Posted: July 31st, 2013 | Filed under: Fishy Corn, Fishy Sugar Beet, Fishy Tomato, Press | Tags: Adam Eidinger, Arin Greenwood, David Bronner, DC, DNA, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, GMO, GMO Labeling, Hempfest, Huffington Post, HuffPost Green, Washington |
On August fish — sorry, make that August 5th — anti-GMO activists will be launching a nationwide demonstration with a visual punch.
Part of that punch is a car topped by a fish tomato sculpture, nicknamed Fishy Tomato, a reference to the much-vilified DNA Plant Technology hybrid that mixed a tomato with genetic material from the Arctic flounder. (The hope was that this twist would help the tomatoes be more durable, to stay mush-free longer. What they became is iconic to activists who favor restrictions on the production and sale of genetically modified food.)
Eighteen activists in six art cars, including Fishy Tomato (above), each affixed with a fish-mix sculpture — fish apple, fish soy, fish wheat, and so on — will travel from D.C. to Seattle’s Hempfest, with many stops in between, including one at the Missouri headquarters of Monsanto, a biotech company, for an overnight camping protest.
Organizer Adam Eidinger told The Huffington Post that the purpose of the demonstration is to show support for an upcoming Washington state referendum on GMO labeling and to have “at least a million” people see the cars.
“People who will get more interested in GMO issues,” said Eidinger.
“The Fishy Food art car fleet’s cross-country swim from Washington, D.C. to Washington state will get people talking about the importance of GMO labeling,” David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps — which helped pay for the cars — said in a media release.
It’s still not clear what the results will be — as much as some support regulation of tomatoes mixed with Arctic flounder genes, there are those who say such activists are anti-science fearmongers.
Either way, it’s bound to be a colorful journey — and one with a lot of pit stops. Eidinger said that the art cars, while making a strong message, only get about 11 miles to the gallon.
SOURCE:
Arin Greenwood, The Huffington Post
Posted: July 29th, 2013 | Filed under: Events | Tags: GMA, Protest, Rally, Yes on 522 |
The biggest funder(s) of NO on 522 are coming to Seattle. We need your help welcoming them to our fine city.
It’s time to rally for transparency. It’s time to call on them to stop funding a campaign that keeps shoppers in the dark about what’s in their food. It’s time to mix it up!
Bring your own signs and other props. Creativity strongly encouraged.
Posted: July 25th, 2013 | Filed under: Fishy Apple, Fishy Corn, Fishy Soy, Fishy Sugar Beet, Fishy Tomato, Press, Video | Tags: Adam Eidinger, Adams Morgan, Beth Parker, Cesar Maxit, DC, Fox, Fox 5, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Louis Finkel, MyFoxDC, Robin Bell, Seattle, TV |
WASHINGTON - Do you always know what you are eating? Consumers may not realize that some of the fruits and vegetables they eat are genetically modified.
Critics say these foods need to be labeled and some are taking that message to the street of D.C.
Cesar Maxit is an artist. On Thursday, his canvas is a Ford Escort. He is working on what is called the Fishy Fleet.
“The first look people have is a little bit of shock and astonishment, said Adam Eidinger.
People shocked to see the fleet on the streets of Washington, such as Fishy Corn and Fishy Tomato. They are trying to send a message with these vehicles.
“The way to do that we thought was to have these smiling protagonists — these smiling fishy characters, so we have the tomato and the apple and the corn,” Maxit said.
Their website is areweeatingfishyfoods.com. The fruits and vegetables that look like fish are supposed to represent genetically modified organisms (food) or GMOs.
Biotech companies are altering the genetic code of certain seeds. These activists say those foods should be labeled.
For the next week and a half or so,these cars will be tooling around D.C. After that, they will embark on a cross country trip.
“Basically our group is driving cross country to Seattle, Washington to deposit these fishy food cars with activists there who are going to campaign to label genetically engineered food,” said Edinger.
The labeling issue is on the ballot in Washington state this November. There is also a fight at the federal level.
Louis Finkel represents the Grocery Manufacturers Association. He says there is no danger.
“500 peer-reviewed research studies on a global basis have all concluded unequivocally there’s no material difference and no health risk associated with the technology,” he said.
The people at Fishy Food say consumers need more information.
“You drive down the road and someone will sit there with their mouth open and they don’t believe what they’re seeing,” said Robin Bell.
They say it is time to believe what you are seeing and know what you are eating.
Source: MyFoxDC
Posted: July 25th, 2013 | Filed under: Fishy Apple, Fishy Corn, Fishy Soy, Fishy Sugar Beet, Photos | Tags: Adams Morgan, Beth Parker, DC, Fox 5, MyFoxDC, Twitter, WTTG |
Today the Fishy Fleet made an appearance in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC while they were filmed for an upcoming news package by DC Fox 5 reporter Beth Parker. We’re looking forward to watching it on TV tonight!
