[Sustain] Fwd: Stop Monsanto - Support CA Farmer Protection Bill - AB541!

Tue Jan 22 13:32:52 PST 2008

Center for Food Safety <http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/home.cfm> 	

Support the California Farmer Protection Bill - AB541!

_AB 541, the Farmer Protection Bill, which could become California's 
first state law protecting farmers from the hazards of genetically 
engineered crops, passed through the Assembly Agriculture Committee on 
January 16th by a vote of 5 -- 0! It will be heard by the full Assembly 
the week of January 28th._

AB 541 will enact protections for California farmers against frivolous 
lawsuits that intimidate and harass those who have not been able to 
prevent the inevitable drift of GE pollen or seed. It will level the 
playing field for farmers accused by Monsanto and others of contract 
violations, and discourage their practice of sampling crops without 
explicit permission from farmers and prosecuting based on unverifiable 
testing results.

*Specifically, the bill would provide for:*

*1. Protection from patent infringement lawsuits for farmers unknowingly 
contaminated by GE crops.* Currently, farmers with crops that become 
contaminated by patented seeds or pollen have been the target of such 
lawsuits without clear recourse or defense.

*2. The establishment of a mandatory crop sampling protocol to be used 
by patent holders when investigating farmers they believe may have 
violated patents or seed contracts.* This protocol would require the 
farmer's written permission for sampling, and provide for a state 
agriculture official to accompany the patent holder during the sampling 
and collect duplicate samples for independent verification if requested 
by either party.

*Please email and call or fax your Assembly Member no later than January 
25th!
*Click on "send this message" to the right to send your email, or go to 
http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541 to send your email online.

*Your Assembly member's contact information is:
*Assembly Member Mark Leno
State Capitol, Room 2114
PO Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
(916) 319-2013
Check the website for Fax listing: 
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a13/

<http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/8un56k84075ebx6b?>

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Assemblyperson (if you live in California)

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: AB 541 - SUPPORT

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I am writing to urge your support for AB 541, which establishes some 
basic and fundamental rights for farmers whose crops may be contaminated 
by genetically engineered varieties.

It is current practice for Monsanto and other biotechnology corporations 
to sue farmers if they find that their crops contain any patented 
genetically engineered material, regardless of how it got onto the farm. 
This has affected farmers who have been unknowingly contaminated. 
Monsanto also investigates farmers that it thinks may have their 
patented material using intimidating and harassing techniques, including 
gathering crop samples without the express permission of the farmer.

AB 541 as currently amended would do the following:

1. Protect from patent infringement lawsuits for farmers unknowingly 
contaminated by GE crops. Currently, farmers with crops that become 
contaminated by patented seeds or pollen have been the target of such 
lawsuits without clear recourse or defense.

2. The establishment of a mandatory crop sampling protocol to be used by 
patent holders when investigating farmers they believe may have violated 
patents or seed contracts. This protocol would require the farmer's 
written permission for sampling, and provide for a state agriculture 
official to accompany the patent holder during the sampling and collect 
duplicate samples for independent verification if requested by either 
party.

These provisions will protect California farmers and create more fair 
conditions if they are faced with intimidation by biotechnology companies.

Please vote Yes on AB 541. Thank you for your consideration of this 
important issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

<http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/8un56k84075ebx6b?>

Take Action!

Instructions:
Click here to take action 
<http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/8un56k84075ebx6b?> on this issue

Tell-A-Friend:
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
 Tell-a-Friend! <http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/forward/8un56k84075ebx6b?>

What's At Stake:

Campaign Expiration Date:
January 30, 2008

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<http://www.convio.com>

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