On March 12, ninety individuals gathered at the Minneapolis Central Library to gain insight on how climate change is already impacting the world's most vulnerable communities. They weren't let down. Led by moderator J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director for Fresh Energy, Meena Raman of Malaysia and Joyce Patience Tembenu of Malawi reported on the crisis their communities are struggling to cope with due to climate change. In Malawi, for instance, extreme drought over the last dozen years has devastated farmers living on the brink of famine.
Please watch for video highlights of the event on our blog very soon. The event was made possible by the Climate Equity Campaign, which includes Oxfam America, and generous co-sponsorship from The Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library.Farm Bill Update
Congress will get back to work on the Farm Bill when its Easter recess ends on March 31. With the 2002 Farm Bill's expiration date now extended to April 18, 2008, the House and Senate will have less than three weeks to reconcile differences between each body's version of the 2007 Farm Bill. President Bush has promised to veto the bill unless spending is reduced. Currently, both versions of the Farm Bill maintain out-of-date commodity subsidies that unnecessarily subsidize millionaire agribusiness CEOs, place small independent growers at a competitive disadvantage, distort trade, and cause poverty abroad.
Attempts to find $10 billion to fund the trade-distorting subsidies and other spending increases without raising taxes (a condition of the Bush Administration) put Farm Bill negotiations in a holding pattern up to the Easter recess. It appears unlikely that the full $10 billion will be secured, setting the stage for intense conference committee negotiations. We urge Congress to free up funding for important conservation, nutrition, and family farm programs by reducing trade-distorting subsidies linked to poverty abroad.
Wealthy corporations receiving the vast majority of the current Farm Bill's trade-distorting subsidies have a vested interest in the status quo -- an interest reflected in their lobbying expenditures. So far in this election cycle, the agribusiness industry has contributed $25,180,663 to political campaigns. These same special interests are spending millions to influence the outcome of the Farm Bill. For instances, the AP reports that the fertilizer lobby spent nearly $900,000 in 2007; Dean Foods spent $549,000.
Please add your voice to the millions of individuals standing up against these wealthy special interests to demand that the Farm Bill be reformed to reduce poverty-causing subsidies. We'll let you know when an action alert arises. To receive immediate updates, subscribe to our listserv.
The next few weeks will be critical. Be prepared to act quickly!
More Farm Bill News:
Mankato Free Press, Farm Bill leaves out small-scales growers
Star Tribune, Growing locally, legislating nationally: Rules hinder state's specialty farmers
AP, Farm bill attracts fertilizer lobby
Dallas Morning News, Oppose this farm bill
Detroit Free Press, Proposed farm bill plants subsidies in wrong fields
Los Angeles Times, Farm bill feeds greed
Wall Street Journal, Amber Waves of Green
Washington Post, Food Crisis: Soaring prices are causing hunger around the world
