ESSAY OF THE WEEK

Now or Never

The frightening COVID-19 pandemic, slowly but surely infecting millions, fueling an economic and political meltdown and metastasizing in the midst of a global Climate Emergency, has pushed a critical mass of us all to the brink.

Words can barely convey our waking nightmare, or fully expose the cabal of monsters and the degenerate “business-as-usual” practices that have brought on this disaster. Like a horror movie rerun, every night I wake up.

How did we ever let this happen? What can we do to protect ourselves and others? Can we rise to the occasion and organize a massive Grassroots Rising, head off disaster, and take advantage of this tragic “trigger moment”?

Can we deal with the degenerative practices that have unleashed this mega-crisis and bring to heel the perpetrators, the greedy elite who created and/or abetted this catastrophe?

As an international chorus of climate, environmental and political leaders warned this week, it’s now or never “to harness our fears, build hope and drive action to respond to the human health, economic, climate and biodiversity crisis with solutions that build resilient societies on the longer term.”

Read Ronnie’s essay of the week on COVID-19 and where we go from here

ACTION ALERT

Times of Trouble

For anyone who has encountered empty grocery store shelves recently, the words “food sovereignty” and “food security” are suddenly hitting home.

After years of Big Food and Big Ag claiming that they, and only they, can “feed the world,” the truth is finally coming out: We need strong local and regional food systems. Especially in times of trouble.

We’ve been reaching out and hearing back from farmers—more on that soon. But for now, here’s what one organic regenerative dairy farmer in New Hampshire told us:

“Our region has become quite food-insecure. Our farms are small and weren’t geared up to meet this sudden surge in demand for local food. Last year, New Hampshire farmers lost $8 million feeding us, yet we spent $4 billion importing food. We are now in trouble.”

A regenerative farmer in Georgia says:

“When much of America is on pause we have more work to do now than ever before. Our reliable employees and their families are tired but remain committed to finding solutions to the new challenges our farm faces.”

Now, more than ever, we need strong independent family farmers, who produce organic regenerative and nutrient-dense food.

And they need us—to demand that Congress support them.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to protect the small-scale farmers, local food systems and rural communities we rely on to feed us!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

'Coronavirus Capitalism'

The author of “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism” shared some words of advice this week.

In an interview with DemocracyNow!, Naomi Klein says that “extreme” free-market economist Milton Friedman was “wrong about a whole lot” but he was right about this:

“Only a crisis—actual or perceived—produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.”

In times of crisis, Klein says, seemingly impossible ideas suddenly become possible.” Then she goes on:

“But whose ideas? Sensible, fair ones, designed to keep as many people as possible safe, secure and healthy? Or predatory ideas, designed to further enrich the already unimaginably wealthy while leaving the most vulnerable further exposed?”

We would argue that the window for “sensible, fair ideas” will slam shut quickly, unless we demand otherwise.

Now, more than ever, we need a Regenerative Green New Deal.

Watch ‘Coronavirus Capitalism’: Naomi Klein’s Case for Transformative Change Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

SIGN THE PETITION: Consumers Want a Regenerative Green New Deal!

SUPPORT OCA & CRL

Trying Times

First, we hope you and your family are healthy. Physically, above all. 

But also we hope COVID-19 hasn’t created financial hardship and other anxiety-inducing conditions for you.

Our staff continues to lobby Congress. We continue to mobilize our networks to fight for healthy, pesticide-free, GMO-free, antibiotic-free food.

We continue to pursue legal action against corporations that mislead and defraud consumers.

But like you, we are concerned. We all personally know someone, either in our work family or our personal lives, who are fighting this illness . . . and fearful for their loved ones.

If anything, this pandemic has demonstrated how good nutrition and strong immune systems are to our personal health, and the health of the global public.

The connections between biodiversity, healthy soil biology, nutrient-dense food and our own health are becoming clearer with each passing day.

And who among us isn’t keenly aware of the need for food security—something that only strong local and regional food systems can provide?

We are determined to keep working, from our homes, while observing and complying with the best recommendations from the world’s best scientists.

With your support, we can continue the work that must be done to strengthen our food and farming system, and public health.

Please make a generous donation at this time, if you are able. And please stay safe.

Make a tax-deductible donation to Organic Consumers Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Support Citizens Regeneration Lobby, OCA’s 501(c)(4) lobbying arm (not tax-deductible)

Donate $100 or more and we’ll send you a copy of Ronnie’s new book

Click here for more ways to support our work

BOOK CORNER

Listen Up!

“Regenerative agriculture is going to be a key phrase in the decades ahead—and this book will get you in on the ground floor, so to speak. Not much could be more important!”— Bill McKibben, author of “Falter”

When Ronnie started this book, COVID-19 wasn’t on his mind.

But during this unprecedented global crisis, “Grassroots Rising” is the playbook we all need.

We’re guessing most of you—except those of you who are the pandemic frontline heroes providing essential services—probably have more time to read, or listen, to books right now.

And you’re probably in dire need of any message that offers hope—and concrete action steps for creating a better world.

Ronnie’s new book, your “good news” instruction manual for fixing our broken food and farming system and our broken climate, is now available on audible.com. You can also order the paperback online.

Regrettably, Ronnie had to cancel his book tour, even as he was driving throughout the southwest for scheduled speaking events. The cancelations were necessary, in the interest of public health.

Fortunately, we’re planning an online book tour. Stay tuned for details!

In the meantime, stay healthy, stay sane and above all, stay engaged.

Listen up! ‘Grassroots Rising’ now available on audible.com

Buy your copy of ‘Grassroots Rising’

TAKE ACTION: Donate $100 or more and get a copy of Ronnie’s book

Sign up for Regeneration International’s newsletter

SIGN THE PETITION: Consumers Want a Regenerative Green New Deal!

LITTLE BYTES

Essential Reading

What Is the Best Disinfectant for Surfaces?

Coronavirus Can Live on Packaging & Shipments–Tips on What to Do

Revealed: Monsanto’s Secret Funding for Weedkiller Studies

Destruction of Habitat and Loss of Biodiversity Are Creating the Perfect Conditions for Diseases Like COVID-19 to Emerge

Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety, Loneliness and Isolation

With Nation Distracted by Public Health and Economic Crises, Trump Moves to Allow GMO Crops in Wildlife Refuges

Grow a Rapid Response Victory Garden

Here Are the ‘Dirty Dozen’ Fruit and Vegetables Laced with Legal Pesticides—even Organics Have Traces