--- 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. 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