Ten thousand organic consumers signed OCA's petition last week to Barack Obama, asking him to take a clear position in support of organic agriculture. Thanks to all who joined in to deliver this resounding message to the incoming administration. Unfortunately, it is now being widely reported that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is being considered for the Secretary of Agriculture position in the Obama Administration. Vilsack is a notorious cheerleader for genetically engineered crops and chemical and energy-intensive industrial agriculture--certainly no friend of organic food and farming. Tom Vilsack's appointment would represent a major disappointment for the Organic Consumers Association and its members. But there is still time to make your voice heard.

Please sign the letter below and pass this message along to friends and colleagues.

Dear President-Elect Obama,

We, the undersigned, are urging you not to appoint former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture or any other position in your new administration.

-Vilsack has been an ardent supporter of genetically engineered pharmaceutical crops, especially pharmaceutical corn. These crops pose huge risks to human health and the environment.

Vilsack is a noted proponent of unsustainable and dangerous genetically engineered crops. Even the biggest biotechnology industry group, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, named Vilsack Governor of the Year. He was also the founder and former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology Partnership. Organic farming does not allow for the use of genetically engineered crops. The Organic Consumers Association is opposed to genetic engineering and supports mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.

-Vilsack has fought strongly to limit states' rights to regulate seed, GE crops, pharma crops and other proactive measures. We believe that municipalities and states have the right to enact laws that protect their welfare, health and the environment.

-Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a shill for agribusiness biotech giants like Monsanto. Corporations like Monsanto are inherently undemocratic and threaten human health and sustainable agriculture with their toxic products.

-Vilsack is an ardent supporter of corn and soy based biofuels, which use as much or more fossil energy to produce as they generate, while driving up world food prices and literally starving the poor.

We urge you to appoint a Secretary of Agriculture that will support the expansion of organic food and farming, while remaining accountable to citizens and not to corporations.

Sincerely,

To sign the letter, click here:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/petition.jsp?pet ...

Further information

Iowa has the worst record for enforcing pollution regulations.

An Iowa Sierra Club document says that rivers all over Iowa are turning
into cesspools from corporate animal factories (3,000 CAFO's). Iowa is
the 2nd largest livestock state with 3,023,800 pigs and 3,950,000 cattle
amongst 2,982,000 people.

The Iowa River is one of the Most Endangered Rivers in America for 2007.

Vilsack could have but did not draw up stricter  state  pollution regulations
of  CAFO's  than EPA regs.  Vilsack sided with polluters against public health.

A 2002 study by the University of Iowa and Iowa State University
said Iowa Dept of Natural Resources needed to act to approve protections
of  public health near confined animal factories (CAFO's).

He  lowered the recommended air quality standards allowing twice
as much health-threatening levels of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, particulates
and odors emitted from animal factory sewage lagoons, confinement houses
and the fields manure is spread on.

As governor, Vilsack set a weaker standard than  the surrounding states.

Vilsack is a poor choice for Agriculture Secretary.

December McSherry

Those numbers on infant mortality near CAFOs are sobering. Environmental health is an important facet of this issue not often surfaced.

Erik

The Orion Grassroots Network: supporting grassroots groups working for conservation, justice, & more