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TAKE ACTION: Protect Organic, Tell Congress “NO” to the Monsanto Rider

With Monsanto having carefully orchestrated the defeat of Proposition 37 in California, they are now at it again.

However, this time it is in Washington D.C. and the potential ramifications are much, much more serious.

With Congress back in session and trying to figure out how to fund the government for the coming year, a very treacherous “Monsanto” rider is still on the table for the 2013 Appropriations bill. And we can’t let this get approved.

So, what exactly is this “Monsanto” rider?

Cloaked in “farmer-friendly” language, this Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 733) is nothing more than a ploy by the biotech industry to plant genetically-modified crops (GMOs), even when the courts have told them that they cannot do so.

Not only will this provision allow biotech companies to plant these potentially dangerous crops while legal appeals are being filed, but it will render useless the judicial process and the USDA’s authority to oversee GMOs.

Furthermore, it leaves the organic industry incredibly exposed to dangerous GMO-contamination and puts the entire organic food chain in jeopardy.

Needless to say, this is a complete disaster.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Corporations do not have the right to violate the constitutional precedent of separation of powers by interfering with the process of judicial review, and our rights must be protected.

As such, we need legislators who are willing to stand up and say “No” to this dangerous rider.

Representative Peter DeFazio (D – OR) has authored a “Dear Colleague” letter opposing the biotech rider and is urging his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join him. Please tell your Representative to support the DeFazio Dear Colleague letter opposing the biotech rider!

Time is of the essence as this bill could be passed as early as next week, so please take action as soon as you can.

Here are two specific action items that you can do:

1) Sign the electronic petition telling your Representative in Washington D.C. that this rider – the Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 733), the “Monsanto” rider – cannot be passed. To do so, click HERE.

2) Call your Representative in Washington D.C. to tell them how you feel and that this Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 733), the “Monsanto” rider, must be voted down. To get the name and phone number of your Representative, click HERE.

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I have done #1 and #2, and it took about 3 minutes to do them both.

For the sake of protecting organic food in this country, I am asking you to do the same. Will you?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

A message from Tradin Organic

How Tradin Organic is Helping Coconut Farmers in The Philippines

For more than a decade, Tradin Organic has been working with local partners in The Philippines to bring a diversified range of organic products to the market, such as coconut oil, tropical fruits and even cocoa.

The company is helping to support local farmers by assisting them with technical support and organic certification, in addition to paying Fairtrade premium on top of the organic premium.

Learn more.

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