People often ask "What can I do?"  Many people don't know where to start, or feel that whatever they do is pointless.  The most important thing is to do something.  Don't believe the big industry folks who tell you that NAIS is a done deal, and you just have to accept it.  We have already seen the results of people speaking out and taking action: mandatory regulations stopped in multiple states, the USDA timeline derailed, and Congress taking a second look at the funding.  Our efforts have already made a difference!
 
But it's still going to be a long fight, and we need your help to win.  So we plan on sending out occasional emails with tips about you can effectively make a difference.

Getting the attention of the press

Getting the press' attention is a critical part of this fight.  As with many things, starting local is the best route.  You can start by calling in to a local radio talk show, or writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

The best way to get their attention on NAIS is to connect it to something they're already interested in.

    * Are they talking about the rising costs of food?  Tell them that there's a massive government program that will drive the price up even higher!
    * Are they talking about the problems with corporations controlling our government policy?  Let them know that the corporations have been pushing for a government policy that will hurt small farmers and pet owners, simply to increase corporate profits and corporate control over our food supply.
    * Are they talking about problems with trade policies?  Explain that the multinational corporations want to force every single animal owner to tag and track their animals, simply to benefit the handful of meat packers who are exporting food, while Americans are faced with unsafe imported foods.
    * Are they talking about government waste of taxpayer dollars?  USDA has spent over $100 million dollars to implement just a tiny portion of NAIS, without having done a cost-benefit analysis.

NAIS will impact property rights, organic farming, the food supply, trade policy, and many other important issues.  So find a recent story about any of these, and use it as your "hook."
Keep your call or letter short and to-the-point. Pick just one or two main points to make, so that it's easy to follow and understand.
 
Give a source for people to get more information.  You can direct them to the shorter version of our website address -- www.NAIStruth.com.
 
Mention elected officials by name.  Their staff are likely to overlook a letter to the editor about NAIS in general, but they will notice it if it says, "I would hope that Representative X and Senator Y will call for oversight hearings of this massive invasion of our rights that threatens our food supply" (or whatever you'd like to say about NAIS).  You can insert your Representative and Senators' names, or use the names of the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members of the key committees.  You can find a list of these Congresspersons' names and contact information at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/Congress-committees
 
You can see how these suggestions fit together in our sample letter to the editor on the GAO report, at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/action-08-07-07
 
 
The most important thing is to actually make the call or write the letter.  Take a few minutes and do it today.

Support Our Work

I wish that I did not have to ask people for money!  But the reality is that we can't function without money.  The website, these emails, printing materials, mailing and travel expenses, photocopying expenses -- they all require money.
 
Please consider joining FARFA.  Membership starts as low as $10, and we trust that people who can afford more will be generous.  In addition to providing the funding we need, your membership will help us make a bigger impact on the legislators through strength in numbers.
 
Please help us to continue this important work. Visit our membership page: http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/join-farfa

Working together, we can make our voices heard!
 
Sincerely,
 

Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
www.farmandranchfreedom.org
866-687-6452