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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2003)
Campus buzz Saturday Adam Kehl, percussion (senior recital), 1 p.m., Beall Hall, free. Rachel Seay, horn (senior recital), 4 p.m., Beall Hall, free. Dan Flanagan, violin (master's recital), 6 p.m., Beall Hall, free. On the Rocks, with Divisi (a cappella concert), 8:30 p.m., Beall Hall, $8 general public, $5 students and senior citizens, 346-5678. Sunday Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" (University Ensemble Concert, featuring the University Singers), 3 p.m., Beall Hall, $5 general public, $3 students and senior citizens, 346-5678. Christine Keene, soprano (junior recital), 4:30 p.m., Newman Center, free. Rika Uchida, piano (doctoral recital), 8 p.m., Beall Hall, free. Monday Chi Alpha (meeting), 6:30-9 p.m., EMU Metolius Room. Government may keep food labeling optional If the bill goes to the senate and passes, state and local governments won't be able to enforce food labeling Aimee Rudin City/State Politics Reporter Most grocery stores are filled with produce and edible products from around the nation and around the world. Foods, especially fruits and veg etables, often carry a label describing the conditions under which they were grown. Stickers reading USDA certi fied organic, or hot-house grown, are a common sight. But one label some consumers would like to see on their food is noticeably absent. Genetically modified organisms — food that has had its genetic material al tered through controlled breeding — Jeremy Forrest Emerald Many organic food growers label their food, such as peppers from Sundance Natural Food, even though labeling is optional. are not required to carry a label declar ing their origins. Some Oregon produc ers do label their products as genetically engineered, although it is a voluntary action not required by federal law. A few Oregpn lawmakers are looking to keep labeling optional. The Oregon House of Representatives recently passed legislation ensuring that individ ual communities do not require more stringent labeling regulations on GMOs than those required by the federal gov ernment. However, the federal govern ment currendy does not require any la beling of genetically modified food. House Bill 2957 was passed in April and is now in front of the Senate Agri culture and Natural Resources Com mittee, headed by Sen. Frank Shields, D-Portland. According to a spokesman in Shield’s office, the committee is cur rendy closed, and a senate vote has not yet been scheduled. If the bill gpes to the senate and passes, neither the state gov ernment nor local governments will be allowed to enforce any form of labeling regulation on GMOs. Many of the bill’s opponents are calling it unnecessary and a knee jerk response to Measure 27 — a bill proposed in 2002 that would have re quired the labeling of all genetically modified organisms. Currently there is no record of any local government taking an individual stance on food labeling requirements. Before the passage of the bill in the House, opponents of the bill, including Rep. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, said the bill was unnecessary. “We’re fixing something that isn’t a problem,” Prozanski said. “I don’t be lieve we should be limiting the ability of the state to supply Oregon resi dents with information about the foods they are eating.” As of now, USDA regulations control the labeling of organic foods, but not GMOs. According to Joe Gabriel, Eu gene office manager for GF Fresh, fed eral regulations for organic foods stemmed from the individual state re quirements set by Oregon and Califor nia more than 10 years ago. “Last year organic certification was moved under the federal USDA umbrella,” Gabriel said. “Now every one in the country uses the same standards, and individual states can not enforce tougher standards than the federal guidelines. It has left many people feeling like the regula tions were compromised.” Sen. Shields can be contacted at (503) 986-1724. Three other state senators represent the University and surrounding area: Sen. Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove, can be contacted at (503) 986-1704, Sen. Bill Morrisette, D-Springfield, can be contacted at (503) 986-1706 and Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Cottage Grove, can be contacted at (503) 986-1707. Contact the senior reporter at aimeerudin@dailyemerald.com. Railroad continued from page 1 coordinator for the Northwest Coali tion for Alternatives to Pesticides, said NCAP’s biggest concern was Union Pacific’s lack of notification to people living along the tracks. “We have concerns about the tox icity effects, as well as health and environmental effects,” Kemple said. Union Pacific “is not posting notices near the tracks and not noti fying the neighbors ... we think there should be postings.” Glyphosate, the active chemical used to kill the weeds, is rated by the Environmental Protection Agency as having a toxicity level of three, with level one being the most toxic and level four being the least. However, in dependent studies have shown con flicting results about what harm glyphosate may cause humans. A fact sheet issued by the U.S. For est Service, the Bureau of Land Man agement and the Bonneville Power Administration states, “Based on the results of animal studies, glyphosate does not cause genetic damage or birth defects, and has little or no ef fect on fertility, reproduction or de velopment of offspring.” The report also said that not enough information existed to determine whether or not glyphosate was a cause of cancer, and that there have been no reported cas es of long term health effects in hu mans due to glyphosate exposure. However, according to the Jour nal of Pesticide Reform, products that contain glyphosate can cause everything from eye irritation and nausea to breathing difficulties and heart palpitations. The Journal, published by NGAP, also makes mention of a recent Swedish study of hairy cell leukemia — a form of the cancer — which found that peo ple who were occupationally ex posed to glyphosate herbicides had a higher risk of contracting the can cer. Another study conducted in 1997 by Princeton found that Roundup caused death to half of the animals in an experiment. John Bromley, the director of public affairs for Union Pacific, said the railroad company has no prob lem with using glyphosate because it feels there is no real danger in us ing the chemical. “We don’t think it causes any risk at all to the public,” he said, adding he was aware of the public concerns about glyphosate but didn’t feel there was a reason for the concern. Bromley also said there shouldn’t be any concern about winds blowing the chemical outside of the spray radius. “The spray area is so small that I don’t think (glyphosate) is going to go beyond the area it’s intended to,” he said. The spray area will be along all of the railroad tracks in Eugene and is expected to take one day to apply. But Majeska Seese-Green, presi dent of the Whiteaker Community Council and a member of the Rail road Pollution Coalition, said she disagrees with Bromley. “Apparently, (Bromley) doesn’t read the fine print,” she said in re sponse to his views on glyphosate, adding that people are concerned with the way the city of Eugene in forms residents of the spraying. “The fact is, neither Union Pacific or the city takes responsibility to make sure there are signs posted,” she said. Ward 3 City Counselor David Kelly said the reason the city doesn’t post signs is because it takes money, and the city can’t afford it right now. How ever, Kelly added there is currently a bill going through the Oregon Senate that would allow local jurisdictions to adopt local laws about requiring noti fication of pesticide use. David Monk, executive director of the Oregon Toxics Alliance, said people should steer clear of areas being sprayed. He said if people do walk over the railroad tracks, they should leave their shoes outside when they return home. Glyphosate will “affect anybody who happens to be around,” he said, “especially young children. If you see (Union Pacific) spraying, I would vacate the area.” Contact the reporter atalishaughnessy@dailyemerald.com. '-poppiV— ^/4n&4oli& Vc-v> "The Land East" Traditional '■T Greek & Indian Food | (O) Lunch Monday through Saturday Dinner 7 Nights a Week 992 Willamette Eugene, Or 97401 343-9661 College Grads & Job Seekers What’s going to set YOU apart at your next interview? Let us prepare you for your new career • Career Counseling • Resume Development • Interview Coaching • Outplacement Services • Affordable Professional Service “The Advantage you need to launch your career.” | email: career4you1@juno.com C reative Vareer Resources 877.548.5599 ARE YOUR WEEKENDS MISSING SOMETHING? I 1 Join us on Sundays for worship services featuring __ _____ Holy Communion. We have traditional services on I I Sunday mornings and Marty Haugen services on 1 I Sunday evenings. Sundays 8:15 and 10:45 am & 6:30 pm Student/Young Adult Bible Study, Sundays, 7:15 pm Central Lutheran Church Corner of 18th &. Potter • 345.0395 www.welcometocentral.org All are welcome. “40 years of Quality Service” Mercedes • BMW • Volkswagen • Audi German Auto Service 342-2912 • 2025 Franklin Blvd. Eugene, Oregon, 97402 Ruhl Lecture Sponsored by the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication “Snob Journalism: Elitism versus Ethics for a Profession in Crisis” Tom Rosenstiel vice Chairman of the Committee of Concerned Journalists Thursday, May 22 Gerlinger Alumni Room 4:00 P.M. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Reception to follow in Allen hall atrium at 5:i5 p.m. This lecture is made possible by The Robert and Mabel Ruhl Endowment UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (541) 346-3819 AT THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION. 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