of Sonoma County voters do not want genetically engineered food - if we reach them we will win! IT'S UP TO YOU.