IndyMedia - Vrij Media Centrum Nederland

Waar: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Wanneer: 17/12/2014 - 16:50

Starbucks say no to GMO! Give consumers the right to know what's in their food!

Today ASEED (www.aseed.net) did a small action at Starbucks in de Pijp in Amsterdam, handing out flyers and informing their customers of Starbucks' role in the courtcase against US state Vermont, who has legislated to label GM food products, but who is now taken to court by representatives of the big food industry. These corporations try to undermine democratic decisions and deprive consumers of their right to know what they eat!

Despite the grey weather, the action was a success. For more than one hour, we handed out flyers to customers and passersby and stood in front of the shop with a banner stating "Starbucks, Say NO to GMO!".

Starbucks is a member of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) who is suing small US state Vermont for wanting to let consumers know what they eat by labelling GM food. On top of not respecting people's right to information of what's in their food, corporations should not be using lawsuits to overturn legitimate, democratic decisions!

We received many positive reactions from the people we talked to or who stopped to take a picture. Many of them did not know about this law suit and were glad to get information, others were pretty well informed already and wished us good luck. We also heard comments such as "I never buy coffee there, they don't pay tax!", "I am from America, and I still hate them!" There is definitely room for more actions like this one in the future, as long as Starbucks keeps funding the GMA.

Sign the petition against Starbuck's role in this lawsuit here: http://action.sumofus.org/a/starbucks-gmo-gma/