[MPWG] ginseng in the news

[Gena Fleming]

Dear All:

I have appreciated all the insight and information from the recent
responses to the Ginseng media.

Down here in Texas, I have no experience with ginseng cultivation or
harvest issues.  I hope the public will recognize that the news cast is, by
definition, the opinion of a few people and does not constitute
comprehensive coverage.

I am much more concerned about the petition being circulated by United
Plant Savers, calling on the federal government to take control of wild
ginseng.  From the petition:

" It has become very apparent that there are very limited sources of local
seeds and we ask that the USDA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest
Service work together to Save American Ginseng by investing in programs
that establish seed banks for local supply of regional seed source."

The USDA, headed by Monsanto, factory farm and biotech proponent Tom
Vilsack (specifically included among the addressees),  is the last
organization I want involved with controlling genetic resources of
medicinal plants.  Traditional herbal knowledge is regularly being mined by
the biotech industry in order to genetically engineer medicinal plants with
increased concentration of active ingredients (for conversion into patented
drugs) and/or other genetic manipulations to render their cultivation more
attractive to the agro-industrial complex.

I feel people are signing on to this petition simply because they want to
voice support for ginseng and are not giving much thought to the merit of
the proposed solution.  I am at a loss to understand why United Plant
Savers wants to turn genetic control of this wild plant over to the federal
government.  I feel the petition, more so than the broadcast, stands to
create the appearance of consensus and widespread support for federal
control.

I hope Susan will address this and the other concerns expressed in this
thread.

I thank Robin for voicing her opinions about individual vs. government
control as well.   Do we need to start another petition?

Gena



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>> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to
>> MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in
>> the subject line.
>>
>> Disclaimer
>> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
>> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
>> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
>> substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific
>> medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information
>> that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the
>> individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not
>> reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation
>> Alliance.
>>
>
>  Robin Alton Suggs
> MoonBranch Botanicals
> 5294 Yellow Creek Road
> Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771
> USA
>
> Telephone: 828.479.2788
> Email: moonbranch at earthlink.net
> Websites:www.moonbranch.com  &  www.localharvest.org/store/M16074
>
> Member:
> Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Farm Partner
> Green Products Alliance
> North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines
> North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS
> United Plant Savers
>
> There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. - Henry David Thoreau
>
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>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
> MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
>
> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org
>
> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.orgwith the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
>
> Disclaimer
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
> substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific
> medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information
> that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the
> individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not
> reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation
> Alliance.
>
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