Contact members of the Agriculture Commitee of the State of California Let them know you oppose SB 1056. Let them know you want local farmers to grow organic seeds and that you do not want any law passed that takes away the right of local communities to prevent GMO farming.

Date:   8/13/2005 9:53:56 AM ( 19 y ago)

Dear CureZone family,
This evening I will be
helping our local San Diego Community
come together so that we can ensure
a safe Future of Food.

We will be showing THE FUTURE OF FOOD
the film by Deborah Garcia.

I predict this filmwill be more influencial than Farenheit
911.

You can help from where you are.

Study all the blogs I have written this morning
and do what this page asks of you:

For a copy of what it says see below:

http://environmentalcommons.org/seed-law-CA.html


These are the names of the committee
members of the CA standing Committee
on Agriculture.

The links to their pages are here:

http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/sen/committee/STANDING/AG_WATER/_home1/PROFILE.HTM

Please read all the blogs I have written
this morning if you would like
to continue having heirloom seeds
grown by local farmers. If you do not
take action by becoming knowledgable
on SB 1056, and stopping the passage
of this bill, California will be the next
state to pass a law that PREEMPTS counties
like Mendocino from saying NO to GMO's.

We have already lost lots of states
who passed this same measure
that is being sponsors by our
friends at Monsanto who have
some wonderful new kinds of
foods to replace what Mother
Earth invented for you and your offspring.

Are you with us?

Your eg

___

Agenda
Sub-Committees
Information ~Standing Committees~
   Agriculture

Committee meets on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 9:30 A.M. in Room 113.
JURISDICTION:   Bills relating to agriculture

Members:
Senator Jeff Denham (Chair)
Senator Denise Ducheny (Vice-Chair)
Senator Wesley Chesbro
Senator Dean Florez
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth
Senator Abel Maldonado
Senator Deborah Ortiz
Senator Charles Poochigian
Senator Edward Vincent


Addresses & Staff:
Consultant:
John Chandler
Assistant:
Jane Leonard Brown
1020 N Street
Suite 244
Phone:
(916)651-1508


___

California Legislators Attempt Preemption

"Regardless of how you feel about the GMO issue, taking away local voters' rights is a very serious threat to democracy."
- California Senator Wes Chesbro

An attempt to undermine local democracy by a few California legislators is underway.

On Monday June 28, Senate Bill 1056 was amended to include language that would remove local government authority over any seed regulations, including regulations on genetically engineered (GE) seeds and resulting foods.

The author of the amendment is Senator Dean Florez (District 16). The language of Senate Bill 1056 reads in part:

"Except as otherwise specifically provided in this code, the provisions of this chapter are of statewide concern and occupy the entire field of regulation regarding the registration, labeling, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, notification of use, and use of field crops to the exclusion of all local regulations. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this code, no ordinance or regulation of any political subdivision may prohibit or in any way attempt to regulate any matter relating to the registration, labeling, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, notification of use, or use of field crops."

The amendments to SB 1056 have only one purpose: to prohibit county ballot initiatives, ordinances, or resolutions adopted by county supervisors or city officials that limit the use of genetically engineered seeds. SB 1056 flies in the face of the California Constitution, which guarantees the right of cities and counties to "make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws." (Article XI, Section 7)


What you can do

SB 1056 will be heard in a special hearing - date to be announced.

1. Sign up to receive email alerts regarding SB 1056 through Californians for GE-Free Agriculture.
2. Contact your Assembly members and Senators. Register your opposition to SB 1056. Find your elected officials here.
3. Plan on attending the special hearing and voice your opposition to the proposed silencing of our democratic rights.
4. Call or write to the representatives on the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who is Opposed?

Numerous organizations, political bodies, and citizens are strongly opposed to attempts at stripping local democratic control. Those opposed include the California League of Cities, CA State Association of Counties, Regional Council of Rural Counties, CA League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club.

* See letter opposing SB 1056, signed by more than 60 organizations throughout California.
* California Native Plant Society opposes SB 1056.
* "The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors ...opposes... State law that would limit or constrain the effect or function of Measure H, an existing ordinance passed by a large majority of Mendocino County voters."
* More information about preemption in California and across the country on the Californians for GE-Free Agriculture website.

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Audio recording of 6/29/05 committee hearing

An audio recording of the first two agenda items of the June 29th session of the California Assembly Agriculture Committee is available here. Item 2 is the gutted/amended version of SB 1056 which "clarifies that the California seed law applies to all aspects of seed regulation" (author's words,) which would pre-empt local governments from regulating [GMO] seeds.

The file is MP3 format, 7.6 MB, and 22 minutes long. Agenda item 2 begins at minute 4:39.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

More information

Find out more about preemption legislation being introduced across the nation.


CA Preemption
in the News

7/20/05 San Francisco Chronicle, op-ed,
Turning Point for California's Farm Industry: Industry aims to strip local control of food supply.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7/13/05 San Jose Mercury News (AP),
County biotech bans spark a push for state control. Farmers worried about potential effects of genetically altered crops on environment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

7/3/05 Santa Rosa Press Democrat,
Bill would nullify local GMO bans. Central Valley lawmaker seeks to prevent 'hodgepodge' of regional regulations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

7/3/05 Sacramento Bee,
Ballot fight targets biotech crops. As sides square off in Sonoma, others want to outlaw bans by counties.

__
thanks for allowing me to be Your Enchanted Gardener,
Feel free to join the Enchanted Garden Club here:

http://www.lesliegoldman.com/id28.htm







 

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