[Scpg] Genetically Altered Rice Proposed

[EWerb at aol.com]

i keep forgeting this this doesn't accept fwds...who's the alien now...ha 
ha...

April 9, 2004: EDC Action Alert for Ventura
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1.  Genetically Altered Rice Proposed for Planting in Tri-Counties -
Action Needed Immediately!  

2.  Vote NO in a Poll Regarding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

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1.  Genetically Altered Rice Proposed for Planting in Tri-Counties -
Action Needed Immediately!  


WHAT:       Send an important letter today expressing your concerns 
        about plans to plant genetically altered rice in Santa 
        Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.  We do 
        not want to be the location for experimentation with 
        this "Pharm Rice."

WHEN:       ASAP

WHERE:  The Secretary of the California Dept. of Food and 
        Agriculture (CDFA) is currently taking comments on this 
        proposal.  Please send a letter immediately to the 
        following address stating your concerns (see talking 
        points below):

Secretary A.G. Kawamura, 
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street
Sacramento, CA.  95814
secretary at cdfa.ca.gov 
916-654-0433

        Also, please immediately contact your local elected 
        representatives (listed below) and request that they 
        contact CDFA to urge scientific analysis, environmental 
        review and public comment before making any decisions 
        that could negatively affect California's organic AND 
        'conventional' agriculture, human health, and
        biodiversity.  

U.S. Senate:

Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553

Senator Diane Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954

Ventura:

Senator Tom McClintock
223 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 326
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Phone: (805) 494-8808

Congresswoman Lois Capps
141 South A Street, Suite 204
Oxnard, CA  93030
Phone:  (805) 385-3440
Fax: (805) 385-3399

Congressman Elton Gallegly
2829 Townsgate Road, Suite 315
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361-3018
(805) 497-2224
Toll Free: (800) 423-0023
FAX: (805) 497-0039

Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson
701 East Santa Clara Street Suite 25
Ventura, CA 93001 
Phone: (805) 648-9943
Fax: (805) 648-9946

Assemblyman Tony Strickland
2659 Townsgate Road, #236
Westlake Village, CA 91361
Phone: (805) 230-9167
Fax: (805) 230-9183

Assemblywoman Fran Pavley
6355 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Suite 205
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Phone: (818) 596-4141
Phone: (805) 644-4141
Phone: (310) 395-3414
Fax: (818) 596-4150 

With little public notice, the California Rice Commission voted 6-5 on
March 29, 2004 to support the planting of genetically altered rice in
ten non-rice growing counties in California.  This would be the first
genetically altered crop planted in the nation specifically manufactured
for its pharmaceutical, rather than food, purposes.  Produced by Ventria
Bioscience and officially known as "Pharm Rice," this rice has been
genetically spliced with synthetic HUMAN genes to produce two
pharmaceutical proteins - lactoferrin and lysozyme - commonly used as
anti-microbials and anti-diarrheals.  

The California Rice Commission narrowly voted to recommend that the rice
to be grown in counties where rice is not currently produced.  The ten
proposed counties include San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. As
proposed, there must be a one county buffer between any of the 10
selected counties and another rice producing county.  The stated purpose
of this arrangement is to avoid the possibility of contaminating
non-Genetically Engineered (GE) rice varieties with this new Pharm rice.
However, the rice could potentially be transferred to local non-GE
fields via harvesting and processing of the crop, bird migrations,
accidental spills, shipping, and any number of scenarios.  


TALKING POINTS:

-Far too little is known about the effects of GE crops on human and
environmental health.  The little that is known points to potential
contamination of non-GE crops, weed and pest resistance to pesticides,
increased pesticide use, genetic transfer of GE crops' attributes to
similar non-GE crops, and allergic reactions in humans.

-Rice is a highly water-intensive crop, and to propose growing it in a
coastal desert where water is scarce makes little sense.

-Local authorities, farmers, environmental/health groups and residents
in the 10 affected counties had no prior notice of the proposal.  An
official public comment period must be opened to allow for public input.
Hearings should be held in affected counties.  

-The planting of Ventria's Pharm rice could have a negative impact on
California's rice industry.  Japan, the number one importer of US rice,
has cautioned that the US/Japan rice trade may be seriously threatened
if this proposal is allowed. 

**To find out more, of to find out how you can help, please call Eric at
963-1622.** 


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2.  Vote NO in a Poll Regarding Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)


WHAT:       Visit the website listed below and cast your vote in a
        poll regarding Liquefied Natural Gas.

WHEN:       ASAP

WHERE:  Click on the following link to cast your vote:
    
http://monitortalk.csmonitor.com/cs-society/messages?msg=1097.1


Click below and vote no.  No ID or Logging-in required.  Please forward
this onward. 
Vote in the MonitorTalk poll:  Should the US build more liquid natural
gas terminals?


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Rebecca Zinger
Environmental Defense Center
906 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA  93101
(805) 963-1622
rzinger at edcnet.org
www.edcnet.org