HELP STOP THE 'WHITE LIST' The government is proposing new, sweeping and highly restrictive policies regarding the importation, cultivation and movement of all living species, allegedly to prevent 'invasive species'. In 1999 the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) was formed. At the inaugural meeting of the NlSC, co-chair Bruce Babbitt called for use of a 'white list', where exotic species are presumed guilty until proven innocent. A list of approved, tested 'noninvasive' species would be established, and importation, cultivation and movement of all species not on the approved list would be prohibited.
This proposal will ban over 99% of the world's species of plants, animals and micro-organisms. Anything not approved will have to be exterminated, so major herbicide manufacturers are backing this proposal. Under this new system, expensive safety testing will be required for all new plants before they are approved for possession and propagation. Thus, only major corporations will be able to afford to introduce new plants into cultivation. We already have adequate weed prevention laws - it makes no sense to ban virtually the entire plant kingdom "just in case". This is equivalent to the government announcing that only 'pre-approved' books, magazine articles, etc. would be allowed, and all new writings would have to pass through government censors before publication. The world's biological diversity has been likened to a great library & now government book-burners will be in charge.
The bad news is that the NISC's Management Plan, published October 2000, is worse than we had imagined. It covers all species of life. Everything from butterflies to fish to flowers to trees. Even native species are called in invaders on government websites, and the NISC specifically states that they intend to "apply similar principles... to species currently in the trade." Clearly, not just new imports are at risk. Even botanic gardens aren't exempt.
The good news is that our anti-white-list campaign is having an effect. Word in Washington DC is that there is lots of dissatisfaction with the NISC and its Management Plan. Due to public outcry against the 'white list', the NISC has renamed the proposal 'comprehensive screening' or 'risk assessment', so 'that they can now claim that they have no plans to implement a 'white list'. The NISC has been spreading misinformation about their plans through a highly deceptive letter which obscures the facts of the issue, and last summer a rumor was spread claiming the white list was an 'internet hoax'. While the NISC claims they are only concerned with "invaders", their management plan clearly states that screening and management will apply to all species of living things.
If you have internet access, go to:
The site gives detailed information about the white list and the effects it will have. Be sure to read all the pages on the site, & follow the links to the actual government proposal.
If you don't have internet access, we can send you a free information packet.
Use the internet, post to garden groups, herbal groups, etc., and be sure to send the link to the No Whitelist Coalition website. Don't let anyone tell you this is a hoax, or that there is no white list proposal. Tell them to read the government sites for themselves. Also write to local newspapers, and garden writers, and talk to local nurseries, pet stores, aquarium stores, butterfly groups, etc. Most importantly, write your congressman and send a copy to the NISC. Let's keep up the pressure!
National Invasive Species Council U. S. Department of the Interior - South 1951 Constitution Ave., NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20240
Good points to make in letters are: we already have adequate weed laws; that 'invasiveness' is impossible to predict except for well-known agricultural weeds; that in the absence of proven risk-assessment procedures the implementation of any form of 'clean list' or 'comprehensive screening' is completely inappropriate; any pre-screening of imports will hamstring many areas of scientific research and place an expensive hurdle in front of biodiversity conservation efforts; that it will increase our dependence on foreign supplies of plant-based raw materials and decrease our competitiveness in world markets; that in a time of 're-inventing government' it is reckless and irresponsible to expand an antiquated, cumbersome and inefficient bureaucracy at a time when we should be moving forward to a streamlined and efficient future. More ideas for letters can be found at the website.
Be sure to state that you oppose any form of 'white list,' 'clean list,' 'gray list,' 'pre-screening' or 'risk assessment' procedures.
Remember, a physical letter in an envelope carries as much weight as 100 phone calls or e-mails, so hit that print button and lick that stamp!
Check our links page to the No Whitelist website.
J. L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN, STAR ROUTE 2, BOX 337, LA HONDA, CALIFORNIA 94020 USA
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