I do not know if any of you are aware of this, but the Federal government is attempting to outlaw organic food. Farming, production, import and consumption. We must act now! Below is an article with links to all of the information, including how to contact your congressional representative to stop this. The congressional vote is in less than two weeks: Food Endangered
Today we are facing the greatest threat to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” our country has ever faced, the criminalization of food.
There is a bill moving through Congress at an alarming rate. This bill H.R. 875 “Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009” is supported by Monsanto Corporation and seek to outlaw the seeds, farming, production, import and consumption of any food not genetically modified and pesticized, i.e. organic food.
The details of this bill, sponsored by Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, who has a questionable percentage of campaign dollars from the large farming industry, cover too many issues for this article, so please be advised these are just the highlights.
Our idea of Liberty is based on Democracy, by the people and for the people, by intentionally allowing a greedy corporation to create a food monopoly we are not protecting the most basic liberty of the people. The company behind this bill, Monsanto specializes in genetically modified seeds, you may recognize their name from the Manhatten project, Agent Orange, Napalm and a massive amount of childhood deaths in Anniston Alabama*. (You can view Monsato’s Green Peace Criminal record here: http://web.archive.org/web/20070428090711/http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/usa/press/reports/monsanto-greenpeace-corporat.html)
The idea of Life in the Declaration of Independence does not seek to protect our social life, but instead offers us protection from the unwilling endangerment of our lives. GM food has a wide range of carcinogens (cancer causing agents), as well as food born illnesses proving to be unresponsive to drugs (British Medical Association) and a decrease in bio-diversity in the farming community leading to the massive sterilization of plants and soil**. These side effects would lead to untold numbers of deaths and a massive increase in medical spending***. Not to mention, side effects are most potent in people who are old, young or already ill. These studies do not even take into account the required use of pesticides.
Now we come to the pursuit of happiness. The current economic crisis is the biggest concern of our nation and this bill would only serve to compound the problem, most assuredly inhibiting any pursuit of happiness by increasing job loss and farming revenue.. The organic farming industry employs millions of people and generated $7.8 billion in revenue in 2000 (USDA@). “Small-scale farming is a major growth area and offers the best opportunity for entering the occupation.” (Bureau of labor Statistics 08-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook).**** The US Department of Agriculture says, ‘An increasing number of U.S. farmers are adopting these systems in order to lower input costs, conserve nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets, and boost farm income. ’ (http://www.ers.usda.gov/features/organic/organicfarming.htm ) The same article also states that the organic industry has grown 20%-24% year over year and is the fastest growing agricultural sector. Most of these operations are our neighbors, mom and pops, farms, co-ops, farmers’ markets and other local entities. During a time when consumers are limiting spending to necessities (food is a necessity) and local retail why would we want to remove a profitable sector to benefit another irresponsible corporation at the potential expense of our lives?
Additionally, there are countries that depend on the import/export of our organic farming industry. “Global demand for organic products continues to grow, with sales increasing by over $5 billion a year, according to The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics & Emerging Trends 2008. It cited Organic Monitor estimates that international sales reached $38.6 billion dollars in 2006, double that in 2000. The most important import markets for organic products continue to be the European Union, the United States, and Japan.
Source: The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics & Emerging Trends 2008”(Organic Trade Association)
One last thing to consider, 0% of the “food safety outbreaks” these bills are claiming to protect against come from organic farms*****. All outbreaks come from other farms and large scale manufacturers, don’t you feel safer already?
“We the citizens of the United States of America” can not sit by and let another administration, congresss and muliti-national corporation put the World and our country at unspeakable risk for monetary gain. Now is the time to Facebook, Twitter, Ning, write and, most importantly, CALL the congressional representatives. (You can find phone numbers and e-mails herehttps://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml, a petition here http://www.leavemyfoodalone.org/ and the bills here http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875).
As a fellow citizen I beg you to protect our economy, to protect yourself and to keep the voice of Democracy strong.
Evidence
*http://stlcin.missouri.org/history/peopledetail.cfm?Master_ID=1826
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.11.00/cover/gen-food2-0019.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto%2C_Agent_Orange_and_Dioxins
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto's_Global_Pollution_Legacy
** http://www.raw-wisdom.com/genetically-modified-food
*** http://www.i-sis.org.uk/list.php
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/impacts-of-genetic.html
http://www.ethicalinvesting.com/monsanto/news/10051.htm
http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/fda.html
**** http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos176.htm
@http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/FoodReview/Jan2001/FRV24I1f.pdf
***** http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/
Written by JamieLBrennan@gmail.com