ACTION ALERTS
STOP GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA!
May 24, 2010 10:46 AM
Senator Leahy and Representative DeFazio are circulating a Congressional sign-on letter in the House and Senate "Asking USDA to Maintain the Ban on Genetically Engineered Alfalfa"
Contact your Senators and Representative Today
If you do not know who they are click here.
Call: the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202)224-3121 and ask for your Senator/Representative's office.
Speak with the agriculture staff person or leave a message:
►Ask them to sign on to the "Dear Colleague Letter to USDA about Banning GE Alfalfa"
Contact your Senators and Representative Today
If you do not know who they are click here.
Call: the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202)224-3121 and ask for your Senator/Representative's office.
Speak with the agriculture staff person or leave a message:
►Ask them to sign on to the "Dear Colleague Letter to USDA about Banning GE Alfalfa"
Protect Your Right to Know Which Foods Contain GMOs
May 04, 2010 10:44 AM
Please send this URGENT message to U.S. Government leaders to protect your right to know which foods are made from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Click HERE and send an email today to the Secretaries of State (Clinton), Agriculture (Vilsack), and Health and Human Services (Sebelius). Please try to do this before Wednesday, May 5th, but don’t stop until they come around.
They must stop U.S. negotiators at an international (Codex) conference from May 3-7, from pushing an agenda that could make it difficult for anyone, anywhere in the world to label foods as genetically modified (GM) – or even make non-GMO claims on their product’s label.
The U.S. is taking the ridiculous and unscientific position that GMOs are not different from conventional foods, claiming labels that say GMO or non-GMO are misleading.
If they succeed at the meeting, the U.S. may then file lawsuits through the World Trade Organization against any country that implements mandatory labeling of GMOs, or even allows non-GMO claims on packages.
This Is a Grave Threat to the Non-GMO Tipping Point – We Must Push Back Now!
The growing evidence and concern about health dangers of GMOs is making waves. A renowned US Medical organization (American Academy of Environmental Medicine) called on doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. Consumers are seeking non-GMO brands, and the fastest growing claim among store brands in 2009 was “GMO-Free” (Neilson Survey). The trade journal Supermarket News predicts GMO concerns will erupt this year, specifically because consumers are now given choices by the new Non-GMO Shopping Guide website and the Non-GMO Project’s third-party verified standard for making non-GMO claims.
Most Americans (53%) say they would avoid GMOs if they were labeled. But even 5% would likely be enough to create a tipping point of consumer rejection, forcing all GM ingredients out of our food supply.
We can see the tipping point just over the horizon, but it is now threatened by the US position at Codex.
Tell our government leaders that you will not stand for this outrageous obstruction of our democracy and human rights. Demand that the U.S. support the right for countries everywhere to label GMOs. And remind them that 9 out of 10 Americans want mandatory GMO labeling, and that President Obama actually made a campaign pledge to implement it—which are all waiting for.
Click HERE and send an email today to the Secretaries of State (Clinton), Agriculture (Vilsack), and Health and Human Services (Sebelius). Please try to do this before Wednesday, May 5th, but don’t stop until they come around.
They must stop U.S. negotiators at an international (Codex) conference from May 3-7, from pushing an agenda that could make it difficult for anyone, anywhere in the world to label foods as genetically modified (GM) – or even make non-GMO claims on their product’s label.
The U.S. is taking the ridiculous and unscientific position that GMOs are not different from conventional foods, claiming labels that say GMO or non-GMO are misleading.
If they succeed at the meeting, the U.S. may then file lawsuits through the World Trade Organization against any country that implements mandatory labeling of GMOs, or even allows non-GMO claims on packages.
This Is a Grave Threat to the Non-GMO Tipping Point – We Must Push Back Now!
The growing evidence and concern about health dangers of GMOs is making waves. A renowned US Medical organization (American Academy of Environmental Medicine) called on doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. Consumers are seeking non-GMO brands, and the fastest growing claim among store brands in 2009 was “GMO-Free” (Neilson Survey). The trade journal Supermarket News predicts GMO concerns will erupt this year, specifically because consumers are now given choices by the new Non-GMO Shopping Guide website and the Non-GMO Project’s third-party verified standard for making non-GMO claims.
Most Americans (53%) say they would avoid GMOs if they were labeled. But even 5% would likely be enough to create a tipping point of consumer rejection, forcing all GM ingredients out of our food supply.
We can see the tipping point just over the horizon, but it is now threatened by the US position at Codex.
Tell our government leaders that you will not stand for this outrageous obstruction of our democracy and human rights. Demand that the U.S. support the right for countries everywhere to label GMOs. And remind them that 9 out of 10 Americans want mandatory GMO labeling, and that President Obama actually made a campaign pledge to implement it—which are all waiting for.
Say NO To Bad Rules Regarding GMOs
May 03, 2010 11:06 AM
If the U.S. government has its way, a powerful intergovernmental group you’ve probably never heard of may soon prevent anyone anywhere from labeling genetically modified (GMO) food.
Operated by the United Nations, the Codex Alimentarius is a collection of guidelines, codes and recommendations regarding food safety and labeling standards which are used by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to settle international disputes regarding food and agricultural trade agreements.
The U.S. Delegation to the Codex meeting is adopting a position that would make it virtually impossible to label foods as "GMO-free" anywhere in the world. Click on the link below to stop this end-run around our democratic process and make sure the voice of the American people is heard on GMO labeling.
Operated by the United Nations, the Codex Alimentarius is a collection of guidelines, codes and recommendations regarding food safety and labeling standards which are used by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to settle international disputes regarding food and agricultural trade agreements.
The U.S. Delegation to the Codex meeting is adopting a position that would make it virtually impossible to label foods as "GMO-free" anywhere in the world. Click on the link below to stop this end-run around our democratic process and make sure the voice of the American people is heard on GMO labeling.
Farm Aid Needs Your Help
April 14, 2010 12:34 PM
Time is running out to help save family dairy farmers. We only have one day left to demand that the USDA set a fair price for dairy — please speak up now.
Take Action Now To Save Family Dairy Farmers
April 09, 2010 01:03 PM
All across the country, family dairy farmers are struggling to survive a crisis that has already driven many of them off their land. Unless we act now, more and more family farmers will lose their land, their homes, and their livelihood in the coming months.
Should Organic Beef Cattle Be Permitted To Be Confined In Feedlots?
April 09, 2010 10:25 AM
Should organic ruminants such as a dairy cows and beef cattle -- which have evolved to eat grass -- be permitted to be kept in feedlots or should they be required by USDA organic regulations to obtain at least a portion of their feed directly from pasture?
According to the USDA's new organic pasture rule, released in February 2010, pasture grazing is required in organic dairy production, but organic beef cattle may be exempt from obtaining any of their feed from pasture during the last four months of their lives.
Learn more and send your comments to the USDA before the April 19th deadline.
According to the USDA's new organic pasture rule, released in February 2010, pasture grazing is required in organic dairy production, but organic beef cattle may be exempt from obtaining any of their feed from pasture during the last four months of their lives.
Learn more and send your comments to the USDA before the April 19th deadline.
Tell Justice Thomas To Recuse Himself
March 25, 2010 01:50 PM
Tell Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to Remove Himself from Supreme Court GMO Sugar Beet Case.
J.E.M. Ag Supply v. Pioneer Hi-Bred, 534 U.S. 124 (2001) granted large biotech corporations like Monsanto extensive patent protection over genetically modified seeds. This case was authored by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, former General Counsel for Monsanto.
In Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms, No. 09-475, the U.S. Supreme Court will review an appellate court decision ruling that the USDA illegally approved Monsanto's GM sugar beets without determining whether organic farmers, consumers or the environment would be adversely effected.
Justice Thomas has an obvious conflict of interest and should recuse himself, but he has decided to reserve his power to rule on the GM sugar beet case.
As one blogger put it, "Fox, meet henhouse."
Please sign OCA's petition to Justice Thomas
J.E.M. Ag Supply v. Pioneer Hi-Bred, 534 U.S. 124 (2001) granted large biotech corporations like Monsanto extensive patent protection over genetically modified seeds. This case was authored by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, former General Counsel for Monsanto.
In Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms, No. 09-475, the U.S. Supreme Court will review an appellate court decision ruling that the USDA illegally approved Monsanto's GM sugar beets without determining whether organic farmers, consumers or the environment would be adversely effected.
Justice Thomas has an obvious conflict of interest and should recuse himself, but he has decided to reserve his power to rule on the GM sugar beet case.
As one blogger put it, "Fox, meet henhouse."
Please sign OCA's petition to Justice Thomas
Stop Genetically Engineered Alfalfa
March 19, 2010 10:57 AM
Call your Congressional representatives today! Tell them to contact USDA Secretary Vilsack and ask him to deny approval of GE Alfalfa!
Monsanto wants to sell its genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa and wants the USDA to approve its permit application, but consumers, farmers, dairies, and food companies don't want GE alfalfa plants and seeds released into the environment.
USDA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) admits that if GE alfalfa is approved:
Call your Congressional Representatives today and ask them to hold USDA accountable by contacting Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack!
Learn More & Take action
Monsanto wants to sell its genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa and wants the USDA to approve its permit application, but consumers, farmers, dairies, and food companies don't want GE alfalfa plants and seeds released into the environment.
USDA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) admits that if GE alfalfa is approved:
- GE Contamination of non-GE and organic alfalfa crops will occur
- GE contamination will economically impact small and family farmers
- Foreign export markets will be at risk due to rejection of GE contaminated products
- Farmers will be forced to use more toxic herbicides to remove old stands of alfalfa
Call your Congressional Representatives today and ask them to hold USDA accountable by contacting Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack!
Learn More & Take action
Who Controls Your Food Supply?
March 18, 2010 10:07 AM
Did you know that just one company, Monsanto, controls more than 90% of the soybeans grown in the United States? And that they also control more than 80% of U.S. corn?
This extreme concentration of power is not unique to corn and soy. And it’s a big problem — not just for family farmers struggling to compete. Standing between you and the family farmer are a handful of corporations who control our entire food system from seed to plate.
It's time to change who controls our food system and we need your help to do it. Tell the government that you trust family farmers — not agribusiness corporations — with your food!
Corporate concentration has many forms — factory farms, the dairy crisis, genetically engineered food — anything that puts the control of our food into the hands of a few companies and forces farmers out of business and off the land. These issues are finally getting attention — last week, the first in a series of public workshops was held by the Department of Justice and the US Department of Agriculture.
Thanks to Farm Aid supporters like you, family farmers got a chance to speak at these hearings. They told the Department of Justice how corporate concentration threatens their ability to make a decent living. Farm Aid staff attended the meeting as well, and I can say that it was a step in the right direction.
Now, we need your support to keep the momentum going as more hearings take place across the country throughout 2010. Tell Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that corporate concentration in agriculture is devastating for family farmers, bad for our health, and wrong for consumers like you and me!
This is an historic opportunity for farmers who have been marginalized by agribusiness giants. The government needs to hear from people like you, people who trust the farmers who grow our food — not corporations facing anti-trust investigation.
Please, take a moment right now to tell Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that corporate control has created a food system that lines the pockets of a handful of companies — while bankrupting family farmers and leaving the rest of us hungry for change.
This extreme concentration of power is not unique to corn and soy. And it’s a big problem — not just for family farmers struggling to compete. Standing between you and the family farmer are a handful of corporations who control our entire food system from seed to plate.
It's time to change who controls our food system and we need your help to do it. Tell the government that you trust family farmers — not agribusiness corporations — with your food!
Corporate concentration has many forms — factory farms, the dairy crisis, genetically engineered food — anything that puts the control of our food into the hands of a few companies and forces farmers out of business and off the land. These issues are finally getting attention — last week, the first in a series of public workshops was held by the Department of Justice and the US Department of Agriculture.
Thanks to Farm Aid supporters like you, family farmers got a chance to speak at these hearings. They told the Department of Justice how corporate concentration threatens their ability to make a decent living. Farm Aid staff attended the meeting as well, and I can say that it was a step in the right direction.
Now, we need your support to keep the momentum going as more hearings take place across the country throughout 2010. Tell Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that corporate concentration in agriculture is devastating for family farmers, bad for our health, and wrong for consumers like you and me!
This is an historic opportunity for farmers who have been marginalized by agribusiness giants. The government needs to hear from people like you, people who trust the farmers who grow our food — not corporations facing anti-trust investigation.
Please, take a moment right now to tell Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that corporate control has created a food system that lines the pockets of a handful of companies — while bankrupting family farmers and leaving the rest of us hungry for change.
