--- begin forwarded text
X-Sent-via: StarNet http://www.azstarnet.com/
Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2000 09:18:16 -0700
From: Wildlife Damage Review <[log in to unmask]>
To: action alerts-to post <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Amer. Farm Bureau
Sender: [log in to unmask]
Wildlife Damage Review members,
We have put out an alert about the American Farm Bureau before, trying
to alert you to their anti-environment, very right-wing policies that do
NOT support family farming or environmental (and therefore OUR) health.
Currently the Farm Bureau has gained a Temporary Restraining Order that
has restricted us and any other public entity wanting information about
Animal Damage Control (ADC) from having access to names, addresses or
phone numbers of cooperators with ADC. That means that we now cannot
find out who uses ADC even though our tax dollars pay for the whole
program (over $50 million and rising)! There is a lawsuit over release
of the names of people who are using poisons on public and private
lands, endangering your pets, hunting dogs, and children. Much of this
poisoning is done without proper signage, on property where the owners
have no knowledge, and local hospitals and poison centers are unaware
that poisons are being used in the area. Dead eagles and other wildlife
are discovered regularly by the Fish & Wildlife Service, victims of
illegal use of poisons. We all have the right to know who is obtaining
such ADC service and what the circumstances are that warrant such
drastic measures.
Please consider signing onto to this effort, coordinated by Defenders of
Wildlife, to register your concerns about the bullying ways of the
mega-corporation, the Farm Bureau.
To sign on reply to: [log in to unmask]
Scotty Johnson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BACKGROUND
Thirty years ago a Farm Bureau-dominated agricultural
subcommittee "distanced" itself from an investigation into the Farm
Bureau led by Congressman Joseph Resnick (D-NY). Following
this incident Resnick's chief of staff, Samuel "Sandy" Berger,
current Chief of the National Security Council wrote, "the Farm
Bureau is far more than simply an organization of farmers, as it so
often claims. The nation's biggest farm organization has been
quietly but systematically amassing one of the largest business
networks in America, while turning its back on the deepening crisis
of the farmers whom it supposedly represents."
Today, the Farm Bureau is more powerful than ever. The policies it
advances and its myriad business operations are crippling the
farmer, rural America and the environment. We believe it is time for
another investigation. Moreover, we believe Farm Bureau leaders
should welcome any and all opportunities to erase allegations they
do not serve their membership or uphold their non-profit charter.
Our Position
WHEREAS, We the undersigned individuals and organizations
represent millions of Americans whose homes, livelihoods,
environments, freedoms, and well-being are jeopardized by current
ill-advised farm policy,
WHEREAS, we are family and independent farmers and ranchers,
environmentalists, consumers, laborers, religious & minority
leaders, taxpayers, hunters, fisherman and residents of America's
heartlands,
WHEREAS, we believe many agricultural trade and commodity
groups misrepresent their interests to Congress and policy makers
by posing as the family farmer while advancing agribusiness policy
harmful to family farmers and the environment,
WHEREAS, we believe the farm policy advanced by these
agribusiness groups promotes corporate consolidation, eliminates
fair markets, and creates an un-level economic playing field for
small, minority and independent family producers,
WHEREAS, we believe this model of industrialized agricultural
threatens rural families and cultures, public health and farm
workers, watersheds and wildlife, top-soils, and wilderness,
WHEREAS, we believe these groups advance policy that is fiscally
irresponsible favoring agribusiness while costing taxpayers billions
of dollars a year in continued farm aid bailouts,
WHEREAS, we believe that a socially just, environmentally and
fiscally responsible farm policy will never be created as long as
these groups control the agricultural agenda,
WHEREAS, we believe such groups, who receive substantial
monetary benefits from the public sector should encourage and
welcome scrutiny into their business operations,
WHEREAS, the American Farm Bureau Federation leadership is
the most outspoken and powerful of these groups claiming to
represent Rural America,
WHEREAS, American Farm Bureau Federation businesses have
profited greatly from self-generated policies that afford them special
tax privileges and advance national farm policies favoring
agribusiness;
WHEREAS, Farm Bureau claims 4.9 million "family" members and
the USDA shows fewer than 1.9 million farmers remain--and not all
of them are Farm Bureau members;
WE THEREFORE, call for a congressional investigation into
charges that American Farm Bureau Federation national leadership
has harmed the American farmer and their own members by posing
as an organization representing farmer interests when, in fact,
Farm Bureau's widespread commercial activities - which include
the operation of businesses that sell to the farmer and buy from the
farmer - puts them in a position of representing a point of view
antagonistic to the interests of the farmer. We further call for
investigation into charges that Farm Bureau leadership also
misrepresents its motivations to Congress and the American
taxpayer - exploiting the farmer image to win, from Congress, non-
profit "privileges" that shield them from an estimated $61.75 million
annually in federal income tax. We urge Congress to complete the
process started a generation ago and protect rural American and
its heritage.
Scotty Johnson.
Rural Community Outreach Coordinator
GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network (GREEN)
Fax 529 623-0447
520 623-9653 [log in to unmask]
--- end forwarded text
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Rex L. Bavousett
Photographer
University of Iowa
Our old name: University Relations - Publications
Our new name: University Communications & Outreach - Publications
100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242
http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
voice: 319 384-0053
fax: 319 384-0055
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT
to [log in to unmask]
|
