Action Alert: Protect Farm Workers, Health, and Environment - Stop SB 1056



Please take action to support California’s working farmers, community health, and environment by asking your state legislators to vote “NO” on SB 1056.



After several counties in California enacted local legislation on the agricultural use of GMO’s, Monsanto and other chemical companies now want the state to override any such local laws in the future. SB 1056 is an attempt to remove the right of local governments to protect their farmers, public health, and environment.



Whatever one’s opinion on genetic engineering in agriculture there is no good reason for the state to take away the authority of local communities on this matter.



SB 1056 is opposed by Sierra Club, Consumers Union, Californians for Pesticide Reform and other civil society working for health, environment, and sustainable agriculture.



SB 1056 began as an air quality bill but has since been gutted and amended to override local laws pertaining to GMO’s (genetically modified organisms). This controversial issue should be debated and decided in the open – not through an amendment “rider” on another bill.



Please take a minute to call or send a letter to your state senator and state assemblymember and ask her/him to stand with farm workers, health, and the environment by voting “NO” on SB 1056.



To Take Action:



1) Contact your State Representatives Today



To find contact info for your local state representatives click on this link and enter your zip code:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html



2) Forward this Message to Friends, Family, and Colleagues.



3) Request a Meeting at the Local Office of Your State Representative



Thanks for all you do!



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For more information on SB 1056 and related issues see: http://www.calgefree.org

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Sample Meeting Request Letter / Talking Points



We write to you today to request the opportunity to meet with you and discuss a piece of legislation that concerns us greatly – SB 1056, the seed pre-emption bill.



SB 1056 began as an air quality bill but has since been gutted and amended to override local laws pertaining to GMO’s (genetically engineered products).



After several counties in California enacted local legislation on the agricultural use of GMO’s, Monsanto and other chemical companies now want the state to override any such local laws in the future.



It concerns us greatly that such a controversial issue is being introduced as a rider.



For this reason we ask that you stand with sustainable agriculture by voting “NO” on SB 1056, and contact a few of your colleagues in the legislature and ask them to do the same.



We would like to meet with you as soon as possible and will make ourselves available to accommodate your schedule. Thank you for your leadership!