USA to Criminalise Organic Farming

[Adrian]

Dear all,

It seems very likely that the farming of organic food will be a criminal offence within the USA with serious punishments - possibly within two weeks.

There are bills currently being fast-tracked through Congress and Senate, with no debate, sponsored by the major chemical cabals - led by Monsanto - which will specify, among other things, what chemicals, poisons and pesticides must be added to crops and the feed of food "animals".

Here is a short video on this:

http://www.voteronpaul.com/newsDetail.php?Food-Safety-Modernization-Act-HR-875-Criminalization-of-Organic-Farms-222

I need not remind you of the consequences of this.

The motivation is profits of the drug and chemical cabals who control the members of congress and senate - human health, animal welfare and the environment has nothing to do with it.

I will be watching to see if Obama signs this in to Law.

In Love and Light,

Adrian.

[Forrest Dean]

What about the organics that come from other countries?  Most of the food I eat comes from South America.  Will they also prevent the imports of organic foods?

EDIT:  If this bill does pass, maybe it could be a blessing in disguise.  I feel that one of the prerequisites to make it through this transition is to gain self sufficiency while also helping one another.  Maybe this will be one of several major pushes forward giving people more incentive to help one another rather than depending on governments and corporations.  My immediate knee-jerk reaction of course was that I would not be happy with a government ban on organic farming, but now that I've thought about for a few minutes, I feel indifferent at the present moment, and it will be interesting to see how I react as well as others if this does pass.  I can also see a good possibility for major protests and riots.  I'll definitely be watching this more closely since I've been strictly raw organic vegan for almost 3 months now.  I haven't been watching the news for a while, but I think I'll peak in to see if they mention more about this.

Thank you for that link. 

[sativaguitar]

here is a little more on the topic

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/health_freedom

[juliainkc]

Here is a wonderful company who has been providing organic seed for years.

http://www.seedsofchange.com/

Large container pots are doable for sustainable gardening. Less backwork and more manageable.

You can collect the seeds from this year's growth for the next growing season.

Many Blessings and Be Well,

Julia

[Forrest Dean]

Also, I did a search on the H.R. 875 and it also includes imports:

SEC. 208.  Imports.

(a) In general.—All imported food under this Act shall meet requirements for food safety, inspection, labeling, and consumer protection that are at least equal to those applicable to food grown, manufactured, processed, packed, or held for consumption in the United States.

If this actually happens then I'm assuming they would block the imports of these foods that are organically grown, and there's a very good chance that these super foods will no longer be available except through the underground markets.  I don't mean to sound negative.  I'm just making guesses and assumptions at this point.  As a matter of fact, I'm not going to give the possibility any further thought or focus, but as always will maintain my focus on being a healthy and vibrant being.  I'm not even going to watch the news like I mentioned in the previous post.  In the event this does happen then I will most likely turn my focus back to alternative means of survival.

By the way, has anyone every tried the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter?  I can't grow a garden in my yard.  I live on a 1 acre yard and it's completely hard red clay several inches deep, so something like this would be great for me, but it appears to grow a very limited selection of vegetables.

Hehe, forgot to add the link to their website: http://www.hangingtomato.com/

[evilpsychic]

This is a catastrophe!

I am going 100% raw tomorrow. Not organic yet and perhaps never but it was one of my goals.

Freedom? What Freedom?

Yeah Adrian lets see what the Illuminati's puppet Obama does...

[Adrian]

Dear Kailaurius,

What about the organics that come from other countries?  Most of the food I eat comes from South America.  Will they also prevent the imports of organic foods?

EDIT:  If this bill does pass, maybe it could be a blessing in disguise.  I feel that one of the prerequisites to make it through this transition is to gain self sufficiency while also helping one another.  Maybe this will be one of several major pushes forward giving people more incentive to help one another rather than depending on governments and corporations.  My immediate knee-jerk reaction of course was that I would not be happy with a government ban on organic farming, but now that I've thought about for a few minutes, I feel indifferent at the present moment, and it will be interesting to see how I react as well as others if this does pass.  I can also see a good possibility for major protests and riots.  I'll definitely be watching this more closely since I've been strictly raw organic vegan for almost 3 months now.  I haven't been watching the news for a while, but I think I'll peak in to see if they mention more about this.

Thank you for that link. 

I appreciate your positive view. I really do hope that people do start to farm and grow their own food very soon.

Alas though, in he USA, people have a tendency generally just to follow along and trust the government - in this case that foods are drenched in poisons and chemicals because they are "necessary". I suppose it is like tax - there is nowhere in the constitution that compels workers to pay income tax - and it has been tested in court - yet people still hand over their money each month.

In Europe, if the "citizens" are subjected to things like this, they prefer to riot

These are just observations - I have many friends in the USA as well as everyone else and Love everyone, it just saddens me when people have abrogated their very well-being to people who are only interested in power, control and large scale population reduction.

Now everyone, here is the ultimate irony:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7954573.stm

The Obamas are going to plough up some of the White House lawn to turn it over to organic gardening for their own family.

While setting an excellent example, you have to wonder whether he knows about the consequences of the bill he is to sign in to Law and wishes to protect his family.

In Love and Light,

Adrian.

[juliainkc]

Good Morning All,

Adrian, thank you for bringing this up for all to see.

Kailaurius, while I haven't used the tomato planters you mention, a friend of mine has and says they work well. I am planning on doing this this year.

I live in Kansas and we have the lovely red clay soil and if you dig deep enough it turns a bluish grey.

Raised beds are being used more and more as well as growing in large pots that trees are grown in from the nurseries.

I am going to this way of gardening this year.

I am an advocate for sustainable gardening. There is always more than enough to share with others as well.

Just sharing my thoughts about a possible solution here.

Love to All,

Julia

[Adrian]

Dear Louis,

Yeah Adrian lets see what the Illuminati's puppet Obama does...[/color]

To be fair, Obama, as president, has a constitutional obligation to sign in to law all bills that have passed through the senate and congress - who are in the pockets of the big cabals - drugs, chemicals, tobacco, alcohol, oil and so on.

He does have a veto, but I am not sure whether he can use it over something like this.

The fact his family is going organic right now says much about where his own feelings are.

The big question that arises, is just how much power does the president of the USA really have against the dark forces?

In a few years it will not matter, but we still need to always face the Light.

In Love and Light,

Adrian.

[Mina-Laura]

Dear Adrian, Kay, Louis, Julia


I have a question. Has anyone actually read the bill??  I don't have the time at my hands but I read the first pages and it doesn't sound as bad as that video makes it.

Yes, it does control farming and that would also include organic farms, however the act looks as is more concerned with toxins, and everything that would make the food not safe.
If the practices of organic farmers are 'clean' I don't think this a reason for concern.
If the 'so called organic farmers' only say they are organic and unknowingly they use some toxins to control pests then yes they have all reasons to fear and not want this type of control.

See:

(b) Comprehensive analysis.—The program shall be based on a comprehensive analysis of the hazards associated with different food and with the processing of different food, including the identification and evaluation of—

(1) the severity of the potential health risks;

(2) the sources of potentially hazardous contamination or practices extending from the farm or ranch to the consumer that may increase the risk of food-borne illness;

(3) the potential for persistence, multiplication, or concentration of naturally occurring or added contaminants in food;

(4) the potential for hazardous contamination to have cumulative toxic effects, multigenerational effects, or effects on specific categories of consumers;

(5) opportunities across the food production, processing, distribution, and retail system to reduce potential health risks; and

(6) opportunities for intentional contamination of food or food ingredients.

No (3) - looks at eliminating contaminants and no. (4) looks to me applied especially to any factor that would contribute to genetic defects.
You know what this means?? Look up any MSDS and especially the LD50 factor and also at the "mutagenic" component of any chemical - there is none that doesn't have a potential toxic effect. This means that any farmed food that is sprayed with a chemical contains toxins - so the consumer can take those people to court under the provision of this statement. Including Monsanto.


I don't know what to say. Not all control is necessarily bad control.
A lot of people fear control and "gun control" is the biggest one in the USA - a thing I honestly do not get it. I grew up in a country where there were no firearms at public disposition and things were just fine. From working for many years in R&D in cosmetic industry I can tell you as a fact that many products of USA while being excellent quality and purity, some are done in a cowboy style with total disregard to people safety (in terms of preservatives used, perfumes and so on - a close study of the safety sheets particular to the ingredients used was just a short trip to a horror show).

Also I don't know if you are seeing this ??! a lot of food comes from China. Practically all powdered milk used in chocolates. Yes the famous Cadburys!! Well a group of students got a bunch of Chinese foods and analysed them in the lab. The results worthy of a cript sentence. The most common preservative found was formol!! .. and it wasn't listed on the ingredients. I forgot the rest, however after those results were made public no sane person would buy any food coming from China. They have big corruption practices down there. I am sure those practices are also practiced on the small unregulated wast agricultural landscape in USA and everywhere.


Now the biggest loophole that I can see in the act is this:


(b) Identification of contaminants; performance standards.—

(1) List of contaminants.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a list of the contaminants in foods that have the greatest adverse impact on public health in terms of the number and severity of illnesses and number of deaths associated with foods regulated under this Act. Where appropriate, the Administrator shall indicate whether the risk posed by a contaminant is generalized or specific to particular foods or ingredients.

(2) Performance standards.—

(A) Establishment.—The Administrator shall establish by guidance document, action level, or regulation a performance standard for each contaminant in the list under paragraph (1) at levels appropriate to protect against the potential adverse health effects of the contaminant.

(B) Timing.—The Administrator shall establish a performance standard under subparagraph (A) for each contaminant in the list under paragraph (1)—

(i) as soon as practicable; or

(ii) in the case of a contaminant described in subparagraph (C), by the date described in such subparagraph.


(C) Significant contaminants.—The list under paragraph (1) (and any revision thereto) shall identify the 5 most significant contaminants in the list (in terms of the number and severity of illnesses and number of deaths associated with foods regulated under this Act). Not later than 3 years after a contaminant is so identified, the Administrator shall promulgate a performance standard under subparagraph (A) for the contaminant.


(3) Review; revision.—Not less than every 3 years, the Administrator shall review and, if necessary, revise—

(A) the list of contaminants under paragraph (1); and

(B) each performance standard established under paragraph (2).




The reason being that "the contaminants" should be identified, published and approved by the public representatives before (and ongoing) the Act- and not by the Administration/Administrator whomever those are after 6 months etc.- and it should be an "open" process as in every time new data is revealed about contaminants it should me made public and status revised by an expert panel with members from consumer that have no affiliation whatsoever with any chemical company, government institution etc.. - like in courts. Under such terms the "list" is a process in making.


So I say if you are concerned (1) read the Bill try to find people that are neutral about this and have Law knowledge. Find everything that you feel represents a threat to humanity and restricts freedom then (2) go public. Use your rights - make the bill better, to serve you and not threaten you!  This is a good place to start: http://thomas.loc.gov/


However I do not think Organic Farming is at any threat. It looks to me as is growing and people are taking to it.

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Organic/

http://ofrf.org/index.html

http://www.localharvest.org/organic-farms/

And this is an very interesting blog post that might give you more insight:

Re: H.R. 875 Write to your REPRESENTATIVES!!!!    (Posted Fri, Mar 13 '09 at 05:59 CDT) 
Food & Water Watch? s Statement on H.R. 875 and the Food Safety Bills


The dilemma of how to regulate food safety in a way that prevents problems caused by industrialized agriculture but doesn?t wipe out small diversified farms is not new and is not easily solved. And as almost constant food safety problems reveal the dirty truth about the way much of our food is produced, processed and distributed, it?s a dilemma we need to have serious discussion about.

Most consumers never thought they had to worry about peanut butter and this latest food safety scandal has captured public attention for good reason ? a CEO who knowingly shipped contaminated food, a plant with holes in the roof and serious pest problems, and years of state and federal regulators failing to intervene.

It's no surprise that Congress is under pressure to act and multiple food safety bills have been introduced.

Two of the bills are about traceability for food (S.425 and H.R. 814). These present real issues for small producers who could be forced to bear the cost of expensive tracking technology and recordkeeping.

The other bills address what FDA can do to regulate food.


A lot of attention has been focused on a bill introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (H.R. 875), the Food Safety Modernization Act. And a lot of what is being said about the bill is misleading.

Here are a few things that H.R. 875 DOES do:

-It addresses the most critical flaw in the structure of FDA by splitting it into 2 new agencies ?one devoted to food safety and the other devoted to drugs and medical devices.

-It increases inspection of food processing plants, basing the frequency of inspection on the risk of the product being produced ? but it does NOT make plants pay any registration fees or user fees.

-It does extend food safety agency authority to food production on farms, requiring farms to write a food safety plan and consider the critical points on that farm where food safety problems are likely to occur.

-It requires imported food to meet the same standards as food produced in the U.S.

And just as importantly, here are a few things that H.R. 875 does NOT do:

-It does not cover foods regulated by the USDA (beef, pork, poultry, lamb, catfish.)

-It does not establish a mandatory animal identification system.

-It does not regulate backyard gardens.

-It does not regulate seed.

-It does not call for new regulations for farmers markets or direct marketing arrangements.

-It does not apply to food that does not enter interstate commerce (food that is sold across state lines).

-It does not mandate any specific type of traceability for FDA-regulated foods (the bill does instruct a new food safety agency to improve traceability of foods, but specifically says that recordkeeping can be done electronically or on paper.)


Several of the things not found in the DeLauro can be found in other bills ? like H.R. 814, the Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination Everywhere Act, which calls for a mandatory animal identification system, or H.R. 759, the Food And Drug Administration Globalization Act, which overhauls the entire structure of FDA. H.R. 759 is more likely to move through Congress than H.R. 875. And H.R. 759 contains several provisions that could cause problems for small farms and food processors:

-It extends traceability recordkeeping requirements that currently apply only to food processors to farms and restaurants ? and requires that recordkeeping be done electronically.

-It calls for standard lot numbers to be used in food production.

-It requires food processing plants to pay a registration fee to FDA to fund the agency?s inspection efforts.

-It instructs FDA to establish production standards for fruits and vegetables and to establish Good Agricultural Practices for produce.

There is plenty of evidence that one-size-fits-all regulation only tends to work for one size of agriculture ? the largest industrialized operations. That?s why it is important to let members of Congress know how food safety proposals will impact the conservation, organic, and sustainable practices that make diversified, organic, and direct market producers different from agribusiness. And the work doesn?t stop there ? if Congress passes any of these bills, the FDA will have to develop rules and regulations to implement the law, a process that we can?t afford to ignore.

But simply shooting down any attempt to fix our broken food safety system is not an approach that works for consumers, who are faced with a food supply that is putting them at risk and regulators who lack the authority to do much about it.

You can read the full text of any of these bills at http://thomas.loc.gov

___________________________
Sarah Alexander
Senior Food Organizer
Food & Water Watch

1616 P St. NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
www.foodandwaterwatch.org>salexander@fwwatch.org
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
 
Lucy Goodman Boulder Belt Eco-Farm Eaton, OH http://boulderbelt.blogspot.com http://boulderbelt.blogspot.com http://www.boulderbeltfarm.com

with LOVE

[juliainkc]

Hi Laura and All,

I have been aware of this for awhile yet I am like many around me more concerned with solutions and maintaining our rights to freedom. Truly. This issue has been ongoing and now is coming to a head.

It's a split fence. Your voice does count.

Here is a link to the Organic Trade Association to get some input into this ongoing scenario.

http://www.ota.com/wisewords3.html

and another link:

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=282

Love to all,

Julia

[Mina-Laura]

Dear Julia and all,


Yes!  The article link you posted expresses exactly at the point. Thank you.

here is a poignant fragment

What consumers want and what consumers don’t know



One of the most frustrating things for me is the sense that the whole meaning of organic has become a hostage to consumer ignorance.  Much of the blame for this rests squarely with the organic industry and its imperative to market products as “pure, natural and safe.”  It is no wonder that, according to a Consumers Union poll, most consumers think that organic products contain no “artificial ingredients.”

If someone is ignorant about what you do, does it make sense to work on educating them, or should you change what you do to fit their beliefs?  This is the crux of the debate that was raging in the organic community when the OFPA was being drafted.  As I argued then, and believe now more strongly than ever, the distinction between “synthetic” (bad) and “natural” (good) is the wrong place to hang the whole definition of what is organic.  Consumers must realize at this point that not all synthetics are bad, and not all “naturals” are good. 

It should also be obvious to the organic community that the distinctions are not nearly as straightforward as the advocates of this position argued in the eighties.  Recent deliberations by the NOSB in attempting to clarify the definition of “synthetic,” and efforts to reclassify some substances now designated as synthetic to become non-synthetic, have underscored this fuzziness.  The compromise of allowing specific exemptions to the “no synthetics” rule that was crafted into the OFPA does make sense.   The distinction between synthetic and non-synthetic in the realm of food additives is, however, pretty meaningless, but that is what we are stuck with.

Much of the controversy, in my opinion, results from a combination of ignorance, ideological blinders, unchecked assumptions, and confusion about the regulatory process. I would like to suggest in closing that one of the biggest unchallenged assumptions holds that making organic standards “higher” and “stricter” protects small producers and consumers.  Understandable and well meaning, but really mistaken.

Contrary to the widespread presumption that agribusiness types wish to “loosen” or “weaken” organic standards for their own ends, in reality the increasing bureaucratization of the organic rules benefits the bigger players, who have regulatory compliance staffs to make sure they are meeting all the arcane requirements. Small, independent producers then feel like organic has been “stolen” from them, as one former colleague put it, and try to find ways to circumvent the rules. Similar issues have arisen over health and safety rules that have put many small producers out of business.  From the consumer standpoint, most of these “stricter” organic requirements do nothing whatsoever to improve organic integrity, product quality or environmental protection.  Despite these obstacles, the organic industry has grown exponentially over the past decade or so. 

Many in the community think it’s fine to get rid of mass produced organic processed products, and believe that big corporate players should be prevented from going organic.  They believe that everyone should just buy all their food from local producers and prepare home-cooked meals of whole foods.  This may be the ideal choice, but how many American consumers are likely to change their lifestyles this radically?  And how about products like cotton?  I recently attended an organic fiber training that drove home to me the importance of supporting an inherently mass-production oriented industry for the sake of removing as many acres (and farm workers) as possible from the harm caused by massive toxic pesticides, herbicides and defoliants.  It is simply not okay to limit this possibility in the realm of food production in the name of meeting uninformed consumer expectations--at the same time diminishing the range and quality of organic products available to ordinary consumers.

My own vision would have organic become the predominant kind of agriculture in this country (and of course, the whole world), and not remain an elite niche market.  For the sake of the planet, I hope that those who support the organic vision will stop erecting more obstacles to its proliferation.

 

Grace Gershuny
GAIA Services
1417 Joe’s Brook Road
St. Johnsbury, VT  05819
802-633-4152

graceg@kingcon.com

love

[Adrian]

Dear Laura et al,

I fully understand your points and you are right to make them, but at the same time we need to look a little deeper as to what is behind it, and more importantly who.

Why would Monsanto and other chemical companies be pushing this through?

Out of concern for public health?

I don't think so. These are the people behind the neuro-toxin Aspartame, as well as fluoridated water and countless other substances and systems to basically either "poison" or "dumb down" humans. It is becoming increasingly difficult to even purchase bottled "pure natural spring water" over here without being spiked with fluoride.

The bill is just the beginning - it is the creative interpretation that is the most damaging usually - bills are often left very vague and far reaching - like the infamous "Federal Reserve Bank Act".

What should happen is that Organic Produce should be marked as such in shops, with an advisory that they may contain whatever if not cleaned properly.

If eating raw food you can soak for a while in a mild sodium hypochlorite solution and then rinse thoroughly.

I personally do not bother - in fact often I do not even wash the food at all - I simply eat it knowing that all effects on my health will be profoundly positive.

The only time I got food poisoning a couple of years ago was when I ate something without thinking about it being profoundly positive, because it should not have been contaminated in the first place.

Also humans have been gathering and farming for millions of years, and still do in many cultures - we are "designed" to gather and eat in that way. Animals - and humans are animals - eat everything from the ground directly - they never become ill as a result. The only time animals become ill is when they have been poisoned by humans.

At the final analysis no good will come of these bills, and most likely the contrary will be the case.

Look for example at tobacco and alcohol both of which kill millions of people every year and cost the health services trillions of dollars per year - how much health regulation do you see there?

Then you have people who use entheogens and other natural, shamanic substances that have been used for tens of thousands of years, including cannabis, who are treated as criminals and thrown in to jail, despite the fact that they cause no harm to others, and there has not been a single death attributed directly to them as far as I know.

It is all about money, power and ultimately control.

In Love and Light,

Adrian.

[juliainkc]

Hello Dear Adrian,

I see Laura is in here as well. Your statements are valid. This isn't about denying what is going on. This is about doing something about it.

There are many who understand that sick people create big business for drugs and hospital care. Many do not desire to be educated prefering instead a blind trust in these so called leaders and institutions.

Right now, these ones will not change their ways. They are tunnel visioned into money and power and control. They use fear as their weapons. Fear of retribution if one does not conform.

And then there is now, as there always has been a remnant who do not subscribe to the outlandish behaviour of such a ones.

There will possibly be a price to pay for not conforming. What is the alternative? Are we willing to live by freedom of choice our chosen way of life or do we cowtow to the fear and constant regulations being added and not make waves?

To go against the grain for the price of freedom, is it worth it? Only one can decide for oneself. It is good to sound the trumpet, what we cannot do is force another to hear it.

Which is why this very thing is going on right now.

I subscribe to Divine Insight and a Higher Power in situations like this and we know it will lead us all to our Highest Good come what may.

Just my thoughts here,

Love to you and All,

Julia

[Adrian]

Dear Julia,

There are always choices - indeed choices are as infinite as the corresponding experience to the extent that they can be imagined or comprehended.

On a practical level:

What is the alternative? Are we willing to live by freedom of choice our chosen way of life or do we cowtow to the fear and constant regulations being added and not make waves?

The choice here is very simple when looked at dispassionately. This USA is probably the most dangerous place in the world to live, but so many people are so busy "living their lives" within a "system" that is closing in around them, that they simply cannot see it, or if they do they are in denial.

The choice?

Escape.

Leave the USA while you still can, and go live somewhere in the world that is perfect - harmonious, wonderful foods, real government, no crime, safe for raising kids, plenty of land to grow your own crops in peace and so on. There are plenty of such places.

I hear the objections - easier said than done?

But is it really?

Find such a place of the numerous available, sell everything, put your money in safe currency, move and live in peace, harmony and freedom.

If you cannot do that knowing what the alternative is, you should ask yourself why?  "What is binding me to this country"?

These are questions for everyone Dear Julia - not just for you.

In Love and Light,

Adrian.