Stop the Filthy Chicken Rule!

There are only a few weeks left to prevent the USDA?s Filthy Chicken Rule from being finalized by President Obama. The rule would cut the budget for poultry inspections, putting millions of adults and children at a higher risk for eating dangerous pathogens. As a result, government inspectors would be removed from poultry plants, leaving private companies to police themselves when it comes to the safety of our food. In plants where they’ve been testing this, line speeds have been permitted to run as fast as 200 birds per minute, which is faster than any human could possibly inspect all those birds. Company employees who perform inspections are not properly trained to stop unsafe poultry products from leaving the plant. Whether or not you eat chicken, we can all agree on one thing: if someone’s going to eat it, chemicals and do-it-yourself inspections don?t cut it. From what we’ve seen in tests of this new, privatized inspection process, it’s not working. This rule, which essentially privatizes poultry inspections, serves up the huge gift of deregulation to the meat industry. If the White House agrees, it will be a disaster for workers and consumers who want to know that the poultry they are eating is safe. Our food safety should be the last thing on the budget chopping block. Take action to stop the privatization of poultry inspection.

Hillary Clinton: Dump Monsanto & Support Public Health

Speaking at this year’s BIO International Convention, Hillary Clinton reiterated her support for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). She said the industry needs “a better vocabulary” to change negative public perception about GMO agriculture. But mounting scientific evidence says the public is right to be concerned about the impact of Monsanto’s GMO crops and food on the environment, public health and global warming. We don’t need a better vocabulary. We need leaders who will stand up to Monsanto. As a mother, soon-to-be grandmother and potential future candidate for U.S. president, we are asking her to do what’s right, not what the biotech industry lobbyists wants her to do. Click here to take action.

Suncor: Support Limits on Water Withdrawal and Ban Waste Water Dumping

Suncor, the energy company, is spending millions of dollars on a high profile public relations blitz to convince Canadians it cares about the environment. But?Suncor is lobbying to get exempted from new water regulations to protect one of Canada’s most important rivers. It?wants to be able to take as much fresh water from the Athabasca River as it wants and be able to dump toxic untreated water right into the river.? The Athabasca River is essential to hundreds of species of birds, animals and fish that rely on those ecosystems to survive. If water level falls too low,?animals, fish and wildlife die, and?drinking water, farming, and traditional transportation routes will be put at risk. The Alberta?government’s draft regulations are weeks from being released, giving us an urgent opportunity now to call on Suncor to do the right thing before its too late. Click here to take action.