In a message dated 7/26/2012 12:53:07 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Farmers are bearing the brunt of a punishing drought. But Agriculture
Secretary Vilsack is avoiding any discussion of climate change.
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=1&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
_Tell Secretary Vilsack that we deserve the full story on how climate
change is impacting farmers! _
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=2&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=3&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
_America’s farmers are bearing the brunt of a crushing drought right now.
But Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack refuses to even talk about the
role of climate change. Click here to tell him that’s unacceptable._
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=4&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
Dear Thomas
America is boiling right now and the nation’s farmers are bearing the
brunt.
Faced with the worst drought in 50 years, crop yields are down, grain
prices are at record levels, and livestock producers are being forced to sell
off entire herds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared the
largest federal disaster area in history, spanning over 29 states and
1,300 counties.
Scientists are unequivocal about the links between climate change and
increased droughts. But U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack seems afraid
to even discuss the topic.
At a press conference last Wednesday, a reporter asked Vilsack about the
relationship between the drought and climate change. Vilsack responded: “I’
m not a scientist so I’m not going to opine as to the cause of this.”
When pressed further, Vilsack punted again, saying: “Our focus, to be
honest with you, in a situation like this is on the near term and the immediate
…”
This makes no sense. Of course it's essential that the USDA help farmers
in need right now. But the agency’s leaders must also speak clearly and
consistently to farmers and the American public about how climate change is
impacting our entire farming sector.
This is not the last time that Secretary Vilsack will be discussing the
current drought, which is expected to last all summer. We need to make sure
that next time he doesn't dodge climate questions. Join us and our friends
at Forecast the Facts, which works to ensure Americans receive accurate
information about climate change, to send a strong message to Secretary Vilsack
that supporting America's farmers requires him to tell the full story
about climate change and extreme weather.
_Click here to tell Secretary Vilsack to tell the full story about climate
change and the drought._
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=5&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=7&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=6&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
After the Wednesday press conference, Vilsack continued to dodge the
issue. On Thursday, he refused to answer a direct question about climate change
in a Marketplace radio interview: "I’m not an expert on climate change so
it probably wouldn’t be appropriate for me to respond specifically to that
question."
Vilsack claims he’s not a scientist, and therefore can’t speak on the
subject. But hundreds of scientists work for the USDA, and a core mission of
the Department is to use scientific data to help farmers. In fact, the USDA
has an entire Climate Change Program Office.
In 1989, scientists delivered a report to Congress entitled "The Potential
Effects of Global Climate Change on the United States," which had an
entire chapter discussing how global warming pollution would cause droughts in
the Great Plains even worse than the Dust Bowl era, with a decline in crop
yields of up to 90 percent. Twenty years later, during Secretary Vilsack's
tenure, the USDA contributed to a government-wide report, "Global Climate
Change Impacts on the United States," which concludes that “Global warming is
unequivocal and primarily human-induced.” The study goes on to warn that
current water shortages in the Great Plains would only get worse, “this time
largely due to human-induced climate change.”
It’s simply not credible for Secretary Vilsack to suggest he’s unaware of
the vast body of scientific evidence linking droughts to climate change.
By publicly acknowledging that link now, Vilsack can help American farmers
manage the long-term challenges headed their way.
Congress created the USDA “to acquire and to diffuse among the people of
the United States useful information on subjects connected with agriculture.”
It is well established that greenhouse gas pollution is making droughts,
storms, floods and other threats to agriculture more frequent and extreme.
Farmers, perhaps more than any other Americans, will have to contend with
these harsh realities. They also have an opportunity to fight climate
change with low-carbon farming and sustainable biofuels.
We can protect the future of American farming, but only if we rely on
well-established science. Secretary Vilsack should lead the way by talking
about the facts of man-made climate change before disaster strikes again.
_Please join our petition telling Secretary Vilsack to acknowledge the
role of climate change in the current drought._
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/637?t=8&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
Thanks for participating in food democracy,
Dave, Lisa and the Food Democracy Now! team
MORE INFORMATION
Transcript of Vilsack press conference, 07-18-2012
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/624?t=10&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/623?t=9&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
Vilsack refuses to answer question about climate change, Marketplace,
7-19-2012
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/626?t=12&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/625?t=11&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
Drought spreads, boosts corn to record price, Reuters, 7-19-2012
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/628?t=14&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/627?t=13&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
Livestock Liquidiation: Extreme Drought Forces Farmers to Sell Herds,
Huffington Post, 07-17-2012
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/630?t=16&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/629?t=15&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
The Potential Effects of Global Climate Change on United States: Great
Plains. Rosenzweig, Reibsame. (1989)
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/632?t=18&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/631?t=17&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
Global Climate Change Impacts in the US: Great Plains. (2009)
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/634?t=20&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/633?t=19&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
UCAR: Climate Change May Threaten Much of Globe Within Decades, 07-03-2012
_http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/636?t=22&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu_
(http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/635?t=21&akid=600.51895.Z8n_Pu)
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