Whether you like it or not, chances are Monsanto contaminated the food you ate today with chemicals and unlabeled GMOs. Monsanto controls much of the world's food supply at the expense of food democracy worldwide. This site is dedicated to empowering citizens of the world to take action against Monsanto & it's enablers like the FDA, USDA, EPA, GMA, BIO, and the processed food companies that use Monsanto's products.
Posted: February 8th, 2013 | Filed under: Events | Tags: Be-In, Demonstration, eat-in, FDA, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, gmo, GMO Foods, GMO Labeling, Michael Taylor, Picnic, Protest, safe food, Sit-In, stone soup |
Many different versions of the fable “Stone Soup†have been written throughout history. One story is about a hungry soldier who, when passing through an impoverished village, announced that he would make ‘Stone Soup’. The promise of mysterious Stone Soup persuaded the small village to pool its resources and offer up its hidden onions, carrots, and spices to feed everyone in town. By working together, with everyone contributing something, a greater good can be achieved.
Today, America can be a food desert, devoid of healthy options and corporate transparency, but with our resources combined, we can move toward a more informed, healthy, and just food system. Mandatory GMO Labeling, Testing and Regulation is a BIG step along the way to an honest and sustainable food democracy in the USA.
- Jump on an action-bound bus from your region to the FDA!
- Pack a picnic, bring an arm full of (vegetarian) ingredients (herbs, spices, veggies, stock) from your region to add to the (Giant) “Stone Soupâ€.
- Join a demonstration at the FDA and enjoy a day of sunshine and picnic-style protest.
Are YOU hungry for some food democracy?
On Monday, April 8th, Americans will head to the FDA, to face down the institution that chooses Monsanto’s industrial interests over policy transparency and public health. Join this historic event to make your voice heard as we begin to take back our food system.
Who: Concerned Citizens, Farmers, Families, Students, Safe Food Activists, Food Justice Organizations
What: Eat-In for GMO Labeling at the FDA, Stone Soup Style.
Where: Outside of the Food And Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway College Park, MD 20740
When: Monday, April 8, 2013, 8am – 6pm
Why: The FDA is supposed to be the watchdog that protects us. Their purpose is to safeguard the consumer against industry, but instead they often seem to do the absolute reverse. The FDA has failed in its core purpose. FDA policies have lead to: a Lack of Transparency, Revolving Door with Industry, Market Bullying, Widespread Illness, Seed Privatization and Well Documented Risks to our Health: Lets take back our Food System!
Become a Bus Captain
The Occupy Monsanto team is eager to work with you on scheduling and filling a bus from your region to College Park, MD (Washington, D.C.). We are able to offer limited financial support for buses that register early and our organizers can offer helpful guidance and advertise your bus on this page.
Bus coordinators are responsible for:
- Helping reserve their bus
- Working with organizers to recruit riders
- Assisting with logistics like rider payment and pickup locations
Our national organizers are here to help with all of these steps.
[UPDATE] – Please email these bus captains with any questions:
Ann Arbor, MI –> MichiganFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
Asheville, NC –> AshevilleFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
Atlanta, GA –> AtlantaFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
Boone, NC –> BooneNCFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
Boston, MA –> BostonFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Burlington, VT –> VermontFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Chicago, IL –> ChicagoFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
Madison, WI –> MadisonFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
Hartford, CT –> HartfordFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Morgantown, WV –> MorgantownWVFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com
New York City, NY –> NYCFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Central New York –> CentralNYFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Newark, NJ –> NewarkFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Northampton, MA –> NorthamptonFDAbus@occupy-monsanto.com – Reserve your seat today!
Pennsylvania –> RightToKnowPA@gmail.com
As buses to the Eat-In are scheduled, we will list them above along with contact and sign-up information. This page will be frequently updated.
To see if there is a bus publicly announced in your area, please check back here frequently. If you have any other questions about buses, please email StoneSoup@Occupy-Monsanto.com or call Gene at 202-805-1603.
Other Transportation Options
Carshare: You can also find or offer a carpool to D.C. by joining our group at Ridebuzz.org
By Metro: The Eat-In will be located one block East of the College Park-U of MD Station (Green Line)
By Train: Amtrak railroad service to Washington, DC’s Union Station is served by the Metro’s Red Line. At the Union Station Metro, take a Shady Grove-bound train two stops to Gallery Place-Chinatown Station, exit train, go downstairs, and take the next Greenbelt-bound Green Line train to the College Park-U of MD Station
By Plane: Local airports include Reagan National (DCA), Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), and Dulles International (IAD). Only DCA & BWI have connections to mass transit options. From DCA take a Fort Totten-bound Yellow Line train to Fort Totten Station, transfer to Greenbelt-bound Green Line train, get off at College Park-U of MD Station. From BWI, take the B-30 MetroBus ($6 cash fare) to the Greenbelt Metro Station, then take the next train one stop to College Park-U of MD Station.
Posted: February 8th, 2013 | Filed under: Events | Tags: bus captain, eat-in, FDA, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, GMO Labeling, safe food, signup, stone soup |
The Occupy Monsanto team is eager to work with you on scheduling and filling a bus from your region to College Park, MD (outside of Washington, DC). We are able to offer limited financial support for buses that register early and our organizers can offer helpful guidance and advertise your bus on this page.
Bus coordinators are responsible for:
- Helping reserve their bus
- Working with organizers to recruit riders
- Assisting with logistics like rider payment and pickup locations
Our national organizers are here to help with all of these steps.
The Bus Captain Signup Form is now closed. Thank you for your interest!
Posted: February 8th, 2013 | Filed under: Events | Tags: eat-in, FDA, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, GMO Labeling, safe food, stone soup |
Where: Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway College Park, MD 20740 (Just outside of Washington, D.C.)
When: April 8th, 2013, 8am-6pm
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On Monday April 8th, Americans will head to the FDA, to face down the institution that chooses Monsanto’s industrial interests over policy, transparency, and public health.
As Citizens We Demand:
1) Obama uphold his campaign promise to Label GMO Food
2) Former Monsanto employee & current ‘Food Czar’ Michael Taylor to resign immediately
3) The Obama Administration end the Revolving Door between corporations like Monsanto and the FDA
4) Long-term testing of GMO foods on humans before any new approvals
5) Long-term testing of pesticides & herbicides on humans before any new approvals
6) Invalidate seed patents of Monsanto and other agritech companies
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Many different versions of the fable “Stone Soup†have been written throughout history. One story is about a hungry soldier who, when passing through an impoverished village, announced that he would make ‘stone soup’. The promise of mysterious Stone Soup persuaded the small village to pool its resources and offer up its hidden onions, carrots, and spices to feed everyone in town. By working together, with everyone contributing something, a greater good can be achieved. Today, America can be a food desert, devoid of healthy options and corporate transparency, but with our resources combined, we can move toward a more informed, healthy, and just food system. Mandatory GMO Labeling, Testing and Regulation is a BIG step along the way to an honest and sustainable food democracy in the USA.
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Bring a bowl, spoon, mug, and Organic fruits & vegetables from your community.
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We are working with local activists to coordinate buses throughout the country. If you are interested in coordinating a bus from your area, please sign up here. For a list of existing buses, please visit our bus page. For any other bus-related questions, please email StoneSoup@occupy-monsanto.com
Carshare: You can also find or offer a carpool to D.C. by joining our group at Ridebuzz.org
By Metro: The Eat-In will be located one block East of the College Park-U of MD Station (Green Line)
By Train: Amtrak railroad service to Washington, DC’s Union Station is served by the Metro’s Red Line. At the Union Station Metro, take a Shady Grove-bound train two stops to Gallery Place-Chinatown Station, exit train, go downstairs, and take the next Greenbelt-bound Green Line train to the College Park-U of MD Station
By Plane: Local airports include Reagan National (DCA), Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), and Dulles International (IAD). Only DCA & BWI have connections to mass transit options. From DCA take a Fort Totten-bound Yellow Line train to Fort Totten Station, transfer to Greenbelt-bound Green Line train, get off at College Park-U of MD Station. From BWI, take the B-30 MetroBus ($6 cash fare) to the Greenbelt Metro Station, then take the next train one stop to College Park-U of MD Station.
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ABSOLUTELY! To be a bus coordinator, please sign up here and an organizer will be in touch with you shortly. Bus coordinators are responsible for reserving their bus, working with organizers to recruit riders, and taking care of logistics like payment and pickup locations.
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You can find personal or group housing in the D.C. area through the Washington Peace Center’s website — please contact the churches, hostels, etc. listed to find out their availability, not the Peace Center.
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Volunteers will be critical to making this day a success. To volunteer for the Eat-In @ the FDA on April 8th, sign up here and an organizer will be in touch with you shortly. From Bus Captains to Sign Painters, Phone Bankers to Set-up/Clean-up crews, we will not be able to do this without your help.
We really need help spreading the word to everyone about the Eat-In on April 8th! We will soon have fliers, posters and other materials so please look for those soon, either here or in your e-mail. For now, please share the FB Event Page and make a point to talk to 3 or 5 or 10 or 100 friends!
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Come anyway! As with any event in April, be prepared for any kind of weather. The FDA will continue forming policies that are not in our best interest unless we show up to have our voices heard rain or shine. We will be sure to have plenty of hot drinks for everyone in order to keep our spirits high! But don’t forget to bring your own mug, spoon, and bowl!
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No, in planning for the April 8th event, we have made the strategic decision that the Eat-In itself is the most powerful way to get our message across to the FDA, Federal Government, Media and General Population. We believe that many different tactics, including Non-Violent Direct Action and Civil Disobedience, are needed to win the campaign for Food Safety, Transparency and Justice in America. But today we’ll be Eat-In.
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Who do I talk to?
That’s great — thank you! From recruiting to co-sponsoring the rally, the climate needs all the help it can get. Please email StoneSoup@Occupy-Monsanto.com and an organizer will be in touch shortly.
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The Washington Metro is the best way to get around Washington, DC and out to College Park, Maryland. You’ll want to buy a SmarTrip fare card (either online or in a Metro station once you’re here) and be sure to stand right, walk left when using the escalators (trust us, the locals are really cool but they’re pretty touchy about this one). SmarTrip fare cards are the most convenient way to use the system and though they cost $5, their fares are cheaper and will save you money after your fifth ride. The city also has an extensive bus system and one of the best bikeshares in the country. For more information about how to get to and from the Eat-In from DC please go to “How do I get to DC†section above.
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