Urgent – Let’s do Something Before it’s Too Late

Our government and the system has gotten so big and out hand that it would be next to impossible for any one individual to keep up with everything that’s going on.

I think what makes it even harder — even for the legislators whose job it is to keep up — is things like bills with benign titles that have riders attached to them that either have nothing to do with the subject of the bill — or are written in a manner that is legal but totally deceiving to the average person. And when this happens it’s almost never in the best interest of “we the people”.

Fortunately there are some groups out there whose life’s work is to pay attention to what legislators and companies like Monsanto are doing behind the scenes.  Although we may not always agree with the overall political views of these watchdog groups — I think if we want to be armed with the knowledge needed to protect ourselves in any way we can from the troubles ahead — we have to heed some of their warnings. And — take action when we can.

Total Departure from Good Sense

I received several emails this morning from various sources warning of Monsanto’s latest stealth attack via riders “attached to both the 2012 Farm Bill and the 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would essentially force the federal government to approve GMOs at the request of biotechnology companies, and prohibit all safety reviews of GMOs from having any real impact on the GMO approval process.” (Jonathan Benson, staff writer for Natural News.)(Emphasis is mine.)

As if that’s not bad enough – Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety explains further:

“They’ve inserted a rider that would compel USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) to establish an extremely controversial national policy for the “low-level presence” of GE (genetically engineered) material in crops, setting for the first time an acceptable level of GE contamination in non-GE crops in the U.S.”

Talk about forcing GE down your throat whether you want it or not —-! There is NO acceptable level of GE (GMOs) in my book!

Then he continues, “Any policy that intentionally allows for GE material in crops and does nothing to prevent contamination of conventional and organic crops poses serious and irreversible economic harm to thousands of farmers, handlers, food processors and manufacturers. And beyond that, this illogical and unreasonable policy would severely impact the capability to export U.S. agricultural products to vital foreign markets that have restrictions on GE material in food.

American agriculture is at a crossroads. The mere fact that these riders are actually under discussion in today’s House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill mark-up session is a testament to the changed reality we are facing. Far from moving closer to a safer, healthier and better regulated food supply, we’re all witness to an attempted shift away from those principles — delivering our regulatory and decision-making powers over U.S. agriculture into the hands of industry. It’s a scary scenario.”

If allowed to – the chemical industry will write its own rules and it looks as if Congress might give them the legal ability to do so!

Good news  — at least it could be.

The good news is that Congressman, Peter DeFazio proposed an amendment to eliminate the Monsanto rider from the 2014 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. But our Congressmen need to know that we support that.  Also they need to know of our opposition to Sections 10011, 10013, and 10014 of the 2012 Farm Bill.

Final Thoughts

As Andrew Kimbrell said — our agriculture is at a crossroads.  If these bills are passed with these riders there is no turning back.  Monsanto is powerful enough without giving them even more power to totally destroy our means to keep healthy and to good food.

The issue has been delayed twice earlier this month. The media is now speculating that the House of Representatives will vote on the bill on July 23rd.

I hope you will join me and make your voice heard.  We need to act quickly. It may be our last chance.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN:

To email your Congressman – click on this page of the OrganicConsumers.org website, put in your zip code and it will automatically allow you to email your congressman. It will also give you a suggested approach.

To call your Congressman – click on this page of the OrganicConsumers.org website, put in your zip code and it will give you your Congressman’s name, the number to call, who to ask for and the various points you should cover with them via phone.

Further Reading:

Will Congress Let Monsanto Write Its Own Rules?  by Andrew Kimbrell Excutive Director of the Center for Food Safety

Monsanto Protection Act to grant biotech industry total immunity over GM crops – by Jonathan Benson

Hidden rider poses unprecedented constitutional assault, blocks USDA authority and denies GE crop safeguards

Stop Monsanto’s Sneak Attack

Monsanto rider: New bill could make biotech companies immune to courts

The ‘Monsanto Rider’: Are Biotech Companies About to Gain Immunity from Federal Law?
by Alexis Baden-Mayer and Ronnie Cummins

Urgent Action Alert on TWO GMO Amendments

Recommended TMG Posts

GMO-GE Food – GM Food- What are they? Why They’re Dangerous – How you Can Protect Yourself

Monsanto – Don’t Entrust Your Life to Them

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