Fw: A Bad Choice for Secty of Agriculture...Mr. Genetic-Engineering, OUCH! CALL THEM NOW!

[Guest guest]

>>Natural Health Supporters -

>>It is now being widely reported that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is

>>being considered for the Secretary of Agriculture position in the Obama

>>Administration. Vilsack is a notorious cheerleader for genetically

>>engineered crops and chemical and energy-intensive industrial

>>agriculture--certainly no friend of organic food and farming. Tom

>>Vilsack's appointment would represent a major disappointment for the

>>Organic Consumers Association and its members. But there is still time to

>>make your voice heard.

>>

>>Please

>><http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1751>TakeA\

ctionHere

>

>>-Vilsack has been an ardent supporter of genetically engineered

>>pharmaceutical crops, especially pharmaceutical corn. These crops pose

>>huge risks to human health and the environment.

>>

>>Vilsack is a noted proponent of unsustainable and dangerous genetically

>>engineered crops. The biggest biotechnology industry group, the

>>Biotechnology Industry Organization, named Vilsack Governor of the Year.

>>He was also the founder and former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology

>>Partnership.

>>

>>-Vilsack has fought strongly to limit states' rights to regulate seed, GE

>>crops, pharma crops and other proactive measures. We believe that

>>municipalities and states have the right to enact laws that protect their

>>welfare, health and the environment.

>>

>>-Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a shill for agribusiness

>>biotech giants like Monsanto. Corporations like Monsanto threaten human

>>health and sustainable agriculture with their toxic products.

>>

>>-Vilsack is an ardent supporter of corn and soy based biofuels, which use

>>as much or more fossil energy to produce them as they generate, while

>>driving up world food prices and literally starving the poor.

>>~~~~~~~~

>>

>>According to a major study from the United Nations presented October 22nd,

>>2008:

>>The research conducted by the UN Environment Programme suggests that

>>organic, small-scale farming can deliver the increased yields which were

>>thought to be the preserve of industrial farming, without the

>>environmental and social damage which that form of agriculture brings with

>>it. An analysis of 114 projects in 24 African countries found that yields

>>had more than doubled where organic, or near-organic practices had been

>>used. That increase in yield jumped 128 per cent in east Africa.

>><http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/organic-farming-could-feed-afr\

ica-968641.html>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/organic-farming-c\

ould-feed-africa-968641.html

>>

>>Shun GM and its hollow, distinctly NON-humanitarian promises to " feed the

>>world " (with corporately owned seeds that cross-pollinate with natural

>>species, cannot be saved and must be purchased annually). Demand that GM

>>foods be labeled. Support the stance of countries who stand up to the WTO

>>against GM crops and food. Don't buy the stuff (organic does not contain

>>GM), and please don't support appointing a biotech shill as the Secretary

>>of Agriculture!

>>

>>Please

>><http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1751>TakeA\

ctionHere