D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
Subject: Urgent Saturday Action ItemWe don't normally send you Saturday action items, but some of our allies have just alerted us that we need to do so today.The annual bloated corporate welfare farm bill is coming up for a vote, perhaps as soon as Monday. A new version of this bill is passed almost every year, and it is always bad -- a monstrous rape of the taxpayers for the benefit of the wealthy and well-connected. We plan, in the near future, to begin a permanent campaign against this bill, but in the meantime . . .We need to strike at a particular part of this year's bill -- funding for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). We have been campaigning against NAIS for a long time, bombarding Congress with more than 30,000 messages. We need to make another push this morning. We have a long explanation of NAIS and why it's bad on our campaign page. We won't repeat it here. Suffice it to say that NAIS will strangle small family farms to the benefit of big corporate farms. Please send Congress a message asking them to stop the Department of Agriculture from implementing NAIS. Our coalition allies ask that you specifically request that Section 10305 be removed from the Farm Bill. You can do that in your personal comments. Send your message here.Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.Jim BabkaPresidentDownsizeDC.org, Inc. D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c his the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation
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Saturday, October 27, 2007
JURISDICTION
Click on title to go to articles on jurisdiction. This file will continue to grow with jurisdiction and procedure articles and information.
U.S. CONSTITUTION
Click on title to go to U.S. CONSTITUTION. 89 pages long from http://www.house.gov
Friday, October 26, 2007
Property Rights Protest Tomorrow - Alamorosa
RALLY/PROTEST CONCERNING VIOLATION OF
PROPERTY RIGHTS!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th STARTING AT 9am
AT THE ALAMOROSA TRAVEL CENTER HWY 54/70 NORTH
AT MTN. MEADOW ROAD.
JOIN US IN A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT OUR CIVIL
RIGHTS AND STOP GOVERNMENT POWER!!! OTHER RIGHTS PROBLEMS CAN BE DISCUSSED ALSO!
THERE WILL BE SPEAKERS IN THE MORNING AND LIVE BANDS LATER IN THE DAY.
IT WILL BE HELD IN FRONT OF THE GRUBSTAKE RESTAURANT===FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
575-585-9638 ASK FOR MORGAN OR DESIREE!
PROPERTY RIGHTS!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th STARTING AT 9am
AT THE ALAMOROSA TRAVEL CENTER HWY 54/70 NORTH
AT MTN. MEADOW ROAD.
JOIN US IN A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT OUR CIVIL
RIGHTS AND STOP GOVERNMENT POWER!!! OTHER RIGHTS PROBLEMS CAN BE DISCUSSED ALSO!
THERE WILL BE SPEAKERS IN THE MORNING AND LIVE BANDS LATER IN THE DAY.
IT WILL BE HELD IN FRONT OF THE GRUBSTAKE RESTAURANT===FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
575-585-9638 ASK FOR MORGAN OR DESIREE!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION ACT BILL ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Alert from NONAIS.org: Article by Mary Zanoni.
Read about Senate Farm Bill S.849, sponsored by Sen. Leahy. There will be an attempted exemption of any use of the Freedom of Information Act, if this bill is passed. Cut and paste the link to NoNAIS.org to read this revealing and disturbing article.
http://nonais.org/index.php/2007/10/24/usda-attempts-to-subvert-foia/
"This proposed FOIA exemption for the commonplace contact information of livestock facilities flies in the face of the pending FOIA amendments of S. 849; those pending FOIA amendments would, inter alia, require that any legislation containing FOIA exemptions must specifically state that it contains an exemption to the disclosure normally required under the Freedom of Information Act. Yet the livestock title of the Senate Farm Bill sets forth what is in fact an unprecedented and unwarranted exemption to FOIA disclosure without once mentioning FOIA — in other words, if S. 849 were already law, it would prohibit exactly the type of under-the-radar FOIA exemption being proposed in the Senate Farm Bill livestock title. This is the more distressing for freedom-of-information advocates in that Senator Leahy, the main sponsor of S. 849, is also a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee"
Read about Senate Farm Bill S.849, sponsored by Sen. Leahy. There will be an attempted exemption of any use of the Freedom of Information Act, if this bill is passed. Cut and paste the link to NoNAIS.org to read this revealing and disturbing article.
http://nonais.org/index.php/2007/10/24/usda-attempts-to-subvert-foia/
"This proposed FOIA exemption for the commonplace contact information of livestock facilities flies in the face of the pending FOIA amendments of S. 849; those pending FOIA amendments would, inter alia, require that any legislation containing FOIA exemptions must specifically state that it contains an exemption to the disclosure normally required under the Freedom of Information Act. Yet the livestock title of the Senate Farm Bill sets forth what is in fact an unprecedented and unwarranted exemption to FOIA disclosure without once mentioning FOIA — in other words, if S. 849 were already law, it would prohibit exactly the type of under-the-radar FOIA exemption being proposed in the Senate Farm Bill livestock title. This is the more distressing for freedom-of-information advocates in that Senator Leahy, the main sponsor of S. 849, is also a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee"
SEN. MIKE SIMPSON: CATTLE GRAZING ON PUBLIC LANDS FOR FIRE FUEL REDUCTION
Senator Mike Simpson (R), Idaho, has written a letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking for an extension of aid to ranchers impacted by Idaho forest 'fire storms'. Simpson also requested reopening public lands to grazing to aid fire reduction in the state.http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2007/10/12/rockybarker/climate_disasters_prompt_call_for_funds_and_place_simpson_in_grazing_debateArticle at:
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS SUPPORT GRASS FED BEEF
http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/rules.html
The UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS has come out in support of grass fed beef. Considering this organizations stance on 'climate change' and other green initiatives, this is a contrary opinion to the majority of environmentalists that condemn ranching and grazing of cattle. Click on the link below to read their letter to Martin E. O'Connor, Chief Standardization Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/sustainable_food/ucs-comments-grassfed-beef.html
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)has come out with a new standard, that seems to favor the packing houses more than the individual producer.
Link and Action Alert from Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
http://www.msawg.org/pdf/Action%20Alert%20to%20Support%20Grass%20Fed%20Meat%20Label%20Claim.pdf
ACTION ALERTPlease Take Immediate ActionSubmit your comments supporting the proposed 99% grass or forage fed requirement forthe GRASS FED MEAT LABEL CLAIMAugust 10th DeadlineYour letter or e-mail will help prevent the good 99% grass or forage feeding requirementfrom being finalized with a less stringent standard. A weakened regulation will disrupt theimportant and growing niche market created by small and medium-sized sustainablelivestock producers, limit the positive environmental and animal health effects of the grassfed industry, and erase the consumer health benefits of grass fed animal products.Key Point: The proposed 99% grass or forage feeding requirement for livestock productslabeled “grass fed” by the USDA’s Process Verified Program should be approved.Second Point: As soon as it has finalized the new grass fed label claim rule, USDA should issuefor public comment new proposed label claim standards for free range or pasture-raised livestockand for livestock raised with no antibiotics and no supplemental hormones. (For moreinformation on these claims, see meat label claims background.Comments should be addressed to:• Letters: Chief, Standardization Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA,Room 2607-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0254• Email: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/mainAll Comments should refer to Docket No. LS-05-09.Background: After three years of intensive consultations with a wide array of sustainableagriculture, environmental, and consuer interests, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service(AMS) has released a revised proposal for a grass fed meat label claim for its process-verifiedlabeling program. The revised standard, which applies to cattle, sheep and other ruminantlivestock, but not pigs, requires that animals certified as “grass fed” receive at least 99 percent oftheir lifetime energy source from a grass or forage based diet. This is a significant increase fromthe original proposal issued in late 2002 stating that at least 80 percent of the lifetime energysource comes from a grass or forage-based diet.AMS will administer the grass fed label through its Process Verified Program, under whichruminant livestock producers can request that their “grass fed” claim be verified by AMS asmeeting the standard’s feeding regime. Under the program, AMS will conduct an on-siteevaluation to ensure that the livestock is raised under the standard’s feeding regime. Meatproducts from livestock raised in accordance with the AMS grass fed standard can then belabeled with the grass fed claim along with the “USDA Process Verified” statement and shield asassurance to consumers that USDA is a third party verifier of the product.The new proposed standard issued by USDA is in response to an effort led by the SustainableAgriculture Coalition (SAC) to improve USDA’s 2002 proposal for label standards for grass fedclaims, as well as antibiotic use claims; hormone use claims; and free range claims. SACdeveloped a broad collaboration of interested parties to ask USDA for a more extensive andinclusive process that would allow input from family farm, consumer, humane, andenvironmental organizations and most importantly, sustainable livestock producers themselves,the group who worked hard to establish the grass fed market.Over the past decade, numerous scientific studies have shown that the meat and milk from grassand forage fed animals are higher in good fats that may confer health benefits on humans. Thegrass fed claim, in combination with strong standards for the other meat marketing claims stillunder consideration by AMS, will also help consumers identify meat products from animalsraised in pastured systems that lessen environmental damage and improve animal health.SAC demanded that the USDA develop a grass-fed label that helped, not hindered producerswho were already maintaining a 100% grass fed operation, and not destroy the market byallowing large confined feedlot operations to finish out the animals on a grain-based diet and stillmake claims to being grass fed. The AMS held a public listening session in 2004 on the issueand heard the same message. SAC is pleased the proposed labeling standard largely reflects themajor feeding regime portion of the consensus recommendations. SAC and its collaboratorsconvinced the USDA that the agency had the ability to transform the marketplace and either helpor hinder small and moderate sized farms and ranches that have made their livelihoods in suchclaims.Please help secure this important victory with your comment letter in support of the proposedlabel claim standard for grass fed meat! And also urge USDA to issue label claims for publiccomment on pasture requirements for free range or pasture-raised livestock and for noantibiotics or supplemental hormones.A sample comment letter follows. Feel free to adapt it and to add whatever other comments youmay wish to make about the proposed standard.Thank you!
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE OF USDA GRASS (FORAGE) FED BEEF STANDARDShttp://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/claim.htm
The UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS has come out in support of grass fed beef. Considering this organizations stance on 'climate change' and other green initiatives, this is a contrary opinion to the majority of environmentalists that condemn ranching and grazing of cattle. Click on the link below to read their letter to Martin E. O'Connor, Chief Standardization Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/sustainable_food/ucs-comments-grassfed-beef.html
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)has come out with a new standard, that seems to favor the packing houses more than the individual producer.
Link and Action Alert from Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
http://www.msawg.org/pdf/Action%20Alert%20to%20Support%20Grass%20Fed%20Meat%20Label%20Claim.pdf
ACTION ALERTPlease Take Immediate ActionSubmit your comments supporting the proposed 99% grass or forage fed requirement forthe GRASS FED MEAT LABEL CLAIMAugust 10th DeadlineYour letter or e-mail will help prevent the good 99% grass or forage feeding requirementfrom being finalized with a less stringent standard. A weakened regulation will disrupt theimportant and growing niche market created by small and medium-sized sustainablelivestock producers, limit the positive environmental and animal health effects of the grassfed industry, and erase the consumer health benefits of grass fed animal products.Key Point: The proposed 99% grass or forage feeding requirement for livestock productslabeled “grass fed” by the USDA’s Process Verified Program should be approved.Second Point: As soon as it has finalized the new grass fed label claim rule, USDA should issuefor public comment new proposed label claim standards for free range or pasture-raised livestockand for livestock raised with no antibiotics and no supplemental hormones. (For moreinformation on these claims, see meat label claims background.Comments should be addressed to:• Letters: Chief, Standardization Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA,Room 2607-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0254• Email: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/mainAll Comments should refer to Docket No. LS-05-09.Background: After three years of intensive consultations with a wide array of sustainableagriculture, environmental, and consuer interests, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service(AMS) has released a revised proposal for a grass fed meat label claim for its process-verifiedlabeling program. The revised standard, which applies to cattle, sheep and other ruminantlivestock, but not pigs, requires that animals certified as “grass fed” receive at least 99 percent oftheir lifetime energy source from a grass or forage based diet. This is a significant increase fromthe original proposal issued in late 2002 stating that at least 80 percent of the lifetime energysource comes from a grass or forage-based diet.AMS will administer the grass fed label through its Process Verified Program, under whichruminant livestock producers can request that their “grass fed” claim be verified by AMS asmeeting the standard’s feeding regime. Under the program, AMS will conduct an on-siteevaluation to ensure that the livestock is raised under the standard’s feeding regime. Meatproducts from livestock raised in accordance with the AMS grass fed standard can then belabeled with the grass fed claim along with the “USDA Process Verified” statement and shield asassurance to consumers that USDA is a third party verifier of the product.The new proposed standard issued by USDA is in response to an effort led by the SustainableAgriculture Coalition (SAC) to improve USDA’s 2002 proposal for label standards for grass fedclaims, as well as antibiotic use claims; hormone use claims; and free range claims. SACdeveloped a broad collaboration of interested parties to ask USDA for a more extensive andinclusive process that would allow input from family farm, consumer, humane, andenvironmental organizations and most importantly, sustainable livestock producers themselves,the group who worked hard to establish the grass fed market.Over the past decade, numerous scientific studies have shown that the meat and milk from grassand forage fed animals are higher in good fats that may confer health benefits on humans. Thegrass fed claim, in combination with strong standards for the other meat marketing claims stillunder consideration by AMS, will also help consumers identify meat products from animalsraised in pastured systems that lessen environmental damage and improve animal health.SAC demanded that the USDA develop a grass-fed label that helped, not hindered producerswho were already maintaining a 100% grass fed operation, and not destroy the market byallowing large confined feedlot operations to finish out the animals on a grain-based diet and stillmake claims to being grass fed. The AMS held a public listening session in 2004 on the issueand heard the same message. SAC is pleased the proposed labeling standard largely reflects themajor feeding regime portion of the consensus recommendations. SAC and its collaboratorsconvinced the USDA that the agency had the ability to transform the marketplace and either helpor hinder small and moderate sized farms and ranches that have made their livelihoods in suchclaims.Please help secure this important victory with your comment letter in support of the proposedlabel claim standard for grass fed meat! And also urge USDA to issue label claims for publiccomment on pasture requirements for free range or pasture-raised livestock and for noantibiotics or supplemental hormones.A sample comment letter follows. Feel free to adapt it and to add whatever other comments youmay wish to make about the proposed standard.Thank you!
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE OF USDA GRASS (FORAGE) FED BEEF STANDARDShttp://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/claim.htm
AMERICAN GRASSFED ASSOCIATION RESPONSE TO AMS GRASS FED STANDARDS
http://www.americangrassfed.org/pdf/Press%20release%2010-16-07%20USDA%20claim.pdf
Cut and paste this link to go to the American Grassfed Association to the USDA Agricultural Services grass (forage)fed beef standards.
Cut and paste this link to go to the American Grassfed Association to the USDA Agricultural Services grass (forage)fed beef standards.
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