FDA - Running The Country

Begich Disturbed by Reports of Potentially Damaging Frankenfish and GMO Wheat
Cites Study of Frankenfish’s Ability Breed with Wild Salmon and Mysterious Discovery of Monsanto Wheat
May 29, 2013

U.S. Senator Mark Begich of Alaska reacted with strong concern today to two troubling news items highlighting the immediate threat of genetically modified foods spreading into Americans’ food supply – one demonstrating the ability of Frankenfish to breed with wild fish and the other reporting on discovery of an un-approved strain of GMO wheat in Oregon.

A study conducted by Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, and released today found that genetically modified (GMO) salmon has the capacity to breed with wild trout and pass their engineered genes along to their offspring. The Frankenfish-trout hybrids proved even more voracious than either their genetically modified or natural parents, amplifying the threat to ocean ecosystems.

“It is clear GMO products pose a widespread and unmanageable threat to our wild fish supply and today’s reports indicate that developers of these Frankenfish have not presented us with the basic facts,” said Begich. “We can’t let these GMO promoters play Russian roulette with our food supply.”

Both Aquabounty and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which recently issued a finding of No Significant Impact, have repeatedly asserted that all the relevant research has taken place. Begich expressed further frustration the research on GMO salmon breeding with wild fish is just now being done.

The second concerning report comes from the discovery of a strain of genetically modified wheat growing in an Oregon field. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has never approved any genetically modified wheat, so it is unclear why the Monsanto product was growing there. The U.S. exports about half of our wheat, much of it to countries that ban GMO products, raising concerns that the findings could threaten U.S. exports.

“It is important to consider these two items together. Aquabounty assures us that there is no way for their Frankenfish to get into the wild. But the USDA and Monsanto gave us the same assurances that their GE wheat couldn’t get into production, and look at what happened. This all goes to show us that once you let the Franken-Genie out of the test tube, it’s almost impossible to put back in,” Begich said.

Begich’s Anti-GMO Work in the Senate:

Begich also recently co-sponsored an amendment to the Senate Farm Bill to eliminate the so-called “Monsanto Rider” – a rider which would strip the courts of their power to halt the planting of genetically modified crops that could be dangerous to people or the environment. Begich has led the charge in Congress to prevent the FDA from approving genetically modified salmon until a proper review of its potential environmental impacts can take place. Begich recently led 12 senators in a formal challenge to the FDA draft Environmental Assessment of the Aquabounty GMO salmon and finding of no significant environmental impact. He earlier led an effort to extend the public comment period to allow more time for the public to weigh in on the FDA’s assessment.

Virtually no one wants to eat GMO salmon. Absolutely no one needs to eat GMO salmon! And thousands of stores have announced that they refuse to sell GMO salmon.

Like all other genetically modified products, genetically modified salmon were created because they have the potential to make money. And like all other genetically modified products, GMO salmon has the potential to do tremendous harm to our environment.

Paul Rioux, Ray Friedlander, David Wilcox, the Sitka Conservation Society, and the community of Sitka rallied against GMO salmon in February. But Paul and Ray didn’t stop there. They got together and wrote an article published in the April 2013 Pacific Fishing magazine. The article is titled: Last Minute Do-It-Yourself Activist Toolbox Against GMO Salmon. In the article they lay out and explain exactly what you need to do to sponsor and hold your own Anti-GMO Salmon rally.

In the article, we read:

On Dec. 26th, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration opened a 30-day period to comment on environmental assessment and preliminary finding of no significance concerning genetically engineered Atlantic salmon.

Despite the fact that the FDA opened the period to comment amidst the holiday spirit, more than 33,000 people submitted comments, hosted rallies, and signed petitions opposing Frankenfish. This nationwide public activism prompted the FDA to extend the period to comment by 60 days. Your new deadline to comment is April 26.

Since the FDA began discussing genetically engineered salmon in 2010, more than 400,000 comments have been submitted to the agency urging the FDA not to approve the fish.

April 26! That’s coming right up! If you haven’t submitted your comment to the FDA, now’s your chance. It’s easy. It only takes a minute and it matters.

If you haven’t spoken out against genetically modified salmon to the FDA, go to www.regulations.gov and search for “genetically engineered salmon.” Click on the top “comment now” button you see. For the required field “Organization Name,” put “citizen,” or if you are representing a group, put the name of the group.

Center for Veterinary Medicine, which dealt with the fish request, (240) 276-9300.

FDA main number (for general inquiries), 1 (888) 463-6332.

Thank you, Paul and Ray, for leading out in a battle that may very well save life on earth as we know it.

Over the past 20 years, the FDA has repeatedly demonstrated that they are not a governmental agency at all. By and large, the key players are former and future biotechnology corporate lynchpins and lobbyists. And the biotech industry has repeatedly demonstrated it doesn’t give a cancerous rat’s ass about you, your health, or the environment.

I am struck by the megalomaniacal hubris of the FDA. By what authority do they approve GMO crops which will spread, infect, infest, and pollute the world’s natural ecosystems? By what authority do they approve fish that will, almost certainly, destroy natural fish species?

Of course, we all know the answer to those questions. They act by the authority of the all mighty dollar.

GMOs will only be stopped when we rise up and tear down the absurd patent laws that permit corporations to patent and profit from their mutant creations. And if we can’t change the patent laws, then we must demand that the perpetrators of genetic pollution be held financially and criminally liable for their crimes against humanity and nature.

I am not a proponent of the death penalty for human beings. I am, however, in favor of the death penalty for psychopathic corporations such as Monsanto. If a psychopathic person had committed a fraction of the crimes that Monsanto has perpetrated around the globe over the past century, society would have eliminated that person from the gene pool long, long ago.

The FDA is little more than another governmental branch of Monsanto. If the FDA says no to GMO salmon, it will weaken their pro-biotech position, and that’s the last thing the FDA/Monsanto wants to do.

Go to the FDA web site and leave a comment regarding GMO salmon. And while you’re at it, leave a comment regarding the corrupt nature of the FDA. Let them know that you know about their incestuous relationship with Monsanto and the biotech industry.

Tyranny always falls! The question in the GMO scenario is this: Will tyranny fall due to the efforts of good people like Paul Rioux, Ray Friedlander, and you, or will it fall from worldwide environmental destruction caused by the worldwide dissemination of genetically modified organisms?

Tag: FDA

Begich Disturbed by Reports of Potentially Damaging Frankenfish and GMO Wheat

Do It Yourself Activist Toolkit Against GMO Salmon