Statewide Action Against Wal-Mart: We Don't Want Unlabeled GE Sweet Corn!

Wal-Mart has decided to sell untested, unlabeled sweet corn that has been genetically engineered to tolerate Roundup sprayings and that also produces its own pesticide. This corn is actually a registered pesticide with the EPA.

Wal-Mart needs to hear loud and clear from people across the state that we don't want this corn sold unlabeled in its stores.

Please join people throughout the state in a Day of Action against Wal-Marts everywhere by showing up at a Wal-Mart in either Napa or American Canyon Saturday at noon.

Please write a letter to Wal-Mart expressing how you feel about its decision (or use the one below) and if possible, make a sign. Please bring them, and we will gather together at 11:45 AM-- in Napa, on the outer edge of the Wal-Mart parking lot and in American Canyon, in front of Jamba Juice. Then, we will walk over together. Two of us will go inside and give the letters to the store manager while the rest remain outside, protesting and passing out "Yes" on Prop. 37 literature.

Protests such as these in front of Starbucks led them to stop selling milk with bovine growth hormone. We can do the same with Wal-Mart and GE sweet corn!


Sample letter:

To the managers, board members, and decision makers at Wal-Mart:
I’m writing today to protest your decision to sell untested, genetically engineered sweet corn from Monsanto without giving any information to customers. If this corn is to be sold in your stores, it MUST be labeled as genetically engineered.

This corn has been manipulated at the DNA level to withstand sprayings of Roundup herbicide and to produce its own pesticide (Bt toxin), and has never been proven safe. The US Food and Drug Administration requires no safety testing of genetically engineered foods. No long-term health studies have been conducted, and no labeling is provided to alert unsuspecting consumers about exactly what they are eating.

This corn is actually a registered pesticide. Bt toxin works as an insecticide by disintegrating the lining of insects’ stomachs when they ingest the corn. What is this doing to the bodies of your customers who eat the corn? We don’t know and without labeling, won’t know which corn is natural and which is genetically engineered.

Wal-Mart has a poor reputation with many for their treatment of workers, their lack of commitment to the environment and their communities, and for putting profit above all other priorities; but, today, Wal-Mart has the opportunity to break free from that reputation and send a strong message of caring and compassionate support to their customers by doing two simple things. First, Wal-Mart should listen to their customers and only sell Monsanto’s sweet corn if it is clearly labeled as such. Second, Wal-Mart should be a good corporate citizen by fighting for the public’s right to know what’s in their food and endorsing Proposition 37. Proposition 37 is supported by an overwhelming number of people in California. This is the opportunity for Wal-Mart to support the millions of potential customers here in California and around the country who will be passing this law in November.

I thank you for your time and consideration, and I request the courtesy of a written response as to how Wal-Mart will address these concerns.
Sincerely,



______________________________________
Printed Name and Signature

Street Address: _____________________________________________

City, State, and Zip: _________________________________________