Excerpt cited from NOW Magazine:

THE RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACTIVIST

RACHEL PARENT Founder, The Kids Right To Know: GMOs, Just Label It! Campaign

The Grade 8 student, who has travelled to Brazil’s Amazon to witness forest devastation by GM soy, is one of the anti-GM movement’s most serious campaigners, and gives new meaning to the term “youth activism.” The Monsanto crowd’s gotta be having a bird over a self-possessed 13-year-old raising the spectre that laboratory eats can’t be healthy for children and other living things.

Parent’s biotech takedown features costumed rallies, sassy online videos and a packed speaking schedule. She once baked a 48-inch GM-free apple pie, the Occu Pie, for street people in St. James Park. And while she likes to sport honey bee garb at protests, don’t let the fun throw you off – this animal lover/baking buff has set herself the awesome mission of freeing her whole generation from the clutches of Kellogg, Kraft, Sara Lee, McCain, Nestle and Frito-Lay. Now, that’s ambition.

Rachel Parent, Founder of Kids Right to Know, Interviewed by Global News on April 5th, 2013

Click on the image below to watch the interview!

By Aubergine from Kitchen Vignettes: “Isn’t it the best when you meet someone who isn’t afraid to take action when they see a problem in the world? And who does it with enthusiasm and optimism? And leaves you feeling inspired and hopeful that we all have the power to make a change if we just put our minds to it? I had the great pleasure of meeting such a person this winter.”  Click here to read the entire blog post entry at Kitchen Vignettes!

Kitchen Vignettes shares this video – Rachel Parent: A young activist fights for GMO labelling in Canada

This article is from The Canadian Daily – here

With the growing concerns of increased use of GMOs, Herbicides and Pesticides, one of the best ways to make sure our food is safe is to have labels that fully disclose what’s in them.  Labels currently have to disclose the ingredients, fat content, calories, vitamins and minerals, and even if it was made in a manufacturing plant that makes products that may contain peanuts, but nothing about whether the food was made from genetically modified (GM) ingredients.”

There have been several animal feeding trials that have raised concerns about the health risks of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  Over 60 countries around the world label genetically modified food, including the European Union, Japan, Russia and China.

The biotech industry is quick to brag about how genetically modified crops are the food of tomorrow and are needed to feed the world, but would rather not mention it to us, the people who have to eat it. What I mean is, if they’re so proud of it, and GMOs are so good for us, why not put it on the label?

I believe that mandatory GMO labeling is the first step, but I feel  it’s very important that Canada conducts an immediate study on Genetically Modified Organisms by an independent labs, with no connection to Monsanto.  Studies like the two year study recently done by French scientists at the University of Caen, that showed rats fed GMO corn were much more likely to die and at an earlier age, in addition to other serious health problems, including organ damage and the growth of massive tumors.  If further testing supports these health risks, GMOs should be removed from the shelves altogether.  Until then, it should be mandatory to have labels on  GMO ingredients in our foods, allowing consumers can make informed choices, and to decide whether or not to buy them.

It would be ideal if we had a government that cared more about the health of its citizens and the environment, than supporting large multi-national companies like Monsanto, and relying on them for our food safety.  Unfortunately, this is making us all part of the GMO science experiment.”

Until labeling is required, the best way to avoid GMOs is to read the ingredients on labels and stay away from products that contain corn, soy, canola, and vegetable oil, as there’s a 90% chance they’ll be GMO, at the moment  buying true local certified Organic foods offers the best safety option.

Some people argue that Organic food  is more expensive, in my opinion, eating  fresh Organic non GMO food, is very nourishing decreasing cravings and the need for costly snacking, giving us more energy , clear thinking, improving our health and decreasing the need for constant expensive  prescription drugs.

To take ACTION:

•  Write to the Minister of Agriculture instantly and let them know your thoughts about GMO Alfalfa here: www.cban.ca/content/view/full/997
• Visit: www.facebook.com/MillionsAgainstMonsantoToronto
• Ask Rachel to speak at your school or environmental event
• Look for and buy ‘Non-GMO project’ labeled grocery items
• Ask your supermarket if they sell GMO sweet corn and tell the supermarket manager your concerns as they report back to upper management!
• In Canada there is currently a private member’s bill C-257 introduced by the NDP (recently read at Parliament) to require mandatory GMO labeling. Click here to Demand GMO Labelling in Canada!

A friendly reminder to DONATE BELOW to The Kids Right to Know, GMOs Just Label It! Campaign.  Thank you!

Our food our choice.

Amazing Grace, how sweet our Earth…

February 20, 2013

Spring is in the air!  I know it’s only February, yet after attending two amazing Organic Conferences and listening to speakers talk about fresh Organic farming, fresh milk and  future possibilities for organic growth, it made me feel that now spring is just around the corner, and time to start preparing for another Kids Right to Know rally .

Early in the year, I had the privilege to receive an invitation by the Organic Council of Ontario to participate in a panel discussion with Jodi Koberinski, OCO Executive Director, Julie Daniluk, and John Devlin, at the Guelph Organic Expo Conference on Feb 2, 2013.  The workshop topic was about reigniting the Organic movement, and to discuss the future of Organic foods.  Later that day, I had the honour to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to an amazing couple, Tony and Fran Mc Quail, owners of the Meeting Place Organic Farm.  It was a true delight meeting them to celebrate their achievement, and I look forward to visiting their farm soon.  It was an amazing day, sharing ideas, meeting great people with a true sense of caring for our earth and our future.  I was a very positive day, and I felt right at home.  Thank you OCO for making it all possible.

Later in February, I was invited by the Canadian Organic Growers – Toronto Chapter, to do an opening tribute for the “Organic – The Way Forward” Conference in Toronto on Feb 16^th.  I decided that I wanted to sing a song with heart for Mother Nature, so I choose Amazing Grace, but changed the words to create a tribute to our Earth!  The conference was amazing! The speakers had interesting stories about their personal experiences with farming and how much they loved the honesty of the Organic way.

Then the greatest highlight of the conference to me was getting to meet Dr. Guilles-Eric Seralini, the professor from the University of Caen in France, who recently released the results of his GMO rat study conducted over the entire lifespan of the rats.  The results were very scary, and clearly showed the health risks associated with GMOs.  He really has been the inspiration for me to keep creating awareness about the dangers of GMOs for everyone, particularly children.  His study really freaked me out, and motivated me to let everyone know. Thank you COG Toronto Chapter for all your support, for this most amazing experience.

Dr. Seralini’s presentation was so compelling, and further inspired and motivated me.  I also had the privilege to have shared a panel interview with Dr. Seralini, Dr. Anne Clark, Lucy Sharratt (CBAN) and Jody Koberinki (OCO), all amazing and inspiring role models.  Now that we have conclusive studies and we understand that we have a huge problem, we must resolve it working together – one large global team.  I believe education is key, I will continue creating awareness and educating other children about the danger of GMOS in their food, asking our government to label GMOs in our food, and also encourage everyone I know to support true local Organic food choices for better health.  I also enjoyed Maria Emmer-Aaness (Nature’s Path) conversation.  It was very positive and encouraging, particularly motivating for our Kids Right to Know movement. Thank you Maria for providing me with the opportunity to Model the most amazing, colorful GMO Activist 3 arm T-shirts ever! Depending on our fundraiser ,I will make sure to order a whole bunch of the T-shirts for our next walk to be scheduled for late spring(end of May)  It is always refreshing and energizing for me to know that many other people are also motivated to make a change for a better and healthier planet.

We also had a Kids right to know booth that provided a chance for us to share information giving us a chance to meeting a lot of amazing individuals.

Kids Right to know, have created a 10’ x 4’ Get Well Soon Canada! Greeting card that we hope everyone will have chance to sign with messages directed to our Minister of the Environment about the GMO hazards to the environment.  The card was designed with art about GMOs and environmental concerns by children from various Schools .The card will be on display at various events or can be set up in schools for 48 hours, I invite environmentally driven Schools to make an appointment and I will deliver the card for students to sign.

We are also encouraging everyone to send small donations to be able to continue with our work, printing flyers, travel cost and other associated expenses.

We have a large amount of copies of the Book GMO Myths and Truths, please send a small donation of $ 9.00 and up and we will send you a copy of  the book by mail, please see our website.

I feel positive to say that  everyone has a chance to make our planet a better place ,that we all need to participate if we want to see change, that YOU can be the change after all I always say

“One planet for all, all for one planet”.

Rachel Parent (grade 8 student)

So honoured!  February 16, 2013 at the Organic The Way Forward Conference, Professor Guilles-Eric  Seralini  is signing a message for our Minister of the Environment, the  10’ x 4’ greeting card was produced by GMO Kids Right to Know, the GMO Art by children from various Schools.

The main message from the kids Get well soon Canada! Greeting card.

Dear Minister of the Environment

We the kids trust our responsible leaders to protect the Environment, today and for generations to come.

Please help Canada to be free of GMOs and harmful toxic pesticides.

Pesticide toxins are killing our bees, affecting our entire eco system, our health and chance of survival. We pray for your wisdom to protect our land.

Please help Canada get well soon!

Our future is in your hands.

We are counting on you!

Thank you to Anita of Bohemian Palace Yoga,

For taking the initiative to share and support our fundraiser with your Yoga Clients.

Yoga Fundraiser for Kids Right to Know, Just Label It Campaign!

Bohemian Palace Yoga, Feb. 3, 2013, 12:30pm

240 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto

Confirm your attendance on Facebook HERE! Yoga Fundraiser for Kids Right to Know

Thank you to The Canadian Daily for inviting me to be a contributor.  You can read my article HERE.

Look forward to working with you!

With Gratitude,

Rachel

Aube Giroux, Food Blogger Guru, kitchen vignettes, Edible Toronto Magazine, will visit Rachel at her home.  They will prepare a wonderful non GMO meal together.  They will be sharing in conversation about Rachel’s future plans for her GMO awareness cause, Labeling campaign and filming the event.

A Story by Aube Giroux: A Bodacious Kernel of Hope

Aube Giroux’s Blog: http://www.kitchenvignettes.blogspot.ca

Register HERE

Jan. 31 – Feb. 3, 2013, Guelph University Centre, Ont, Canada – Expo

Thank you OCO! Organic Council of Ontario,

For inviting me to participate in your workshop Saturday February 2^nd at 1:30 PM.

I look forward to being part of such an incredible event!

With gratitude,

Rachel Parent

Kids Right to Know, GMOs Just Label It !!