Spot-on metaphors there regarding the ideological pew and Clintonitis, Bill.
So, how do we mobilize the amazing outpouring of grassroots support for
Obama that we saw during the campaign and put it to work to vaccinate the Obama
administration against Clintonitis? That's not a rhetorical question.
As for Ken's complaint that my single issue has not registered with the
general public, well I do have to apologize for that. I am not a very good
activist. I'm too busy earning a living to have much time or energy left when I get
home from work to do much organizing or educating. I'm on winter break now,
so I can e-mail during the day. (And by the way, I'm concerned with many
issues, most of which Vilsack is bad on. Let's hope Obama proves to be better on
those issues than he appears just now. He hasn't even been inaugurated, after
all.)
But the fact is, we as environmentalists should be concerned about the
release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment. Life may not
exist anywhere else in the Universe. If it does, it's safe to say the life forms
on Earth are unique and irreplaceable. Genetic engineering mutilates life at
the molecular level. And the transgenes introduced into organisms by genetic
engineering are passed on to future generations.
(Genetically engineered organisms are now commonly referred to as
genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Transgenes are sections of DNA (genes)
transplanted from one organism into another of a different species. Genes from a
fish have been engineered into a strawberry plant, for example.)
If General Motors puts bad brake pads in some of its vehicles, those
products can be recalled and the mistakes corrected. No recalls are possible for
transgenes from GMOs released into the environment. Transgenes from GMO corn
have been found in native corn in Mexico in the region of origin for maize. This
could ultimately mean that the entire species that we call corn (Zea mays)
will be contaminated with transgenes.
This is a very serious health concern, as Gov. Vilsack and others support
using corn as a "pharm" crop, that is, to engineer genes into corn plants that
cause the plant to produce pharmaceutical substances. If these pharm genes
spread into corn grown for food there could be toxic or allergenic effects on
people eating that corn. If the pharm genes spread widely, corn would no
longer be available as a food crop.
Corn is only one species, but the supporters of GMO agriculture see no
limits to the number of different crop species that could be "improved" by genetic
engineering.
It is simply wrong in a moral sense for humans to inflict this genetic
damage on other species. There is even an effort to produce GMO trees. This must
be stopped and it is Sierra Club that should play a leading role-- THE leading
role--in stopping it. (Current national Sierra Club policy calls for a
moratorium on the release of GMOs into the environment.)
Genetic engineering, confined to a laboratory or factory, is being used to
do important research and to make useful substances for medicine and other
fields. All GMOs should be confined. Releasing them into the environment is an
action that has grave moral, environmental, and safety implications. All pharm
crops should be confined in greenhouses.
For about the past two decades, the federal government, through the EPA,
USDA, and FDA, has taken the role of promoter of genetic engineering in
agriculture, when they should have been strictly regulating it. We must convince the
Obama administration to reverse this pattern. Early indications are that this
will be a daunting task. After 100 days I hope to be proven wrong. That's as
positive an attitude as I can manage now, Ken.
Space does not permit my discussing in this note other issues of concern to
me.
Tom
In a message dated 12/19/2008 11:48:59 A.M. Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
I for one don't intend to apologize for voting for Obama, nor for that
matter am I sorry that my wife and I supported him financially (with
more $$ by at least an order of magnitude than we've ever given
another candidate); we also housed an Obama staffer, gratis, for 7
months; and we volunteered many days of effort. I am concerned,
however, that Obama may be developing a more serious case of
Clintonitis than I'd expected, and that it should be treated early.
I'm bothered by the Vilsack appointment--Tom Matthews is right that
Vilsack panders to the corporate imperators,
while paying loftysounding lip service to us non-rich,
non-influential, plebeian
types. SC's concerns about his "truthiness" were conveyed in the tone
of the news release,
which expressed "congratulations." Compare that to the release on the
Solis appointment, in which Carl Pope uses the word "overjoyed".
I'm also bothered by the naming of Rick Warren to give the invocation
at the Inauguration. This is a symbolic and momentary appointment of
course, but it is also high-profile. I have gay and lesbian friends
who are thunderstruck that such a prominent homophobe will be first on
the podium on the Capitol porch. Obama may see this as reaching
across the ideological aisle, but he can reach without falling out of
the pew.
BW
Quoting KENNETH LARSON <[log in to unmask]>:
> Some need to get "real" and give the Obama administration a
> chance... Maybe a positive attitude would go a long way to success
> when advocating for your seemingly single issue that has not
> registered with the general population...
>
> When you look at the trouble the US is in and list the top 6
> problems.. Like The Economy, Foreign Policy (War), Energy
> independence, Education, Health Care, Global Warming... where are
> some of the issues that in a perfect world would be more important
> at this point of history ...?
>
> In the election, SC really had only one choice ... We got that
> choice...We won! Now it is our role to support it and work with it,
> or run for office the next election. The SC does not want to find
> itself in the same position of the Republicans who had the single
> issues of "abortion" or the "danger" of Gay Marriage.. They are
> "out of influence" and "out of Power.." with few friends in high
> places. We are so much better off ... No apology is necessary at
> this point ....can you contemplate a McCain Palin Administration and
> those appointments.. Let's hold off evaluations for at least a
> 100 days after January 20th.
>
> Ken Larson, Ph.D.
> Ames, Iowa..
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Thomas Mathews<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 8:17 AM
> Subject: New Sec. of Labor
>
>
> Maybe Ms. Solis can help us guide the new administration in the
> right direction. Goodness knows we need a ray of hope, from this new
> administration that led us to believe it would be all about Hope.
> Maybe I won't have to apologize to people because I voted for
> Obama. Maybe.
> Tom
>
>
>
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83221.0<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83221.0>
>
> ( FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December, 18, 2008
> CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
>
>
> Obama Picks Major Green Jobs
> Advocate to Head Labor Dept.
> Sierra Club Congratulates Rep. Hilda Solis
>
>
> Washington, D.C.?Media reports indicate that President-Elect Barack
> Obama has chosen Representative Hilda Solis of California to head the
> Department of Labor. Rep. Solis has been a preeminent advocate for
> green jobs and environmental justice during her career in the House.
> She has a lifetime League of Conservation Voters score of 97.
>
>
> Representative Solis co-authored the Green Jobs Act, which later became
> part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which became
> law December 19, 2007. The Green Jobs Act authorized $125 million for
> workforce training programs. The training will be targeted to
> veterans, displaced workers, at risk youth, and individuals in families
> under 200% of the federal poverty line. It could benefit programs such
> as the one at the East Los Angeles Skills Center where workers are
> trained to install solar panels. Upon the signing, Congresswoman Solis
> stated: "The bill is a message for all workers across our nation that
> there is a place for them in the clean energy future."
>
>
>
> Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
>
>
> "The Sierra Club is overjoyed at the news of Hilda Solis' selection as
> Secretary of Labor. She has been a tireless advocate for environmental
> issues, environmental justice, worker's rights, and green jobs. We send
> our deepest congratulations to Representative Solis.
>
>
> "Representative Solis was one of the earliest and most vocal supporters
> of green jobs in the House of Representatives. We can think of no
> better person to help President-Elect Obama implement his plans for an
> economic recovery fueled by the creation of millions of new green
> jobs. Hilda Solis also understands that green jobs must also be good
> jobs and has worked to make sure that the clean energy economy is one
> that lifts up all workers.
>
>
> "This latest pick underscores the strong commitment of the
> administration to action on clean energy, global warming, and a green
> economic recovery. President-Elect Obama has assembled a team of
> unprecedented strength to advise him on energy, environmental, science,
> and climate issues. This extraordinary team is poised to help the
> President-Elect implement his ambitious agenda to put America back to
> work by tackling the significant climate and energy challenges facing
> our country.
>
>
> "One of our other top legislative priorities is passage of the Employee
> Free Choice Act. We are very pleased that a strong supporter of this
> essential legislation has been tapped to head up the Deparment of
> Labor, yet another agency that has been gravely damaged during the
> past eight years.
>
>
> "Hilda Solis has been a strong ally of the Sierra Club and we very much
> look forward to working with her in her new position."
>
>
> # # #
>
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