Dear John,
Monsanto and other giant pesticide companies are pushing the iconic monarch butterfly toward extinction.
Glyphosate -- a.k.a. Monsanto’s Roundup® -- is wiping out the only food source for monarch caterpillars. This has contributed to monarchs declining by 90% in the past 20 years alone. They could vanish within our lifetimes.
The Fish and Wildlife Service could help turn this around by enhancing Endangered Species Act protections for monarchs. But the agency isn’t acting fast enough. And monarchs are in peril every day they sit on their hands. We need your help to demand the Fish and Wildlife Service save monarchs from extinction before it’s too late!
Stop Monsanto from driving monarch butterflies to extinction: Donate $10 or more NOW!
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Over the last 20 years, what used to be a roaring river of monarchs migrating each year to Mexico has become a trickle. In the 1980’s approximately 4.5 million butterflies spent the winter along the California coast. This year there were only around 30,000.
At the same time, the use of Monsanto’s Roundup® has increased exponentially. It’s a simple formula: More Roundup® = less milkweed = fewer monarchs.
The Fish and Wildlife Service could play an important role in helping monarchs recover. The agency could provide monarchs with additional protections that go well beyond those offered under the Endangered Species Act. It could hold the fossil fuel and transportation industries accountable for destroying monarch habitats. And the EPA could ban the use of pesticides like Roundup® that imperil monarchs.
The problem is, the Fish and Wildlife Service is facing pressure from Donald Trump and his cronies in the pesticide industry to do nothing. That’s why it’s so important that you join us in fighting back. It’s going to take every one of us acting NOW if we want to save the monarchs.
Help save monarchs from Monsanto’s Roundup®: Donate $10 or more before it’s too late!
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We’re going up against huge corporations and their powerful cronies in the Trump Administration -- a daunting task. But with Friends of the Earth Members like you at our side, I know we can win this fight and save the monarchs from extinction.
We have a comprehensive plan to get toxic pesticides out of our food system and stem insect declines:
- We’ve mobilized people like you to send more than 30,000 public comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service urging it to extend protections for monarch butterflies. At the same time, we’ve been pushing the EPA to ban Roundup® altogether. We recently organized a petition delivery to this agency to turn up the pressure in the media and in the streets.
- We’re supporting a new bill introduced by Representative Velazquez to ban neonicotinoids -- another monarch-harming pesticide -- in wildlife refuges. It’s hard to believe, but the Trump Administration has actually allowed our protected wild places to be doused in these toxic pesticides. This bill would reverse Trump’s decision and restore this critical monarch and bee habitat.
- We’re working at the state and local levels to protect pollinators from pesticides. In the last several months alone, New York and Vermont passed bills to ban pollinator-toxic pesticides like neonics and chlorpyrifos, and California announced a new plan to ban chlorpyrifos. We’re continuing work in four other states to pass bills this legislative session to ban toxic pesticides, including glyphosate. Plus, we’re working with cities to pass policies to ban this and other toxic pesticides.
- We’re pushing food retailers to eliminate pesticides, including glyphosate, from their supply chains. Costco has already announced steps to address pesticide use on the food it carries. Last month, Aldi followed suit. But Kroger -- the nation’s largest supermarket -- is still dragging its feet. So we need your help to keep the pressure on.
These actions won’t only help monarchs. Bees, butterflies and other insects are dying at alarming rates. Scientists are warning if we don’t stem insect decline, we could soon face the “catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems.” We must greatly reduce our use of pesticides if we are to save these crucial species.
You know that when we work together, we can move mountains. You and I have already transformed the garden industry, including convincing Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco, True Value, Ace Hardware and Walmart to eliminate bee-killing pesticides in garden plants.
Imagine what we can do for the monarchs! But we’ve got to act fast, before these beautiful and iconic pollinators disappear forever.
Make a generous contribution today and help Friends of the Earth save the monarchs and our food system!
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Standing with you,
Lisa Archer,
Food and agriculture program director,
Friends of the Earth
