From: Daniel Solnit <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: GE-Free Sonoma URGENT ALERT: Call now to stop pre-emption bill in
Sacto! (please forward)
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 22:23:02 -0700

Dear friends of GE-Free Sonoma:

We need you to make a phone call TODAY (or as soon as possible) to stop
SB1056, a bill which would outlaw local GE-Free initiatives in California.

SB 1056, the infamous pre-emption bill we have been fighting for months, is
finally coming to a vote in the California State Assembly this week or early
next. It will likely be passed there and go on to the State Senate, where
the vote will be close. The legislative session ends next Friday, Sept 1, so
the bill must be voted on before then. Its fate could rest in the hands of
Senate President Don Perata, who may be able to defeat the bill in committee
before it reaches a floor vote. Until now Perata has stood fast in his
opposition to this bill, but he is under intense pressure from Monsanto and
Farm Bureau lobbyists to back off. He needs to hear from US, the voters.

How can you help?

1) Please call Don Perata's office right away and ask him to oppose SB1056,
even if amended.
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata: (916) 651-4009

2) Call your own Assembly member and State Senator at their Sacramento
offices asap- ask them to oppose SB1056!
To find out who your legislators are, visit
<https://www.assembly.ca.gov/>www.assembly.ca.gov and click “Find my
district” on the left side of the page.

3) Please forward this alert as widely as possible. (Details below)

Our farms, our health, and our future may depend on this - please act today!

- Daniel Solnit
For GE-Free Sonoma County
<https://www.gefreesonoma.org/>www.gefreesonoma.org

______________________________________________________


**please forward widely**

ACTION ALERT
Stop SB 1056 – Protect Local Governments’ Authority over Seeds
Contact Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and Your Legislators

SB 1056 is before the full Assembly, and time is running short – your
continued action to stop this bill is needed more than ever!

Right now, the California Legislature is considering Senate Bill 1056, which
pre-empts local government restrictions over genetically engineered seeds
and nursery stock. If this bill passes, it will override all future
restrictions on genetically engineered crops and seeds, as well as all other
regulations of seeds, at the local level.

According to a recent media report, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Florez, is
considering amending the bill to make it a two-year moratorium on local seed
regulations, likely to make the bill easier to pass. Whether temporary or
permanent, SB 1056 is an anti-democratic end-run that addresses none of the
legitimate concerns that have been raised by citizens and local governments.
The State of California currently has no regulations on genetic engineering
in agriculture. Until meaningful regulation is in place at the state level
that protects farmers, the environment and public health from the risks of
genetically engineered crops, we must retain the right to make decisions at
the local level.

SB 1056 may be heard by the Assembly any day now, and will then go to the
Senate. Contact your state legislators and Senate President pro tem Don
Perata NOW and tell them to stop SB 1056!


Take Action! Contact Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and your
legislators and urge them to strongly oppose SB 1056. Contact info for
Senator Perata, sample phone raps, and a sample email are below. To find out
who your legislators are, visit
<https://www.assembly.ca.gov/>www.assembly.ca.gov and click “Find my
district” on the left side of the page.

Contact Info
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata
(916) 651-4009
[email protected]>[email protected]

Sample Phone Raps
For Senator Perata: Hi, my name is _________. I am calling to register my
strong opposition to SB 1056. Whether temporary or permanent, SB 1056 is a
blatant attack on grassroots democracy at the local level. In the absence
of state regulations, local governments should have the right to regulate
seeds and root stock as they see fit, including GE seeds. I urge you to lead
the way in stopping this legislation. Thank you.

For your legislators: Hi, my name is ___________, and I am a constituent. I
live in __________. I am calling to register my strong opposition [etc]


For More Info, Visit <https://www.calgefree.org>www.calgefree.org

News Coverage: Fight brews over local power to ban genetically modified seed
by Malcolm Maclachlan, Published August 22nd, 2006 in the Capitol Weekly
<https://www.capitolweekly.net/news/article.html?article_id=921>https://www.capito\
lweekly.net/news/article.html?article_id=921
:eek: :cool: