Tag Archives: Genetically modified food

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Fracking: who protects us?


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ACTION ALERT Keep us safe. Stop this bill.

When it comes to hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for oil and natural gas, who is making sure our water free of contamination? Who reduces the chance of spills, leaks, or other public health risks? And who holds those responsible for damage to our land and harm to our health?
With the rapid expansion in fracking comes an increased risk to our land, safety, and well-being, which must be addressed. Communities must know the answers to these questions in order to keep their health and security protected.
That is why you need to tell your representative to vote NO on H.R. 2728, the “Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act”.
This deceivingly-named bill puts the security of communities throughout the country at jeopardy. If passed, the federal government would be prohibited from regulating fracking operations on federal land if a state has already issued regulations or even simply “guidance” on operations—regardless of the adequacy, effectiveness, and level of enforcement of the state regulations.
H.R. 2728 will likely be up for a vote this week: Now is our chance to stop this dangerous bill from becoming law. Let’s make sure all levels of government work together to adequately consider and mitigate fracking-related risks to our health and safety.
Sincerely, Danielle Fox Danielle Fox Outreach Coordinator Center for Science and Democracy

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Monsanto and Scott McAllister


SierraRise -- Why stand apart, when we can rise together?

GMO mega-corporation Monsanto wants special treatment from Congress. Make sure they don’t get it!

Tell your senators: Protect our health — not Monsanto’s profits!
No corporation is above the law!
Take action today!

Take action today!

Scott McAllister lost everything — his farm, his home, his savings. The stress attacked his heart, on top of the Parkinson’s disease he already had. All because of one giant corporation: Monsanto.
Every year, Monsanto uses a team of 75 lawyers to attack food safety and small farmers like Scott.[1] Most farmers’ only “crime”? Reusing seeds from the year before. And now this greedy corporation — the maker of Agent Orange, no less — is demanding Washington pass the Monsanto Protection Act. This bill would effectively block folks like you and me from suing them if their unregulated GMO foods make us sick.[2]
 Over 2 million people from across the globe have spoken out against genetically modified seeds (GMOs) and Monsanto’s dirty tactics.[3] Will you join this powerful grassroots movement and tell our government to put our health and environment before Monsanto’s corporate profits?
Tell Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Murray that no corporation is above the law. Together, we can raise 50,000 SierraRise voices against the Monsanto Protection Act by Monday!
Monsanto is a ruthless company that will stop at nothing to stay on top, even if it means destroying family farmers and selling toxic chemicals. It’s little surprise, then, that they would get an anonymous congressman to introduce their bill for them, with no debate and no transparency.
Monsanto has a deadly history. They’re the producer of chemicals so toxic they are known by name alone: killers like Agent Orange, DDT, and PCBs. Now, Monsanto is looking to dominate our food system with genetically modified seeds — even though a study found their corn seeds caused cancer in lab rats.[4]
Is this really a corporation we can trust with the food we give our families and put in school lunches?
Tell the Senate to put public health above Monsanto’s profits by stopping the Monsanto Protection Act today!
Our nation’s process for confirming the safety of GMO foods is already too weak — requiring little review and fraught with industry influence. If passed, the Monsanto Protection Act will only make things worse, temporarily stripping our courts of the power to stop Monsanto from selling GMO seeds recently found to be potentially dangerous. [5,6]
 Monsanto is the biggest bully in agri-business. It is clear from their tactics that they value their corporate profit over the safety of our food, our environment, and our nation’s farmers.
It is time to take a stand against Monsanto and tell our leaders that the people come before corporate bottom lines.

Tell your senators to stop the Monsanto Protection Act now!
In it together,
Ashley Allison
SierraRise Senior Campaigner

References:
[1] Cesca, Bob (2010 March 8). “Monsanto watch: Targeting American farmers with lawyers, fear and money.” Daily Finance.
[2] Grim, Ryan (2013 September 11).”House Republicans Push To Include Monsanto Protection Act In New Spending Bill.” Huffington Post.
[3] AP staff (2013 May 26). “Up to 2 million march against Monsanto.” Salon.
[4] Goldstein, Katherine and Gazelle Emami (2010 March 18). “Monsanto’s GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure, Study Reveals.” Huffington Post.
[5] Snopes staff (2013 September 13). “Monsanto Protection Act.” Snopes.
[6] Rivas, Anthony (2013 September 13). “Monsanto Protection Act’ Extended By House Republicans For Another 3 Months; Food Advocacy Groups Decry Legislation.” Medical Daily.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Unauthoriz​ed Monsanto Alfalfa in Washington State


A farmer’s alfalfa crop in Washington State was just rejected for export after genetic modification was discovered. You have a right to know what’s in your food.
We need GE product labeling!
Show your support for labeling genetically engineered food by pledging to vote ‘yes’ on Initiative 522!
take action today
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

WA State – Support Jay Inslee FOR Governor … Building a Working Washington


Dear Supporter,

Read my jobs planEarlier today, I unveiled my jobs plan, Building a New Economy for Washington, and the proposals I will pursue to create jobs as Washington’s next governor.

If there’s one state I believe can turn its economy around, that can harness an innovative and creative vision for the future, it’s our state. We are uniquely suited to build a new economy that raises the quality of life for middle-class families for generations to come — and that’s because our state has a unique blend of innovation and values not found anywhere else.

We create. We invent. We build.

This is our first major policy proposal, but it won’t be our last. Over the weeks and months to come, this will be the trailhead as we chart a path to Building a Working Washington.

I want to know you’re standing with me.

Read my plan, Building a New Economy for Washington, today and then sign on as a citizen endorser.

Washingtonians are at a crucial point in our history.

We are still trying to recover from this recession. We are in an international competition for jobs. The middle class is being squeezed like never before. For the first time, parents are facing the prospect of diminished opportunity for their kids.

It’s a wake-up call, and I refuse to let it go unanswered.

My plan takes into account these challenges, the potential we have right now to take steps in the right direction, and the opportunity we have to build on Washington’s innovative past and grow industries of the future like clean tech.

We accomplish this by focusing on existing industry clusters where Washington already can — or has the potential to — out-compete national and international competitors. Then we examine what is standing in the way of growing these industries further, what competition we face from out of state, and what changes we can make that will immediately make Washington more competitive to keep existing jobs while creating new ones.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read my plan and let me know you’re with me.

Read my plan, Building a New Economy for Washington, today and then sign on as a citizen endorser.

In the coming year, we have a choice. We can choose to go small, and tinker around the edges, and suffer from the same tired economic results.

Or we can choose a different approach — a bold, innovative, forward-thinking approach — led by someone who isn’t afraid to think outside the box, be independent, and take the difficult, but right, path.

Together, we will build this new economy. It will take hard work, but that is in our state’s history — and in our future.

I’m committed to this fight. I hope you are too. Read my plan today, and join me.

Very truly yours,


Jay Inslee