| Revision as of 10:51, 7 August 2015 editGarzfoth (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,277 edits →Mad Cow USA: remove unsourced claim← Previous edit | Revision as of 10:53, 7 August 2015 edit undoGarzfoth (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,277 edits Fuck this, I'm removing the entire "current campaigns" section, it's way too far beyond saving at this point. This needs to be redone in a style similar to what is used in Greenpeace.Next edit → | ||
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| * To increase people's awareness and knowledge of organic food and agricultural production. | * To increase people's awareness and knowledge of organic food and agricultural production. | ||
| * To promote the development and expansion of the organic and sustainable agricultural model.<ref name=oca_irs_2013>{{cite web|title=2013 IRS filings|url=https://www.organicconsumers.org/sites/default/files/oca_990_2013.pdf|accessdate=7 August 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515203003/https://www.organicconsumers.org/sites/default/files/oca_990_2013.pdf|archivedate=15 May 2015}}</ref>}} | * To promote the development and expansion of the organic and sustainable agricultural model.<ref name=oca_irs_2013>{{cite web|title=2013 IRS filings|url=https://www.organicconsumers.org/sites/default/files/oca_990_2013.pdf|accessdate=7 August 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515203003/https://www.organicconsumers.org/sites/default/files/oca_990_2013.pdf|archivedate=15 May 2015}}</ref>}} | ||
| == Current campaigns == | |||
| ===Breaking the Chains=== | |||
| The Breaking the Chains campaign is geared toward making healthier choices, both morally and bodily, by supporting local businesses and farmers, purchasing fair trade and ]-free products, and depending on local products as opposed to corporate products, which often have many hidden issues that may be problematic. This campaign is concerned with ], sweatshop labor, ], environmental damage, unknown chemical usage and other issues.<ref>{{cite news|title=OCA Launches Breaking the Chains Campaign: Buy Local, Organic & Fair Made; Volunteers to Organize 1,000 Organic Dinners for Earth Day Week|url=http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0411-07.htm|newspaper=Common Dreams|date=April 11, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Break the Chains this holiday season|newspaper=New Life Journal|date=December 1, 2005}}</ref> | |||
| ===SOS: Safeguard Organic Standards=== | |||
| The Safeguard Organic Standards campaign is concerned with large corporations which want to lower standards to claim their foods are "organic" and can market them accordingly and sell them to an unaware public.<ref>{{cite news|title=Organic Consumers Association Endorses Solution for Organic and Non-GMO Natural Products|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/402497|newspaper=Digital Journal|date=August 26, 2011}}</ref> The campaign targets various companies, including Horizon and Aurora organic dairy products, such as the brand ]. Horizon's parent company, ], makes ]' ] and Silk. Much of the ] in these products is sourced abroad, primarily from Brazil and China where environmental standards and workers' rights are routinely violated.<ref>{{cite web|title=SOS Campaign|url=http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm|publisher=Organic Consumers Association|accessdate=September 6, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ===GE Free Zones=== | |||
| According to the OCA website, approximately 70% of the foods (from ] to milk to ]) in supermarkets have some component that is ] (GE). However these foods are not labeled, leaving consumers unable to make informed decisions about their purchases. This campaign is aimed at creating laws that would require companies to ] foods which contain GE ingredients.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} | |||
| ===Mad Cow USA=== | |||
| Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the disease's scientific name, is a degenerative disorder affecting the nervous system in cattle. When transmitted to humans via beef consumption it can ultimately cause death, and there is no cure. The OCA is calling for the United States to adopt and enforce strict standards, like those in force in Japan and the European Union.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} | |||
| ===Children's Environmental Health=== | |||
| Appetite For Change is a program advocating for the reduction of children's exposure to ]s, ]s and ]. Through this campaign, OCA aims to stop schools from spraying their playgrounds with pesticides and remove lunch containers that may contain toxins (such as plastics). This campaign is also concerned with the ] (NSLP), a federally assisted meal program offered across the United States, tasked with providing a nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunch to 27 million children each day.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} | |||
| ===Coming Clean=== | |||
| This campaign is concerned with the proper labeling of food. The USDA now has a clear label to distinguish true organic products with the highest percentage of organic ingredients from those products with lower organic ingredient content and/or those containing any range of synthetic ingredients.{{Citation needed|reason=Please support with refs|date=August 2015}} | |||
| ===Millions Against Monsanto=== | |||
| The OCA's "Millions Against ]" campaign is an effort open to the public and directed to the company's President and CEO, ]. It has also been created to allow those concerned to voice their opinion regarding the company's actions regarding "... sustainable agriculture and farmers' rights."<ref></ref> The campaign also highlights other issues that the OCA views as important, such as their campaign for mandatory labeling of ]s. | |||
| ===Clothes for a Change=== | |||
| This campaign is focused on avoiding sweatshop-produced clothing and advocating for organic sweat-free items. The organization teams up with farmers, consumers and companies to promote fair-trade clothing.{{Citation needed|reason=Please support with refs|date=August 2015}} | |||
| ===Protest Starbucks=== | |||
| OCA began advocating a boycott of ] in 2001 over their use of dairy products produced by cattle injected with ]. Starbucks announced in 2008 that their products would no longer contain rBGH.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.organicconsumers.org/Starbucks/index.cfm |title=Fair Trade vs. Starbucks |publisher=Organic Consumers Association |date= |accessdate=2012-09-06}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 10:53, 7 August 2015
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 | |
| Abbreviation | OCA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1998 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Consumer protection and organic agriculture advocacy group |
| Headquarters | Finland, Minnesota |
| Membership | 850,000 (2015) |
| National Director | Ronnie Cummins |
| Policy and Advisory Board | Will Allen Maude Barlow Jay Feldman Jim and Rebecca Goodman Jean Halloran Tim Hermach Julia Butterfly Hill Annie Hoy Mika Iba Pat Kerrigan John Kinsman Frances Moore Lappe Howard Lyman Judith McGeary Jill Richardson Robyn Seydel Vandana Shiva |
| Revenue | $4,150,908 USD (2013) |
| Website | organicconsumers.org |
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is a consumer protection and organic agriculture advocacy group based in Finland, Minnesota. It was formed in 1998 in the wake of strong opposition by members of the organic industry and consumers of organic food to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's controversial initial version of their proposed regulations for organic food. The organization's members include subscribers to their online newsletters, volunteers, supporters, and 3,000 cooperating retail co-ops in the natural foods and organic marketplace.
The OCA deals with wide range of current crucial issues for health, justice, and sustainability. The campaigns are issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, fair trade, environmental sustainability and other crucial topics.
Summary of priorities and campaigns
The OCA defines the mission of their organization as the following:
To increase consumers' awareness/knowledge of organic and agricultural production. To promote the development/expansion of the organic/sustainable agricultural model.
The main goals of this organization are:
- To develop a newsletter called the Organic Consumer, for U.S. consumers.
- To create an interactive network of U.S. consumers concerned about food safety and supportive of sustainable, organic agriculture.
- To increase people's awareness and knowledge of organic food and agricultural production.
- To promote the development and expansion of the organic and sustainable agricultural model.
References
- ^ "About OCA". Archived from the original on 2 Aug 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- "OCA/OCF combined financial audit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- "2013 IRS filings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
Further reading
- Delserone, Leslie M. (2008). "Organic Consumers Association". Volume 9, Issue 1. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information. pp. 3–9. Retrieved 18 October 2013.