--- Laurel Hopwood <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:39:31 -0400
> To: [log in to unmask]
> From: Laurel Hopwood <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: TAKE ACTION ON TRANSGENIC CONTAMINATION
>
> TAKE ACTION ON TRANSGENIC CONTAMINATION
> and please forward this to your listservs,
> newsletters, etc
>
> Farmers planting non-GE (genetically engineered)
> crops are being sued by
> Gene Giant Monsanto for growing GE crops which have
> trespassed onto their
> land!  The entire future of organic farming is being
> threatened as pollen
> is spread by insects and the wind from GE crops onto
> organic farms. The
> outcrossing of plants genetically engineered to be
> herbicide resistant
> raises serious questions regarding the emergence of
> "superweeds" that don't
> die no matter what herbicide is applied. Genetically
> engineered corn is
> contaminating the world's most important maize
> center in Mexico!
>
> Not only farmers but all of nature is at risk from
> genetic contamination as
> more and more patents are being granted for
> shuffling together the genes of
> widely varied species, such as animal and bacterial
> genes into plants.
>
> Sierra Club is asking Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman
> of the U.S. Senate
> Committee on Agriculture to hold hearings on the
> contamination caused by
> the planting of genetically engineered crops.
> Farmers, consumers and
> environmentalists can be on the same side of this
> one -- please join your
> voice to this appeal!
>
> Contact The Honorable Tom Harkin.
> Write him: U.S. Senate, 731 Hart Senate Office
> Bldg., Washington DC 20510
> Call:  (202) 224-3254         Fax: (202) 224-9369
> or e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> Sample message
> Dear Senator Harkin,
>
>     I'm writing to ask that you, in your position as
> Chairman of the U.S.
> Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
> Forestry, schedule hearings
> regarding the contamination of organically grown
> crops and all crops
> intended to be sold as GEO-free.
>     Scientific studies indicate that genetically
> engineered (GE) pollen is
> contaminating the crops of farmers who are not
> planting GE crops. This
> creates a perilous situation for organic farmers who
> are rightly concerned
> that they may not be able to market their product as
> organic. Many farmers
> are being charged with patent infringement by the
> manufacturers of
> transgenic seeds for the corporations' transgenic
> crops growing on their
> land despite the fact that these farmers did not
> plant GEO seed. On the
> flip side, farmers should not have to sue their
> farming neighbors who plant
> GE crops when these neighboring fields cause genetic
> contamination to the
> farmer who plants GEO-free.
>     Many consumers want the choice to purchase
> products that do not contain
> GEO ingredients.  As the food supply gets
> contaminated, i.e. by pollen
> flow, wind, birds, insects, grain elevators, etc,
> consumers may not have
> any choice. Plain and simply, this is not fair to
> the consumer.
>     There is also evidence that transgenic plants
> are creating superweeds.
>  There is concern, too, that the genetic code which
> is released out of
> doors may ultimately harm the natural environment.
> In one sense, a "gene
> spill" like Starlink is akin to an oil spill but,
> because genetic code is
> self-propagating, environmental cleanup would be
> even less effective.
>  Therefore I implore you, Senator Harkin, to
> schedule hearings to include a
> broad cross section of views, including those of
> farmers, consumers, and
> environmentalists, regarding these important issues.
>     Sincerely,
>     XX
>
> For more info, contact Laurel Hopwood, Sierra Club
> Genetic Engineering
> Committee Chair,
> at [log in to unmask] or 216-371-9779 (call
> before 8 PM EST)
> View: www.sierraclub.org/biotech/references.asp
> To subscribe to the biotech forum, contact Jim
> Diamond at
> [log in to unmask]
> For a free copy of the video, Heartbreak in the
> Heartland, contact Laurel
> Hopwood.
>
> io
>
>


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