Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Obama Puts Pesticide Pusher in Charge of Agricultural Trade Relations
"Dr. Siddiqui's confirmation is a step backward," said Tierra Curry, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. "His appointment ensures the perpetuation of pesticide- and fossil-fuel-intensive policies, which undermine global food security and imperil public health and wildlife."
"Dr. Siddiqui's confirmation is a step backward," said Tierra Curry, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. "His appointment ensures the perpetuation of pesticide- and fossil-fuel-intensive policies, which undermine global food security and imperil public health and wildlife." (photo by flickr user benketaro) As undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Siddiqui oversaw the development of the first national organic labeling standards, which allowed sewage sludge-fertilized, genetically modified, and irradiated food to be labeled as organic before public outcry forced more stringent standards. Siddiqui has derided the European Union's ban on hormone-treated beef and has vowed to pressure the European Union to accept more genetically modified crops.
CropLife America, formerly known as the National Agricultural Chemicals Association, lobbies to weaken the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act, claiming that pesticides are not pollutants because of their intended beneficial effect and that pesticides positively impact endangered species. The group has lobbied to allow pesticides to be tested on children and to allow the continued use of persistent organic pollutants and ozone-depleting chemicals. It also launched a petition asking Michelle Obama to use pesticides in the organic White House garden and fought county initiatives in California banning genetically modified foods.
20 Comments so far
Show AllOkay. Will someone please remind me again: WHAT's the difference between Obama and W?
Not a f--king thing at all except the smooth talk and coherent sentence ability.
"D"
Cornell West called Obama, "The Smiling Face of Empire," on DemocracyNow! this morning.
Glad to hear West is coming around to the truth.
"The group has lobbied to allow pesticides to be tested on children..." Now, if we would directly inject about 50cc of Atrazine into the bloodstream of a group of children, and have an adequate control group, wouldn't we learn something? We could do this with a vast number of chemicals and chemical combinations. Science can guide us.
Newsflash: It now seems certain that folic acid (a B vitamin) taken in excess, will cause cancer. No need to inject children with this B vitamin. This saves several kids from a nasty cancer death. It's a good day.
How big was the bribe?
biotech companies are = to the u.s. government.
they together own/control the world food supply via the terminator gene. and all of the money they move back and forth to support each other. both are corrupt. (especially the USDA)
the only way i see a way to avoid this is grow your own food,
join a CSA, or by from as many small farmers as possible. hopefully those farmers haven't been exposed to a GMO or any of the hebicide or pesticides that many have to spray on their land. it seems that it will be unavoidable soon.
okay, maybe i'm a bit off topic here but, hopefully people get it.
Just another Death Wish
Nice rants. Any suggestion for progress? Joining a CSA is great for what you're eating, but what about the rivers, lakes, and watersheds that are vulnerable to increased chemical use?
Since this is an appointment, the prick in question is not beholden to the voter. I don't even know where to lodge a complaint.
suggestions?
Did you miss the main point of the article? "OBAMA Puts Pesticide Pusher in Charge..."
The group has lobbied to allow pesticides to be tested on children ...
Zyclone B is a pesticide and it was already tested on children - worked fine, killed them all and also their parents.
What dumb ass equated folic acid to atrazine?
As for Obominable...this is the last straw for whether he is for us or against us. Someone has lined his pocket with CASH...and to think Michelle is sprouting organic...what the hell
That, ah, that would, ah, that would be, ah, that would be me. But, check out the latest from Rodale. Folic acid appears to increase cancers, especially colon. And it's quite easy to get too much. I know it seems strange, but it is POSSIBLE that folic acid is causing more severe health problems than atrazine.
Dude, seriously, Rodale, bought and paid for by Big Pharma and most AMAers.
Other references indicate that IF one has cancer it is not wise to take too much. It is hard to get too much when just eating and taking one pill a day. Folate is critical to fetus health.
Atrazine on the other hand can cause birth defects out the wazoo. Check the ASTDR for further info on that, endocrine disruption being one of the worst effects. Sorry I called you a dumb ass. I've worked in the nutrition field along side environmentalists for years and it just freaked me out.
WHOA>>>check out the hype at CropLife America!!!
Obamaboozled, yet again!
Alas, Dem loyalists continue to take the slaps in stride, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. And they even turn the other cheek for another blow. Truly, they have the patience of Job, who was tortured by God by the way.
Don't wait for the pesticide residues to show up in your autopsy. Vote Green. And vote often.
-TIA
This is the most damning story I've ever seen about the Obama administration. Very sad.
Obama also named Michael Taylor as the deputy commissioner for foods at the FDA, another industry insider: http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2009/08/04/obama-administration-appointments-from-industry-ranks/