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SEPTEMBER 2003 |
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President
Bush Promotes Healthy Forests Initiative
On a recent visit to Arizona,
President Bush took a helicopter and hiking tour through the Summerhaven community
to witness firsthand the devastation wrought by the Aspen Fire. The Aspen Fire,
which occurred in June 2002, affected 84,750 acres and destroyed 333 residences
and structures. This provided the President with the perfect opportunity to discuss
potential benefits of the Healthy Forests Initiative that was proposed last year.
The
Healthy Forests Initiative was established in response to catastrophic wildfires
that occurred in 2000 and 2002, in which 8.4 and 6.9 million acres burned. A key
component of this initiatives involved thinning areas of dense undergrowth and
smaller trees, leaving bigger ones intact. Undergrowth damage not only forests,
but the surrounding environment; things such as underbrush, deadwood and over-crowed
trees contribute to the destruction of the environment as well as surrounding
communities. "It is imperative that we cut through the red tape and end needless
lawsuits and start implementing sensible forest health projects through federal,
state, local and tribal governments" said the National Grange last year in a letter
expressing support for the President's initiative. As a result of these increased
dangers, funding for forest thinning has been increased from $117 million in 2000
to $417 in the fiscal year 2004 budget request. "This
legislation makes forest health the priority," said President Bush. "Congress
must move forward with this bill. It's a good, common-sense piece of legislation
that will make our forests more healthy, that will protect old-growth stands,
that will make it more likely endangered species will exist, that will protect
our communities, that will make it easier for people to enjoy living o the edges
of our national forests." For up to date information on the Healthy Forests Initiative,
please visit www.fs.fed.us/project/hfi/.
top UPS
Hoax Circulating on Internet
An alarming email has been circulating reporting
that $32,000 worth of UPS uniforms had been purchased on eBay. According to the
message, "this could represent a serious threat as bogus drivers can drop off
anything to anyone with deadly consequences!" This warning has been circulating
in the intelligence, law enforcement and security community since February, eventually
finding its way to many private email accounts. Although
we as a nation maintain a high level vigilance in the wake of terrorist threats,
this warning is merely a hoax. The email message claims that two federal law enforcement
agencies verified the report. According to both agencies, this warning is unfounded.
According to UPS spokesperson Susan Rosenberg, the email has been "thoroughly
investigated" by the FBI and law enforcement. Ms. Rosenberg went on to say that
the warning was nothing more than "the urban legend of missing uniforms". Everyone
can rest assured that there is no potential danger of terrorists disguising themselves
as deliverymen. All UPS employees are required to turn in their uniforms when
they leave the company. The company also conducts extensive background checks
on all delivery personnel.
top USDA
Seeks to Develop Animal ID System
In a continuing effort to ensure consumer
safety, USDA Under Secretary Bill Hawks recently noted that the USDA is working
closely with the agriculture industry to develop a national animal agriculture
identification system. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
has established a National Identification Development Team composed of a steering
committee and five subcommittees totaling nearly 100 members and representing
more than 70 industry stakeholder organizations. According to Under Secretary
Hawks, the objective is to create a system "that ultimately allows for traceability
for disease purposes within a 48-hour time frame while not undermining the financial
viability of animal agriculture." It
is essential that an animal identification system be established to maintain the
health of US herds by monitoring animal diseases, support their control and eradications
and to develop an emergency management response system. Risks to both animal and
consumer health have reached the industry's attention as a result of the diagnosis
of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in some Canadian livestock. A national
animal identification system would include the following requirements: a uniform
premises identification system; a uniform, nationally recognizable numbering system
for individual animal identification; a uniform, national recognizable numbering
system for a group of animals; visual identification methods and devices for official
use in livestock and electronic identification methods and devices for identifying
livestock. National
identification development team member, Jon Caspers of the National Pork Producers
Council (NPPC) says, "it is critical that a uniform national premises and animal
identification system evolves and moves forward rapidly to protect swine health
and the financial stability of the US pork industry. Not having a coordinated
across-species mandatory identification system has the potential to devastate
the US swine herd and cause incalculable costs. An enhanced system is needed to
maintain and strengthen the health and biosecurity of the US livestock herd by
providing timely and effective tracing in case of a disease event." To obtain
a copy of the complete Work Plan document, please visit www.animalagriculture.org/id.
top Presidential
Commission Seeks to Bring US Postal Service Into the Millennium
President
George W. Bush recently enlisted the Presidential Commission on the US Postal
Service to gather opinions from postal experts, customers, competitors and employees
to create a plan that would "ensure the efficient operation of the United States
Postal Service while minimizing the financial exposure to the American taxpayers." Rapidly increasing technological advances create new challenges for the USPS.
In order to allow room to adapt to other possible technological breakthroughs,
the USPS has decided to focus on a 15 to 20 year plan.
Included in this plan would be transforming the Postal Rate Commission into an
independent Postal Regulatory Board. The Postal Regulatory Board would exist as
an independent establishment under the executive branch of the US government.
Responsibilities of this board would extend beyond setting postal rates and mail
classification, it would oversee the scope of the universal service obligation,
create a rate ceiling mechanism allowing prices for non-competitive products to
be adjusted upward within strict limits and consist of individuals appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate. The
same technological innovations that represent challenges to the current postal
system can also provide ways to make mail delivery and customer service more efficient.
Digital networking will provide an effective link between postal facilities, employees
and customers, which can enhance service and reduce costs. Such a system would
be known as "Intelligent Mail", an automated system that would be applied to physical
mail. The "Intelligent Mail" system would allow mail tracking and other services
via a website serving the same purposes as a 24 hour post office. This system
would include personalized stamps with digitally embedded basic information such
as name of sender, mail class and destination, which would benefit both individual
consumers and businesses. With a focus on consumer satisfaction and operating
efficiency, the USPS can bring about some exciting developments, revolutionizing
the way we communicate with one another. For additional information, please visit www.ustreas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/usps/.
top National
Grange Defends Online Privacy
In a recent coalition letter to Senator
John McCain, the National Grange joined forces with other public interest and
non-profit groups to urge Congress to set boundaries on the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act. When this bill is interpreted too openly, it would allow any copyright
holder or delegate of a copyright holder to demand from any Internet service provider
the name, address, telephone number and all other identifying information about
a customer based on the assumption that a copyright has been infringed. This
case was initiated by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against
Verizon Online. It would allow anyone to submit a one-page form to a court and
have it issue a subpoena demanding the identity of an individual without being
informed and provided the opportunity to protect his privacy. Since the appellate
court has denied a stay of its order to divulge the customer information, the
RIAA has used this process to seek the identity of nearly one thousand Internet
users and threaten them with lawsuits. Although
the Grange and other cosigners recognize the problem of copyright infringement,
fairness and privacy rights of customers must be protected. Because of this, it
is critical that provisions ensuring privacy rights must be explicitly stated
in this bill.
top EU
and US Reach Compromise on Farm Trade
After much debate, the European
Union and the United States have reached a compromise on agricultural trade in
time for the World Trade Organization (WTO) summit in Cancun, Mexico. This compromise
includes plans for opening up international trade in agricultural products, cutting
subsidies and reforming what many see as protectionist farm subsidies and tariffs.
The United States and other major exporters such as Canada and Australia claim
that subsidies are damaging to free trade while the European Union insist that
some subsidies are necessary to support farmers and protect rural communities.
Under this agreement, countries that have the highest farm subsidies will be required
to do all they can to reduce those payments. The United States and some European
Union countries support farmers through production subsidies, export subsidies
and protective tariffs. Many poorer countries believe subsidies and tariffs put
them at a disadvantage by allowing cheap commodities from other countries to infiltrate
their markets. Unless substantial cuts in subsidies are made, developing countries
that rely heavily on agricultural exports will not sign on, resulting in no global
treaty at all. Despite
concerns raised from leaders of developing countries, this agreement on trade-related
farm policies represents a step in the right direction. The United States will
seek to open up markets while providing less developed nations the flexibility
to protect their own sensitive agriculture industry.
top CA
State Grange Voice Concerns Regarding Environmental Impact Report
The
California State Grange recently expressed concerns to the California Department
of Fish and Game regarding drafts of both the Lake Earl Wildlife Area Management
Plan and the Lake Earl Wildlife Area (LEWA) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
In a letter to the department, the California Grange eloquently discussed the
necessity for "responsible stewardship of the land and responsible Governmental
actions" in regard to both the EIR and LEWA Management Plan.
Along with voicing their concerns, the California State Grange also demonstrated
their knowledge of the issues at hand with extensive facts and research to back
up their claims. They were aware that private well and septic systems had been
contaminated with E. Coli and the effects this has had on surrounding waters,
communities and wildlife. The California Grange also claimed that the information
in the EIR is misleading by demonstrating extensive knowledge regarding different
wildlife in the surrounding area.
The California State Grange took great time and care in voicing their concerns
and in formulating their arguments. This letter is a great example of what Granges
can accomplish when they develop knowledge on a particular issue and communicate
that understanding to public officials.
top National
Grange Serves on Board of Directors of NESARC
The National Grange has
signed on as one of the board of directors of the National Endangered Species
Act Reform Coalition (NESARC), a broad based coalition that represents millions
of individuals throughout the US seeking to bring balance back to the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). NESARC has been working to reverse the Circuit Court of Appeals
decision regarding the case of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow, et al. vs. Keys. This
decision stated that all irrigation and water projects in the surrounding area
must benefit the silvery minnow, a species listed as endangered under the ESA.
The
final ruling in this case has had a negative impact on surrounding communities
by limiting water rights. The rights and well being of surrounding homes and businesses
should be top priority in determining water usage; this current ruling favors
the silvery minnow at the expense of the surrounding community. According to a
recent statement, NESARC said that "we need ESA reform that not only ensures that
the federal government lives up to existing commitments to provide water to the
citizens of New Mexico but also protects citizens and communities throughout the
United States from having ESA hijacked to force unilateral reallocation of resources
- without respect to the effect of such actions on communities and businesses." For more information on NESARC, please visit www.nesarc.org.
top President
Signs Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreements
The National Grange achieved
a major victory when President George W. Bush signed into law both the Chile and
Singapore Free Trade Agreements. Promoting free trade is essential to the viability
of America's agricultural industry by providing new markets our farmers can participate
in. "Chile
and Singapore are examples of economic liberty and demonstrate the great promise
of trade," said President Bush, "The spread of free trade reflects this nation's
convictions. We believe in the dignity of every human being. We believe in freedom." With the passage of these bills and more agreements expected with other countries,
the freedom and prosperity of American agriculture shall endure.
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