Obama Puts Pesticide Pusher in Charge of Agricultural Trade Relations

by Project Censored

Researcher: Amanda Peterson

University: St. Cloud State University

Faculty Evaluator: Julie Andrzejewski

Islam Siddiqui is appointed to be chief of agricultural negotiator in the office of the U.S. trade representative. A former pesticide lobbyist and part of a pesticide trade group that lobbies to weaken environmental laws. He wants to ensure the perpetuation of pesticide and fossil-fuel-intensive policies and overseen the development of the first national organic labeling standards. When he allowed sewage sludge-fertilized, genetically modified, and irradiated food to be labeled as organic before public protest forced more stringent standards. He is trying to make everyone believe that pesticides are good to use and that they should allow growers to use them on organic food. This is not someone we want in control of our environment; someone that is saying that pesticides are not pollutants.

Title: Obama Puts Pesticide Pusher in Charge of Agricultural Trade Relations

Author: The Center for Biological Diversity

News Sources: Commondreams.org , March 29, 2010

URL: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/03/29-0

Researcher: Amanda Peterson

Faculty Evaluator: Julie Andrzejewski

St. Cloud State University