FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Ryan Zinn, Organic Consumers Association, 415-271-6833
Email: ryan@organicconsumers.org
Doug Mosel, GMO-Free Mendocino, 707-485-6672 or 707-391-6368
Email: dmosel@igc.org

July 13, 2004

NEW ALLIANCE FORMS TO DEFEND CA CAMPAIGNS TO BAN GE-CROPS

As more than a dozen California counties launch campaigns to ban the
growing of genetically altered crops, a new alliance was announced today to
battle the rising threat from the biotech industry.

Called the BioDemocracy Alliance, the group combines the resources and key
staff of two groups: GMO Free Mendocino and the Organic Consumers Association.

"We formed the BioDemocracy Alliance specifically to beat back the
biotech bullies who want to undermine the rights of California counties, to
prohibit the growing of genetically altered crops," said Ryan Zinn,
Campaign Coordinator of the Organic Consumer Association. "Whether it's in
the courtroom, the statehouse or in the campaign trenches, we're here to
support these counties and to protect our hard-won victories."

The Organic Consumer Association is the nation's largest public interest
group dedicated to a healthy and sustainable food system. With more than
90,000 California network members alone, the organization is committed to
the BioDemocracy Alliance's mission to defend and promote the fledgling
county campaigns across the country.

The other partner in the new alliance is GMO Free Mendocino -- the
grassroots organization that ran the successful campaign to make Mendocino
County, California the first county in the nation to ban the growing of
genetically engineered crops.

Now the symbolic heart of the GMO-resistance movement, Mendocino County
inspired enormous momentum statewide, and across the nation through the
passage of Measure H. More than a dozen California counties and several
counties outside the state have launched similar campaigns or initiatives.

"With the Measure H victory, we are committed to defending Mendocino's
landmark vote and spreading GMO-Free county initiatives across the state,"
according to Doug Mosel, campaign coordinator for GMO Free Mendocino and
BioDemocracy Alliance spokesperson.

The new alliance will be instrumental in fighting the money and clout of
the biotech industry lobby -- which has repeatedly threatened to undermine
Measure H and referring to the anti-GMO county movement now sweeping the
state as the "H Bomb." After Mendocino's historic vote, Allen Noe,
spokesperson for industry heavyweight CropLife America told
reporters:  "We're looking at a number of things to remedy the
situation.... a court challenge to Mendocino's ban, an attempt to pass
state legislation to prevent counties passing such bans or persuade the
federal government, which regulates biotech products, to halt local bans."

Now sources in Sacramento are reporting that the biotech industry is
actively seeking sponsors for a bill in the state legislature that would
preempt the right of counties to ban genetically engineered crops.

"The Alliance is set to spread GMO-Free zones across the state and take on
the Biotech giants with BioDemocracy," said Katrina Frey of Frey Vineyards
and GMO Free Mendocino.
County Contacts



GMO Free Mendocino County
Els Cooperrider
707-467-9088

Laura Hamburg
707-621-0906

GE Free Marin County
Frank Egger
415-456-6356

GE Free Butte County
Susan Sullivan
530-345-1425

Scott Wolf
530-877-7184

GMO Free Humboldt County
Martha Devine
707-442-3481


GE Free San Luis Obispo County
Ryan Rich
805-462-8155