GMO-Free Mendocino wins Lawsuit against Biotech Industry

Ukiah, Mendocino County - In a sweeping victory for Mendocino's effort to ban the growing of genetically modified crops and food, a Superior Court judge refused today (Wednesday, Dec. 30) to change language in the upcoming March election ballot.

Ukiah, Mendocino County (PRWEB) January 3, 2004 --In a sweeping victory for Mendocino's effort to ban the growing of genetically modified crops and food, a Superior Court judge refused today (Wednesday, Dec. 30) to change language in the upcoming March election ballot.

Earlier this month, California's largest consortium of biotechnology,
agri-chemical corporations sued the County Elections Clerk as well as
the proponents of Measure H - the citizen-led initiative to make
Mendocino the first county in the nation to ban the growing of GMOs.
The lawsuit launched by the industry consortium of multinational
corporations attempted to prevent Mendocino County voters from reading
key ballot arguments in support of Measure H.

In today's ruling, Superior Court Judge Leonard J. LaCasse decided not
to change a single word on the ballot in support of Measure H. His
judgment clears the way for the election ballots to be printed in time
for the March election - and uncensored.

"Judge LaCasse in his opinion recognized the effort for what it really
was - an effort to keep the truth from the voters of Mendocino
County," said Ukiah attorney Susan B. Jordan, who represented the
Measure H citizen group pro bono. "Judge La Casse endorsed the
intelligence of the Mendocino County electorate and said they can read
the arguments, and they can decide for themselves."

The group behind the lawsuit, the California Plant Health Association,
represents some of the biggest names in GMO production and the world's
leading producers of herbicides and pesticides including Monsanto
Corporation, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer Corporation, Helena Chemical and
DuPont.

The biotech industry's Sacramento-based law firm attempted to strike
sections of the election ballot arguments in favor of Measure H before
voters even had a chance to read the pamphlet.

For example, their attorney told Judge LaCasse that since
GMO-contaminated wine is not yet on the shelves, Mendocino County
voters should be prevented from reading that GMO-contaminated wine is
unmarketable in Europe and Japan.

But after it was revealed in court that there are 30 laboratory trials
of GMO-grapevines currently under development in California, it simply
underscored the need for Measure H as protection for the future of
Mendocino County's agricultural economy.

"These corporations don't care about Mendocino County," said Els
Cooperrider, a local owner of the Ukiah Brewing Co. & Restaurant, who
was named in the lawsuit. "They don't live here. They don't work here
or own farms here," she said. "We care about protecting our local
crops from future contamination from GMOs. These outside corporations
only care about profit and their multi-billion dollar industry."

If approved by voters in the March election, Measure H will prohibit
the "propagation, cultivation, raising and growing of genetically
modified organisms in Mendocino County." It is not a labeling law. And
Measure H does not affect food products found in the aisles of grocery
stores or livestock feed.

The initiative has drawn the support of Mendocino County Sheriff Tony
Craver, local physicians such as Dr. Marvin Trotter, who is Mendocino
County's Public Health Director, and local families concerned about
the untested health risks of GMOs.

In addition, some of the County's leading grape growers - both organic
and conventional, endorse the measure including Dan Fetzer, Frey
Vineyards, Roederer Estates and Hubert Germain-Robin of Redwood
Valley's Germain-Robin, makers of world-renowned brandy and cognac.
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CONTACT:
Laura Hamburg/cell 707 621-0906
Email: laura@bullhornrag.com

December 30, 2003

GMO-FREE MENDOCINO WINS LAWSUIT AGAINST BIOTECH INDUSTRY