Monsanto Protection Act Signed Into LawHeather Callaghan This left many shocked and outraged, but many others were not surprised. Even though the Obama family enjoys non-GMO organic fare, at least from the White House garden, the Administration is known for hiring former Monsanto employees like Michael Taylor to high-up food safety positions a blatant conflict of interest. Almost half a million people asked Obama to cut FDA ties with Monsanto. Remember this clip (below) from 2007 of Obama promising to label GMOs? Where do we go from here? We tried to reach out to friends and watched where our food dollars went. Changed the market stream, where it really shows. As difficult as it is, its more important than ever to refuse support for food companies that use GMO ingredients. We can continue to let Congress know that we are watching no more selling us out, or else they should be out. No more spending money for things we dont want, things that are shown to cause harm. We arent buying any of it. Food Democracy Now! has created a petition form demanding Obama sign an executive order to label GMOs like he promised back in 07. This may not be the best route as executive orders are abused and many us dont want any more on the agenda. I would have to agree with the consensus that petitions often go ignored but they still let leaders know that youre upset, active, and paying attention. Thank you, Food Democracy Now! for the alert campaign that helped inform so many people, people who may not have known about the hazards of GMOs before. They attended a march today in front of the White House, sending a clear message. You can stand with folks like these everywhere on May 25th in the March Against Monsanto add your city to the list if youd like to organize one. Cant wait? Then send a message to Michael Taylor (FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods) with Occupy-Monsantos Eat-In on the FDA lawn, April 8th. March Against Monsanto May 25th: FDA Eat-In to Label GMOS April 8th: selfnews Posts previous report: A rider (Sec. 735) that would prevent courts from halting illegally planted GM crops (sometimes courts find fault with USDA-approved GM fields) was slipped into the Senate Continuing Resolution spending bill HR 933. It blind-sided an angry populace last week, giving little time to voice complaint before it was to go through the Senate. Last Wednesday morning, HR 933 passed with the new rider dubbed by activists as the Monsanto Protection Act therein. The rider has nothing to do with proposed government spending to keep it running for the next six months. But it is unknown whether this incongruous rider will last six months or permanently. According to GovTrack.us, the only thing left before the bill becomes law is the Presidents signature. Food Democracy Now! is asking you to join the more than 200,000 people who used their forms to contact Obama and Congress in an effort to strip the rider. This is not a petition. And those are only the people who used their site countless other organizations alerted activists in the last two weeks. This could be our last chance to stop Monsanto from corporate rule and full immunity.Tell President Obama here to block Sec 735, and Contact your Member of Congress to express your outrage at granting a blank check for Monsanto Every voice counts! Senator Jon Tester (an organic farmer), joined by Senators Boxer, Gillibrand and Leahy introduced an amendment (#74) to strike the dangerous rider from the CR. You can still voice your support for reviewing the Tester amendment reportedly ignored and not added when this bill passed the Senate. Even if the Tester amendment voting is over with make your opinion known to your Congress people, Obama, and let your Senators know your disappointment. It couldnt be easier with pre-formatted letters that go directly to your Senators. Food Democracy Now!reportsthat there are 13 crops waiting for approval. The USDA is known for sweeping in approvals, letting Monsanto do their own safety evaluations, and taking their word. And, Dont forget to thank the Senators who stood up and supported the Tester amendment if you live in Montana, California, New York, Vermont, Alaska or Connecticut Senator Tester and his co-sponsors Senators Boxer, Gillibrand, Leahy, Begich and Blumenthal introduced the amendment to strip Section 735 from the bill. Previous report from Food Democracy Now!: Background: Source: Track Bill: Image: author modifiedDees Illustration overlay of Capitol Heather Callaghanis a natural health blogger and food freedom activist. You can see her work atNaturalBlaze.comand selfnewsPost.com. Like atFacebook. 