TAKE ACTION ON TRANSGENIC CONTAMINATION
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Farmers planting non-GE (genetically engineered) crops are being sued by
Gene Giant Monsanto for growing GE crops which have trespassed onto their
land!  The entire future of organic farming is being threatened as pollen
is spread by insects and the wind from GE crops onto organic farms. The
outcrossing of plants genetically engineered to be herbicide resistant
raises serious questions regarding the emergence of "superweeds" that don't
die no matter what herbicide is applied. Genetically engineered corn is
contaminating the world's most important maize center in Mexico!


Not only farmers but all of nature is at risk from genetic contamination as
more and more patents are being granted for shuffling together the genes of
widely varied species, such as animal and bacterial genes into plants.


Sierra Club is asking Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Agriculture to hold hearings on the contamination caused by
the planting of genetically engineered crops. Farmers, consumers and
environmentalists can be on the same side of this one -- please join your
voice to this appeal!


Contact The Honorable Tom Harkin.
Write him: U.S. Senate, 731 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington DC 20510
Call:  (202) 224-3254         Fax: (202) 224-9369
or e-mail: Tom_harkin@harkin.senate.gov


Sample message
Dear Senator Harkin,


    I'm writing to ask that you, in your position as Chairman of the U.S.
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, schedule hearings
regarding the contamination of organically grown crops and all crops
intended to be sold as GEO-free.
    Scientific studies indicate that genetically engineered (GE) pollen is
contaminating the crops of farmers who are not planting GE crops. This
creates a perilous situation for organic farmers who are rightly concerned
that they may not be able to market their product as organic. Many farmers
are being charged with patent infringement by the manufacturers of
transgenic seeds for the corporations' transgenic crops growing on their
land despite the fact that these farmers did not plant GEO seed. On the
flip side, farmers should not have to sue their farming neighbors who plant
GE crops when these neighboring fields cause genetic contamination to the
farmer who plants GEO-free.
    Many consumers want the choice to purchase products that do not contain
GEO ingredients.  As the food supply gets contaminated, i.e. by pollen
flow, wind, birds, insects, grain elevators, etc, consumers may not have
any choice. Plain and simply, this is not fair to the consumer.
    There is also evidence that transgenic plants are creating superweeds.
 There is concern, too, that the genetic code which is released out of
doors may ultimately harm the natural environment.  In one sense, a "gene
spill" like Starlink is akin to an oil spill but, because genetic code is
self-propagating, environmental cleanup would be even less effective.
 Therefore I implore you, Senator Harkin, to schedule hearings to include a
broad cross section of views, including those of farmers, consumers, and
environmentalists, regarding these important issues.
    Sincerely,
    XX


For more info, contact Laurel Hopwood, Sierra Club Genetic Engineering
Committee Chair,
at lhopwood@earthlink.net or 216-371-9779 (call before 8 PM EST)
View: www.sierraclub.org/biotech/references.asp
To subscribe to the biotech forum, contact Jim Diamond at
jim.diamond@sierraclub.org
For a free copy of the video, Heartbreak in the Heartland, contact Laurel
Hopwood.