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Subject: terminator gene again
From: gardenguy0@aol.com (smitty)
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 99 16:13:16
Message-ID: <MOD$990911.12527@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR NETWORKS

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS AT IT AGAIN!!
AGENCY CONTINUES TO FUND TERMINATOR TECHNOLOGY

TELL USDA TO STOP ITS ONGOING SUPPORT OF NEW RESEARCH ON
TERMINATOR/TRAITOR TECHNOLOGIES.
USE PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR RESEARCH

Despite widespread opposition to USDA's involvement with Terminator technology,
the agency
continues to use taxpayer dollars to support genetic seed sterilization.
Controversy over the
Terminator technology has generated an avalanche of public opposition. USDA is
blatantly
ignoring the public outcry. A new patent reveals that USDA funding supports
additional
Terminator research at Purdue University (Indiana).

WRITE, PHONE, OR FAX SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN
USDA, 200A Whitten Bldg., 1400 Independence Ave., SW. Washington, DC 20250
Phone: 202-720-3631; Fax: 202-720-2166

Tell him to stop using USDA’s scarce public research dollars to pursue a
dangerous,
antifarmer technology that threatens biodiversity. Tell him that USDA must:

** Abandon all research on genetic seed sterilization.
** Develop a policy prohibiting the use of public research dollars on
Terminator
technologies
** Use public research dollars to support plant breeding for sustainable
agriculture

Terminator is a controversial technology that has generated worldwide
protest and debate
because it renders farm saved seed sterile forcing farmers to return to the
commercial seed
market every year. If commercialized, it will threaten global food security
and endanger
biodiversity. The original Terminator patent is jointly owned by the US
Department of Agriculture
and a Monsanto subsidiary, Delta & Pine Land Co.

The notorious Terminator patent is just the tip of the iceberg. There
are dozens of new
patents describing a wide range of techniques that can be used for the genetic
sterilization of
plants and seeds. Every major seed and agrochemical enterprise is developing
its own version
of suicide seeds. These technologies are extremely dangerous because they will
erode farmer
control and decision making in agriculture and increase dependence on a handful
of giant
agrochemical corporations. Over 1.4 billion people, primarily poor farmers in
Africa, Asia, and
Latin America depend on farmsaved seed as their primary seed source. If they
can't save seed,
they can't continue to adapt crops to their unique farming environment. The
new generation of
patents goes beyond the genetic neutering of crops. The patents reveal that
multinational
agrochemical and seed corporations are developing suicide seeds whose genetic
traits can be
turned on and off by an external chemical inducer triggered by the company's
patented
agrochemicals. In the notsodistant future, we may see farmers planting seeds
that will develop
into productive crops only if sprayed with a carefully prescribed regimen that
includes the
company's proprietary pesticide, fertilizer, or herbicide -- the TRAITOR
technologies.

With Traitor technologies, farmers will be forced to surrender
control of their seed supply
and the Gene Giants will ultimately dictate what the farmer grows, how to grow
it, and where to
sell it. Seed sterility is not about insuring quality of productivity, it's a
power grab pure and simple,
and tax dollars should not go to support the development of these technologies.

For detailed analyses of Terminator and Traitor technologies, see websites:
www.rafi.org
& www.ucsusa.org

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Sample letter to protest the Terminator Technology:

Please copy this letter to your representatives in Congress.

Secretary Dan Glickman
USDA
200-A Whitten Bldg.
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250
Email: agsec@usda.gov
Fax: (202) 720-3631

Dear Secretary Glickman:

I oppose the use of taxpayer money to develop Terminator technology a genetic
technology
that renders farm-saved seed sterile. I urgently call on USDA to adopt a policy
that will
prevent the use of public funds (either through grants or in-house research) to
support
genetic seed sterilization.

I am writing to ask that the USDA immediately cease negotiations to
license the Terminator technology to a Monsanto subsidiary (Delta and
Pine Land Co.). I urge the USDA to abandon its worldwide patent
applications on this immoral and dangerous technology.

The Terminator technology is a dead-end for farmers and a threat to
food security worldwide. I respectfully urge you to stop funding Terminator
technology and
cease negotiations for its commercial development.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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RAFI-USA
Rural Advancement Foundation International
P.O. Box 640, 21 Hillsboro St.
Pittsboro, NC 27312 USA
Ph: 919-542-1396; Fax: 919-542-0069
www.rafiusa.org

PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR FORMATTED OR HARD COPY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Liana Hoodes
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396
Pine Bush, New York 12566
Phone: 914-744-8448
Fax: 914-744-8477
emamil: campaign@magiccarpet.com
www.SustainableAgriculture.net
If you would like to join our (free) Action Alert Network, please email us your
name, address,
phone, fax, and email.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To garden is to become one with the great dance.
Lifted up in the music of creations song.
Carried in the arms of the GREAT COMPOSER.