permaculture

["Guy Clark" <guyclark@socket.net>]

Hello again-
        Despite fear of starting another food fight, I am sending several 
pieces
to the list that deal with organic agriculture.  I think that this is an
important piece of the puzzle.  Food is of paramount importance as we
attempt to rise to higher levels of consciousness and debate.
        I did not take part in the asking of the federal government to 
legislate
the meaning of the term "Organic".  My response was the same as most on
this list.  They will make it less and less stringent and more and more
expensive, until they push all the small farmers out and the term is owned
by the Gallos, Monsantos, Mc Donalds and their ilk.  Often, or always,
those of us who are younger, or newer to an area of endeavor, are left to
clean up the messes made by our elders/predecessors.  At the same time,
those that come after us will clean up our messes. At least I hope so.  We
must address this fight on a multitude of levels.  I think this is the
novel part of permaculture that is appropriate.  You cannot disentangle
pieces of any system and treat them as independent.  We must assume that
the Feds are going to try to continue implementation of the mess that is
OFPA, the law passed in 1990.  So it seems to me that we should try to
strengthen any output from USDA to its most powerful.  At the same time we
should be acting to circumvent the whole process by getting an
industry/consumer standard up and running.  USDA can have theirs, but it
CANNOT be the only one.  I have no faith in the government, I haven't since
childhood.  To make matters worse, I studied political theory, logic,
philosophy, sociology, and english in college and graduate school.  So I
can see right through most of the lies and shell games going on.  I still
choose to fight the power.  At the same time, I design my farm to be for
maximal beauty and sustainability.
        In fact, I agree with Frank, that too much of this list has been 
devoted
to whining and pissing wars.
Namaste',
Guy Clark
Community Garden Coalition
Fertile Crescent Farm
Missouri Organic Association
Columbia Farmers' Market
Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners
Columbia Area Food Circle
Callaway Food Circle
310 Hartley Court
Columbia, MO  65201
573.449.GROW
guyclark@socket.net


----------
From: Ronnie Cummins <alliance@MR.Net>
To: pure-food-action@MR.Net
Subject: Food Bytes #14 Nov. 8, 1998
Date: Sunday, November 08, 1998 4:53 PM

FOOD BYTES #14  November 8, 1998
News and Analysis on Genetic Engineering & Factory Farming
by: Ronnie Cummins, Campaign for Food Safety/Organic Consumers Action
alliance@mr.net                http://www.purefood.org
http://www.icta.org
___________________________________________________________
Contents:

Special Issue: SOS (Save Organic Standards) Round Two

*** Save Organic Standards Round Two: Nationwide Battle Continues

*** Action Alert: USDA Position Paper Reopens Official Comment Period until
Dec. 14 on National Organic Standards--Urgent Action Needed Now--Send
E-Mails, Faxes, or Letters to USDA

*** Campaign for Food Safety & Organic Watch Form Letter for Official
Comments to the USDA. Keep Factory Farming out of Organic Food Production
and Ensure Consumer Protection Against Organic Fraud!

______________________________________________________________

S.O.S. SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS! ROUND TWO
____________________________________
NATIONWIDE BATTLE CONTINUES

Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed national
organic standards that were so weak, they threatened the entire future of
organic foods. In response over 275,000 people wrote the USDA demanding
that these proposed organic rules be changed. The USDA backed off
temporarily, but is expected to issue a new set of highly controversial
regulations early in 1999. The USDA reopened the rulemaking process on
October 28 by publishing an official position paper in the Federal
Register.

There are conflicting factions inside the Clinton administration. While
some have heard the thunderous response from consumers, others apparently
are as ready as ever to:

*** lower pre-existing organic standards
*** allow industrial-style factory farming
*** suppress the free speech of the organic community by making it illegal
to set standards higher than the USDA's.

Consumer rebellion has forced the USDA to temporarily back down on the "Big
Three," genetically engineered food, toxic sludge, and nuclear irradiation.
But most organic consumers have dozens of additional objections to
regulations which disregard almost entirely the recommendations of the
National Organic Standards Board. We remain concerned that agribusiness and
its friends inside the USDA will subvert those legitimately seeking change
and once again propose federal regulations which include:

TOTAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL

* The USDA will possess a "legal monopoly" over the word "organic." Only
one organic label, "USDA Organic" will be allowed. The USDA will have the
sole power to appoint members to the National Organic Standards Board,
giving them the ability to weaken standards by "stacking" the NOSB with
appointees sympathetic to industrial agriculture, food irradiation, and
genetic engineering.

OUTLAWS HIGHER STANDARDS

* The new laws will make it illegal for private, non-governmental organic
certifiers to uphold higher standards than the minimum standards dictated
by the USDA. The rules will also ban "eco-labels," making it illegal to
even imply through labeling or advertising that a product exceeds USDA
standards.

FACTORY FARMING

* "USDA Organic" will allow inhumane, intensive confinement of farm animals
and a host of other industrial, factory farm production practices
(non-organic feed, toxic inert ingredients in pesticides, antibiotics,
additional synthetic chemicals, etc.).

THREATENS SMALL FARMERS

* The USDA's proposed fees for government certification and/or residue
testing will be prohibitively expensive for small and medium-sized farmers,
certifiers, and producers.

____________________________________________________________
SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS! IT'S IN OUR HANDS!

This year's mass outcry from organic consumers, producers, and farmers to
the USDA's first proposed organic rules made history--with over 275,000
official comments. The Save Organic Standards (SOS) campaign has now given
birth to Organic Consumers Action--a nationwide grassroots organization
dedicated to protecting the integrity of organic food standards and
promoting sustainable and organic agriculture.

 JOIN Organic Consumers Action (OCA) in your local area. If you want to
become a member or a volunteer--or make a donation--call 218-726-1443 or
e-mail us at: <safefood@cp.duluth.mn.us> Before the USDA issues its new
proposed organic regulations you will be contacted by an OCA volunteer in
your local area.

 VOLUNTEER to become part of an OCA Coordination Team in your area. Help
us mobilize consumers and retailers, carry out public education and events,
and generate media coverage.

 ASK your local natural food stores, coops, community restaurants, and
farmers markets to contact the OCA campaign so that we can send them
posters and literature.

 SUBSCRIBE to Food Bytes, our free electronic newsletter, by sending an
email to:
majordomo@mr.net
with the simple message in the body of your email:
subscribe pure-food-action

If you don't have access to a computer, and want to receive Food Bytes and
our Action Alerts by mail, send us $20 for a year subscription.


 Visit our web sites (and links) regularly for updates and background
information:
http://www.purefood.org
http://www.icta.org

 SEND us a letter, fax, or e-mail which we will forward to your
Congressional Representative, your U.S. Senators, and the White House. Tell
your elected public officials that you want the USDA to preserve strict
organic standards, and that any final rule must not contain any of the
objectionable provisions outlined in this leaflet. Demand especially that
the USDA allow private, non-governmental organic certification bodies to
maintain and publicize stricter organic standards than the minimum
standards proposed by the USDA.

 Respond to the USDA's Oct. 28 Official Position Paper--Published in the
Federal Register--on Factory Farming, Antibiotics, and Decertification by
filling out the comment form enclosed below. Fax, e-mail, or mail your
comments on organic standards by December 14, 1998 to the USDA (referring
to Docket Number TM-98-00-7):

e-mail:    NOPIssue_Papers@usda.gov   also CC a copy to us at:
owatch@icta.org
Fax: 202-690-4632
regular mail:  Eileen Stommes, Deputy Administrator, USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, Room
4007-S, AG Stop 0275, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456


Campaign for Food Safety/Organic Consumers Action
860 Highway 61
Little Marais, Minnesota 55614
Tel. 218-726-1443
Fax. 218-226-4157
e-mail <oca@purefood.org>
http://www.purefood.org
____________________________________________________________

CAMPAIGN for FOOD SAFETY & ORGANIC  WATCH  ACTION  ALERT

USDA Is At It Again!  Urgent Action Needed To
Keep Factory Farming Out Of Organic Food Production And Ensure Consumer
Protection Against Organic Fraud!

Early last year, an outraged public flooded the USDA with nearly 280,000
comments opposing the agency's proposal to allow factory farming, sewage
sludge, genetic engineering, and irradiation in organic food production.
Despite this outpouring of public outrage, the USDA is again thinking of
diluting organic standards.  We need your input now on three critical
issues:

*   USDA is still considering loopholes that would allow for the continuous
indoor confinement in organic animal production;
*       USDA is considering the use of animal medications including
antibiotics in organic production ; and
*       USDA is considering eliminating the ability of organic certifiers
to prevent the sale of mishandled or fraudulent organic  products.

Your help is urgently needed.  USDA has opened these three questions for
public comment.  But we only have until  December 14, 1998  to respond.
We need to send  a clear message to the USDA:

(1).  ORGANIC STANDARDS MUST MANDATE ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS AND PASTURE FOR
ALL ANIMALS;
(2).  ORGANIC STANDARDS MUST BAN THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND THE MISUSE OF
OTHER ANIMAL MEDICATIONS IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION;
(3). ORGANIC STANDARDS MUST ALLOW CERTIFIERS (ORGANIZATIONS THAT VERIFY
ORGANIC STANDARDS ARE BEING FOLLOWED) TO MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT RIGHT TO
IMMEDIATELY PREVENT THE SALE OF FRAUDULENT OR MISHANDLED ORGANIC PRODUCTS.

It is important that you again comment and make it very clear that the USDA
cannot ignore the 280,000 public comments it received early this year.
Here's how to make your voice heard.  Just respond to the questions below
and follow the instructions for sending or e-mailing your comments.

Your
Name:____________________________E-mail:___________________________________
Street:_____________________________________________________________________
___
City:____________________________________State:______________Zip
Code:___________
Phone:(H)______________________(W)___________________(Fax)__________________
____

USDA  ISSUE #1.  Livestock Confinement in Organic Production Systems. The
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB - the citizens board given legal
authority to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with recommendations) has
made recommendations that livestock must have access to the outdoors.  The
USDA is considering policies that would  allow loopholes whereby a producer
could avoid providing animals with  access to the outdoors .  Furthermore,
the USDA may not require "access to the outdoors" to include access to
pasture. Under this scenario, dairy cows on dirt feedlots would be
considered as organic milk production! Should organic livestock have access
to the outdoors including pasture?  What is  your official comment to the
USDA on this issue?_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____
____________________________________________________________________________
____
_________________________________________________________________________


USDA ISSUE  #2.  The Use of Antibiotics and Parasiticides in Organic
Livestock Production.  The NOSB has made explicit recommendations to the
USDA concerning the use of animal medications, including a ban on the use
of antibiotics, in organic production.  Should organic livestock standards
be based on the NOSB recommendations which prevent loopholes allowing for
the misuse of animal medications? What is your official comment to the USDA
on this issue?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
____
____________________________________________________________________________


USDA ISSUE  # 3.  Termination of Certification By Private Certifiers.
Certifiers are the organizations that ensure that an organic food producer
is actually following established organic farming practices.  The USDA is
considering eliminating the ability of private certifiers to swiftly
prevent the sale of mishandled or fraudulent organic products. This is
inconsistent with the intent of the Organic Foods Production Act (the law
establishing a national organic food program) and the NOSB's
recommendations.  Should private certifiers retain the right to protect the
public by swiftly preventing the sale of fraudulent or mishandled organic
food?  What is your official comment to the USDA on this issue?
____________________________________________________________________________
____
____________________________________________________

Please send your comments into USDA Docket #TM-98-00-7. The comment period
ends December 14, 1998, so please contact USDA immediately: Eileen Stommes,
Deputy Administrator, USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, Room 4007-S, AG Stop 0275, P.O. Box
96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; fax 202/690-4632;
e-mail:NOPIssue_Papers@usda.gov  and  owatch@icta.org.
WARNING! If you visit the USDA's National Organic Program web site or
obtain printed copies of the Federal Register notice, please be aware that
the issue papers posted there contain inaccurate information about the
current NOSB recommendations as well as misleading information about the
legal rights of private certification agencies to suspend or terminate
certification. DO NOT rely on the information in these papers to frame your
comments!
  Your
Name:___________________________________________________________________

Street:_____________________________________________________________________
__
City:____________________________________State:______________Zip
Code:__________

Phone:(H)______________________(W)___________________(Fax)__________________
___
E-Mail:
______________________________________________________________________

Send our Campaign office in Washington a copy of your comments to the USDA
as well:
e-mail:    owatch@icta.org
regular mail: Campaign for Food Safety/Organic Watch
310 D Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


Ronnie Cummins
Campaign for Food Safety/Organic Consumers Action
860 Hwy 61
Little Marais, Mn. 55614
Tel. 218-226-4164
Fax 218-226-4157
email alliance@mr.net
http://www.purefood.org
To subscribe to the free electronic newsletter, Food Bytes, send an email
to:
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with the simple message:
subscribe pure-food-action


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