Stop the Monsanto Protection Act!
Last year, Monsanto was unsuccessful in getting their riders into the 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5973), but now they are back! The Farmer Assurance Provision, Sec. 735, nicknamed “Monsanto Protection Act,” is back and the Senate could pass it as early as next week if we don’t act quickly!
Late Monday night, biotech lobbyists slipped this dangerous biotech rider into the Senate Continuing Resolution spending bill. If it passes, it would strip federal courts of their authority to stop the sale and planting of an illegal and potentially hazardous GMO crop.
It would allow biotech companies to continue to sell their unapproved seeds to farmers, who could plant them while important legal appeals are taking place, instead of halting the planting of the unapproved crop until the court settled the appeal as has been done up until now. It basically temporarily approves farmers to continue to use GMO crops while courts make their decisions about them, even if they're harmful to our health and to the environment!
The Center for Food Safety wrote, “The provision represents a serious assault on the fundamental safeguards of our judicial system and would negatively impact farmers, the environment and public health across America.”
If you want to find out more about the Farmers Assurance Provision, check out this article on FoodDemocracyNow.org.
Please help to make sure your Senator demands that Appropriations Chairman Mikulski pulls this rider, and support any amendment that would strike it from the new Continuing Resolution.
Send a letter to your Senator through FoodDemocracyNow.Org HERE.
Sources: fooddemocracynow.org, infowars.com, Organic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety
22 comments
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I understand that this is an uphill battle. I also understand that their are many players that are involved and there is lots of money driving the GMO bus. But that is not to say that through a disciplined, focussed and on going effort that we (as in we the people) can't get something done.
Issues like this get politicized and that is a crime. We cannot afford to take this lightly. This is a fundemental issue that will shape the future of generations. Locally I have found that people are blissfully unaware of what they are putting into their body.
I also find people are very selective in terms of what they are willing to hear. Effectively they are more inclined to believe that Certified Organic Food is a marketing ploy. That Locally grown food is not sustainable and that people on the 100 mile diet are essentially elitist "foodies".
These points of view get framed as being equal, but the truth is they aren't. One side is based on the laws of biology whereas the otherside is based on the laws of the "highest bidder".
It's crazy how many people buy into the rhetoric that Monsanto is "feeding the world". Dupont, Monsanto, etc are about making money. it is written into their corporate DNA by law. It is there duty to pursue profits for their shareholders. The only way they can continually raise their sharevalue is by taking over and monopolizing markets. IF they are no longer able to do this, then they're shareholders will lose confidence and sell off their stock. This is how you hurt them. You hurt them by bleeding their wallets.
Step 1: Block attempt to pass this ridiculous law in the senate. If this law passes we fundraise and replace all the senators that voted it in. repeal the ammendment and move on. Win in court. Protect the family farm. Make a sensible case that will benefit the economy and create jobs and you have a serious chance of gaining traction.
Step 2: Continue to build public awareness. Win the PR battle. To beat these companies we have to beat them at their game. This is about the free flow of information. This is about educating people on what is good for them. This means getting more organized. Getting more deliberate. Plan, plan, plan. Execute. Plan some more.
Step 3: Grass roots baby! The internet has toppled governments. It can beat monsanto. Bottom line is we need to have bi-partisan support on both sides of the border to have a chance at this. We can not afford to be perceived as "leftwing radicals". Treehuggers, hippies or anything of the sort if we are going to be able to have enough poticial tranction to force the mainstream media to pickup the cause.
Talk is cheap and our politicians need to put a pen to paper. We need to hold these guys publicly accountable for every single decision that they make. There needs to be a massive shift in what the majority of people deem to be an acceptable level of public accountability.
Alicia, you and your friends have a high proile. People love celebreties. They will listen. So many of you are using your visibility for good. But I figure more can still be done.
I believe in my heart of hearts that we can turn the tide on this. sitting around saying things like beating them is naive. Taking on this cause is idealistic and a waste of time is not the attitude that we need to have to beat this.
It can be done. I must be done. Failure is not an option. Failure to take this head on with everything that we have will only result in the slow death of our species. The planet will recover, we will not. -
This week, the Senate is debating a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the “must-pass” FY 2013 Appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee just added the so-called Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 735), which will strip federal courts of the authority to halt the sale and planting of illegal, potentially hazardous GE crops while USDA is performing an environmental impact statement.
If this provision is becomes law, it will be a huge blow to the justice system, completely overriding judicial safeguards that protect both farmers and the public, and rendering judges’ rulings irrelevant. This Monsanto-driven rider is simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant GE crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally. -
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Signed and sent a message. The USDA should be looking out for the consumer, but it seems they only want a kickback. I think as health issues become more prevalent amongst citizens there will be a shift in congressional voting that will shake Washington and bring justice for the people. I hope many more will sign. I am sharing on my Facebook.
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IT CAN'T BE DONE! MONSANTO is too big. They have people who will destroy you financially--and/or KILL YOU. This is No Joke, sadly! You cannot stop Monsanto. Just like TYSON....same-same, sadly! :(
Ty-K-
seriously can't be done! Of course it can be done!Remember the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Small groups of like minded folks is what historically, gets thing done. Change happens. Have faith
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You're very young, very naive, or both. Watch the DVD: FOOD, INC (2008)
My orig statement stands!
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