This is from the May 2002 issue of the Sierra Club's Environmental Quality
Activist

Urge Congress to Hold Hearings on Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a radical new technology that is being applied to
crop production at a rate that exceeds our ability to understand the
environmental and public health risks. Genes from bacteria, viruses,
insects, nuts, fish, and animals are being spliced into common food, such
as corn and soy. While the U.S. is promoting genetically engineered foods,
many nations throughout the world have enacted laws and policies that
restrict the use of genetically engineered products in their foods.

We are now beginning to see the many problems associated with the
production of genetically engineered (GE) corn. GE corn is contaminating
the world's most important maize gene bank in Mexico.  Farmers planting
non-GE crops are getting sued for growing GE crops that have trespassed, or
"drifted" onto their farmland. Weeds are becoming "superweeds" from the
massive planting of herbicide resistant genetically engineered crops. These
news stories are becoming more plentiful as the spread of pollen from
genetically engineered crops spreads and irreversibly contaminates the
environment.

Sierra Club is urging Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, to hold hearings on the
contamination caused by the planting of genetically engineered crops.
Senator Harkin is more likely to hold hearings on this important issue if
he hears from concerned citizens.  Please call Senator Harkin and ask him
to schedule hearings regarding the contamination of organically grown crops
and all crops intended for sale as GEO-free.

Write him at: U.S. Senate, 731 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington DC
20510.  Call: (202) 224-3254  Fax: (202) 224-9369 or e-mail:
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To automatically send a fax to Senator Harkin, please visit
http://www.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=163
For more information on Sierra Club's Genetic Engineering Campaign, please
visit http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/.



Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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