Fwd: ACTION ALERT: USDA Poised to Approve Spraying Agent Orange Chemicals on Genetically Engineered Corn --- you can help stop it!

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---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: The Cornucopia Institute <cultivate@...>

Date: Sun, Jan 1, 2012 at 1:00 PM

Subject: ACTION ALERT: USDA Poised to Approve Spraying Agent Orange

Chemicals on Genetically Engineered Corn --- you can help stop it!

karenlyke@...

**

*Action Alert:

*

*Say 'No' to Dow Chemical's GE Corn Petition -- Proven

in the Jungles of Vietnam as Part of Agent Orange!*

*<http://app.streamsend.com/c/15352185/3408/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redirect_to=http%3A%2F%\

2Fwww.cornucopia.org%2Fsay-no-to-dows-ge-corn%2F>

*

Access the action alert at:

http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/12/action-alert-say-no-to-dow-chemicals-ge-corn-p\

etition/<http://app.streamsend.com/c/15352185/3410/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redirect_to=http\

%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornucopia.org%2F2011%2F12%2Faction-alert-say-no-to-dow-chemicals-g\

e-corn-petition%2F>

Dow Chemical is seeking USDA approval for a genetically engineered (GE)

version of corn that is resistant to *2,4-D*, a herbicide that was used in

the formulation of the highly toxic defoliant Agent Orange. Agent Orange

(half 2,4-D by composition) was extensively used in Vietnam by the military

to destroy forests and crops.

Dow's Christmas gift for America was formally announced, by the USDA, in

the December 27, 2011 edition of the *Federal Register*. If the federal

government wants to bury something in the news, and burn up part of our

window to publicly respond, you can bet they'll do it around the holidays.

The public has 60 days to comment on Dow's petition for deregulation, and

can do so online at:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0103-0001<http://app.st\

reamsend.com/c/15352185/3412/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redirect_to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.regulatio\

ns.gov%2F%23%2521documentDetail%3BD%3DAPHIS-2010-0103-0001>

Weeds are increasingly adapting to Monsanto's genetically engineered line

of crops that rely on the use of a different herbicide, glyphosate, which

Monsanto markets as Round-up®. This is leading competitors, like Dow, and

proponents of GE agriculture to look for weed killing alternatives.

Herbicides more toxic than Round-up® appear to be next up in the pipeline.

2,4-D, a systemic herbicide, is used on many types of broadleaf weeds. It

is a chlorinated phenoxy compound that has caused serious eye and skin

irritation among agricultural workers. According to information compiled by

Cornell

University<http://app.streamsend.com/c/15352185/3414/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redirect_to=ht\

tp%3A%2F%2Fpmep.cce.cornell.edu%2Fprofiles%2Fextoxnet%2F24d-captan%2F24d-ext.htm\

l>,

rats fed 2,4-D produced " fetuses with abdominal cavity bleeding and

increased mortality. " And 2,4-D may cause infertility, birth defects, organ

toxicity and neurological effects.

As Dow's GE corn is resistant to the herbicide, it is possible that the

plant may absorb 2,4-D residues into its structure, and then transfer those

chemicals, or their related metabolites, to livestock and humans consuming

corn or milk, meat and eggs produced from the GE crop.

The USDA also just announced the proposed approval for a new strain of

drought resistant corn, and a soybean, Soymega™, both from Monsanto. The

Obama White House appears to be giving Monsanto and Dow, and other

biotechnology corporations, everything they want while the public,

according to polls, is overwhelmingly concerned about genetic engineering

and losing control of our diets.

Thanks for speaking out in defense of a sane food production system. We

hope you will be proactive by doing the following to protect your family:

1. Exclusively purchase organic products in the supermarket. They are the

only food items that are legally prohibited from using GMOs with oversight

sanctioned by Congress and independent watchdogs like The Cornucopia

Institute.

2. We hope you also consider signing the following petition, asking

President Barack Obama and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to consider the

widespread public opposition to further release of novel genetic organisms

in our environment. Given the immaturity of the industry, the long-term

impacts to health and the environment are simply unknown. The petition also

calls for mandatory labeling of GMOs giving consumers the *right to choose*.

*Click

here*<http://app.streamsend.com/c/15352185/3416/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redirect_to=http%3A\

%2F%2Fwww.cornucopia.org%2Fsay-no-to-dows-ge-corn%2F>to

read and sign this petition.

<http://app.streamsend.com/c/15352185/3418/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redirect_to=http%3A%2F%2\

Fwww.cornucopia.org%2Fsay-no-to-dows-ge-corn%2F>

*The Cornucopia Institute P.O. Box 126 Cornucopia, WI 54827

www.cornucopia.org<http://app.streamsend.com/c/15352185/3420/X5s8dGO/9pOA?redire\

ct_to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornucopia.org>

*

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