permaculture

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

Hello-
        This one is interesting for no other reason that the thought of a
politician, in general, resisting money and power; and Gore in particular
standing for anything, but convenience and lust for power, is at least
humorous.  I still think it may be appropriate to place this game, even if
our tongues are wagging in our cheeks. 
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


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From: Erorganic@aol.com
To: BugGuy@concentric.net
Subject: Seeking action by the Administration for a quality and limited
organic program
Date: Sunday, November 08, 1998 10:55 PM

Steven Sprinkel
Box 867
McDade, Texas, 78650

31 October 1998

Vice President Albert Gore
Washington, DC


Dear Mr. Vice President,

I am writing to you to summarize the current facts on the ground regarding
the
USDA National Organic Program, and to advise you of strategies now
unfolding
within the grass roots organic community that will politically undermine
regulation and authority at the national level and in the various inter-
national and world associations of countries. Only your personal
intervention
as an authentic environmental champion will avert further economic and
emotional disruption for organic farmers and consumers.

The Secretary of Agriculture said this summer that a revised Proposed Rule
on
the National Organic Program would be released on or before the 1st of
January, 1999. That completion date has now been jeopardized by the
interminable disregard for efficient and lawful process on the part of the
private and public sector.  Some of the formerly most resolute grassroots
proponents of uniform federal and WTO regulation are now willing to pursue
broader strategies. In my opinion, the base of support for the
implementation
of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 is barely intact. The organic
agriculture movement will in all likelihood wait only two months after your
receipt of this letter before beginning to formally participate in the
elaborate private sector options for accreditation and uniform organic
certification now being planned and effected.

You may ask, “ What is the reason why this is happening?”
The Program sought to legitimize organic agriculture and amend lawful
convention.
The alternative agriculture movement, with organic agriculture its
revolutionary apogee, has proven to be difficult to codify. Disbelief in
the
process permeates leadership and the rank and file. Consumer trust in the
organic label, the chief historical motive for organic verification
procedures, remains at great risk. Eight years have now passed since the
rulemaking process started. The NOP is more than 1000 days overdue.
Parallel,
independent organic certification and accreditation initiatives are
promoted
by members of  the National Organic Standards Board. The leadership in
long-
standing institutions within the organic agriculture movement find their
patience ending.

I am asking you to identify this modest program as an administration
priority
for timely expedition. If the revised rule on the National Organic Program
is
not published as promised, those dissenting sectors within the production
community will have no other recourse other than official rejection of
OFPA.
Purposeful ignorance of USDA and FDA authority over the organic marketplace
will be the result.

If the administration pursues litigation in response to the nearly
inevitable
broad disaffection growing, and potential renunciation of federal power,
the
political affects will greatly injure fundamental Democratic Party support
within the agriculture and consumer sectors.

The National Organic Program is now wholly political. All regulatory
parties
must understand that organic agriculture will stand alone and self-defined
within the context of federal policy when OFPA is implemented or we will
not
participate.
The USDA, FDA, EPA and the OMB will have to structure their participation
in
implementing the Organic Foods Production Act so that the intent of that
public law is enhanced, not limited.

I personally wish you well, and hope that through your leadership the
impasse
I describe may be avoided.

Sincerely,


Steven Sprinkel

CC:
Jacob Lew, Director, OMB
Daniel Glickman, Secretary, USDA
Carol Browner, Administrator, EPA
Donna E. Shalala, Secretary, HHS

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