We invite you to join The Campaign's "All Politics Are Local Politics" drive. Our goal is to get hundreds of "resolutions" introduced and passed at the city and county level around the United States in the next two years.

Action Steps:

1) The Resolution is available here as an editable Adobe Acrobat PDF document and in text form posted below. First, edit it by filling in the name of the appropriate local governing body, such as Seattle City Council or King County Council. Then print out a few copies to distribute to key associates in your local area.

2) Call up a city or county representative who you have identified as supportive of environmental and/or health-related issues. You may need to start by speaking with his or her secretary or administrative assistant. Request an appointment to get together and discuss the resolution.

It is helpful to network and build coalitions with like-minded groups and concerned citizens. For example, you could say, "There are three of us who would like to meet with Councilman Smith to discuss the resolution. It would be I representing Nature's Natural Food Store, Sally Johnson representing Sierra Club and Bob Smith representing Friends of the Earth. When do you think Councilman Smith could see us?" Since these three people represent a lot more people than just themselves, you are more likely to get an appointment. If you call just representing yourself, you may still get an appointment but you may have a more difficult time.

While taking the time to plan out your strategy including alliances with other groups may have some advantages, trying to secure an appointment on your own might work just fine too.

3) At the appointment, be prepared to present the case on why labeling of genetically engineered foods is important. You will need to explain why this resolution supporting federal legislation to require labeling of genetically engineered foods should be passed. Point out that these foods are labeled in many other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and all the European Union countries.

Make sure you let your representative know that other city councils such as Boston, Austin, Minneapolis and Cleveland have already passed similar resolutions. Politicians are receptive to doing something their peers have already done. They generally don't want to appear to making any kind of radical decision. So letting them know others have passed resolutions is helpful and persuasive.

4) Ask your representative to formally introduce this resolution for consideration at a working session. You can also request a public hearing on the matter.

5) If your representative agrees to introduce the resolution and/or hold a public hearing, get as many people to attend and speak in support of labeling as possible. Also alert your local press. If there is a lot of visible public support and media coverage, you are more likely to succeed in getting a resolution passed.

6) A resolution may be passed without holding a hearing. That is perfectly fine. However, if they refuse to consider the resolution, you don't have to take “no” as the final answer. Give them a reason to reconsider their position. For example, start a letter writing campaign. Try to get on a local talk radio show complaining. As the saying goes, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." So don't be afraid to exercise your rights of freedom of speech and assembly. Hold a protest at lunch hour in front of city hall if needed. Invite the press. Persistence and diplomacy will pay off over time. Remember: Rome was not built in a day.

7) After the resolution is passed, issue a press release on why this was an important victory for citizens in your community. You may even want to hold a press conference with the city or county representative who introduced the resolution. See if you can get the passage of the resolution covered in the local papers, radio and television.

Resolutions are often relatively easy to get passed by local governments because they are not legally binding. Rather, they are statements of position or endorsements of policy. Passing a resolution will not have any financial impact because there is no law that is being passed on the city or county level. But these resolutions send a powerful message to members of the U.S. Congress from the district that passes the resolution.

If you are not able to get a resolution passed, you might request that a letter supporting labeling be written to state and/or federal officials on behalf of their local constituents.

Once we get a dozen or so cities and counties to pass resolutions, the so-called "domino effect" should take place. At that point, many other cities are likely to "jump on the bandwagon," so to speak, and pass the resolution.

Resolutions are one of the most effective tools grassroots citizen activists have to get attention on an important national issue that is being overlooked by federal politicians. That is truly the case with genetically engineered foods and why it will prove to be such a valuable weapon in our battle to pass federal labeling legislation.

Start making plans today to get a resolution introduced in your city or county!

We will be adding a list to this web page in the near future of people who are working on getting resolutions passed and those cities and counties that have already passed them.

The text of the resolution is posted below:

Resolution for Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods

Whereas, genetically engineered foods are not required to be safety tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before being permitted to be sold for human consumption;

Whereas, polls consistently indicate that over 80% of Americans want genetically engineered foods to be labeled;

Whereas, citizens in the European Union nations, plus Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries require labeling of genetically engineered foods;

Whereas, scientists throughout the world are warning of potential allergic reactions from the consumption of novel proteins in foods modified by genetic engineering;

Whereas, genetically engineered foods contain antibiotic-resistant marker genes which could cause antibiotic resistance in humans;

Whereas, genetically engineered foods may contain built-in pesticides lethal enough to kill insects eating the same crops being consumed by humans;

Whereas, herbicide resistant genetically engineered crops may be cross-breeding with weeds creating superweeds;

Whereas, organically grown crops are being contaminated by the cross-pollination from genetically engineered crops;

Whereas, toxins released from the roots of genetically engineered crops may be harmful to soil bacteria;

Whereas, the pollen from genetically engineered crops may be lethal to some beneficial insects;

Whereas, too little research has been done to allow American citizens to serve as human guinea pigs in a massive unprecedented feeding study without their knowledge;

Therefore, it is Resolved, the [enter your city or county council name here] urges the United States Congress to pass legislation that will require genetically engineered foods to be labeled in the United States.

We further encourage legislation that will require safety testing of genetically engineered crops to make sure human health and the environment are protected for future generations.

Copies of this resolution in support of labeling and safety testing of genetically engineered foods will be sent to our Governor, our members of the United States Congress, and to the President of the United States.

Click here to access this Resolution in PDF format.