Breaking News about Microchips and Cancer

This weekend, the Associated Press broke a story about studies that show that implanted microchips may cause cancer in animals. The studies indicate that Radio Frequency Identification Devices may have caused malignant, fast-growing, and lethal cancers in up to 10% of the study animals.

Many thanks to Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre (www.spychips.com), as well as the Associated Press reporter, for uncovering this information and bringing it into the light!

The focus of the media stories so far has been on the implications for human microchipping. Now is the time to tell your local media about the use of microchips in the NAIS! Write your local newspaper or call in to a radio talk show, and lt them know about the problems with NAIS.

Below is a press release from FARFA, focused on the recently-approved NAIS microchip for horses. Notice the corporate connections between the human microchip manufacturer and the equine microchip manufacturer for NAIS!

Liberty Ark has also sent out a press release, focused on the NAIS program overall. That release will be posted at www.libertyark.net tomorrow.

Send this press releases to your local newspaper ASAP! Mention that you are a reader, and ask them to cover the issue.

Over 300 media outlets have already picked up on the AP news story about microchips and cancer!! We have a great opportunity to get the NAIS story in front of the public — ACT NOW!

Working together, we can make our voices heard.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2007

Contact: Judith McGeary, 512-243-9404, Judith@farmandranchfreedom.org

WILL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM CAUSE CANCER IN HORSES?

This weekend, Associated Press released a story revealing studies that show microchip implants may cause dangerous cancers in animals. While these studies span a decade of research, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently approved an implantable microchip for use in horses under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), raising yet more questions about this controversial government program.

The NAIS is a government plan in which everyone who owns even one livestock animal – even just one horse or a chicken – would have to register their property with the state and federal governments. If made mandatory, each animal would have to be individually identified, and movements would have to be reported to a government-accessible database. Although the USDA states that NAIS is “technology neutral,” the industry-government working group for horses has already recommended that horses be identified using an implantable microchip or Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).

Earlier this month, the USDA approved a specific microchip for use in horses for the NAIS program. The microchip is designed to be implanted in the neck of each horse. The NAIS-compliant device adds another layer of technology to the previous microchips, by capping each microchip with a material to secure it in place within 24 hours of insertion into the animal’s body.

Judith McGeary, Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, asks “What studies have been done on the long-term health effects of this new material? Could this material increase the risk of cancer even more? Neither USDA nor the microchip manufacturer have addressed the health concerns of millions of horse owners who are facing the possibility that they could be forced to microchip their valuable animals – in many cases, dearly-loved pets – with this microchip under the NAIS.”

Human and animal microchipping share not only the RFID technology, but common corporate interests. The microchip approved for human use is made by VeriChip, whose parent company owns a 55% interest in Digital Angel, the manufacturer of the recently-approved microchip for horses.

McGeary, herself a horse owner, points out, “Technology businesses have been integrally involved in the development of the NAIS. While the USDA ignores the concerns of animal owners who will be directly impacted by NAIS, it works closely with the corporations who could potentially make millions of dollars. I urge everyone to contact their elected officials and demand that the program be stopped.”

For more information, visit www.farmandranchfreedom.org.

The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) is a non-profit organization that protects the interests of independent agriculture. Founded in 2006, FARFA has members in 35 states, including farmers, horse owners, and consumers.

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