If you ever doubted that the executives of Monsanto believe themselves to be above everyone and everything – even the Law – well then, try this one on for size.
Fresh off victory over Prop 37 in California last month which would have required the labeling of GMO foods, Monsanto is trying to one up all of us yet again.
An omnibus appropriations bill for 2013 is currently being drafted behind closed doors by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees with the hope that it will be put to a vote and passed before January 2013.
The lame duck Congress combined with a public distracted with the upcoming holiday season has provided Monsanto with the perfect opportunity to score a fast one.
Monsanto lobbyists are pushing for a rider to the appropriations bill deceptively cloaked as the “farmer assurance provision”.
The true purpose of this biotech rider is to allow Monsanto to cut off the public’s access to the courts in order to stop its rapid and accelerating introduction of new GMOs to the marketplace.
According to the Organic Consumers Association, the Monsanto Rider would give the Secretary of Agriculture the power to grant a temporary permit for planting or cultivating a genetically engineered crop, even if a federal court has ordered the planting be halted until an Environmental Impact Statement is completed!
This Rider would in essence give Monsanto power that is above the law and beyond the courts. Previous court cases have recognized the right of farmers to grow non-GMO crops and the rights of consumers to eat non-GMO foods. Contamination from new GMO crops where an Environmental Impact Statement hasn’t even been completed yet is a very real threat and judges recognize this fact. As a result, Monsanto is trying to bypass the courts completely with this Monsanto Rider sneak attack.
Congress intends to try and pass the 2013 Appropriations Bill before the end of the lame duck session in January 2013 when the new Congress will take over power.
It is imperative that we all pull together to stop this rider from inclusion today!
Click here to fill in your zip code and name which will then automatically find your appropriate US Representative and Senators and send them a letter drafted by the Organic Consumers Association urging them to oppose any efforts to include the Monsanto Rider in the 2013 Appropriations Bill.
You can read the Monsanto rider here: http://appropriations.house.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Signed
You have to enter your name too of course.
Sent it out. In one response I got my Senator stated:
“GE food has been developed to boost nutritional value and agricultural yields, and to increase crops’ resistance to weather conditions, diseases and insects.”
To boost nutritional value???!!!!! Really???!!!! Augh.
Thanks for the link! Did it, and asking friends to sign the petition too. it is wonderful that we can use the internet to spread the message of real food now. Monsanto must be stopped, and it is people like you that sound the trumpets and begin the march to sane healthful foods. Keep on keeping on, sister!
Done!
yup done
Done.
nonsense
Unfortunately my Senators don’t really care, I think. I sent it anyway a few days ago, but I’m not sure that’s the best plan. Monsanto and government is basically interchangeable, they have each other’s back. So to bring Monsanto down, we would essentially need to bring down the government. Uhm, unfortunately I don’t want to leave my kids as orphans, so that will not happen 🙁
This fight is far from being fair and playing nice isn’t getting very far. Don’t blame you for not sinking to their level even though we would all like to take dynamite to Monsanto’s Mutant GMO fields and test labs in reality have to set a good example and continue to educate others to make better choices for their health their future and the chance they might be able to still have grandchildren not born with cancer and birth defects. Stay positive 😉
That’s a bunch of bullxxxx. Monsanto wants there to be appropriate regustration of GM crops it makes sure anyone off the street with no idea of safety practices does something stupid and it actually works.
Will the madness never end? We will FIGHT this. Watch out, Monsanto.