Gary Ruskin, Global Research - President Obama announced
that he will recess appoint Islam A. Siddiqui to the position of Chief
Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Siddiqui is a pesticide lobbyist and Vice President for Science and Regulatory
Affairs at CropLife America, an agribusiness lobbying group that represents
Monsanto.
From a letter of protest:
Siddiqui’s record at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and his role as a former
registered lobbyist for CropLife America (whose members include Monsanto,
Syngenta, DuPont and Dow), has revealed him to consistently favor
agribusinesses’ interests over the interests of consumers, the environment and
public health (see attached fact sheet). We believe Siddiqui’s nomination
severely weakens the Obama Administration’s credibility in promoting healthier
and more sustainable local food systems here at home. His appointment would also
send an unfortunate signal to the rest of the world that the United States plans
to continue down the failed path of high-input and energy-intensive industrial
agriculture by promoting toxic pesticides, inappropriate seed biotechnologies
and unfair trade agreements on nations that do not want and can least afford
them
http://prorevnews.blogspot.com/2011/05/obama-gives-key-agriculture-post-to.html