permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <london@sunsite.unc.edu>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 17:17:27 -0500
From: Allen Spalt <aspalt@mindspring.com>
Reply-To: organic-certification@listserv.oit.unc.edu

>Sender: Hormone Mimics Discussion
>              <CONS-EQST-HORMONE-MIMICS@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>
>From: Susan Snow <sksnow@1stnet.com>
>Organization: Pollution Solution
>Subject:      Re: replace the synthetic...everything,
>              ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IS ENDANGERED!
>To: CONS-EQST-HORMONE-MIMICS@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG
>
>Eating healthier food for you and your baby is among Dr. Theo Colborn's
>recommendation for avoiding hormone disruptors.  In order to eat
>healthier food, one must go to organically grown foods that currently
>are NOT grown with:
>
>*  sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants
>        http://www.envirolink.org/issues/sludge/index.html
>
>*  fertilizers that are recycled from hazardous wastes
>http://www.seattletimes.com/todaysnews/browse/html97/food_070397.html
>
>*  genetically modified organisms
>http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.html
>http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/Whatismoredangerous.html
>
>*  ''inert'' ingredients in pesticides such as nonylphenol ethoxolates
>and bisphenol-A which are on List 3 [proposed to be used on organic
>farming by the USDA].
>http://www.efn.org/~ncap/inertspage.html
>
>*  irradiated with nuclear waste
>http://www.whitehawk.com/dirtdoctor/nosr.html
>
>Since what women eat can pass the placenta to the developing embryo and
>fetus, and later go into breast milk to the nursing infant, our
>primary concern should be eating organically grown foods.
>
>However, organic agriculture is endangered and desperately needs all of
>our help immediately, lest we have no choice but to eat toxic food and
>reap more pollution in the U.S.
>
>If the proposed rule goes through, we will not be able to determine
>which foods are:
>
>"produced without synthetic pesticides", "produced without synthetic
>fertilizers", "raised without synthetic chemicals" "pesticide-free
>farm", "no drugs or growth hormones used", "raised without antibiotics",
>"raised without hormones", "no growth stimulants administered",
>"ecologically produced", "sustainably harvested", and "humanely raised".
>
>This is because, In the labeling section of the Program Overview the
>proposed rule suggests regulations regarding the "Use of Terms of
>Statements That Directly or Indirectly Imply That a Product is
>Organically Produced and Handled (Section 205.103). In this section of
>the rule USDA proposes to regulate "the labeling or market information
>that directly or indirectly imply organic production and handling
>practices" and then goes on to propose that "any terms or phrases that
>directly or indirectly imply that a product has been organically
>produced or handled would be prohibited from being used on the label,
>labeling or market information of products that are not produced in
>accordance with the Act and the regulations".
>http://www.pmac.net/nosfk1.htm
>
>What can you do?
>http://web.iquest.net/ofma/campaign.htm
>
>Here is a sample letter:
>http://web.iquest.net/ofma/ltr.htm
>
>Instead of writing a general letter, write to each of the National List
>Section numbers and find the proposed rule unacceptable.
>
>Choice is the key here.  If this rule goes through, the only ones
>regulated will be consumers as they won't be able to buy healthy,
>unadulterated food in the U.S.
>
>You can print out this form and mail it directly to the USDA prior to
>April 30.  Also, contact your congressman and U.S. Senators.
>Mail them a copy of this letter.
>
>When you send this letter to the USDA, be sure it is doubled sided, as
>they will not allow stapled or paper clipped pages.
>
>Time is of the essence.
>For your unborn baby, for your growing family, for yourself: take a
>minute and learn what you can do to help save organic agriculture in the
>U.S.
>
>Susan Snow
>
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