I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about this on mdc yet and very much hope I am not violating tos by posting it.....
Please take a minute to leave comments opposing GE alfalfa on the usda site!
ACTION ALERT ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ALFALFA
Now is your chance to demand that USDA protect food from contamination by
genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa! USDA just released its draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) on GE alfalfa and comments are due February 16, 2010.
TELL USDA NOT TO APPROVE MONSANTO'S GE ALFALFA
In the EIS, USDA claims that there is no evidence that consumers care about GE
contamination of organic alfalfa. But while consumers might not eat alfalfa
directly, alfalfa is a major feed for cows and other livestock. There have been
no studies showing that GE alfalfa is safe for feeding to livestock or what
effect feeding GE-alfalfa has on the meat or milk from such animals. Because of
the risk of contamination of non-GE crops, approval of GE alfalfa could
ultimately make it impossible for farmers to find GE-free sources for their
livestock.
Protect your milk and meat by commenting now! Below are some recommended talking
points.
COMMENTS ARE DUE FEBRUARY 16, 2010
HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS
1) Submit comments online through the government website: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Re...900006480a6b7\
a1
Click on "submit comment" (look at the upper right-hand corner of the box)
2) You can also submit comments through the Center for Food Safety's website,
http://ga3.org/campaign/alfalfaEIS
3) For written, mailed comments, send two copies to: Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers
to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044.
TALKING POINTS
--As a consumer, you do not want to buy GE-alfalfa-derived meat and dairy
products. USDA claims that consumers will not be harmed by the approval of GE
alfalfa, but has not conducted studies of the effects of feeding GE alfalfa to
livestock.
--It is wrong to leave farmers, whether organic or conventional, vulnerable to
contamination of their crops. Alfalfa is open-pollinated by bees. With bees
traveling 4 to 6 miles, they can potentially spread the patented, foreign DNA to
distant conventional and organic crops. The potential for biological
contamination from a neighbor's field, even miles away, threatens the livelihood
of organic farmers, dairies, and other livestock producers. The farmers may also
be subject to harassment by Monsanto if Monsanto's investigators find DNA from
GE alfalfa mixed in with the farmer's crops.
--GE alfalfa would be the first perennial crop to be approved for genetic
modification and release. GE-contaminated plants could be scattered along the
roadsides and in fields, living and producing more GE-contaminated pollen for
years.
--Monsanto's business practices do NOT protect farmers from contamination. USDA
claims that Monsanto's seed contracts require measures sufficient to prevent GE
contamination. But USDA is ignoring the evidence of widespread GE contamination
of canola, soy, and corn.
--GE alfalfa would significantly increase pesticide use, harming both human
health and the environment. USDA admits (correctly) that introduction of Roundup
Ready alfalfa will increase Roundup use. However, USDA's claims that the
increase is not significant and that Roundup will replace other, more toxic
herbicides are wrong and unsupported by any evidence.
--USDA should NOT approve genetically engineered crops that benefit one large
company at the expense of family farms. USDA concludes that GE alfalfa will
cause production to shift to larger farms (that can afford built-in isolation
distances) and conventional growers who are not threatened by GE contamination,
but that these economic shifts are not significant. This is a continuation of
the "get big or get out" policy that has caused myriad problems over the last
several decades, and it needs to stop!
MORE INFORMATION
Check out the Center for Food Safety's fact sheet on GE alfalfa here:
http://www.nationalorganiccoalition....ingptfinal.pdf
Please take a minute to leave comments opposing GE alfalfa on the usda site!
ACTION ALERT ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ALFALFA
Now is your chance to demand that USDA protect food from contamination by
genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa! USDA just released its draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) on GE alfalfa and comments are due February 16, 2010.
TELL USDA NOT TO APPROVE MONSANTO'S GE ALFALFA
In the EIS, USDA claims that there is no evidence that consumers care about GE
contamination of organic alfalfa. But while consumers might not eat alfalfa
directly, alfalfa is a major feed for cows and other livestock. There have been
no studies showing that GE alfalfa is safe for feeding to livestock or what
effect feeding GE-alfalfa has on the meat or milk from such animals. Because of
the risk of contamination of non-GE crops, approval of GE alfalfa could
ultimately make it impossible for farmers to find GE-free sources for their
livestock.
Protect your milk and meat by commenting now! Below are some recommended talking
points.
COMMENTS ARE DUE FEBRUARY 16, 2010
HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS
1) Submit comments online through the government website: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Re...900006480a6b7\
a1
Click on "submit comment" (look at the upper right-hand corner of the box)
2) You can also submit comments through the Center for Food Safety's website,
http://ga3.org/campaign/alfalfaEIS
3) For written, mailed comments, send two copies to: Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers
to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044.
TALKING POINTS
--As a consumer, you do not want to buy GE-alfalfa-derived meat and dairy
products. USDA claims that consumers will not be harmed by the approval of GE
alfalfa, but has not conducted studies of the effects of feeding GE alfalfa to
livestock.
--It is wrong to leave farmers, whether organic or conventional, vulnerable to
contamination of their crops. Alfalfa is open-pollinated by bees. With bees
traveling 4 to 6 miles, they can potentially spread the patented, foreign DNA to
distant conventional and organic crops. The potential for biological
contamination from a neighbor's field, even miles away, threatens the livelihood
of organic farmers, dairies, and other livestock producers. The farmers may also
be subject to harassment by Monsanto if Monsanto's investigators find DNA from
GE alfalfa mixed in with the farmer's crops.
--GE alfalfa would be the first perennial crop to be approved for genetic
modification and release. GE-contaminated plants could be scattered along the
roadsides and in fields, living and producing more GE-contaminated pollen for
years.
--Monsanto's business practices do NOT protect farmers from contamination. USDA
claims that Monsanto's seed contracts require measures sufficient to prevent GE
contamination. But USDA is ignoring the evidence of widespread GE contamination
of canola, soy, and corn.
--GE alfalfa would significantly increase pesticide use, harming both human
health and the environment. USDA admits (correctly) that introduction of Roundup
Ready alfalfa will increase Roundup use. However, USDA's claims that the
increase is not significant and that Roundup will replace other, more toxic
herbicides are wrong and unsupported by any evidence.
--USDA should NOT approve genetically engineered crops that benefit one large
company at the expense of family farms. USDA concludes that GE alfalfa will
cause production to shift to larger farms (that can afford built-in isolation
distances) and conventional growers who are not threatened by GE contamination,
but that these economic shifts are not significant. This is a continuation of
the "get big or get out" policy that has caused myriad problems over the last
several decades, and it needs to stop!
MORE INFORMATION
Check out the Center for Food Safety's fact sheet on GE alfalfa here:
http://www.nationalorganiccoalition....ingptfinal.pdf
