tagged w/ Environmental Democracy
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Government Urged to Drop Criminal Charges Against Indigenous Leaders and Allow Independent Investigation into Violent Incidents in Bagua
Lima, Peru – The Peruvian Congress voted today 82 – 12 to repeal two of nine contested laws in an attempt to end widespread indigenous protests that have been paralyzing transportation and commerce in the Peruvian Amazon for 70 days. In a complete shift of discourse, President Garcia admitted that "there were a series errors and exaggerations" in the government's handling of this conflict and asked Congress to repeal decrees 1090 and 1064, which were passed in 2008 as part of a package of new laws to facilitate the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
Having witnessed the vote in the Peruvian Congress, Daysi Zapata, acting President of AIDESEP, Peru's national Amazonian indigenous organization welcomed the President's comments and declared: "Today is a historic day. We are grateful that the will of the indigenous peoples has been heard and we only hope that in the future governments listen and attend to indigenous peoples, and not legislate behind their backs."
Zapata said that AIDESEP it is calling on our base organizations and communities to end their blockades and protests while also calling on the government to enter into a good faith and transparent dialogue.
Primer Minister Simon, who has been a lead negotiator to the indigenous communities, said Tuesday that he would resign after bringing the current conflict closer to resolution. The Peruvian Government has been heavily criticized for the June 5 attack to quell nonviolent protests by Amazonian indigenous communities, which resulted in dozens of deaths of both protesters and police and left 150 of indigenous demonstrators injured.
In addition to decrees 1090 and 1064, AIDESEP points to at least seven other laws that continue to pose a threat to their constitutionally guaranteed rights. In addition to the repeal of all these controversial laws, indigenous people are demanding that the Peruvian Government lift the State of Emergency, in effect since May 9 in several regions throughout the Amazon. AIDESEP is also calling for the Government to drop criminal charges against Alberto Pizango and five other indigenous leaders. Pizango was given safe passage to leave the country and is now exiled in Nicaragua.
In the United States, fifteen human rights and environmental organizations recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top Administration officials urging the United States to take immediate steps towards addressing the political crisis in Peru. Representatives from this coalition met with the U.S. Trade Representative's office on Wednesday to again urge the U.S. Government to publicly clarify if Peru would be penalized for revoking the package of "free trade laws."
The dramatic shift in the Garcia Administration's discourse is likely due to the unprecedented international and domestic condemnation of the attacks on peaceful demonstrations on June 5 in Bagua. Tens of thousands protested in cities throughout Peru on June 11 in support of Peru's indigenous peoples. Peruvian consulates and embassies worldwide have been the site of repeated vigils and protests. Tens of thousands have sent letters to Peruvian and US government officials. Celebrities including Q'orianka Kilcher and Benjamin Bratt, both part Peruvian as well as Nobel Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu, have publicly condemned the violence in Peru while calling for a peaceful solution.
end of excerptGovernment Urged to Drop Criminal Charges Against Indigenous Leaders and Allow... more
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Passage of the FSEA into law would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). The bill proposes a substantial increase in power and resources for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and would significantly diminish existing judicial restraints on actions taken by the agency. Although the bill includes some provisions that could improve the mainstream food system, many of these are vaguely worded and do not clearly define the scope of the agency’s power, creating the potential for inappropriate application and enforcement. Small farms and local artisanal producers are part of the solution to the food safety problem in this country; the bill would impose on them a one-size-fits-all regulatory scheme and would disproportionately impact their operations for the worse. A detailed analysis of some of the key provisions is below [the citations are to the relevant section and page number of the June 10 version of the bill].
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is opposed to HR 2749 because it would adversely impact small farms and food producers, without providing significant reforms in the industrial food system. HR 2749 does not address the underlying causes of food safety problems, including industrial agriculture practices and the consolidation of our food supply.
I. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Under current law, all “food facilities” are required to register with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [21 USC § 350d]. The registration requirement is for one time only and no fee is charged. The FSEA would amend the current law to add significant requirements.
A. ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE
The FSEA would require facilities to register annually [section 101(b)(1)–p. 3], rather than a one-time registration. Registrants would also be required to pay an annual fee of $500, to be adjusted for inflation [section 101, Part6, sec 743(b)(1)(A)–p. 10].
B. LIMITED EXCLUSION FROM REGISTRATION FOR FARMS
The term “facility” does not include “farms” for purposes of registration in either the current law or under the bill [21 USC § 350d(b)(1)]. But what exactly is a “farm”? The FDA’s current regulations take a very narrow view of what qualifies as a farm:
“…a facility in one general physical location devoted to the growing and harvesting of crops, the raising of animals (including seafood), or both. Washing, trimming of outer leaves of, and cooling produce are considered part of harvesting. The term “farm” includes:
“(i) Facilities that pack or hold food, provided that all food used in such activities is grown, raised, or consumed on that farm or another farm under the same ownership; and
“(ii) Facilities that manufacture/process food, provided that all food used in such activities is consumed on that farm or another farm under the same ownership.” [21 CFR § 1.227(3)] (emphasis added)
“Manufacturing/processing” is defined as “making food from one or more ingredients, or synthesizing, preparing, treating, modifying or manipulating food, including food crops or ingredients. Examples of manufacturing/processing activities are cutting, peeling, trimming, washing, waxing, eviscerating, rendering, cooking, baking, freezing, cooling, pasteurizing, homogenizing, mixing, formulating, bottling, milling, grinding, extracting juice, distilling, labeling, or packaging.” [21 CFR § 1.227(6)] In other words, any farm that makes jam, cans vegetables, or packages cut fruit would not be considered a “farm” under the regulation unless the food is consumed only on the farm!
much more at the link.Passage of the FSEA into law would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act... more
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They are poisoning the planet, and leading many small farmers to financial ruin in a monoculture world. How Monsanto or any agbusiness company can even think that is "sustainable" speaks to their total lack of a conscience or moral code.
WE ARE BEING POISONED DAILY, and it is happening with the consent of the very politicians so many continue to support and believe. It is happening with the help of a complicit and desensitized media that cares nothing for real truth and education on the whole, but simply "entertaining the masses" into apathy. It is happening with corporate malfeasance that is placing the almighty dollar above all else even at the expense of human life and the sustainability of the only planet that can sustain us.
And the only way it will stop is if we speak out. Now.
Link to article:
http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article2803-Poisoning-The-Planet.htmlThey are poisoning the planet, and leading many small farmers to financial ruin in a... more
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A new Sustainable Agriculture channel is growing on Current, and I will be its curator.
Why is Sustainable Agriculture important?
Agriculture... is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1787. ME 6:277
“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds. As long, therefore, as they can find employment in this line, I would not convert them into mariners, artisans, or anything else." --Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1785. ME 5:94, Papers 8:426
"Globalization is not the cross-cultural interaction of diverse societies; it is the imposition of a particular culture on all of the others...It is the predation of one class, one race, and often one gender of a single species on all the others. The "global" in the dominant discourse is the political space in which the dominant local seeks global control, freeing itself from the responsibility...of ecological sustainability and social justice."
— Vandana Shiva (Biopiracy)
"In nature's economy the currency is not money, it is life."
— Vandana Shiva (Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace)
As you can see by these quotes, love of sustainable agriculture and respect for the sustenance and life it brings us spans all time periods and cultures from ancient civilizations to modern times.
What is sustainable agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture works with the natural environment to produce food and plants for our sustenance with minimum negative impact to soil, air, water and seeds. It works to sequester soil nutrients, carbon, and water in a way that positively enhances not only yield, but the quality and nutritional value of what is grown while also preserving biodiversity, natural beauty, and the environmental purity and balance which then positively effects our economy, our health, and our spirits. It is a tradition of our ancestors that we now see in danger of extinction through globalization and industrial monoculture agricultural practices. We must do all we can to protect it in order to protect life.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for discussions regarding the environmental, economic, health, and spiritual aspects of sowing and saving the seeds of life. This includes articles on GMOs, food policy, organic farming, (and that does include hemp for farming purposes, but please respect the topic and not inundate the channel) climate change/environment, water, water scarcity, sustainable agricultural methods, industrial agriculture, global food policy, health effects, spiritual connections to the Earth and agriculture, history of agriculture, and the politics of food (FDA, USDA, EPA, etc.)
In the wake of globalization, (market speculation) water shortages, GMOs, climate change, and political /economic upheaval how we maintain our global food supply in the wake of all of this in correlation with population increases will be the most challenging crisis we will face in the 21st century in our quest to maintain the spirit of that from which all life flows: The seed.
Let us sow the seeds of environmental democracy, truth, and hope through our words, our voices, and our love for Mother Earth that provides us with all we need to sustain life on Earth.
Please join me:
http://current.com/groups/sustainableagriculture
Tag: Sustainable Agriculture
Thank you,
JanforGore
Curator, Sustainable Agriculture Channel
"When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers are therefore the founders of human civilization." Daniel Webster, 1840A new Sustainable Agriculture channel is growing on Current, and I will be its... more
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The Organization for Competitive Markets is a national, non-profit public policy research organization headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. OCM believes America must work together, across all commodities, toward the common purpose of returning its food and agricultural sector to true supply and demand-based competition. Antitrust, competition and fair trade are important areas of interest to OCM.
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This video deals with the seed monopoly of Monsanto and their patents that are killing competitive markets and squeezing out the American farmer.
American farmers must stand up to Monsanto as farmers in other countries around the world are doing. They should not be allowed to get away with their anti-democratic tactics and lack of business ethics that seek world domination of our seeds at the expense of our economy, our health, and our biodiversity!The Organization for Competitive Markets is a national, non-profit public policy... more
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On the eve of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues annual session in New York City, a delegation of 18 indigenous leaders from both hemispheres stopped in Washington to tell Congress and President Barack Obama there will be no solution to global warming and climate change if indigenous communities are not directly involved now.
They presented congressional members and Obama administration staff with "hands-on" examples of climate change and best practices against it, said Robby Romero, an Apache musician, U.N. Ambassador of Youth for the Environment, and the delegation's English-language spokesman. He decried what he called the "false solutions" on climate change offered by the World Bank, the United Nations, corporations, conservationist organizations and – if an energy bill nearing passage by the end of May isn't amended to serve worldwide Native community interests – Congress.
"In the name of the environment, the whole movement, the 'green' movement, is being hijacked," Romero said. "It's traditional indigenous knowledge and wisdom, together with science and technology that will lead us into a time of healing."
Romero said the delegation can't fault its reception on Capitol Hill, especially in the offices of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. As Speaker of the House, Pelosi wields a singular influence there. "We're actually getting a very positive response in regard to the dialogue at least. It's the action we want to see," Romero said.
The delegation, some members speaking through a translator with Amazon Watch, seemed unanimous in the view that Congress has an indigenous-specific amendment at hand by the end of May, readily drawn from the U.N. Declaration on Indigenous Rights.
Among other things, as Romero described it and according to a briefing paper distributed by Save America's Forests in Washington, an amendment to the fast-moving Waxman-Markey bill must demand credible evidence from indigenous communities – not merely from governments that often don't know them from the wind – of negotiated free, prior and informed consent to development plans before resource-piracy is foisted on them by international funding authorizations and industry-biased carbon-emission controls.
"We have kept our forests. ... time immemorial, kept our forests," said Mary Simat, of the Masai in Kenya, chairwoman of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee. "Now we are wondering why they have funded the governments, and not contacted the indigenous communities. We are usually marginalized peoples. But they want to use our resources, which have been very well-kept. ... Indigenous peoples have not been included in these discussion tables. We want to make sure they don't dictate on us."
snip.
But Marcos Terena, spokesman for the Terena in Brazil, said through the translator, "He's come here to say. ... we can't depend on the Obama administration to do anything. ... There's a myth that Obama will solve everything. It's not true. In South America, the indigenous peoples are watching Obama from a spiritual view."
The delegation included indigenous leaders and spokespeople from Africa, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Guinea, Panama, and the (American) Southwest. Among them was Moi Enomenga, longtime spokesman for the Waorani (formerly Haorani) of Ecuador, threatened by mining and logging interests. He made the case for protecting still-uncontacted peoples, considered family by the Waorani.On the eve of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues annual session... more
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I do thank Mr. Gore for one thing here: the word "strengthen." I am all for that and should it be strengthened to where science takes precedence over politics, I too will support it. Until then, I will continue to do what I can to see it strengthened through my voice. Hopefully, the misconception that those who oppose it as IT IS NOW WRITTEN do not want legislation to address this will be cleared up. We want what we were promised: BOLD LEADERSHIP. Such as Mr. Gore's 100% renewable energy in 10 years plan that has been virtually ignored by this Congress. Let's see what the Senate can do.I do thank Mr. Gore for one thing here: the word "strengthen." I am all for... more
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Incredible lecture recently given by Dr. Vandana Shiva on the future of food and seed. The preservation of the bija as Dr. Shiva refers to here is the secret of life itself. Monsanto kills life and therefore they will fail. They may see profits in $$$$$ for a time but they will fail where it really matters if we as Dr. Shiva stated at the end of this video, stand together and hold hands worldwide. And in this lecture she covers the entire movement from beginning to end giving us truth, inspiration, and hope. How I love this intelligent, brave, visionary woman!Incredible lecture recently given by Dr. Vandana Shiva on the future of food and seed.... more
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When Monsanto first petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture for deregulation of their Roundup Ready wheat, we feared consumer backlash based on the loss of European and Asian markets that corn growers experienced when genetically engineered (GE) corn varieties were commercialized in 1996. Our fears were substantiated through a Canadian Wheat Board buyer survey conducted in 2003, which determined that 83% of foreign buyers would not accept genetically engineered wheat and would seek alternate sources if either the United States or Canada commercialized a GE wheat variety. Building on that survey, Dr. Robert Wisner, a respected Iowa State agricultural economist, concluded that wheat producers would see a drop of as much as 35% in farmgate prices if GE wheat were commercialized.
Nothing has changed in the global marketplace for wheat, but a recent National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) survey would have the world believe that wheat growers themselves overwhelmingly support adoption of genetically engineered wheat.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Although NAWG has publicly claimed its survey finds that “more than three-quarters of the respondents approved a petition supporting the commercialization of biotechnology in wheat,” a close examination of that petition reveals that NAWG fundamentally misrepresents its own data, overstates the significance of the results, and exaggerates U.S. wheat growers’ demand for genetically engineered wheat - all to the detriment of its member farmers.
To begin with, NAWG states that only growers with more than 500 acres of wheat and more than 1,000 acres in total production were chosen to participate (to save on postage, NAWG claims); only 32% of them took part in the postcard solicitation survey. Every year I grow substantially more than 500 acres of wheat, and yet, I never received a survey. Why were particular farmers chosen and why were other growers left out?
The survey itself made virtually no effort to glean nuanced truth from its participants. Respondents were not asked whether or not they would grow GE wheat, only to endorse a petition that “encourages both public and private sectors to support the discovery and development of new technologies” for wheat. Biotechnology was merely one of many potential methods mentioned within the much broader context of NAWG’s stated desire to increase the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the wheat growing industry, three things no sane wheat grower would disagree with.
Of the 21,262 survey cards sent out, 5,272 marked their checked the “I AGREE!’ biotech wheat/petition box. NAWG somehow interprets this as 76% of growers endorsing biotech wheat. NAWG apparently didn’t want to mention the 1, 635 wheat farmers who checked the I DISAGREE box and chose to ignore the 14,355 producers who likely tossed it aside with the rest of the junk mail.
end of excerpt.
NO TO GMOS! STAY OUT OF OUR FIELDS!
Sick of your GM soy
Sick of your BT corn
Sick of your BT cotton
Leaving our environment worn
Transgenic contamination and pesticides
Polluting all we see
Your bacteria infested test tube 'food'
Stealing our biodiversity
Your 'food' is not the future
You cannot feed the poor
You only bring destruction
To the developing world's door
You dare to patent seeds
That leave us in debt and strife
You dare to think you have the right
To patent our very life!
We will take back our nature
We will take back our land
We will grow and eat the pure food
That we will til by hand
We will not give up now
Until our mission is complete
We will not eat your BT corn and soy
And WE WILL NOT EAT YOUR WHEAT!
Thought I would try a different approach to get my opinion across. This is simply getting out of hand.When Monsanto first petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture for deregulation of... more
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This is an incredible story of intimidation, deception, and corporate espionage, and that description is not going too far. The story at this link is long and involved, but I ask you to read it from beginning to end. It describes the lengths Monsanto and their minions went to in order to silence the author of a study that showed that GM DNA was infecting the traditional corn vareties of Mexico and that the DNA was not even stable. We wonder where viruses like Swine flu originate. I am beginning to wonder if viruses are spread by the GM BT transgenic corn DNA blowing in the wind.
Also, in this article you will read about the deceptive and destructive PR Internet campaign Monsanto is waging in order to discredit those who criticize GMOS. If you were not convinced that GMOs are harmful to our environment and that their release into our environment was for profit alone and perhaps even criminal, this may change yoru mind. This needs to be seen and people need to know that in no uncertain terms GMOs must be pulled from our shelves.This is an incredible story of intimidation, deception, and corporate espionage, and... more
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An effort to fight climate change through reforestation, seeded at the grassroots level, has now blossomed into a woodland of over 3 billion trees, with the confirmation that over 300 million were planted in Turkey in 2008, the United Nations announced today.
In response to its success, the Billion Tree Campaign, which is under the patronage of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Kenyan Green Belt Movement founder Professor Wangari Maathai and Prince Albert II of Monaco, has already set a new target of 7 billion trees to be planted by the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in December 2009.
The campaign was launched by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in 2006 as a response not only to the threat of global warming but also to wide sustainability challenges from water supplies to biodiversity loss.
Tree planting remains one of the most cost-effective ways to address climate change, according to UNEP. Trees and forests play a vital role in regulating the climate since they absorb carbon dioxide. Deforestation, in turn, accounts for over 20 per cent of the carbon dioxide humans generate, rivalling the emissions from other sources.
Trees also play a crucial role in providing a range of products and services to rural and urban populations, including food, timber, fibre, medicines and energy as well as soil fertility, water and biodiversity conservation.
With slightly over 700 million trees planted to date, Turkey now attains second position in the list of top 10 countries in the Campaign's roll of honour. The leading country remains Ethiopia with 725 million trees planted, UNEP said. Mexico, with 472,404,266 trees planted to date, Kenya with 139,893,668 and Cuba with 137,476,771 round out the top five in the sylvan effort.
Meanwhile, an organization in Romania known as the PRAIS Foundation, in partnership with the Romanian Government and other partners, has confirmed that it has planted over 11 million trees through the national tree-planting movement 'Millions of People, Millions of Trees.'
In total, 3,071,704,993 trees have been planted around the world. So far, another 1,578,796,459 trees have been pledged and have yet to be planted.An effort to fight climate change through reforestation, seeded at the grassroots... more
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Dr. Shiva is the one person in the international community who is standing up to the status quo to bring truth to the masses in order to preserve environmental democracy and biodiversity, and therefore life itself. I love this woman so much because she speaks my heart as well. Seeds are indeed sacred. They are from whence all good things come, and from whence many solutions to the world's problems can be found. And they should be treated with the respect they deserve for the life and sustenance they bring to us all through the graciousness of Mother Earth. You can't get any greener than that.
In this piece, Dr. Shiva ends her speech with a hopeful prediction: That Monsanto will not last much longer, and that she will live to see the end of them. That gives me hope and I will plan to be there as well to see the demise of that soulless, heartless, life sucking evil entity that has done nothing but defile everything sacred about agriculture and our special relationship to the Earth that sustains us.Dr. Shiva is the one person in the international community who is standing up to the... more
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This is an interview with Dr. Vandana Shiva that took place about 10 years ago regarding McDonalds and their encroachment into India. In this interview Dr. Shiva lays out the truth about their tactics and the health effects of their "food." And yes, I know this article is a bit outdated in terms of date, but in terms of relevance to the world today it is not.
It also speaks to Current as McDonalds has now encroached upon this site where you cannot get away from its annoying flashing ads about hamburgers that actually make me nauseus. This is why I cannot wrap my head around this site doing anything regarding Earth Day with McDonalds ads flashing all over the site. However, this interview with Dr. Shiva lays out the truth about corporate greed and the goal to push standards down while pushing profits up at any cost. I recommend reading it.This is an interview with Dr. Vandana Shiva that took place about 10 years ago... more
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Slowly but surely the truth will win out about the deception of GMOs. Slowly but surely more and more people around the world are catching on to Monsanto's lies about yields. Slowly but surely the toxic effects of glyphosate which has now poisoned much of our planet will be seen. But will it be too late? Is there any other Monsanto product besides the toxic Aspartame that is still on the market besides their test tube organisms and accompanying poisonous herbicides? Doesn't that tell you something? They even had to sell off rbgh to Eli Lilly because of the truth of that being told as well.
Kudos to Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Brazil (which I hope continues this trend) and even Sri Lanka that has banned GMOS. This is the greatest environmental challenge we will face in concert with climate change and water scarcity. If you then don't see how these multinationals are lining up to get your food and water because they see what is coming and are doing all in their power to precipitate it, you are simply not paying enough attention.
MONSANTO KILLS BIODIVERSITY. And biodiversity is the crux of human life and environmental and economic sustainability. Once they take that away and own all of the seed and water, you may as well kiss your future bye bye. That is the truth of it. Which is why I and so many others are fighting so hard by using these mediums to get information out to people to empower them to say NO to GMOS.
Reality will then be our ally.Slowly but surely the truth will win out about the deception of GMOs. Slowly but... more
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Let the seed satyagraha begin. We need farmers everywhere, particulary here in America to do this. To stand up for biodiversity, the environment, and the health of all of us.Let the seed satyagraha begin. We need farmers everywhere, particulary here in America... more
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Close to 50,000 trees have now been planted by Tree Nation, a wonderful organization with plans to plant 8 million trees in the shape of a heart in the heart of Niger to fight deforestation. I have been a member there for a little over two years and have seen how much it has grown. This is a site where the people have taken hold of the sustainable solutions and taken the action necessary to bring sustenance and sustainability to the Sahara.
I have had a petition there for a bit over two years, and it has garnered over thirteen hundred signatures from evey corner of the globe. And those who have signed it have pledged to be Climate Messengers. This is what the Internet is all about. Taking action.
Please give this site a look over and see the wonderful work they are doing at Tree Nation. And if you too want to sign the petition to be a climate messenger you can do so here:
http://www.tree-nation.com/community/petition.php?id=25
Tree Nation supports my petition and is planting a tree for every 100 signatures. Just by signing your name you can help plant life and sustainability in a part of the world that needs it desperately.
Thanks.Close to 50,000 trees have now been planted by Tree Nation, a wonderful organization... more
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Rep. Rosa De Lauro whose husband Stan Greenburg (a political consultant) has Monsanto listed as one of his clients introduced this bill which is being rushed through Congress. Why? They are using current salmonella outbreaks as the justification for suddenly caring about the food we eat even though we have been getting poisoned by preservatives, additives, artificial sweeteners, high fructose mercury corn syrup, and now GMOS for years. Well, from what I have read of this and researched on it this bill with its vague language is nothing more than an attempt to do away with the competition to industrial agriculture: mainly, family farms and organic farming.
Think about it, who do you think they will ask for counsel on setting regulations? It won't be small organic farmers, it will be the big agribusiness companies like Monsanto, Syngenta, ADM, Cargill, etc. Remember, he who controls the food controls the masses.
This is a bill I believe must be stomped out. It is too vague and does not address the real problems regarding food safety. I urge you all to read the information enclosed and contact your Congressional representatives even if you think it will do no good. This bill simply must not pass.
And look at the timing of it. Just as I also posted right here a day or two ago about resistance to GMOs finally coming around in America as it is at fever pitch globally this is rushed through Congress to try to quell opposition. I am sorry, those of you who think Obama and this Congress have nothing but good intentions now. With this bill if it passes it will be proof that all of the words Obama stated on food policy were worthless.
And with the PR scene at the White House yesterday with the planting of a garden after reading this it seems like a total diversion. How many media outlets that carried that groundbreaking yesterday even mentioned this bill? The regulations alone will break many small organic farms in this country and with the FDA running the show with Monsanto and other agribusiness companies guiding them along, they will do all in their power to kill agriculture as we know it. Once they control that, they control you.
Please, read the bill, read the information, and stand up for your Democratic right to grow your own food in your own garden and to know what you are eating. This effects our health, our environment, our economy, our democracy, and our very way of life.
Thank you.
Also, read up on Codex Alimentarius which is slated to go into effect December 31st of this year. This effects your vitamins as well as health food supplements which will come under world control as your right to choose is slowly taken away.Rep. Rosa De Lauro whose husband Stan Greenburg (a political consultant) has Monsanto... more
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1.4 billion people worldwide do not have access to potable water. That is outrageous especially when UN estimates predict that number to go over three billion by 2030. Water is the essence of all life on Earth. It is our sustenance that quenches our thirst, grows our food, and cleanses our bodies and souls. We are linked to this alive and lifegiving resource by a bond that goes beyond the physical. We are 70% water as the Earth is, though about only 1% of it is freshwater for human consumption and use. And we are neglecting and abusing it. This does not bode well for preserving that bond.
So many around the world still take this resource and human right for granted. So many think they can simply turn on their taps and it will always be there. However, many are finding out that is not the case if we waste it, pollute it, dam it, mismanage it, or continue the behaviors that lend to drought and global warming which evaporates it and changes its rainfall patterns. At one time this thought was not even entertained, but we are actually affecting the hydrologic cycle and based on reports of glacier melt worldwide particularly in the Himalayas, billions of people are at risk (with population statistics predicting 9 billion people by 2030) of not having enough water to grow their crops and sustain their lives.
So much of what we do everyday involves the use of water and it never asks for anything in return but for us to respect it.
Tomorrow is World Water Day. A day to honor those worldwide who have worked hard to bring potable water to those who need it most and a day to reflect on how important and precious water is to our lives and the effects of our actions.
Knowledge is power, awareness brings action. The world is at a crossroads and what we do to sustain and conserve water today saves it for tomorrow. The consequences of ignoring the global water crisis are too dire to think about. So let's not get to the point where we will have to. We can work to clean our waterways, conserve our water, adapt to climactic changes, decrease fossil fuel emissions, and most importantly demand that water be declared a human right and a public trust to bring water equity to our world and to help developing nations climb out of poverty. We have that power.
Let's use it starting now. The answer is so easy to find. It lies in us.1.4 billion people worldwide do not have access to potable water. That is outrageous... more
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Holdovers from the Bush administration have taken language to declare water a human right out of the declaration at the World Water Forum in Istanbul. It is a travesty and a nod to corporate profits to do so. Please, if you cherish water and the right of all humans to it take a moment to participate in this action to protect our water as a human right and public trust. We may not be able to be in Istanbul to let our voices be heard, but we can do it from our modems. Tell Congress that the corporate agenda regarding water must give way to a day when water is declared a human right to protect it from corporate greed, pollution, and privitization.
This Sunday March 22nd is World Water Day. Please take this chance to do something to protect it for all.
Thanks.Holdovers from the Bush administration have taken language to declare water a human... more
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Regardless of the PR and propaganda spawned by Monsanto and other biotech companies to have you believe that their GM test tube "foods" are globally accepted and safe, resistance to them is at an all time high and growing. We must keep that momentum going in 2009 because there has never been a more crucial time to be vigilant about our food, water, and environmental sustainability in the face of this push to own it all at our expense.
There is a method to their madness, and a method to taking advantage of the climate crisis and food "crisis" spawned by the the sky is falling announcements of the World Bank: and that is to use them as a reason to flood markets with GM garbage in order to reap a profit off others' misery.
It is not a lack of food that plagues this world, it is lack of access to it and the concerted efforts of agribusiness in league with politicians and other "interests" to undermine education, access, sustainable agriculture, and environmental democracy to benefit themselves in establishing global food fascism.
However, if last year is any indication it has not been as easy for them as they would have you believe. That is good news not only for our health, but for environmental democracy, sustainability, and biodiversity. But now is not the time to think we have won anything, as these companies are now raking in profits and using them for an all out war on organic farming, biodiversity, our food freedom, and all that agriculture has been and represented for centuries.
We have the power in this equation. We are the consumers. We are the farmers. And more and more of us worldwide are standing up and saying, NO TO GMO.Regardless of the PR and propaganda spawned by Monsanto and other biotech companies to... more
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