If you’re like me, your attention during this election cycle was probably focused on the burgeoning fight for a $15/hr livable minimum wage here in Portland, the skirmish over control of our Bull Run watershed, and the ascendency of Nicholas Caleb, with whom I helped run an insurgent campaign for city hall against 16 year incumbent Dan Saltzman. Most of the long shot races lost, some predictably. If, however, you’ve been following the all-out war being waged in southwest Oregon’s Jackson and Josephine counties against GMO crops, you’ve got much to be celebrating.
Last year, to the horror of environmental activists, Oregon’s governor John Kitzhaber (D) – along with other party leaders – pushed a state preemption known as the ‘Monsanto Protection Act‘ through the legislature that prevents cities and counties from regulating controversial genetically modified crops. Kitzhaber waffled at the time, saying he wasn’t opposed to banning GMOs, he simply felt the state should be the one calling the shots. Of course, this was after Monsanto and other chemical giants had flooded money and lobbying resources into Salem. It’s a lot easier to buy off politicians who crave large volumes of cash in the capitol than it is to go rig each county locally.
Though once it became clear local resistance was brewing, almost $1,000,000.00 dollars in corporate cash from outside the state began pouring in. Residents and farmers were bombarded with a fear-mongering marketing campaign. In the end, the people weren’t buying the bullshit. They won, with both counties rejecting the corporate opposition by outright banning GMO crops by a super-majority margin. Outspent 2-1 by the likes of Monsanto, Syngenta, DOW and DuPont, a coalition of family farmers and self-governance activists achieved a victory that’s now receiving international media attention.
What’s even more remarkable is that while Jackson filed their initiative before the state preemption took effect, Josephine filed after the preemption. Aware they would likely face legal challenges, the group issued the following: “GMO-Free Josephine County contends that proceeding with this ballot measure despite possible state preemption is a win-win scenario. Even if the state bill prevails, this ballot initiative can serve as an opportunity for the residents of Josephine County to assert their rights to self-governance, free from undue outside corporate influence and state or federal preemption of critical agricultural matters that affect our local food, farms and future.”
Illustration: Jack Wien
The significance of this cannot be overstated. Josephine county basically decided to give a polite but firm middle finger to Salem and went ahead to pass their own GMO ban, knowing it wasn’t allowed under state law. In the face of overwhelming political and corporate pressure, these people chose to resist, chose morality over technicality, chose to say ‘NO – we won’t allow GMOs to contaminate our crops and endanger our livelihood.’
As inspiring as this victory is, one must ask, where were the state environmental groups in a fight that would have been easy to hang their hat on? Doug Moore, executive director of the well-funded, politically connected Oregon League of Conservation Voters relentlessly boasts that OLCV “holds legislative leaders accountable.” I’ve written in the past how hollow this claim is. Aside from co-signing an online petition, again we see an example of where maintaining the courage of their convictions wasn’t something OLCV was interested in. Regardless, without the help of the state’s largest enviro group, the citizens of Jackson and Josephine went ahead and crushed Monsanto anyway.
I am enamored by stories of such unlikely grassroots triumphs. We all love a good solo underdog story – but so often we only win in real life when we work together. Our power lies in our ability to organize beyond our preconceived political spectrums. The fight against monied corporations, bought-off politicos and their compromised “nonprofit” partners often seems impossible. When we move past traditional identity politics to work together, there’s no limit to the victories we can attain.
Which brings us back to Portland. Tomorrow, May 24th, 2014 is the March Against Monsanto. Last year’s march saw over 5,000 people take to the streets in defiance of one of the world’s most vile chemical companies. This is an event you do not want to miss.
See you in the streets.
Image credit: Hart Noecker
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Thumbnail image courtesy Our Family Farms Coalition.
