POLITICAL - Canadians--extremely urgent action alert re GMO

[Guest guest]

Please pass this on to any Canadians you know, and to your other lists.

Thank you,

Canadians--extremely urgent action alert re GMO

If Bill C-474 is defeated, the implications could be grave...

Whether you've emailed or not, we need EVERYONE to re-contact their MPs again

etc. for this last URGENTanti-GMO surge in support of

Bill C- 474 which will be voted on April 14th.

Please follow red links below - this take ONLY minutes - AND/or if you have

time, far better write a hand written letter w/

photocopies, all postage free to:

Ignatieff, Liberal Pary Leader

Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture

Atamenenko NDP Agriculture Critic

Wayne Easter, Liberal Critic

Andre Bellavance, Bloc Quebecois Agriculture Critic

House of Parliament * (postage-free)

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A OA6

Save Bill C-474 on April 14! Your new action can stop the biotech industry from

defeating this Bill!

Dear Rukshana,

Your actions are making a huge difference. The biotech industry has launched a

heavy lobbying campaign to stop Bill C-474. Despite

this industry pressure, the Liberals spoke in favour of Bill C-474 tonight - but

their voice was not strong enough to drown out

Conservative opposition, yet. The Conservatives voted against the Bill, but Bill

C-474 is not dead yet. The official vote on Bill

C-474 will happen on April 14!

Bill C-474 would require that " an analysis of potential harm to export markets

be conducted before the sale of any new genetically

engineered seed is permitted. " The Bill could stop GE alfalfa and GE wheat.

The industry association CropLife is so worried about the influence of your

letters that they have copied CBAN's campaign, asking

their own public to write to MPs as well. (You can have a peek at the copy-cat

campaign here:

<http://www.croplife.ca/web/english/biotechnology/Bill_C-474>

http://www.croplife.ca/web/english/biotechnology/Bill_C-474). We also

know that key Liberal MPs have been under a lot of pressure from the biotech

industry, including a steady stream of calls to their

offices. But your voices are still being heard!

Here are some ways you can make a difference, today:

1. We have set up a new action. You can write an instant letter to

Ignatieff, Liberal Party leader from CBAN's website

<http://cban.ca/liberalact474> http://cban.ca/liberalact474 Ask him to make sure

all Liberal MPs are present on April 14 to vote in

favour of Bill C-474. Tonight, the Liberal Party spoke in favour of a

transparent debate on the Bill in the Agriculture Committee

but will they vote for the Bill on April 14? (The NDP and Bloc support the

Bill.)

2. You can also send your MP another letter from <http://cban.ca/474action>

http://cban.ca/474action - Your continued pressure is

important.

3. Below is an action alert that you can send around to your family, friends,

and around your community. For more information and

other action see <http://cban.ca/474> http://cban.ca/474

4. Please consider supporting CBAN's work with a financial contribution so we

can continue this strong campaigning. CBAN is a small

organization that is entirely funded by charitable donations and small project

grants. CBAN has limited resources but is up against

well-financed corporate giants like Monsanto. Donate online to keep this work

going and to help us start our new campaign to stop

the GE " EnviropigT " at <http://cban.ca/donate> http://cban.ca/donate

Please join us to stop GE crops from causing untold harm to Canadian farmers.

Thank you for your continued action and support, Best regards

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

P.S. Contact me any time at 613 241 2267 ext.6 or

<mailto:coordinator%40cban.ca> coordinator@...

Action Alert. Please distribute widely.

Action Alert #3: Take New Action before April 14, 2010!

Support Bill C-474 - before April 14, 2010 - Support Canada's Farmers! You can

stop GE Alfalfa and GE Wheat!

Write an instant letter to Ignatieff, Liberal Party leader from

<http://cban.ca/liberalact474> http://cban.ca/liberalact474

and ask him to make sure the Liberals pass the Bill on April 14.

You can also write to your MP at <http://cban.ca/474action>

http://cban.ca/474action

Bill C-474 was voted down but not out on April 1. The Liberals support the Bill

in words - but will they support with enough votes

on April 14?

Private Members Bill C-474 was debated on March 17, and April 1 with an oral

vote. The recorded, official vote will happen on April

14.

Your concrete action could stop genetically engineered (GE) seeds from causing

chaos in Canadian farming!

Bill C-474 would require that " an analysis of potential harm to export markets

be conducted before the sale of any new genetically

engineered seed is permitted. " The Bill could stop GE alfalfa and GE wheat.

This Bill is critically important because, as we know from experience, the

introduction of new genetically engineered (GE) crops can

cause economic hardship to farmers. Farmers are at risk when GE crops are

commercialized in Canada without also being approved in

our major export markets.

Flax farmers in Canada are now paying a heavy price because of this exact

problem. Late last year, Canadian flax exports were

discovered contaminated with a GE flax that is not approved in Europe or in any

of our other export markets (except the U.S.). Flax

farmers actually foresaw that GE contamination or even the threat of

contamination would close their export markets. That's why they

took steps in 2001 to remove GE flax from the market. Despite this measure, flax

farmers were not protected. The GE flax

contamination closed our export markets in 2009. It has created market

uncertainty and depressed prices. Farmers are also paying for

testing and cleanup and may be required to abandon their own farm-saved flax

seed and buy certified seed instead. These costs are an

unnecessary and preventable burden.

We cannot allow GE seeds to harm our export markets. Please support Bill C-474

and protect Canada's farmers.

Write an instant letter to Ignatieff, Liberal Party leader before April

14 <http://cban.ca/liberalact474>

http://cban.ca/liberalact474

Bill C-474 was introduced by Atamanenko, the NDP Agriculture Critic and MP

for British Columbia Southern Interior.

For updates, more info and action options, see <http://cban.ca/474>

http://cban.ca/474 or contact Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator,

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network <mailto:coordinator%40cban.ca>

coordinator@... 613 241 2267 ext. 6

This action alert was issued by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)

<http://cban.ca> http://cban.ca

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)

Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice

431 Gilmour Street, Second Floor

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 0R5

Phone: 613 241 2267 ext.6

Fax: 613 241 2506

<mailto:coordinator%40cban.ca> coordinator@...

www.cban.ca <http://www.cban.ca/>