What's the solution to world hunger, biodiversity loss, and shrinking resources? According to Obama's nominee for Chief Agriculture Negotiator at the U.S Trade Representative's Office, it's pesticides, genetically modified crops, and fossil-fuel intensive agriculture.
If Islam Siddiqui, Obama's nominee, is confirmed by the Senate, the self-proclaimed "voice of the industry" will be able to push America's industrial agriculture practices onto the rest of the world.
Siddiqui is a former pesticide lobbyist and is the vice-president of science and regulatory affairs at CropLife America, formerly known as the National Agricultural Chemicals Association. This industry trade group represents Monsanto, DuPont, and other companies that "produce, sell and distribute virtually all the crop protection and biotechnology products used by American farmers" -- or in simpler words, they promote toxic pesticides.
Here's a sampling of what Siddiqui and CropLife America have been up to:
- weakening the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act;
- lobbying to allow pesticides to be tested on children;
- fighting to keep ozone-depleting chemicals and persistent pollutants like DDT in use;
- resisting the labeling of genetically-modified foods;
- targeting Michelle Obama for planting an organic White House garden; and
- promoting toxic-sludge grown, genetically modified, and irradiated food as "organic."
We can't allow Siddiqui to force Big Agriculture's pesticide-laden, fossil-fuel heavy industrial farming methods onto the rest of the world. Use the form below to send an email to your senators asking them to vote against the confirmation of Islam Siddiqui as Chief Agricultural Negotiator. Urgent action is needed -- the vote to confirm Siddiqui is likely to happen soon.
