I HATE  politics. I don’t like voting, I don’t like being politically involved. I don’t like debates, I don’t like lobbying, I don’t like signing petitions, I don’t like calling senators and I could go on and on. HOWEVER! If I’m going to complain about the way things are, then I need to be willing to take action.

I don’t think it is right for me to carry on about how terrible things are or how I disagree with decisions made if I’m not willing to make the effort do a little extra work to make my voice heard.  If all of us did then, then maybe there would be changes! That is how the nation was founded… by people who didn’t like the way things were and took matters into their own hands to make it better.

All that said… I’m sure many of you know about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and how they are being introduced into our food without our knowing it. One thing I’m am passionate about is honesty. Oftentimes if someone feels the need to hide something, then it probably shouldn’t be hidden. If the government doesn’t want us to know GMOs are in our food, then why? Are they not good for us? Do they no know what they will do to our health and our bodies? If GMOs are labeled safe, then why all the stink about simply labeling the package? I think we should have the right to know what we are purchasing and what we are eating.

GMOs have been a hot topic and still are. I don’t even want to scratch the surface. There is SO much that could be said and so much research that has been done, is in process and that still needs to be completed. I’m not here to talk about all that.

I just know that there is a petition to the FDA that it be mandatory that all GMO food products be labeled. All you have to do is go to Just Label It and electronically sign the petition. It only takes about 3 minutes even if you are electronically challenged. It’s super simple! Consider doing it, especially if you feel the need to complain about the situation… DO SOMETHING to help! Sign and then spread the word.

I also received this information from the same group. Read and take action if you can!

Last week, powerful interests in Washington defeated the “Consumers Right to Know About Genetically Engineered Food Act” in the Senate, denying you and all Americans the right to know about our food. Now they are at it again, trying to extend their control by barring agricultural officials and judges from being able to stop, when necessary, the planting of genetically engineered crops.

This unprecedented attack on our right to know about our food is gaining steam and we need your voice to fight back.
A provision has been introduced into the FY 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would strip federal courts of their authority to halt the sale and planting of an unapproved genetically engineered (GE) crop while the USDA assesses its potential hazards. This would allow farmers to grow potentially harmful GE crops during legal appeals of the approval process, instead of afterwards.

“This is an unprecedented move by special interests to subvert the separation of powers so carefully laid out in the U.S. Constitution to protect all of our rights,” said Gary Hirshberg, Chairman, Just Label It. “This provision could negatively impact our environment and our health and compromises the consumers’ right to know about our food. It must be defeated.”

Labeled the “Farmer Assurance Provision,” though special interests are the only ones it is designed to assure, this proposed policy rider would:

• Eliminate fundamental and constitutional safeguards of our judicial review system;
• Undermine the USDA’s oversight and approval process and weaken consumer protections;
• Allow powerful chemical companies to dodge reasonable restrictions on potentially hazardous GE crops.

This bill is now being debated in the House of Representatives. It is crucial that you tell your U.S. representative to oppose the “Farmer Assurance Provision!”

Additionally, if this provision becomes law, it may compel the USDA to allow all permits for continued planting of unapproved GE crops, even if previously unrecognized health risks are found. This has dangerous consequences, potentially exposing non-GE farmers to substantial damages and, due to international GE crop trade restrictions, put our nation’s agricultural markets at risk.

As the people of the United States continue to voice concerns regarding the faults in our food system, influential players continue to introduce their own, profit-driven interests into national policies that negatively affect each and every American. Without the appropriate supervision and safeguards, large corporations will continue to control our food safety, with a high cost to both our health and environment.

This is an unprecedented move by special interests to subvert the separation of powers so carefully laid out in the U.S. Constitution to protect all of our rights.

Tell your U.S. Representative to remove the “Farmer Assurance Provision”!

And here is a great video about it as well!

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