Tell the USDA Not to Runaround a Court Order-- Keep Roundup Ready Sugar Beets on Hold!

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement on a variety of sugar beets (created by German plant breeder KWS) which have a gene implanted that can withstand large doses of the extremely toxic herbicide Roundup (made by Monsanto). The USDA knows that this new strain may be harmful to the environment. They have been ordered by a court to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

Please write to the USDA and tell them not to grant Monsanto’s petition for “partial deregulation” of the crops, which would allow them to produce these potentially dangerous sugar beets before the EIS has been completed. Don’t allow Monsanto to manipulate the system and runaround the court!

Recipients

Administrator Cindy Smith, Administrator USDA APHIS

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Draft Environmental Assessment of Roundup Ready® sugar beets

Dear [Decision Maker],

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I was shocked to learn that the USDA is considering the authorization of Roundup Ready sugar beets before you have completed the Environmental Impact Statement on the crop. Last August, a federal district court judge in California ruled that your agency had not vetted the environmental impacts of Monsanto's Roundup Ready sugar beets. The judge even chided you, saying it really should have been done before your agency deregulated the sugar beets in 2005, and accused APHIS of not taking the court case seriously.

There are many environmental concerns with these genetically modified crops, like cross-pollination with other crops such as table beets and Swiss chard--GE plants could easily contaminate conventional and organic seeds and crops because sugar beets are wind pollinated and their pollen can travel long distances. Moreover, there is already evidence of weeds becoming resistant to Roundup and similar pesticides. This will lead to uncontrolled growth of "superweeds," which may require ever more toxic herbicides--to everyone's peril.

Of greatest concern is the fact that no long-term health studies on the effects of eating GE foods has been conducted by any government agency. Studies done on hamsters fed GE soy reveal genetic abnormalities in second- and third-generation offspring, and livestock fed GE corn are becoming sterile or are subject to a higher rate of birth defects. It is madness to assume that humans will not be similarly affected.

I believe Monsanto is attempting to manipulate the system by petitioning the USDA for partial deregulation. Please do not allow any deregulation or any other administrative action that would allow the continued cultivation of Roundup Ready sugar beets until the Environmental Impact Statement is completed in May 2012.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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