House Bill 46 will ensure that New Mexico farmers (you and me) cannot be sued for having Monsanto's GMO/GE (Genetically Engineered) seeds/crops mixed in with our traditional seeds/crops, accidentally. Yes, this HAS happened. To Percy Schmeiser (see link at bottom of page). Yes, Monsanto can attempt to sue you for raising crops of it's seeds/food if you didn't buy the seeds. So, take 10 MINUTES NOW and CALL and EMAIL your NM Representatives to tell them to SUPPORT HB46 when it's heard on the House Floor. Don't know the number or email? Here's a link to the list: https://www.facebook.com/notes/save-new-mexico-seeds/complete-room-email-phone-list-for-nm-house-of-representative/182546408455312
Please, DON'T WAIT to take action. HB46 is currently on the Speaker of the House's desk. It WILL BE HEARD on the House Floor as soon as the timing is right. What does that mean? As soon as we have the support we need to pass this bill. It took a lot of effort on the part of the Seed Alliance and supporters to get the language right. In other words, the Monsanto lobbyist insisted on making many changes to the original bill. Remember, folks, we are building a food/seed movement. We will not pass a non-GMO bill for a while. One of the reasons is that southern NM raises big crops. It's difficult to get support from the Southern Reps/Senators on a strictly non-GMO bill.
So, right now what we can do is PASS HB46, because it PROTECTS FARMERS from MONSANTO - PROTECTS OUR LIABILITY - in case one of our neighbors is using Monsanto/GMO/GE seeds and they or their pollen blow into our fields of traditional seeds/crops. This bill PROTECTS US from being sued by a big corporation that owns the patent (yes, the DNA of a seed/plant can be patented - sick, right?) of the seed/pollen that blew into our yard - unwantedly, "accidentally".
Don't feel like you know much about GMO/GE food? Here's a link to a fantastic recording taken at NM Acequia Association's Annual Seed and Food Ceremony & Conference (Tierra, Water y Cultura), by Dr. Richard Pang, via Cultural Energy & Miguel Santistevan: http://www.lasacequias.org/media/30quevivan.mp3
Now YOU KNOW, so ACT! Call and Email your state Representative NOW! See the link above for all the phone numbers and email addresses! Here's another link in case you don't know your Rep: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislatorsearch.aspx
You can check out the website of the organization that put up HB46: http://www.savenmseeds.org/
Farmer who was sued by Monsanto, Percy Schmeiser: http://www.percyschmeiser.com/
Done! I've been calling and sending, but I'll do it yet again. Btw. did you seeour Espanola kids perform the Acequia Dance at the Acequia Association conference? That's what I do . . . Very proud of our young people and their involvement!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Rosalia! It's great to have allies to count on! Hope you will encourage your email list to do the same. Please feel free to use any of the info. posted here.
ReplyDeleteI never get to see any of the performances, I'm always doing registration for these conferences. But, I too am very proud of our youth's involvement, you and all those adults who engage our youth in this type of education! Let's hope they will do better by this world than those currently in power!
Keep it up, friends! You're doing great!
Peepers Peeps- the failure of this bill just goes to show that our legislature is no different than the US congress. The majority are just a bunch of corporate whores. Whatever the corp's want they get.
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