Dear Editor,

Kudos to Richmond for joining the ranks of such places as Rossland, Kaslo, Nelson, Powell River, and Saltspring Island who have passed motions opposing genetically modified organisms with their boundaries.

Research shows that the Langleys have 23,600 hectares in the Agricultural Land Reserve. This accounts for almost 77 per cent of the land area of Langley, and approximately 43 per cent of the ALR in the Metro Vancouver regional district.

The time has come for the two Langleys to stand up and be counted. Our freedom to choose local organic produce is being taken from us with the introduction of Monsanto's genetically modified crops.

One group opposed to these franken-crops states that GE crops give rise to novel proteins that are not recognizable to human and animal digestive systems, and that engineered genetic material may have unknown consequences when it is released in to the environment.

This is a wake-up call for the citizens of the Langleys to speak up, join the thousands who have won the freedom to consume non-genetically engineered products, and say yes to a ban on genetically modified shrubs, plants and food crops within our boundaries.

Maureen Miller, Langley