1. Greener, Family Oriented Farm Bill - Sign-on letter Update 

Many thanks to all who responded so quickly to our sign on letter calling for a greener, family oriented farm bill. Over thirty Rural Update network groups from around the country signed this letter in less than 24 hours. Great work all! The document was delivered last Wednesday in time for the House Ag Committees initial farm bill hearings. Remember, this effort is only the beginning. Over the coming months we will be sending out alerts when action is needed. Subscribers to Rural Updates will receive these alerts. If you know people who would take action on these issues, please forward this and ask them to subscribe to this free publication. (Email defenders.rural@reply.net with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. The full letter can be viewed on the internet at: http://www.familyfarmer.org/action.html

2. Mad Cow Disease Goes Global?

According to an article by Deborah MacKensie in the New Scientist, Mad Cow Disease or BSE may be about to go global. Mackensie reports that "Official British figures show that over 80 countries imported animal feed from Britain that was probably infected with mad cow disease. And according to the UN, the rest of the European Union also bought exports of potentially contaminated feed during the 1990s to non-EU countries."

Mackinsie further reports that, "Some of the biggest importers, such as Indonesia, Thailand and Russia, may now have the infection. The World Health Organization is holding an emergency meeting on theproblem next month." To view the entire article see: http://www.newscientist.com/nsplus/insight/bse/tomorrow.html

3. Farm Bureau Worried About "Trade Secrets"

Bill Moyers and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) have produced an investigative report that will "uncover how our health and safety have been put at risk and why powerful forces don't want the truth to be told." The show, called "Trade Secrets" is scheduled to air on March 26th . The Farm Bureau is concerned about this production and has circulated an email news story entitled, "Chemical Industry may be the next TV victim." This report characterizes Moyers report as being "orchestrated by a group of national environmental groups" and says that the program will be used "as the centerpiece for a national anti-chemistry campaign called "Coming Clean." Several multi-million dollar Farm Bureau insurance conglomerates are heavily invested in various chemical/biotech companies such as Monsanto, DOW and DuPont. To call for an investigation into Farm Bureau Insurance Company "conflicts of interest" with their non-profit farmer groups go to: http://www.defenders.org/rural3.html

4. Bush and Biotechnology

What do John Ashcroft, Donald Rumsfeld, Tommy Thompson and Anne Veneman have in common? Apart from being recent appointees to high level positions in the Bush Administration, they all have close ties with biotechnology companies. The Guardian is reporting that Ashcroft and Thompson both received generous campaign contributions, while Veneman and Rumsfeld used to work for biotech companies. Each of them will wield enormous power over biotech related issues in the various departments of Justice, Agriculture, Defense and Health (Food and Drug). The Guardian quoted Mr Charles Lewis, director of the Center for Public Integrity, as saying, "It looks like Monsanto and the biotechnology industry has the potential to bring undue influence on the new government."