Get Involved Today!

Who's on the Agriculture Committees?
We've all been waiting with our breath held to find out who would replace Ruth Towne
as House Agricultural Committee Chair. The announcement was made today for both the
House and Senate Committees. Here is the list:

House Agriculture Committee:
Chair: David Zuckerman of Burlington
Vice-Chair: Bill Johnson of Canaan
Ranking Member: Mitzi Johnson of South Hero
Other members:
Phillip Bartlett of Dover
Bill Botzow of Pownal
Sarah Copeland-Hanzas of Bradford
Brian Dunsmore of Georgia
Richard Lawrence of Lyndon
John Malcolm of Pawlet
Scott Orr of Charlotte
Harvey Smith of New Haven

Senate Agriculture Committee:
Chair: Sara Kittell of Franklin County
Vice-Chair: Bobby Starr of Essex-Orleans
Other Members:
Harold Giard of Addison County
Jeanette White of Windham County
Wendy Wilton from Rutland County

If you would like to see all of the committees visit:
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm

TIME OUT ON GMOs Update and ACTION ALERT!
Yesterday was the second day of the legislative session, and the day of the "state
of the state" address, which is delivered by the Governor after he is sworn into
office. On hand for the ceremonies were 30 Vermonters, dressed in red, letting the
governor and all of the legislators know that we are back, and we want a Time Out on
GMOs. The governor definitely noticed the crowd, and after the ceremony, the Lt.
Governor, Brian Dubie, came up to the group in the hallway and recognized our
"enthusiasm" for the issue. After the Governor's speech, the group was recognized
officially by the Speaker of the House, and all of the House Members took a moment
to notice the group. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who came out for this action, and to
those who helped to organize it. We did not send out an email alert about this
action because the effectiveness of it depended on it being a surprise. But never
fear, for those of you who didn't know about it...there is plenty to do!

ACTION #1: Call your representatives and senators and ask them to SIGN ONTO THE
FARMER PROTECTION ACT! Right now, we have legislation drafted that will put strict
liability on the corporations that manufacture GE seed, protect farmers from
lawsuits if they unintentionally have GE traits on their land, and establish rules
about seed contracts that protect all Vermont farmers. Our lead sponsors are David
Zuckerman in the House and Vince Illuzi and John Campbell in the Senate. Please
contact YOUR representatives and senators and ask them to sign on to the Farmer
Protection Act by talking to these three legislators next week. You can find out who
your reps and senators are and get their telephone numbers or email addresses by
visiting these websites:
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm

You can also call the Statehouse Tuesday through Friday and leave a message for your
representatives at 802-828-2228.
If you need help, please feel free to call the Rural Vermont office at 223-7222 or
email amybeth@together.net

The more legislators that sign onto this bill, the easier it will be to get it
passed! If a legislator asks you for the bill number, tell them a number has not
been assigned yet, as the sponsors want to give as many people as possible a chance
to sign on before it's officially introduced.

ACTION #2: SAVE THE DATE - CITIZEN ACTION DAY 2005
Many of you might remember that last year's Citizen Action Day was the day that the
folks working for a Time Out on GMOs first wore red to signify their support for the
moratorium. It was a powerful day for us, and we are going to do it again. Mark your
calendar for February 15, 2005. More details will follow, but plan to spend most of
the day in Montpelier. Vans will be coming from Middlebury, St. Johnsbury,
Brattleboro, and St. Albans, so you don't even need to drive all the way. Please
wear red for a Time Out on GMOs!

Citizen Action Day is an opportunity for you to observe Vermont's political process
up-close and personal, to stand up for the environmental values you care about, and
to make a difference in your state and community. Let your voice be heard while
encouraging your hardworking Legislators to support the 2005 Conservation and
Environmental Legislative Platform put forth by Vermont's environmental community.
The Platform outlines the most important environmental priorities for the 2005
legislature, including protecting Vermont's traditional character, maintaining a
healthy environment, and building a responsible energy future. It includes a Time
Out on GMOs and the Farmer Protection Act! Citizen Action Day will kick off at 11 am
at Christ Church (64 State Street), followed by a march to the State House at noon.
More information and a complete schedule of events will follow shortly.

ACTION #3: COMMENT ON THE INTRODUCTION OF GE ALFALFA TODAY!
Go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/contact_form.html
Submit comments to the FDA telling them not to approve “Roundup Ready” alfalfa.

MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THIS INFO: Docket # 04-085-1
Cut and paste these comments to the online form or write your own:

To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to demand the FDA NOT approve “Roundup Ready” Alfalfa for
commercial introduction in the U.S. or anywhere! The FDA has time and again
released biotech crops onto an unassuming marketplace of farmers and consumers
that have fell far short of there prescribed benefits and in most cases will
have left us with a legacy of genetic pollution generations will be left
pondering how to deal with, while the multinational corporate patent holders
are counting there profits thanks to you.
By the FDA’s callous disregard for public input on their policy decisions,
North America’s corn, soy, and canola crops are virtually completely
contaminated with patented foreign genetic material engineered into plants they
would have never found there way into by the natural processes that have gifted
us with these plants in the first place. These genes are spreading to wild
relatives, being doused with increasing amounts of toxic pesticides and
herbicides, creating potential “super-weeds,” and countless other untold
catastrophic effects on the molecular level of our very life support system.
This must stop!
Do not approve “Roundup Ready” Alfalfa! Do not allow further contamination of
our farms and food with unsafe, untested, and unwanted genetically engineered
material.