ブログ

Here we go! Moms Across America Cross Country Tour! We are spreading the word all across America to Label GMOs!

I am driving from CA to CT  with my family and to cover more ground co founder Kathleen Hallal is driving from CA to WA. Kathleen is going to march with WA to support their upcoming ballot initiative and I am marching with GMO FREE USA leader Diana Reeves and my family of origin in my childhood homestate to celebrate their win and support the national labeling.We are so excited!

We are loaded up with GMO Info 15,000 flyers from Moms Across America, 600 GMO FREE buttons, coupons and flyers from Nature’s Path and OMG; ohmygreen.com online NON GMO grocery store, hundreds of samples from NYR Organic, movies by Genetic Roulette by Jeffrey M. Smith, “The UnHealthy Truth” book by Robyn O’Brien, and support from additional sponsors Dr. Bronners, Nutivia and Organic Valley. I do not know how my husband packed all these supplies and our camping gear, but I am grateful for his magic. My three boys, Ben 10, Bodee 8 and Bronson 4, are loaded up with toys, electronic gadgets and art supplies. The car is tuned up and decked out with a sign from Proimagesigns.com and we have Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s mapped out so we can eat GMO Free cross country.

I already spoke to a guy at the gas station who thought what we are doing was so cool even though he didn’t know what GMO’s are. He said “I will find out!” I am moved to tears by this, his willingness and the difference it will make for his family is what I do what I do and why I know you share too. We care. One person at a time America. We are doing this! Thank you for sharing about GMOs with us in the next 12 days before the 4^th of July! Next stop , Vegas Baby! to be interviewed by Nick Brannigan for radio.

Along the way we will also be interviewing other, Does America Know about GMOs? If so, what might be the health implications on our nation's children and families? And can we really feed three hungry boys GMO Free cross country?

With Love and Joy

Zen 

When CNN aired the the Oregon GMO Wheat Mystery piece by Stephanie Elam on Monday 6月 17, 2013, http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2013/06/17/tsr-dnt-elam-gmo-wheat-oregon.cnn it was a huge step for the movement in the right direction. People watching mass media are now wondering what GMOs are and why they are in doing illegally in our food. People are also seeing not just scientists and doctors being interviewed about GMOs, but an everyday Mom. Robyn O'Brien paved the way for us with her book "The UnHealthy Truth " and was in mainstream media, but for a Mom activist to get air time shows the power of what each and every mom contributes by sharing and standing up for health and freedom. Moms activists are being heard.

The CNN piece was mostly about the Oregon wheat however, and Ryan Wirick, talented producer of the following video, saw that there was more to the story. There is the story of Mom's health concerns. There is the story of our children in America.

This is our reality. Moms get nothing out of sharing what we are sharing except connecting with others that are going through the same struggles and creating a healthy future for our children.  We share to empower America. We have the right not only to know what is in our food, but if there are health risks. We see that there are from looking at our own children and we want America and the world to know. We want health and freedom for all. 

Thank you for sharing this. 

禅ハニーカット

It was a huge honor to be the one interviewed for the piece, and I didn't get to do this alone. I want to thank Michael Carey, reporter and camerman, Jack Olmstead executive producer of Weekly Womens GMO Free News for this idea,  Pamm Larrry, Howard Vlieger, Kathleen Hallal and of course our husbands and children for their support in getting to this point were we have created a national organization having an international impact. I am moved to tears by what we are creating. Empowerment, love, health and freedom for all. Thank you!

For more information about PANDAS mentioned go to www.savingsammy.net

アメリカ中のママ making news! It's so exciting to be getting the word out. Our motto is "Empowered Moms, Healthy Kids" and it's happening! Exciting day!

Moms just know. We knew when we saw " The Future of Food" or "Food Inc" or " The Vanishing of the Bees" that this was bad. Nothing good could come from patenting seeds, dousing them and injecting them with poison and then spraying them with more poison and feeding to our nation. We  knew that Robyn O'Brien exposed it when she linked GMOs to allergies. We knew that Jeffrey Smith put the first of many nails in the coffin of what will someday be the GMO DEBACLE. We knew that GMOs and chemical farming was hurting our kids, but besides a shocking study of rats with tumors that went completely ignored by main stream media, we did not have proof.

Until now, This is as SustainablePulse.com called it, "The Worst Week Ever for Monsanto Science".

First on Tuesday, the study of Pigs and GMO feed. PROOF that GMOs and the pesticide and herbicide combinations in and on them DO impact the stomachs of mammals. It has been claimed by Monsanto that these chemicals only kill bugs and do not affect mammals because we have a stomach acid. Look at the pictures.  Mammals are impacted. The pigs had stomach ulcers and severe damage which is also skyrocketing in our American children. They show signs which mimick autism: distraction, irritability and inability to follow directions. Autism rate shave gone from 1 in 10,000 children to 1 in 50, in the 15 years since GMos and Glyphosate has been sprayed ON our food.( get our Howard Vliger DVD for more info)

They also had 25% heavier uteruses, resulting increased miscarriages. We currently have the lowest birth rate in America's recorded history. Every Mom I know as either had a miscarriages, has trouble getting pregnant or has a sister who lost a baby, many in the the third trimester, mysteriously, or to "SIDS" as an infant. These are our BABIES!!! The tragedy of loss is something no mother should ever have to bear. To find out it may have been prevented with just some regulatory testing is too outrageous for me to even comprehend. What if this is linked to my miscarriage, what if my baby had lived? Might I have had a daughter? It's time for Monsanto to do the wondering...when they are going to stop doing this and start doing something else.

I am willing to mess up. I am committed to being effective, but what I have realized is that being a leader means you have to be willing to mess up and just do it anyway. Your commitment to being effective has to supersede the fear of failure.

Someone who is not willing to mess up does not take action.

To be someone who speaks out for a cause like GMO awareness means being a leader. We have all kinds of fears attached to that word, "leader", and for many of us it stops us from taking action. The rewards, however when we do,  are far beyond what we can imagine.

Yesterday, the unimaginable happened to me. CNN came to my house ( my HOUSE!!!! you can imagine how my kitchen suddenly looked to me when I found out, I wanted to suddenly renovate) and filmed me cooking a GMO free breakfast ( why, oh why didn't I buy a new set of pots and pans??? Why are all my scrambled eggs sticking????) and eating together as a family (What if I look as nervous as I feel?). YIKES! Most importantly what if I don't say the right thing or forget to say something? What if I mess it up nationally???? ACK! The responsibility to speak for moms seemed immense.

The committee of chatter in my head analyzed everything before the shoot and I called Robyn O'Brien and just say out loud that "I know that I am not going to "get this right" for everyone. They are only going to take a few sound bites and I am never going to be able to say everything I want...so....( deep breath) I am going to be okay with "messing it up". I am also totally committed delivering my message. "Kids get better off GMOs."

She supported me by saying that "even one sentence that they use, or even just the image of me as a Mom, will inspire other to speak up. They will get that they can do it too."

And that's when I realized that it is more important that I do this, for others, than it is for me to paralyze myself with fear to "protect" myself.  I am committed to, and believe I did, deliver our message in a way that people can hear it. It's not as impassioned as I really feel about all this, but I get that that screaming it like I kinda-sorta did at the rally in my speech at March Against Monsanto is a different setting. Delivering a message means being calm, focused, strong and clear. 

As a leader for this cause, in whatever capacity we choose, there is a lot that can get in the way of being focused and clear, for you, for me. Mostly it is all in our heads. We think "I couldn't be a speaker, I can't even talk to my neighbor about this ...I don't have what it takes...I am too shy...too angry...too busy...too tired..." or maybe it's "not enough" like,  "I am not well-spoken enough, or prepared enough, or  experienced enough."

Or maybe you really believe you are " just not that kind of person"...sort of how I used to believe I am "not good at math". Now, I use math, in my example that if you as just 1 person has 10 people over for a GMO movie night and those 10 share with 5 and those 5 all share with 5 who also share with 5, then you will be responsible for 1,270 people finding out about GMOs! This math example is inspiring ten of thousands! How's that for rocking math?? Do you believe things about your self too? Like you are " just not a leader?" or "Just not a speaker?"

I ask you to consider that that is not REAL about you. It's just something you made up about yourself. It's just something you say to protect yourself from the fear of failure and "messing it up."

Now some of you are really going to fight me on this, and say " but I really do have a soft voice" or " I get really nervous talking to people and I feel like I am going to throw up in front of a room, I am just not like that."

My answer, with all the love in the world for you,  is SO WHAT???!!!

What is more important, letting your fear of failure and messing up in front of people dictate your actions or your gigantic commitment that people have HEALTH and FREEDOM NOW?

What is more important, you NOT sweating or children having the future they deserve and seeds being accessible to all?

What is more important, you being more comfortable NOT talking to your neighbor or being a stand that EVERYONE knows about GMOs and causing a tipping point of consumer rejection NOW?

It's only going to happen if we say so. Speaking to your neighbor and inviting them to a GMO movie night 6月 15, getting up in front of a room and speaking at a school, or speaking on CNN is all the same. It just means that you take actions that are aligned with what you are committed to. Someone, I think that Dalai Lama said, that when your actions are in alignment with your commitment, is when you experience true joy. We can experience that joy in adverse situations or not.

So whether they air my segment on CNN or not, whether they pick out the best sound bites or not, whether you think I messed up or not, I am going to keep going. I will not stop. I will not give up. My love for my children will never end and my actions will be in alignment with that limitless love. 

I hope you see the love that you have is the fuel for the opportunity of leadership you have in your life. My wish is for you to speak out in your local radio and TV stations, to write to editors, to speak at libraries....just share your personal story.

And be willing to mess it up! On of the founders of Google said, when asked why he was so inventive said,

"When I was little, I tried to pour a glass of milk and I spilled a full gallon of milk all over the kitchen floor. When my Mom saw it, she didn't get mad, she said " WOW! that's the biggest milk spill I have ever seen! Have you ever seen one bigger? And I was stunned. I though she would get mad, but instead she smiled asked, " Would you like to play with that milk ?" I smiled and said yes and smooshed it around and it was fun. Then she asked " Would you like to help clean it up?" and we did together and it was fun. And then "Would you like to practice pouring in to a glass outside with water?" and I did and that was fun too. She taught me that it's okay to make a mess, you can even have fun with it. I never forgot that and since then I have not been afraid of messing up, so I invent."

We can be inventive and create the world we want. The Dalai Lama said "Western women will change the world" that's us, America, and the time is now.

And to the rest of the world, we do this in partnership with you. Thank you.

Love,

禅ハニーカット

P.S. I will for sure let you all know when it airs, whether I think I messed up or not:)

Click here for the link to sign up and be a host for the Global GMO Movie night!

 Have FUN sharing!

I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the  fantastic, historic, awe inspiring and thrilling turn out of the 436 March Against Monsanto events in 50 countries. What Tami Canal Monroe and her very small team of committed volunteers accomplished is nothing short of phenomenal. We are grateful for them and their support with the Moms Across America March to Label GMOs! 

Despite the huge leap in unity this past week, we have had some bad news.

GMO wheat found in an Oregon field, China burning 4 tankers of GMO soy (good thing) but making a deal with Brazil to get the bulk of the world's non GMO soy ( umm...not so good for the rest of us), the EU bowing to pressure and allowing GMO crops to be planted, Moms unable to get their own blood tested due to Monsanto's patents on toxic chemicals...this  news can be overwhelming.
The good news is that Moms are used to being overwhelmed and that has never stopped us before and won't stop us now. 

The good news is that over 75 Moms Across America groups are joining into 4th of July parades nationally so far, more every hour! The Netherlands and Canada are marching in solidarity! Whooo hooo!

Dear Moms and Friends, 

This is the tale of three school districts and the mothers asking for healthier school lunches.

31 million GMO school lunches are served daily to our children in America.

These meals also contain food dyes, pesticides, synthetic chemicals, and high fructose corn syrup which have been linked to diabetes, autism, food allergies, ADHD, and autoimmune diseases.

We are three Moms requesting that Choicelunch (which offers pesticide-free, dye-free, and high fructose free and WILL supply GMO-free lunches to our districts if accepted) be considered as a vendor for our schools and offer a second option.

We have 3 minutes before our school board at an open meeting to present.

Two weeks ago, Kathleen Hallal approached her school board in Irvine; she took the approach of not focusing on GMOs and just requesting that the food be synthetic chemical and pesticide free. Then she met with her school's Food Services Department, shared the full story of health risks and behavioral impact,  and left the meeting saying, "Zen, it was like a miracle!” The Food Services nutritionist who was also present has a 14-month-old, and she already knew something about organic food. Both she and the director were open to the idea of having a “clean food” option. They were interested in not just offering a second choice but replacing some of the other foods in the cafeteria as well!

I was THRILLED and inspired and so hopeful! We are going to do this! It just takes one person to make a difference!

禅ハニーカット (that’s me) presented last week to my board. I was nervous, but I quoted stats and chose to mention genetically modified foods once during the three minutes. I am not sure if it is because I mentioned GMOs or not, but my district is taking a different view. Yesterday, I requested a follow-up meeting with my Food Services Director but was told, “I have just been advised that the Board is not interested in pursuing the Choicelunch option at this time. Therefore there is no need to pursue this further and set up a meeting with the company.”

No reason. No meeting to even present the concept. No interest. I felt like my heart was crushed.

I implored the Food Service director to meet with me anyway, as her program assessment would make a difference. 

Instead of a response from her, I got a response back from the Board of Ed,  saying that they are not interested “due to all the reasons the food service director previously explained to you.”

Which was... that the Board of Ed decided not to...which is not a reason...

I wracked my brain. Then a journalist from the OC Register, who is doing a story on what I proposed,  called me and told me that she just spoke to the Food Service Director, and she reasoned that food was too expensive and that they didn’t want to offer healthier meals to some kids but not to others. The last reason made me want to scream inside ...so do NOTHING?? So NO child gets a choice?

I was afraid I might turn into a screaming banshee, so I took a deep breath and responded with as much clarity as possible.

I addressed the cost only first, explaining how the online cost of $4.50 is for individual orders. The district cost would be only 15 cents more or less than our current price of 2.50, and parents are willing to pay a dollar more, resulting in a 1.5 million dollar profit for the school district if only 25% of the students in the district ordered the lunches. That money could potentially go towards improving the organic options in the national lunch program meals for the kids who cannot afford 5.00 more per week, resulting in improved lunches for all.

Their response was, “the cost was the least significant reason for the decision. It is more about the implications it would have on our Federal and State programs. The Board is not willing to jeopardize funding or compliance issues.”

ARRRRGH!!! It’s always money over health! Always! And that is why the status of our children’s health is the way it is!!

Again, breathing, I responded, “Ok, I understand you do not want to jeopardize funding or compliance issues. Of course. This program is successfully working in 250 other schools, however, that have worked out funding and compliance issues. Can I connect you with a food service director and board member from another school where they have sorted that out?”

The response 5 minutes ago was, "No, thank you. The board has made their decision.”

Breathing...breathing...I have not responded yet.  What do you think?

What has my chest tighten and throat clench is the thought and fear that somehow, I am messing this opportunity up for thousands of kids in my district...that the way I am being about this, persistent, passionate, and clear that GMOs are one of the reasons for my request to offer a healthier lunch, is somehow screwing it up. Kathleen did better not mentioning GMOs. I have a history with my food services director where I did discuss GMOs with her, so she knows this is a mission of mine. What boils my blood is that GMOs might even be controversial.  What has me deeply dismayed is the possibility that the Food Services director disagreeing with my approach for any reason could affect the health of so many. The skepticism, the fear of rocking the boat with the current system, and the resignation that things could be any other way are soul-crushing. It feels like the worst defeat of all because it affects children's futures. But I know I am not defeated.

I want to be clear. I WANT to affect the federal and state programs. I WANT to have less money go towards nutritionally bankrupt, toxic GMO food with additives like high fructose corn syrup, food dyes, and synthetic chemical pesticides that have been linked to autism, diabetes, ADHD, life-threatening food allergies, autoimmune disorders, and more. I am proposing a plan for THAT food to get less of our money and organic food to get more. YES.

I ask all Moms and anyone who wants to rock the boat, disrupt the current system, and put a dent in the 31 million GMO meals served a day to our kids, to stand up and speak at your board meeting. It just takes one to speak, but it will take thousands of us supporting the speakers to have this happen.

Monica Serratos presents at her school board tonight. She is a woman of great generosity, clarity, and leadership, and we know she is going to do great. We pray her school board allows a further inquiry into what is possible for the sake of our children.

Go Monica and her daughter Alicia who is speaking too!

Stay tuned.

禅ハニーカット

Look up choicelunch.com for a CA vendor that has promised GMO-free lunches to large school districts by fall.

If you have a school lunch vendor that offers GMO-Free and organic, please tell us, and we will share them with the nation.

If you present to your board, let us know your approach and results. Together we can do anything.

I know the last thing any Mom needs is more bad news. Here's the thing. This can also be good news.

Finding out the possible reason for any health issue is always good news. Because then we can do something about it. Then we can stop it. 

Any Mom's "Spidey sense" will go off when you see these charts. They clearly show an undeniable correlation between Glyphosate ( found in many herbicides but most commonly in RoundUp ) and increases in many western ailments including Autism, Thyroid cancer, Kidney Failure, Pelvic cancer, Alzheimers and more.

http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/glyphosate/glyphosate.html

Glyphosate is sprayed on the soil of most non organic foods ( and is absorbed into plant), directly ON GMO foods and (cannot be washed off), on schoolyards, parks, and landscaping.

 Report links Glyphosate with leukemia and anemia.

GreenMedInfo article on leukemia, anemai and glyphosate link

Glyphosate is even linked to Cancer in dogs. Anyone bury a dog before his time was really due and have to explain it to a kid? Oy Vey. 

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2013/05/study-shows-herbicides-used-on-house-plants-and-grass-are-linked-to-cancer-in-dogs/

According to the http://www.seedsofdoubtconference.com/ ( video segment 5 about 3.35 in )

Glyphosate ( Roundup) was found to be highly toxic to animals at .1ppm, causing organ damage.

The new EPA standards examples: allow berries .2 ppm, sweet potatoes 3.0 ppm, carrots to have 5.0 ppm, and canola oil 40.0 ppm!!! WHAT?? PLEASE comment to the FDA that this is UNACCEPTABLE!! And ONLY eat organic!!!

Please comment on the EPA board about the insanely high levels of Glyphosate allowed on our foods!
http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0132-0009

And then sign our petition to STOP Spraying Glyphosate on school yards, parks and our food crops.

Moms and Supporters Say "Stop Spraying Glyphosate!"

It's time to take a stand for our children. We clearly see danger and it's time to stop it.

Together we can create a world that is safe for our kids... to roll down a hill at school on the grass, blow a blade of grass like a whistle at the park, and eat berries by the handfuls a friend's birthday party.

Thank you for your partnership!

"We ask you not to ignore the risk of spraying Glyphosate, a chemical in RoundUp and other herbicides, on our school yards, public parks and spaces, gardens and food crops. Err on the side of safety. Please stop spraying Glyphosate today.

Instead: Use natural pesticides, boiling water or vinegar and bio-ag practices to balance the soil and reduce weeds, or recruit a troop of Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts for a regular service project to pull weeds. Together we can create a safer environment for our children and citizens."

Thank you.
Moms Across America
and Supporters
www.momsacrossamerica.com

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/moms-and-supporters-say?source=c.em.cp&r_by=5118310

Thanks!

禅ハニーカット

Dear Moms

” If every Mom knew how awesome they are , every problem in the world would be fixed.” – Kid President

When I watched this video,  my heart giggled. My soul glowed and I thought of all the times when I stopped, looked and listened to the glory of childhood…and sometimes even joined in with a booty shake and high five. The awesomeness of being a Mom is not all the things we do, but it how present we are to what we are doing.

In short, it’s who we are BEING. Mostly I don’t take the time to think about or create that, but when I do, when I choose that Today is the Day that I am being Courageous, Creative and a Contribution…whoa, watch out world…things are done that have never been done. My kids get a Mom who is happy to build a volcano with them instead of resentful.  I reach out and do activism in the world to make  a future for our kids great in ways I never imagined before. And when I see other moms being present with their kids, being gentle, curious and giggly, I know that all our activism is for those moments…the fleeting, magical, moment of love and delight.

So  I invite every Mom on Moms Across America, to really get how awesome you are. Not because of all the doing, but because of who you are being. You are being your kids champion. You are being Courageous, Creative and a Contribution. You are the Gateway to Adventure! You are the most awesome person on the planet to at least one person and in their eyes, you can do anything.  Look at yourself through their eyes …because theirs is the most beautiful perspective in the world.

禅ハニーカット

As founder of Moms Across America our mission is Empowered Moms, Healthy Kids. Our current commitment is to empower millions to educate themselves about genetically modified organisms or GMOs, label them and offer America GMO free solutions.  

We have created the Moms Across America March to Label GMOs on 7月 4. We have  partners all across the nation like Robyn O’Brien ( Mom of 4 and TedX Talk speaker “Patriotism on a Plate”),  LabelGMOs.org, The CA Guild, GMO Free USA ( Mom Diana Reeves), Green America/GMO inside, March Against Monsanto (Mom Tami Monroe), Institute for Responsible Technology, NYR Organics,  Dr. Bronners, Nature’s Path, Nutivia, Holistic Moms and many more.

We hope you will join us in marching in parade on the 4th of July in your hometown or town on vacation near you. This is  the one opportunity we have to share our message with thousands locally and millions nationally, who are ready, waiting and interested.  So grab a balloon, your kids and trike and join us!

Sign up at http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/

For more info about GMOs go to http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/gmo

Read more: http://www.momsrising.org/blog/the-power-of-moms/#ixzz2TNyOBSTs