Trying Times (Keep on Trying)

Thank you to everyone who spoke out against the deregulation of Roundup Ready alfalfa. I appreciate your support, phone calls, and shared outrage and concern. I can't help but feel extremely disappointed by -and in- our government at this time, and the short-sightedness that led to a decision that is so obviously dangerous to our environment, food supply, economy, and the health and well-being of not only Americans, but all our relations, across the globe.

At the same time as this is happening, though, I am encouraged by people's interest and creativity regarding ways to grow, support, sustain, and "green up" their local communities.

The paradigm is shifting; I can feel it. Not everywhere, and certainly not all at once, but it is happening, and in enough different and symbiotic ways that I remain hopeful and loving despite this calamitous setback. We CAN join hands. We CAN open our hearts. We CAN reshape the patterns that no longer serve us, welcoming in a new day of service, understanding, and respect for others and ourselves.
We are not waiting for change, we are changing. We are growing. And once again, we are holding the line of Light against what seems like the darkest part of an unending night; keeping the cold at bay with nothing but the warmth of our beating hearts. Yours in faith,

Blackbird's Daughter

Hey, Barry? It's us.

"...You know, the folks who elected you? Yeah, you too, thanks. Hey listen, we need you to save the world. Like, STAT."

(painting by Alex Ross, alexrossart.com)

Or at least, that's how I hope it works. Anyway, here's his number: (202) 456-1111.
Seriously.
You can also try the switchboard at (202) 456-1414.
Either way, you better call quick, because the vote that will obliterate organics worldwide is going down within the next 24 hours in favor of Monsanto, Obama's the only one who can stop it, and no, that's not hyperbole.
Here's the latest update according to Food Democracy Now!:

Since Secretary Vilsack’s decision last December called for either full deregulation (approval) or a plan for co-existence between GMOs and organics and left out the option to unconditionally reject Monsanto’s GMO alfalfa, the only person that could make the decision to reject GMO alfalfa is President Obama.
Unfortunately, the Obama administration’s plan for co-existence is totally unworkable as family farmers and scientists readily admit. Contamination is not something that is predicted to happen, it already has.
According to Don Huber PhD, professor emeritus at Purdue University and APS coordinator for the USDA's National Plant Disease Recovery System genetic contamination will completely pollute organic and conventional alfalfa.
"Just from the gene flow, within five years of Roundup Ready alfalfa, there will be no such thing as non-Roundup Ready alfalfa, regardless of restrictions government puts on it," says Huber, PhD, widely regarded as an expert in plant disease and biology.
Tell President Obama that this is unacceptable and that you elected him to take courageous stands to protect family farmers, our food supply and our environment.

If you click the above link, you'll find both numbers, as well as a script you can use if you don't want to use mine :) Please call!

Goodbye Organics?

Is this the end to small, organic, family farms, like this one, 

run by my friend Dave Dietz and his loving family in rural Pennsylvania?

Circle of Friends: an organic breakfast from -and on- Dave's farm.

Dave and his parents, Myron and Lois with their farm-raised, home-cooked dinner.

Or how about this one, in rural Mexico, where friends work together to keep a tiny part of the ancient Mayan rainforest from becoming another gated community for rich Americans?

A final fiesta with friends at El Alebrije, where Julie and Onassis teach themselves to farm ecologically while building their jungle tree-house, trying to avoid scorpions, and learning the ways of the jungle.

It almost certainly will be if the Obama administration approves Monsanto's genetically modified Roundup Ready alfalfa for open distribution. 

I don't usually get this political here, but this is an incredibly important, PLANET-CHANGING piece of legislation. It's also very personal, as it effects everything I and Blackbird's Daughter stand for, as well as many of my friends. Below are pictures of some of the wonderful organic people and places that I love. Scroll down, read the petition, and then decide whether this is something that we can ignore. Their - my - our - lives and livelihoods are on the line.

Please, sign the petition from Food Democracy Now HERE. Many thanks, and blessings,

Jessica

  Here is the letter to Secretary Vilsack and President Obama requesting that they reject approval of Monsanto's GMO alfalfa: Dear Secretary Vilsack and President Obama, I urge you to immediately reject the approval of Monsanto’s genetically engineered Roundup Ready alfalfa. The U.S. Supreme Court has already acknowledged that the economic risks from genetic contamination, as well as the risk to the environment of gene flow, are real concerns. The USDA has a responsibility to protect farmers and consumers and should refuse the biotech industry’s demands for deregulation. More importantly, the Secretary of Agriculture and President of the United States have a sacred duty to protect biodiversity and seed integrity for future generations and our planet.

If approved, the contamination of organic and conventional alfalfa crops is scientifically certain to happen. Once contaminated, organic and conventional crops will lose their economic value and this threatens the livelihood of family farmers who have responded to market signals regarding the valid concerns of the negative health and environmental impacts of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Already the CEO of the largest dairy cooperative has stated that approval of Monsanto’s GMO alfalfa “threatens the very fabric of the organic industry.” Once undermined, consumers will lose faith in USDA approved organic products. As head of the federal agency in charge of protecting farmers, any decision to approve GMO alfalfa threatens to destroy the fastest growing and most profitable segment of agriculture today and thus runs counter to the mission of the agency you are sworn to uphold.

And while I appreciate your admission of the serious risks posed by GMO contamination to organic and conventional farmers, it is evident that the USDA’s proposed remedies are not adequate to protect America’s farmers or our nation’s citizens who choose to buy organic products. Approval of Monsanto's GMO alfalfa infringes upon the rights of Americans to make legitimate choices in the foods that they eat and feed their children daily and threatens the rapidly growing $26 billion organic market.

The basic right to consume food that is not contaminated and for farmer's fields to be safe from genetic contamination that ruins their economic livelihood is enshrined in the Constitution. It is time that federal officials at the USDA, White House and Congress move to protect this right, rather than to continue to trample upon it at the biotech industry’s bidding.

As such, I strongly urge you to reject the approval of Monsanto’s GMO alfalfa. Sincerely, [your name]

Please, sign the petition HERE. Thank you.

Read This Now.

Thanks for tuning in, folks. I'll write a little more down at the bottom, but in the interest of time, I'm gonna turn the mike over to Planned Parenthood:

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Bad news for women's health -- please help!

The health care reform bill that recently passed in the House of
Representatives includes a ban on abortion coverage for millions
of women with private health insurance and would also prohibit
coverage in the new public option, even if they are paying for
most or even all of the cost themselves. It's a complete
betrayal of women, and we can't let it be part of the final
bill.

Leaders in Congress and the White House have the power to put a stop to the discriminatory Stupak amendment -- and it's up to us to make sure they do so. Join me and Planned Parenthood in urging President Obama, Majority Leader Reid, and Speaker Pelosi to eliminate the Stupak ban and protect women's health. Click here:
http://bit.ly/PPFutureOfChoice

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Hi, Jessica here again.
So, here's the bottom line, politically and personally:

I'm writing to you from Louisiana, deep in the heart of the South, where I continue to meet beautiful, warmhearted folks who welcome me into their homes, businesses, and churches, share their culture and wisdom, exchange information, ask me for help, and make me feel safe. For the most part, I don't talk politics, because I know there's a good chance we'd be on opposite sides of the picket line.
But I hope they know -I hope you know- that if if we ever do meet in that sort of situation, despite the obvious differences, I'm still looking out for our similarities. I might not be welcome at your fundraisers, but you're always welcome at my table. I am -and have been, for a long time now -the woman smiling across the isle. "Hi, it's nice to meet you. Tell me what you think I need to know."

Having said all that, I've researched all sorts of perspectives on this topic, left, right, and center. And I don't expect to change anybody's minds, because wherever folks are coming from, they've a right to their beliefs, just as I've a right to mine. (This attitude tends to make politics tricky, though much more peaceful).
I guess the bottom line for me is that I don't feel like I have the right to make decisions for anybody else, though I do have the responsibility to live my life with kindness, support for others, and unconditional positive regard for the rest of existence. And I don't expect the same back. But I do believe I have the right to take care of my body, mind, and spirit the best that I can in the way that I see fit. To me, that's not just the heart of health care; it's the definition of respect.