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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/stop_the_monsanto_protection_act_seize_congress/We regret to inform you, but late last week Congress succeeded in passing Section 735, aka the Monsanto Protection Act, in the Continuing Resolution spending bill - HR 933. Once again, Monsanto and the biotech industry have used their lobbying power to undermine your basic rights.
We need you to sign a petition to President Obama and tell him to veto HR 933 and the Monsanto Protection Act. With the Senate passage of the Monsanto Protection Act, biotech lobbyists are one step closer to making sure that their new GMO crops can evade any serious scientific or regulatory review.
This dangerous provision, the Monsanto Protection Act, strips judges of their constitutional mandate to protect consumer and farmer rights and the environment, while opening up the floodgates for the planting of new untested genetically engineered crops, endangering farmers, citizens and the environment.
We are asking that you sign the petition here and then call President Obama and demand that he veto HR 933. Join us in putting a stop to the Monsanto Protection Act!
Dear President Obama,
I urgently request that you veto HR 933. I am outraged that the farmer assurance provision, Section 735, currently included in HR 933, was not struck from the Continuing Resolution spending bill passed by Congress.
Though wrapped in a farmer-friendly package, this provision is simply an industry ploy to continue to sell genetically engineered (GMO) seeds even when a court of law has found they were approved by USDA illegally. It is unnecessary and an unprecedented attack on U.S. judicial review. Congress should not be meddling with the judicial review process based solely on the special interest of a handful of companies.
The judicial review process is an essential element of U.S law and serves as a vital check on any federal agency decision that may negatively impact human health, the environment or the livelihood of farmers, yet this provision seeks an end-run around such judicial review by preemptively deciding that industry can set its own conditions to continue to sell biotech seeds, even if a court may find them to have been wrongfully approved.
The provision further forces USDA to immediately approve any permits for continued planting at the industry's request, putting industry completely in charge by allowing for a back door approval mechanism. USDAs duty is to protect the interests of all farmers and the environment, a duty that would be eliminated by this provision.
The provision is also completely unnecessary. Every court to decide these issues has carefully weighed the interests of farmers, as is already required by law. I demand that this dangerous and unconstitutional rider be struck from HR 933, the Continuing Resolution by the President before signing this bill.
Please protect the American people, our Constitution and our farmers and veto HR 933.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/stop_the_monsanto_protection_act_seize_congress/
Food Democracy Now! is a grassroots community dedicated to building a sustainable food system that protects our natural environment, sustains farmers and nourishes families.
http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/
At Food Democracy Now!, we believe it's time to end Monsanto's campaign of fear and intimidation against America's farmers! Join us to stand up for America's family farmers and the integrity of our food and agricultural heritage.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Monsanto has the money and the power; we don't.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)I signed anyway.
progressoid
(49,991 posts)But I signed it too. One needs to hope it makes a difference.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)He keeps calling for support from the people and that's about the only way mass protests can work. We can't all march, but we can add our names to petitions or make phone calls.
Only takes a second and can't hurt...might help.
Keep the faith!
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)No President needs a petition to do the right thing.
That we constantly have to fight a Democratic President to do what is right is a sign that we have a very serious problem.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)Won't hold my breath that it'll help though.
onestepforward
(3,691 posts)libodem
(19,288 posts)NJCher
(35,686 posts)May have around 20 letters going to Obama on this as a result. I'm reading the letters on Thurs and if they are good enough, we'll send them on that day.
Cher