“Why do we continue to throw precaution to the wind?” Dennis Kucinich

 

“Today the Supreme Court ruled that when it comes to genetically modified organisms, we as consumers have to wait until the damage is done and obvious before we can act to protect health and the environment, even if that damage could be irreversible.”

“Haven’t we learned from the catastrophe in the Gulf of the dangers of technological arrogance, of proceeding ahead with technologies without worrying about the consequences? Why do we continue to throw precaution to the wind?

“Tomorrow I will introduce three bills that will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all Genetically Engineered (GE) plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms. To ensure we can maximize benefits and minimize hazards, Congress must provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all GE products. Structured as a common-sense precaution to ensure GE foods do no harm, these bills will ensure that consumers are protected, food safety measures are strengthened, farmers’ rights are better protected and biotech companies are responsible for their products.”

– Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), on June 21, 2010, after the Supreme Court voted 7-1 to allow the experimental planting of genetically modified alfalfa seed before an environmental review is completed.

GM ALFALFA RULING BY US SUPREME COURT HAS SWEEPING IMPLICATIONS FOR CANADIAN FARMERS AND ALL CITIZENS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

                   ” Experience with canola and flax in Canada and rice and other crops in the US shows that GM alfalfa, if approved, will contaminate our fields and seed stocks.”                                      

JUNE 22, 2010

SASKATOON, Sask.—Yesterday, the US Supreme Court ruled that genetically-modified (GM) alfalfa cannot be planted or sold in that country.  This ruling has very significant implications for Canadian farmers and all other citizens.  Canada’s National Farmers Union (NFU) participated in an “amicus brief” to the US Supreme Court as part of this case.

The case, Monsanto v. Geerston Farms, marks the first time a GM crop case has been brought before the US Supreme Court.  Ruling on a lower court decision, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on the sale and planting of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa.  The ban will remain in place until the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepares a proper Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and until the USDA succeeds in officially “deregulating” the crop—a move that will be scrutinized and opposed (possibly in court) by many groups.  Work on an EIS and possible deregulation will take at least a year, possibly much longer, giving farmers and others opposed to GM alfalfa time to gain a permanent ban.  The US ruling also makes Canadian GM alfalfa commercialization less likely.

Another pro-Monsanto Supreme Court justice?

 

Barry Estabrook highlights the fact that Kagan filed suit on behalf of MONSANTO in an attempt to overturn the ban on GE alfalfa.  So now we not only would have Clarence Thomas, former Monsanto attorney with a penchant for pornography, we would also have another Monsanto flunkie sitting on the Supreme Court. Not to mention Michael Taylor, the new food “czar” in the White House,   Marti

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Barry Estabrook |  The Atlantic Monthly |  05.12.2010

It’s a good thing for Elena Kagan that there’s no non-GMO litmus test for Supreme Court nominees. She’d flunk.

Monsanto…….when will the courts move to stop this threat to the world food supply

by: Marti Oakley (c)copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved

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The idea that the contamination world-wide from genetically altered crops seems never to end;  Monsanto employees, both current and former now residing in specially created offices in the Obama Adminsitration and at least one former Monsanto attorney holding a seat on the Supreme Court it would appear the deck is stacked against not only farmers, but also consumers.

Although three lower courts have struck down Monsanto’s appeals to have GE Alfalfa approved for use, it appears an appeal to the Supreme Court scheduled for April 27, 2010 could pave the way for the use of what is widely viewed as the greatest threat to natural crops in decades.

Canadians fighting back against GE Wheat & Alfalfa

From our Canadian correspondent: Sandra Finely

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(GE = genetically engineered.

GMO = genetically modified organism. Same thing.)

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Support Bill C-474 – before April 1, 2010.

Together we can stop GE Alfalfa and GE Wheat.

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 GE “Triffid” flax.  Flax farmers actually foresaw that GE contamination or even the threat of contamination would close their export markets.  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.

Who’s protecting farmers and consumers from GE contamination? Not USDA

Live link:  Center for Food Safety

 

USDA has released for public comment its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on Monsanto’s genetically engineered, Roudup Ready alfalfa, and unfortunately, USDA has not done its job. USDA has ignored the real-life concerns of non-GE alfalfa farmers, dairies, exporters, retailers and consumers. Despite public outcry, USDA’s determination is to once again approve GE alfalfa without any limitations or protections for consumers, the environment, or farmers’ right to sow the crop of their choice without fear of contamination and rejection of their products. Incredibly, USDA claims that consumers don’t care if organic and conventional farmers’ crops are contaminated!

In 2006, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) sued the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on behalf of farmers and others for its illegal approval of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa and won, banning GE alfalfa until the USDA fully analyzed its impacts on the environment, farmers, and the public. However, the resulting EIS is woefully inadequate, leaving farmers and consumers unprotected while Monsanto goes on with business as usual.

This is the first time the USDA has done this type of analysis for any GE crop, so the final decision will have broad implications for all GE crops and for the future of organic agriculture—that is why it’s so important that USDA hear from YOU. USDA is only accepting comments on this EIS through March 3, 2010, so please take action today!

Tell USDA that protecting farmers and consumers is its job and demand they reject approval of Monsanto’s GE alfalfa!

Tell me more

USDA Poised to Approve Widespread, Risky Field Trial of GE Trees

http://truefoodnow.org/ On Wed, 7/1/09, Center for Food Safety office@centerforfoodsafety.org The biotechnology firm ArborGen has asked the USDA for permission to conduct 29 field trials of genetically engineered “cold tolerant” eucalyptus trees in the U.S. For the first time in history, this massive experiment, which is on the verge of being green-lighted, will literally be using nature as the laboratory to test more than 260,000 genetically engineered trees. Scientists across the U.S. are voicing concerns over this proposal. As it did with GE alfalfa, USDA failed to conduct and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comprehensively address all the relevant issues related to the proposed eucalyptus field trials. Scientists at Duke University in North Carolina have created pollen models that show tree pollen traveling from a forest in North Carolina for over 1,000 kilometers northward into eastern Canada. A study published in the New Physiologist found pine pollen 600 kilometers from the nearest pines. Scientists researching sterility in trees have admitted that 100 percent guaranteed sterility in GE trees is impossible. This evidence implies that if GE trees are released into the environment, widespread and irreversible contamination of native forests cannot be prevented. Contamination of natural trees by GE eucalyptus could pose a severe environmental threat. Eucalyptus grow well in warm climates, so engineering them to tolerate cold temperatures removes the only barrier to their unrestricted spread. In some places where eucalyptus have been introduced, they are well known for escaping and colonizing native ecosystems. For example, eucalyptus is listed as an invasive species and a costly plant pest in California. The spread of these plants into the wild through seeds and plant matter is highly likely, and the impacts on native ecosystems from this invader are largely unknown. Additionally, one of the experimental GE tree varieties is a known host for cryptococcus gatti, a fatal fungal pathogen whose spores cause meningitis in people and animals.