An international conference agreed Friday to hold producers or handlers of genetically engineered organisms liable for damage their products cause to native plants or animals when transported across borders.
The agreement, concluding a five-day, 147-nation conference in Bonn, Germany, will be refined into an accord that will have the force of law for its signatories _ a process expected to take two years, said the German government representative, Ursula Heinen.
The agreement would not be legally binding on the United States, however, since Washington has not ratified the 1992 Biodiversity Convention and is not a party to the convention’s Cartagena Protocol on the safety of biotech products, which came into force in 2003, conference spokesman David Ainsworth said. Read the rest of this entry »
Ready, set, grow: Easy as 1-2-3
May 17, 2008
Have you started your organic vegetable garden yet? For most people, the danger of frost is over making this weekend a great time to get everything underway. The following steps help make growing your own as easy as 1-2-3:
1. Planning. Feeling a little overwhelmed? It’s Clyde to the rescue! Clyde’s utilized his skills as an engineer to come up with a pocket sized slide chart (similar to a slide rule – ha!) to show you everything you need to know to prepare and keep your garden on track. Clyde’s Garden Planner shows “at-a-glance” when to plant vegetables, gives frost dates, shows planting depth, distance, harvest dates and much more. Clyde managed to pack a ton of information into this handy little tool. At only $3.50 postage paid it’s a bargain. Clyde even has a four minute video. Check it out at http://cdmplanning.hypermart.net/
2. Soil. Not just any soil. Well balanced soil. Well balanced soil that contains the proper minerals. After growing organic for years we thought we had it down - lots of good compost, some peat moss, manure, and we were good to go. Until last year when our smaller garden had what can only be described as “failure to thrive.” We knew we needed something but what? Not a bunch of store bought chemicals that’s for sure. So this year we got a soil test, (yes, the soil was nutrient deficient), quizzed other local organic gardeners, examined the ingredients in quick fix fertilizers, and then found Michael. Dubbed the soil doctor, Michael Astera from Soil Minerals.com has been researching, amending, and teaching on the benefits of proper soil balance for years. Not only can he perform a comprehensive (and worthwhile) test to determine what your soil needs, he will advise on what and how much to then put in it (organic of couse). Be prepared to not only have great soil and an abundant garden, but a few online sessions with Michael and you’ll have a PhD in soil management. See The Importance of Well Balanced Soil. Read the rest of this entry »
Friday fun! Banana health and humor
May 16, 2008
This commercial for Chiquita bananas was broadcast in 1945, at a time when Latin-American relations toward the end of World War II were at an all-time high. It’s seems hard to believe but back then most people were still unfamiliar with bananas. The entire commercial is more of an instructional video on how to eat it, cook it, store it, and tell when it’s ripe.
Today, bananas are America’s #1 fruit. The average American consumes over 28 pounds of bananas each year. Over 96% of American households purchase bananas at least once each month. Read the rest of this entry »
The French parliament has thrown out a bill that would have allowed farmers to grow genetically modified crops. Lawmakers narrowly rejected the bill Tuesday 136 to 135.
Protesters against the bill, some wearing hats shaped like corn cobs, cheered when the results were announced.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon says he plans to submit a new bill to parliament. In February, France imposed a temporary ban on genetically modified corn approved for sale by the European Union. The corn is produced by the U.S. company Monsanto.
Genetically modified crops have had their DNA engineered to make them resistant to disease and pests. Surveys show many French oppose such foods, saying their safety is still not assured.
Who knew? No US chicken in EU
May 16, 2008
According to EU regulations, chicken meat for domestic consumption must be cleaned using water of drinking quality. US poultry meat is washed in a chlorine solution and so no genuine US poultry has been eaten in EU states for 11 years.
The ban was imposed in 1997 because of the common U.S. practice of cleaning chicken carcasses with a chlorine wash. A body representing farmers and co-operatives in the EU has warned that allowing US poultry imports will undermine the efforts of EU businesses producing high quality chicken. They contend that US on-farm sanitary requirements are poor and, as a result, the meat has to be treated with chemicals like chlorine dioxide in slaughterhouses to reduce the presence of salmonella. Read the rest of this entry »
Henry Kissinger is quoted as saying, “If you control the oil you control the country; if you control food, you control the population.”
In March Monsanto agreed to acquire Netherlands-based De Ruiter Seeds Group BV, which produces seeds for the greenhouse market, for $862.7 million plus debt. Monsanto did not disclose the amount of the debt included in the purchase price.
De Ruiter Seeds, which had global sales of about $170.6 million, works with crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, peppers and rootstock.
The move comes three years after Monsanto began aggressively moving into the vegetable seed arena with the $1.4 billion purchase in 2005 of California-based Seminis, which gave Monsanto control over more than 30 percent of the North American vegetable seed market, as well as more than 20 percent of the world’s tomato seed market and more than 30 percent of the global hot pepper seed market. Read the rest of this entry »
Don’t miss video: “The World According to Monsanto,” now you see it, now you don’t, now you can again
May 14, 2008
The French documentary titled “The World According to Monsanto – A documentary that Americans won’t ever see,” is evidently living up to its name. When we first posted a link, the video was widely available on Google and a variety of web video sources. A couple of weeks later, it mysteriously disappeared. From everywhere!
Barbara Peterson at OpEdNews says:
“If Google Video has removed this documentary in acquiescence to the U.S. government or Monsanto, then that is testimony to the power and corruption behind the massive corporate movement to wage war on the environment and all living things in the pursuit of profit and power, the people be damned.”
The Bush administration has slipped a controversial ingredient into the $770 million aid package it recently proposed to ease the world food crisis, adding language that would promote the use of genetically modified crops in food-deprived countries.
The value of genetically modified, or bio-engineered, food is an intensely disputed issue in the U.S. and in Europe, where many countries have banned foods made from genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
Proponents say that GMO crops can result in higher yields from plants that are hardier in harsh climates, like those found in hungry African nations.
Opponents of GMO crops say they can cause unforeseen medical problems. They also contend that the administration’s plan is aimed at helping American agribusinesses.
President George Bush proposed the food package two weeks ago as aid groups and the UN World Food Program pressed Western governments to provide additional funds to bridge the gap caused by rising food prices. The aid must win congressional approval. Read the rest of this entry »
Food safety: 7 ways to prevent foodborne illness
May 14, 2008
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne ailments cause about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,200 deaths nationwide each year. Safeguarding your home against foodborne illnesses begins not at home, but at the supermarket, grocery store, or any other place where you buy food that you plan to store and serve.
You can take important steps to protect yourself and your family. While shopping for food:
1. Check for cleanliness
Buying from a retailer who follows proper food handling practices helps assure that the food is safe. Ask yourself: What is the general impression of this facility? Does it look and smell clean?
2. Keep certain foods separated.
Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery shopping cart. Place these foods in plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping on other foods. It is also best to separate these foods from other foods at checkout and in your grocery bags. Read the rest of this entry »
Aspartame linked to brain damage
May 13, 2008
Excessive intake of aspartame, an artificial sweetener may stall the ability of brain enzymes to work normally, say scientists.
A new review by researchers from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo has revealed that high doses of the sweetener may lead to neurodegeneration.
The review also revealed that high dosage of aspartame can extensively disturb the metabolism of amino acids, protein structure and metabolism, the integrity of nucleic acids, neuronal function and endocrine balances in the brain, reports Environmental News Network.
Moreover, aspartame breakdown can compel nerves to fire excessively that can indirectly lead to a high rate of neuron depolarisation.
However, in spite of the grave concerns European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not yet modify their guidelines regarding the safety of the ingredient or intake advice. (ANI)
