iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Maria Rodale

Maria Rodale

Posted: February 21, 2011 04:55 PM

Dear President Obama,

I have been a devoted supporter of your presidency up until now. But by allowing the complete deregulation of GMO/GE alfalfa, and now sugar beets, you have unleashed another wave of uncontainable contamination on this planet. These toxic crops not only exist so that companies like Monsanto can make more money by selling more toxic chemicals that destroy our environment and our climate, but also the human diseases that these chemicals cause are at the root of the health issues you claim are so important to you and your family, including: cancer, diabetes, obesity, autism, ADHD, childhood leukemia, organ failure, infertility, birth defects, and reduced intelligence.

I am extremely disappointed that you gave in to the bullying of Monsanto and its legion of lobbyists, all paid for by the corrupt subsidies of the American Farm Bill.

If you really want to create jobs, support organic farmers. If you really want to lower taxes, support organic farmers. If you really want to improve the health of people and the planet, support organic farmers. If you really care about developing a healthy, smart, and educated future American population, you MUST support organic farmers. If you really want to stop climate change, support organic farmers.

What on earth were you thinking? You are obviously an intelligent man. Please develop the courage and strength that the American people require of you and make the right decisions for all of us for the long term. Ultimately, your most important job is to protect America and the American people. By deregulating GE/GMO alfalfa and sugar beets, you have failed.

Most sincerely,
Maria Rodale
CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc.
author of Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe

For more from Maria Rodale, go to www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com.

 
 
 

Follow Maria Rodale on Twitter: www.twitter.com/farmkitchenblog

Dear President Obama, I have been a devoted supporter of your presidency up until now. But by allowing the complete deregulation of GMO/GE alfalfa, and now sugar beets, you have unleashed another wav...
Dear President Obama, I have been a devoted supporter of your presidency up until now. But by allowing the complete deregulation of GMO/GE alfalfa, and now sugar beets, you have unleashed another wav...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 14
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DavidMG
OWS Senior
04:37 PM on 02/24/2011
The Rodale family virtually single- handedly made "organics" the succces it is today. She deservs our support.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tabuism
04:46 PM on 02/23/2011
February 20th, 2011

A plant pathologist experienced in protecting against biological warfare recently warned the USDA of a new, self-replicating, micro-fungal virus-sized organism which may be causing spontaneous abortions in livestock, sudden death syndrome in Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soy, and wilt in Monsanto’s RR corn.

Dr. Don M. Huber, who coordinates the Emergent Diseases and Pathogens committee of the American Phytopathological Society, as part of the USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System, warned Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that this pathogen threatens the US food and feed supply and can lead to the collapse of the US corn and soy export markets. Likewise, deregulation of GE alfalfa “could be a calamity,” he noted in his letter

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/02/20/scientists-warn-of-link-between-dangerou
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tabuism
03:58 PM on 02/23/2011
If food prices are going up ? Why do Governments make it so hard for farmers to grow the food we eat !

Monsanto Brings Small Family Dairy to Court Oakhurst Dairy has been owned and operated by the same Maine family since 1921, and Monsanto recently attempted to put them out of business...

Percy Schmeiser is a Canadian farmer, whose Canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto's genetically engineered Round-Up Ready Canola by pollen from a nearby farm. Monsanto says it doesn't matter how the contamination took place, and is therefore demanding Schmeiser pay their Technology Fee...

Rodney Nelson's family farm is being forced into a similar lawsuit by Monsanto.

Schmeiser, Nelson and hundreds of other farmers are being forced to pay Monsanto ! http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/crime.cfm

Watch this short video !, What's "Wrong With Our Food System" Learning this from an 11 year old may shock you ! http://www.aliveraw.com/Articles/Whats-Wrong-With-Our-Food-System.aspx

The Future of Food Documentary Film: http://www.thefutureoffood.com/

Canadians Take Action ! Bill C-474 Voted Down. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network http://www.cban.ca/

Demand President Obama Stop Monsanto's Takeover at the USDA! The USDA approved Monsanto's genetically engineered sugar beets just a week after it approved GE alfalfa. http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5810

Tell President Obama not to cave to Monsanto!
http://thefutureoffoodfilm.wordpress.com/
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tabuism
03:56 PM on 02/23/2011
“If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” ~Thomas Jefferson, 1781

This move by Harper & Obama(in the last few weeks) to allow GMO's to be freely grown in North America, while we, the Organic Community have been protesting this for years, shows that they don't give a %@*! about the citizens, environment or the future of our children's, children !

Tories team with Liberals to kill genetically modified food legislation, Vancover Sun 02/10/11 http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Tories+team+with+Liberals+kill+genetically+modified+food+legislation/4253997/story.html?id=4253997

Obama Administration Allows Unrestricted Planting of GMO Alfalfa. Bye-Bye Organic Milk and Beef. http://politicsoftheplate.com/?p=753

This is an assault on the FOOD SOVEREIGNTY of NORTH AMERICA !

And the only way we can defeat them is to boycott the food manufactures who use GMO ingredients. In that way, we consumers can force food manufactures to change, or we don't by their foods.

This new Greenpeace GMO list is our weapon, our sword !http://gmoguide.greenpeace.ca/shoppers_guide.pdf
True Food Shoppers Guide mobile application for iPhone and Android! http://itunes.apple.com/app/true-food/id379459607?mt=8

Complete List U.S Non-GMO http://truefoodnow.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/web_new-ge-booklet.pdf, Update: http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/Non-GMO-Shopping-Guide.pdf
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
07:28 PM on 02/23/2011
Thanks for the Greenpeace GMO list. I'll pass it on to two groups of organic growers whose members will benefit from it...as will I.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tabuism
11:17 PM on 02/23/2011
You are welcome, I found it a few weeks ago and have posted it on as many sites as possible, I'm on a mission to get it out there.

Pass it on to as many as you can, Spread the Word :)
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
07:59 AM on 02/23/2011
Thank you Maria. Let's get the USDA research from way back that show inconclusively the benefits of organiculture. The USDA was created by Obama's favorite President, Abe Lincoln, who surely must be rolling in his grave.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
05:12 AM on 02/23/2011
I'm with you, Maria. Obama should be making a serous effort to improve the health of the nation, not to promote the growth of Franken-foods and corporate control of our food supply.

Michelle started an organic garden a year or two back, but that seemed to end after a token appearance.

Not only the corporate fake food culture is high on the presidential agenda, but after a dozen years or so we still can't get a truthful nutrition label on products; that is, telling us whether food included is GMO or not. Now, that's truly being corporate controlled.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Karl Wilder
Chef Stirring The Pot Harlem
02:04 PM on 02/22/2011
The only surprising thing is that you believed that Obama had anything but his own, and the interests of big business to protect.

In our Representative Republic our public servants ONLY represent the interest of people who have money and power. Until we throw them all out, including Obama we will get nothing but more poison in our food.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
08:00 AM on 02/23/2011
"people" - what people? I think you mean corporations.
10:28 PM on 02/21/2011
Well said Maria. He is making America Toxic by not standing up for what is right. I always thought that Organic Farming-since I heard of it- was the way to go, and here I thought he was smarter than I. He is going backwards and his lack of courage is only exhibiting his lack of comprehension-or the other way around. Sickening!
07:42 PM on 02/21/2011
I stand in solidarity with Maria Rodale. Did President Obama not read his President's Cancer Panel Report released last spring which advised choosing foods growth without harmful toxins, such as pesticides/herbicides? Many consumers don't realize that GE alfalfa and sugar beets are genetically engineered to withstand spraying with glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's poisonous Roundup. This compound is transported through the plant and will find its way into our groundwater. Our health depends on healthy soil, water, plants and animals. As weeds become resistant to Roundup, additional poisons will be added to our environmental soup.Plants sprayed with these poisons carry toxic residues into our food and water.
I urge you to contact the President directly at www.whitehouse.gov/contact.
It's time mothers (and fathers) banded together to say ENOUGH!. We must protect what we love: our children's health and future.
Please put public health before corporate profits.
Read more here: http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2011/02/15/mothers-unite-say-no-to-gmos/
Sincerely,

Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D.
Host, Food Sleuth Radio: www.kopn.org
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DavidMG
OWS Senior
04:32 PM on 02/24/2011
fanned
photo
alan2a
Actual Progressive
05:54 PM on 02/21/2011
And exactly why were you continuing to support him given his sprint to the right on every single policy of importance.