News regarding the dangers of GMOs and biotech, and the advantages of organic sustainable agriculture.
After Decades of Chemicals, Farmers in the Philippines are Seeing the Benefits of Organic Farming
by John Cavanagh, Robin Broad
yes! Magazine
posted Jan 31, 2011
In an increasingly vulnerable world, we’re searching for rooted communities—and what we can learn from them. Read more at our blog, Finding Rootedness.
Authors Robin and John with Gil and Teresa (at center) and Don Bosco staff.
Photo courtesy of Robin […]
Genetics Scientist: “GMO technolgy is in its infancy and we have no idea what the technology is going to do.”
by Jeremy Bloom
I’ve been asked why we’re writing so much about Monsanto and genetically modified food. “It’s been tested,” they say. “It’s safe,” they say. “There’s nothing to fear. Why are you spreading disinformation?”
I’m not a geneticist. So if I say “We don’t know enough about this,” I’m just one guy. So I’ll let a geneticist answer those […]
Australia’s 1st Legal Attack on Monsanto for GMO Contamination of Organic Crops
Photo credit: Marie Nirme
by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor
Over the Christmas and New Year, whilst people on the east and south of Australia were suffering floods and their consequences, one farmer, much further west, discovered a far more insidious flood was occurring on his property. He is also reeling from the consequences.
Steve Marsh is the farmer […]
New GMO Report from South Africa: GMOs Should be Banned – They Pose Unacceptable Risks to Human Health
by GMWatch
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), tasked by law, with monitoring the impacts of GMOs on the environment, has released its first report on 28th January 2011. The report co-produced by SANBI with premier biosafety unit, Genok in Norway and a number of South African universities record the findings of a three-year […]
Radical Self Reliance: Homesteading Outside L.A.
By NextWorldTV
Meet the Dervaes family. These new urban homesteaders, a family of four, are not employed- living comfortably on $30,000/ year. Growing their own food on 1/5th of an acre outside of Los Angeles, CA, they have meat, dairy and vegetables- all they need. They even sell to local restaurants and neighbors.
Yes, a lot of […]
15 Years of GMO Contamination in Canada
by Lucy Sharratt
Over the past 15 years, Canadian farmers’ experience with contamination from genetically engineered (GE) crops has exposed the seriousness of the problem. One of the earliest arguments advocating caution in the release of GE plants into the environment was based on the fact we cannot control or recall these living, self-replicating organisms. […]
First Biotech Food Crop Containing Human Genes Set to be Approved for Commercial Production
by SEAN POULTER
The first GM food crop containing human genes is set to be approved for commercial production.
The laboratory-created rice produces some of the human proteins found in breast milk and saliva.
Its U.S. developers say they could be used to treat children with diarrhoea, a major killer in the Third World.
The rice is a […]
GM Alfalfa: What’s Happening Now – Time for consumers to vote with their dollars by buying organic
by George L. Siemon, Organic Valley CEO on January 25, 2011
UPDATE Friday, January 28:
Yesterday, the USDA announced its decision to allow the commercial sale of Roundup Ready® Alfalfa throughout the United States. I personally have been involved in the fight against GMOs for many years and was very disappointed that the biotech industry once again […]
Monsanto’s Roundup Triggers Over 40 Plant Diseases and Endangers Human and Animal Health
by Jeffrey M. Smith – posted on NaturalNews
The following article reveals the devastating and unprecedented impact that Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide is having on the health of our soil, plants, animals, and human population.
On top of this perfect storm, the USDA now wants to approve Roundup Ready alfalfa, which will exacerbate this calamity.Please tell USDA […]
Biotech Industry Spends More Than Half a Billion Dollars to Influence Congress
by Food & Water Watch
Since 1999, the 50 largest agricultural and food patentholdingcompanies and two of the largest biotechnology andagrochemical trade associations have spent more than $572million in campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures,according to a new analysis by Food & Water Watch.The companies and trade associations have hired a bevyof well-connected lobbying shops — […]
Minority Farmworkers are Climbing up the Organic Food Chain to Become Farm Owners
Rigoberto Bucio, 25, selling his own organic produce at the North Oakland, Calif. farmer markets.Photos: Bart Nagel
by Heather Smith
The strawberries, purchased in November, in a rainy parking lot behind a community clinic, feel like they’ve traveled in time from summer to here. Out of season, strawberries usually taste like rainwater. These have a taste that […]
USDA Approves GM Alfalfa: What You Can Do
by Becky Striepe
USDA approved Monsanto’s genetically modified alfalfa today.
The problem with GM alfalfa goes beyond the usual issues with GM crops. Since alfalfa cross-pollinates easily, this genetically engineered crop is guaranteed to contaminate organic crops. If you oppose GM alfalfa, you can send a letter to President Obama urging him to stop this approval.
Update: Our friends […]
USDA approves GMO alfalfa; CFS to sue
by Food Freedom
US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, just approved widespread planting of genetically modified alfalfa. The Center for Food Safety plans to sue and Food & Water Watch would like you send a letter to Obama to reverse the decision.
The Center for Food Safety criticized the announcement today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) […]
Mexico Says ‘No’ to Monsanto
by Jeannie Moulton
The Mexican government denied Monsanto’s request to expand its pilot project in northern Mexico. The request was rejected because the government says additional tests and studies need to be carried out to determine the effect of genetically modified corn on native corn species.
Importance of corn varieties in Mexico and elsewhere
With the fears […]
In stunning reversal, USDA chief Vilsack greenlights Monsanto’s alfalfa
by Beth Buczynski
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announed today that it will once again allow unlimited, nation-wide commercial planting of Monsanto’s genetically-engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa.
The decision comes as a shock to many after the USDA admitted that GE alfalfa poses many risks to organic and conventional farmers in its Final Environmental Impact Statement […]
Haitians Burn Seeds Donated by Monsanto to Protect their Native Maize Seed
by Ryan Stock
Rural Haitian farmers gathered in Papaye, June 4, 2010. Many wore straw hats reading, “Aba Monsanto – down with Monsanto and Aba Preval – down with Preval.” (Photo: mediahacker)
Let It Burn
“A fabulous Easter gift,” commented Monsanto Director of Development Initiatives Elizabeth Vancil. Nearly 60,000 seed sacks of hybrid corn seeds and other vegetable […]
Small poultry farmers grapple with lack of slaughterhouses
by Carla A. Wise
Producers in Oregon and beyond can’t find places to butcher chickens
On a brilliant fall day at Afton Field Farm, Tyler Jones shows off his butchering shed. Jones’ farm in Oregon’s fertile Willamette Valley boasts an overgrown orchard, a rambling farmhouse and sheds filled with freezers. Jones and his crew will butcher […]
China boosts funds for public debate on GM crops
by Li Jiao
[BEIJING] Scientists in China have been given government funding to discuss genetically modified (GM) crops with the public following protests against the technology.
The ministry of agriculture has made available 2.6 million yuan (US$400,000) since late last year, and some communication on GM crop science has now started.
Buoyed by high-level support from China’s premier, Wen Jiabao, […]
F.D.A and Dairy Industry Spar Over Testing of Milk
by WILLIAM NEUMAN
Each year, federal inspectors find illegal levels of antibiotics in hundreds of older dairy cows bound for the slaughterhouse. Concerned that those antibiotics might also be contaminating the milk Americans drink, the Food and Drug Administration intended to begin tests this month on the milk from farms that had repeatedly sold cows tainted by […]
Mutant mosquitoes: Malaysia release of genetically modified insects sparks fears of uncontrollable new species
by DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Malaysia has released 6,000 genetically modified mosquitoes into a forest in the first experiment of its kind in Asia aimed at curbing dengue fever.
The field test is meant to pave the way for the official use of genetically engineered Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to mate with females and produce offspring with […]