Removed at the request of Zena.

Every President on both sides have put out last minute legislation, executive orders and sometimes even Presidential reprieves in their last weeks in office. That is nothing new for either side, just business as usual for the 60 plus years I have been following the news in our country. Learn your history and you will see for your self that this is just what they all do.

But we don't talk politics here at this web site as it is against the rules so please take it elsewhere.

I'm sorry, Major. I just assumed since the GMO discussion last week with Scott, a post like this would be acceptable and perhaps informative to other organic advocates. I felt that the concern expressed then over potential political, environmental and organic ramifications from genetically modified organisms would extend to issues like these last minute legislative introductions and be of concern to organic advocates, gardeners and farmers perhaps, such as yourself.

I'm well aware that outgoing administrations try to push through last-minute policies, and some have been quite questionable and upsetting as well. But so many of these particular last-minute legislative actions are very directly linked and will most definitely impact some of our most sacred natural resources and the quality of our air and water. (I sincerely hope that others read those proposed last minute legislations as put up on the link I posted and decide for themselves if they are something worthy of concern. Politics aside.) As far as reprieves or pardons, perhaps the two which, as a lover of nature & our environment, bother me the most are:

• Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo., who was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, was sentenced Feb. 2, 1996 in the Eastern District of Missouri for killing three American bald eagles; and

• Daniel Figh Pue III, Conroe, Texas. for illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit, illegal transportation of a hazardous waste to an unpermitted facility for storage or disposal.

Illegally polluting our earth and using an illegal pesticide that killed our National Symbol (aside from the flag), an American Bald Eagle, is in my opinion, unpardonable.

Again, I apologize. I'm hardly a member in long-standing such as yourself, who apparently has been around quite awhile by the number of posts you've made. So, I bow to your judgement as to what belongs on this particular organic forum and what doesn't.

Inasmuch as these actions are being instigated by a politician it is political in origin. But then so much of what happens as a result of any administration's agenda will always trickle down to the little guy/woman. Sadly that's not always necessarily a good or safe trickle.

I was taking no sides but the organic and environmentally safer side and was merely trying to present what I considered important information to other organic advocates who might not be aware of these environmentally threatening and health-impacting issues which may have lasting effects for future generations.

Once again, I never thought my might be construed as something of a prohibited political nature and therefore unacceptable. I had no agenda other than to participate as I thought one does here on this particular OG Watchdog Forum. But, admittedly, my experience here has been limited to that one GMO discussion. I was really looking forward to more discussions and, specifically, discussions that were conducted like that one.

So, please accept my apologies to you and your other forum members and to Mr. Meyer. It was nice to hear from a regular member of these forums. Thank you for taking the time to do so.
Zena

quote:

Originally posted by Zena:
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/commentary/38678

....... selling this country short. Again. Hasn't this been happening for eight years too long already? Will it ever end? ........
Zena

It's the editorial comments.

I followed the link to The Huffington Post - now there's an authoritative and unbiased source for info.

How about a source document? My money says most people here can come to a valid conclusion given ALL the information. Arianna ain't going to do!

Dirt

As I apologized to Major and the other members of Organic Gardening.com's forums, as well as Mr. Meyer, I also apologize to you, too, Dirt Pit.

It was not my intention to break any rules on your forums. In my zeal to concentrate on environmental and organic matters, I was unaware of the political hostilities and ramifications that such material could engender regardless of the sources, of which there are many to be found that to the best of my knowledge carry no political bias as apparently the Huffington Post does. I might add that in all honesty, I was unaware the source of that link was the Huffington Post. It was just one of the first ones that popped up in my Google search. Luck of the draw, or not, I suppose.

Therefore, in an effort to acquire any good standing or relations here if I'd wanted to participate in future online discussions with Mr. Meyer, guests and, hopefully, other forum members, I will remove my post which precipitated this thread. Again, I apologize for any misunderstandings or mistaken malevolence on my part

I thank you, as well, Dirt Pit, for taking the time to post a comment.
Zena

Perfectly acceptable opinion and sources whether or not I agree or think they're credible. My only beef was the editorial comment. Glad to have you as a fellow member.

Dirt

Hi Zena, we indeed have something of a separation of church and state here. Politics are off-limits.

It does baffle me that organic advocates (at least the ones here) have NOT reached consensus on some of these political issues that one might consider relevant to the topic of organics, gardening, farming, etc. Even discussions of environmental or agricultural policy get oddly heated here. I've heard strong defenses of the oil and gas industry, strong arguments against consumer protections, and strong denial of global climate change (aka wacky weather). That's right: we can't even agree on the weather.

Heck, we can have heated arguments about dish soap. Do NOT get me started. Some people won't put chemicals on their lawn, but they'll bathe their dishes in them, dishes that they eat on. Chemicals that then end up going down the drain. But, whatever.

My point, and I do have one: we are a very, very diverse group. Vive la difference.

It all goes back to the election of 2004, the forum meltdown, and the lose of many previous posters.

Zena,
Zena,
No need to apologize.
Your comment was quite relevant to a board discussing organic interests.
If interested, check out:
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3

You can discuss items of interest to organic people.
No censorship.

regards,
ellenr

Thank you Ellenr, and for the link to idigmygarden.com. I'll check it out. I notice you are very involved in political issues regarding the environment, organics and health.
Nice to meet you.

I've been busy this past month and hadn't had a chance to log onto OG forums for awhile. I didn't see any mention in the latest issue of the magazine about another online open discussion and was disappointed about that.

Regardless, I really would like to participate in an organic advocacy forum that's backed by the noble reputation of Rodale.

After scanning through some of the topics and responses in the Watchdog forum, it sort of looks like this is the least popular of the forums. I think Organic Gardening Forums has many friendly, easy-going, intelligent and informed members. But, very few who want to participate here. I remember when Rodale's magazine and even these particular Forums were both quite proactive and outspoken and never let governmental policies censure them. Historically, many governmental policies and their relationships with big chemical business have been the primary suspects adversely impacting our environment and, therefore, fair game for organic advocates.

I agree with you and that's why I posted. I thought it was relevant to a board discussing organic interests. In retrospect, I don't really think it's wrong to interject one's opinions or editorial comments. I, personally, think it's kind of rude just to post a link to something with no personal commentary.

And about that link. All anyone has to do is Google the subject matter and there's plenty of other sources revealing the same exact information. While sources should always be considered, by the same token, many sources saying the same thing may just be on to something.

Here, btw, is one from CBS/AP which I don't think is affiliated with the Huffington Post: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...n4608048_page2.shtml

Sorry for the long post. Guess because I've been off here for awhile I had more stored up to say than I thought. Thanks for your time.
Zena (Now ZenaZee)