Action Alert: We Have 1 Week Or Less to Stop Genetically Engineered Foods and Destruction of the Separation of Powers
Washingtons Blog
Painting by Anthony Freda: www.AnthonyFreda.com.
Bill Would Strip Courts of Power … And Push Genetically Modified Foods Onto Our Plates
America has been decimated by the breakdown of the separation of powers between different branches of government. For example, the executive branch is negotiating laws in secret – and grabbing powers – without telling Congress.
And life-and-death decisions about who the government labels an “enemy combatant” and assassinates are being kept away from the judges altogether.
At the same time, government agencies like the FDA go to great lengths to cover up the potential health damage from genetically modified foods, and to keep the consumer in the dark about what they’re really eating. Remember, genetically engineered foods have been linked to obesity, cancer, liver failure, infertility and all sorts of other diseases (brief, must-watch videos here and here).
Things are about to get a lot worse within the next week … unless we stand up and say “NO!”
Specifically, a law has been snuck into the Agriculture Appropriations bill – which will be approved by March 27th – which would destroy the separation of powers by stripping courts of the power to challenge genetically modified foods.
How?
The “Monsanto Rider” (section 735) uses “farmer-friendly” happy talk, but is an iron-fisted ploy to allow GMO crops to be planted even if a court has ruled that planting them is illegal.
If the United States Department of Agriculture – which suffered “regulatory capture” by the big food companies decades ago – approves a genetically modified food without any testing, a court can enjoin (i.e. halt) production of that food until testing occurs.
Yet the Monsanto Rider would strip the courts of power, and would allow GMO crops to be planted and put in our food … no matter what a judge has ruled.
As the Weston Price Foundation notes:
If a GMO crop approval was shown to violate the law and require further analysis of its harmful impacts (as several courts have concluded in recent years, for example with GMO alfalfa and GMO sugar beets) this provision would override any court-mandated caution and allow continued planting and commercialization while further review takes place.
Here’s a good summary of the bill.
Luckily, Senator Tester has introduced an amendment to kill the Monsanto Rider. Tester’s amendment – Amendment 74 – is backed by Senators Boxer, Gillibrand, and Leahy.
Amendment 74 will help to keep genetically engineered foods out of your rood … and help to preserve the Constitutional principal of separation of powers.
It is urgent that you call both of your senators today … and tell them to vote for Senator Tester’s Amendment 74 to the Agriculture Appropriations bill.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/03/18037.html