Wealth through Stealth!

We’ve written in this space before of our grave concern at the outrageous global proliferation of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs and of the power over consumers exerted by the companies that produce them. As each year passes there are more and more indications that this path is not supportive of healthy ecosystems.


Why are we so concerned you may ask?
• Consumers were never informed that GMOs were being introduced into the food system;
• We are still left in the dark as to the presence of GMOs in our food due to the complete lack of labeling requirements;
• GMOs have never been adequately tested in the field nor in the human population (thank goodness!);
• GMO crops are failing globally at a fairly high rate;
• GMO crops and the chemicals used to protect them from pests are creating super weeds & super pests that unfortunately will require more powerful & dangerous chemicals;
• Virtually every aspect of a genetically modified seed is covered by a patent, meaning you can never save your own seeds and must always return to the multi-national corporation to buy seeds each & every year in perpetuity;
• GMO crops will cross-pollinate with wild and organically grown plants thereby contaminating them;
• Most of these GMO crops are heavily subsidized the government thereby putting the cultivation of organically grown crops at a severe economic disadvantage;
• Isn’t that enough?!

What can we do about it? Is this not a great opportunity to prove to concerned consumers that supporting organics is the best way to protect ourselves and our families from harmful chemicals and GMOs? We think it is!
Supporting organics means that you are supporting chemical-free agriculture that respects both the land and the consumer. It also means our rivers, our air, our drinking water and our food will not be contaminated with extremely harmful chemicals.

Becoming Aware

We are sure you are all at least a little bit aware of the recent newsworthy "discovery" that the Kashi products contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It seems to us as though this is akin to the "discoveries" made by europeans when they first began exploration of this vast continent. So many "new" places, animals, people and things were "discovered" that not a day seemed to go by without something new turning up! Funny thing is, all of that was there before they found it! So, for folks to realize that Kashi contained GMOs and for it to become such a big news story was a bit overblown. However, if a vast new awareness of the utter pervasiveness of GMOs is what results from this, then Hurray!!!!

We are of the mindset that from the standpoint of advertising, Kashi did nothing wrong. They never falsely claimed to be organic or non-GMO. They merely used the all-to-common word natural in selling their products. Completely legal, albeit a somewhat shady approach, much like the ads that make the claim that their products are artisanal.

Do we like what Kashi has done to raise their profile amongst health conscious consumers by claiming to be natural for all these years, no. We also do not condemn them for practices that we, as consumers, have allowed them to engage in for the sole purpose of profit at the expense of our health and the health of our planet. The main dynamic we see that is wrong and that must be changed is the way consumers get educated and access knowledge and then act on such knowledge. Any consumer with basic knowledge of GMOs would know that if it is not organic and it is made from soy (91% GMO in US) or corn (85% GMO in US), the likelihood is extremely high that it will contain GMOs. In fact, it is estimated that over 70% of all processed foods in the United States contain GMOs.

GMO crops are rapidly failing on a global level, creating super weeds and super pests, and they are unproven regarding their safety for consumption. Additionally, the risk of cross-pollination with organically grown crops is potentially very damaging to that industry's integrity, not to mention the integrity of the crops themselves and the eco-systems they grown in!

What can consumers do? Get informed, make smart choices and make noise when something bothers you!

Farmers against Monsanto

This is a battle that needs to involve everyone who cares about the safety, integrity and control of our global food systems. It is a basic rights issue. We have reached a point where governments have given large corporations far too much control over our economy. However, WE have been the ones responsible for giving our governments that power and not holding them accountable! It is only when we recognize this and do something about it that we can expect good things to happen more regularly.

The most recent backlash against the biotech giants of the world, especially Monsanto, is a social indicator of many things. The Occupy movement is encouraging a concerned populace to change economic dynamics from elitist to inclusive. We must require this of our food producers as well. Many well-intentioned farmers are stuck in cycles of destruction that is encouraged by government and industry alike.

So, we are here to say that these brave farmers who are standing up to Monsanto are also standing up for us! Let's give them some help and make those changes in ourselves as consumers and demand GMO labeling to start with. Then, let's be better shoppers and purchase products that do less harm and more good!

Here is a link to an article reporting on the farmer lawsuit against Monsanto.

This is a great Tedx video of an eloquent young man speaking his mind on the issues of GMO$:

Small is Beautiful and Vital!

We came across an excellent article today by the venerable David Suzuki speaking to the importance of small-scale agriculture to global food security. He points out that healthy ecosystems, of which agriculture is an integral part, must maintain a level of balance and biodiversity that large-scale agriculture is incapable of providing. Sounds most logical!

In contextualizing his perspective, Suzuki points to a paper in the Agriculture and Human Values journal authored by Michael Jahi Chappell and Liliana LaValle entitled Food security and biodiversity: can we have both? The journal article points to the tendency of industrial agriculture to try to correct mistakes by devising "new crutches" to tackle them, such as more powerful pesticides, soil manipulation, etc. This ever deepening hole is now consuming us!

The post WWII and green revolution argument that industrial agriculture is the only way to feed our burgeoning global population is losing its lustre in light of obvious shortcomings. Increasingly, concerns by citizens that perhaps governments and corporations might not have their best interests at heart are predominating.

Suzuki closes his article with the following quote from Chappell & LaValle:

If it is ... possible for alternative agriculture to provide sufficient yields, maintain a higher level of biodiversity, and avoid pressure to expand the agricultural land base, it would indicate that the best solution to both food security and biodiversity problems would be widespread conversion to alternative practices.

We at Visionary Values agree 100% and will continue to present these issues to those around us. Let's take on the challenge to recover our connection to the land and our communities and ensure that future generations have the opportunity to eat healthy foods grown in sustainable ways!

Check out David Suzuki's website for more great information!

State Your Food Sovereignty

How can "ordinary citizens" take back control of basic rights in today's world? One way to send a message is to do what several states and towns have done recently: Demand Food Soverignty!

What does this mean exactly? Well, if you start with the concept of "you are what you eat," then a great first step is to find out what is IN what you eat. On a global level, we no longer have the sort of direct control over our decisions that our ancestors had. Increasingly, the foods we eat are genetically modified and sprayed heavily with chemicals. Many of us believe that this is not a good thing! However, our government, in its dangerous dalliances with companies like Monsanto and Dupont, have essentially stripped its citizens of the choice to not eat genetically modified foods that are chemically enhanced. Our world is an interconnected web of life and any interference or manipulation in the laws that govern it will produce cascading effects that we do not understand, nor can we predict.

So, food sovereignty declarations, though essentially "toothless" in the eyes of our legal system, can send strong messages to our lawmakers that we are watching them and that we are very concerned that our rights are being taken advantage of. For a brief overview of ways in which you can begin to build a movement in your town or state, click here.

For a link to a more globally focused statement, click here.

To be successful we must first be knowledgeable and educated. We also must work together. Let us know what you and your communities are doing to protect your food supplies.

Here is a direct link to the State of Maine's Resolution.

Organics Losing Ground!

Where do you stand on the issue of GMO alfalfa? We don't like it!

However, our feeling is that regardless of which side of this issue you stand, the discussion of choice and rights is key. For those who believe in and wish to eat organically grown foods, the options are becoming more seriously compromised every day! Our democratic way of life is intertwined with the whims and fancies of big corporations that now have those same rights and privileges as each one of us! Not good!

Questions to ask:

Can we stop the wind from blowing?

How about controlling the paths of pollinating bees?

Do we know the impact of animals eating the alfalfa and then pooping out viable seed somewhere? Perhaps to be used later in compost?

Do you want your food supply in the hands of a corporation such as Monsanto?

Contact the Organic Trade Association to make your feelings known at the White House.

Also, here is a good place to "plant" yourself for awhile if you'd like to read some discussions on the many sides of the GMO alfalfa issue. Beware, many of them are on the technical side!

“Earth to TransFair: Fair Trade is a Movement Not a Brand!”

It seems as though the waters of certification are trending to muddier and consumers will definitely be left with more reason(s) to question the self-appointed overseers of "ethics."

Recently, TransFair USA has applied for a name change and essentially a trademark on the term "Fair Trade USA." Why? Who really knows, but what is important is maintaining the concept of fair trade unencumbered by institutional whims and fancies and keeping its nose as clean as possible. After all, fair trade is a peoples' movement, one that must offer the consumer the best possible confirmation that its principles of dialogue, transparency and respect for humanity are completely upheld.

Check out the controversy and who supports the petition by linking to the title of this post. Then, sign the petition! Help us keep the oversight in the hands of consumers!

Sustainability in Rural Mexico

With six years under its belt, Bosque Village (near Patzcuaro, Michoacan in Mexico) a self-proclaimed combination of a campground, a rustic retreat center, a permaculture farm, and a forming ecovillage, has come a long way!

With its roots in the desire of founder Brian Fey, an expat from Washington State, to experiment with sustainability, a large and diverse collection of creative and enthusiastic individuals have come together to create a confluence of ideas and action. Bosque Village is a concept under perpetual development and a place to inspire and communicate the message of walking lightly on our earth.

Sustainable living is key to the foundation of this magical place. With no water available other than that collected from rainfall, no reliance on outside electricity (all solar powered), Bosque Village returns the gifts nature has bestowed. Propagating and planting native plants and trees is an ongoing process as is the documenting of local flora and fauna. They even grow the beautiful and important agave plant directly from seed!!

We will be communicating with folks at Bosque Village to facilitate the sharing of success and challenges folks around the world are having in implementing similar projects. If you know of other projects such as this, please get in touch with Visionary Values and also, if you wish, directly with Bosque Village.

We encourage you to check them out! We also want to let you know that it is not a dangerous place to visit! We have recently returned from a long-term visit in the state of Michoacan and encountered nothing to fear!

Recovering an Island Tradition

I recently returned from a bit of touring on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago in the West Indies. Although not specifically there for Visionary Values research, I can never stop myself from looking around wherever I am for signs of sustainability.

Now, I knew that T&T had a long tradition of growing cacao or cocoa, but I was unaware that this has essentially been on the decline for many years now. Trinidad holds most of the 1.3 million population of the twin island nation, but Tobago seems the be the island holding on to its historical traditions a bit more strongly. This may be due to the heavy reliance on tourism and the need to preserve the natural beauty for visitors.

Tobago is home to the western hemisphere's oldest protected rainforest which occupies 14,000 acres in the center of the island. This designation came on April 13, 1776! A very smart decision! In many of the islands coastal communities the residents still rely very heavily upon fishing and do so using methods such as poles and nets.

I had the opportunity to visit a place called the Tobago Cocoa Estate which was begun by a well traveled native Tobagian by the name of Duane Dove. A sommelier by training, his well developed taste buds are put to work on this fine estate. His goal is to recover the tradition of producing the highest quality cocoa and to do so using sustainable farming methods. Now, I still need to investigate further, but the claim is that he is producing his cocoa in a "chemical free" process. I need more details and will present my findings on our website in 2011.

Moving along though, Mr. Dove has produced Tobago's first single origin chocolate bar from his cocoa and it has received some very solid reviews! This means that the chocolate bar he has had produced (small manufacturer in France) contains only cocoa from his estate, whereas many bars have mixed sources. As I understand it, once his estate begins to get more solid footing, he has plans to actually produce the chocolate himself rather than ship it overseas. This is a process that is already underway at another island grower called Grenada Chocolate Company on the nearby island nation of Grenada.

Needless to say, growing cocoa on these islands, and in particular at the Tobago Cocoa Estate, is very difficult work! The inclines are great and the difference between the two seasons, dry & wet, present very challenging logistics. Visionary Values will present the challenges of these cocoa growers in 2011 when we unveil our overview of the chocolate industry. What you don't know will surprise you!

Demand Change — Reform the USDA’s Organic Program

I ran into this important request on the Cornucopia website regarding getting people involved in reforming the USDA's Organic Program. These folks are leaders in monitoring and reporting on environmental and economic justice for small and family farms.

Please join with Cornucopia in expressing the need for reform of the USDA’s organic program. Click on this link to go to a letter to sign that they will then hand deliver to new USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and President Obama. Please mail and return your signed letter to us at PO Box 126, Cornucopia, WI 54827.

Don't allow our own government to greenwash!!

More Demand For Organic In 2008!

Recently released results from a survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) show that U.S. sales of organic products rose by 17.1% in 2008! The results show that organic food sales grew in 2008 by 15.8% to reach $22.9 billion, while organic non-food sales grew by 39.4% to reach $1.648 billion. Organic food sales now account for around 3.5% of all food product sales in the United States.

This is a particularly remarkable trend given the current downturn in the economy. There is only speculation as to why organic products are seeing these increased sales. Perhaps as organic products become more mainstream they are also being marketed in more mainstream ways like increased use of coupons and more availability in private label lines at supermarkets.

We will only really know just how embedded this trend is in our consumers if double digit increases continue in next year's survey. We encourage you to put your critical lenses on and decide for yourselves just how much confidence you have in these types of reports. What might be missing from their reports that could indicate that the organic market is perhaps not growing? Do you believe that more customers are purchasing organically grown produce?

How about you? Has the economy made you rethink which products you purchase are organic and which you are okay with if they are grown conventionally? Do you believe there is increased value in organic products? Do you think that some of these reports are trustworthy?

Eco Fast Food?!

Organic burger chain, Elevation Burger, announced plans to open eight restaurants in the Philadelphia area and has plans to open up to 40 in seven states and Washington, D.C.

Well of course a movement like this was bound to occur as this country will never give up its quick meal demands! Taking a time tested concept and retrofitting it to eco-friendly standards is certainly a big step in the right direction. Even though the burger and fries concept isn't exactly the heart healthy meal, at least the beef is organic (it doesn't mention the fries though)!

The buildings are to adhere to LEED standards and include bamboo flooring, recycled tires and energy efficient appliances. We applaud these efforts to take a well-known business concept and make it more sustainable. 

Lesson to all: It does not matter what kind of business you have, there are "greening" opportunities everywhere!! There are also many ways businesses can focus on other triple bottom line issues by considering living wages, charitable donation policies, eco-friendly purchasing guidelines, commitment to local communities, and many other avenues for sustainability! 

Being green and sustainable isn't for eco-elitists or ultra liberals hell bent on subverting our economy. No, it is about regaining respect for our environment and for one another and ensuring that we have a future to look forward to. These are actions to integrate into our lives now and not when we are circling the drain!

P.S. If you happen to stop by one of these restaurants, check to see if the rest of the ingredients like the salads and the fries are also organic. It would be a shame if they missed the opportunity to make a full commitment to those standards!

Dangerous Beauty!

In a recent online edition of The Earth Times, I came across a press release that indicates that many professionals in the natural beauty industry may be poised to take a giant step forward in establishing standards for that industry. For too many years consumer health has taken a back seat to the bottom line and lack of fortitude on the part of most beauty aid companies.

Here is an excerpt from that press release:

Eli Halliwell, CEO of Jurlique, an independent natural beauty company, was the keynote speaker at the Natural Beauty Summit held in New York on Friday, May 16th. This was the first time the gathering, which previously convened in Paris, had been held in America.

Acknowledging that the natural beauty industry had been characterized in recent weeks by internal controversy over defining standards and certifications, Halliwell called for unity and urged the natural products industry to join together to lobby Washington to ban the ingredients that are considered by natural beauty advocates as dangerous.

This call to action comes at a time when the natural beauty products industry has been struggling to define a standard for natural or organic. Halliwell noted his concern that the industry is not focused on what the consumer wants, or what the consumer ultimately cares about. Halliwell shared with the group that his experience as a CEO and the leader of a company has shown him that the consumer is asking for products that do what they say they will, that are good for them, and that are good for the planet.

Said Halliwell, "Consumers are smart. They can tell when someone in inauthentic and they know good product from bad. Yes, there is certainly value in warning consumers from putting certain ingredients on their skin. And, yes, it is tough for consumers to figure out on their own exactly what is dangerous and what is safe. But spending time trying to define natural or organic is futile and doesn't deliver true value to consumers. The consumer doesn't care. What she cares about is: Does it work? Does it work for me? Is it good for me? Is it good for the Earth?"

Link to the full press release here: http://www.earthtimes.org