U.S. Court Defeats Monsanto’s Genetically Modified Alfalfa, For Now

July 2nd - 2009
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Monsanto’s Plans in Canada Likely Delayed!

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Monsanto & Dole Team up on Vegetable Breeding

The Co-Operator - submitted by Dave Bedard - 6/23/2009

Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach breeding will
soon include a new player as U.S. seed and agriculture chemical firm Monsanto hooks up with Dole Fresh
Vegetables for a five-year collaboration deal.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Plant breeding will be used to improve the "nutrition, flavour, colour, texture, taste and aroma of these vegetables," the two companies said in a joint release Tuesday.

The program will focus on those four specific vegetables, the companies said, and "any new products realized from this collaboration could be commercialized by Dole in North America."

"The consumer wins because Dole's market knowledge combined with our research and development capabilities will help bring new healthy and flavourful products to consumers," said David Stark, vice-president of consumer traits at St. Louis-based Monsanto, in the release.
Monsanto said its "agricultural expertise that improves the speed and accuracy of new and beneficial characteristics" will be guided in this arrangement by Dole's" knowledge of consumer needs and marketing."
Dole, founded in Hawaii in 1851 and now headquartered near Los Angeles, posted 2008 net revenues of US$7.6 billion and bills itself as the world's biggest grower and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Dole's fresh vegetable production is generally done under "joint growing arrangements" with producers in California, Arizona and northern and central Mexico.
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Editor's note - Having been an organic vegetable producer myself, my heart skips a beat when I read such articles.
As we know, as sure as night follows day, where goes Monsanto, there goes genetic modificiation.
So how long will it be now before members of the organic movement, just like conventional grain farmers before you, will have to enter into contracts with these companies to buy their seeds rather than save your own, as you probably do now?
How about terminator vegetable seeds? Might they be coming, too?
Might the future also see these corporations prosecuting producers (ala Percy Schmeiser) because their corporate frankeseeds, through no fault of your own, have drifted into your gardens, contaminating your crops?
We already know what these mammoth entities are capable of, moving relentlessly to genetically modify just about everything.
Be afraid! Be very afraid!
These heartless "hollow men" must be stopped!
l.p.
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Report Reveals the Growing Global Problem of Marine Litter

Washington DC/Nairobi, 8 June 2009 -
The head of the United Nations Environment Program
Calls for World-Wide Ban on Pointless Thin Film Plastic Bags.
For full report, click on headline.
For related story, click here.

Volunteers help remove nearly 41 tons of
marine debris along the southeastern coast
of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Photo courtesy of
the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

More Reaction to; "To Graze or not to Graze...."

"I have no problem with cattle grazing in riparian areas. However, I do have a problem with cattle pooping in riparian areas. The “expert” opinions which are now giving tacit approval to contaminating water with cow pies are defying the fundamental science of eutrophication. This is mildly Orwellian. One wonders how the vegetation in riparian zones actually survived and flourished before the introduction of cattle to Canada."

C. Hugh Arklie (Who is Hugh Arklie?)

"I am a chartered accountant now working in the philanthropic sector. I am in my final year of an Environmental Studies degree program at the U of Winnipeg. For many years I have observed and participated in local environmental issues. One of my biggest frustrations is how the public service serves industry more and more, and the public less and less.
"Otherwise I am just a private citizen acting on my own when I feel compelled to point out that the Emperor is sometimes naked. This is the case with respect to grazing in riparian areas. And Meditation Lake. And LP. And Big Pig. And on and on."
Hugh
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Larry,
In most streams and rivers on the Prairies, not only has the vegetation been removed to the water's edge but then cattle are grazed in the area and erode the system even more. The Little Saskatchewan, the most polluted river I have worked on has 10,000 cattle on it and most of them are in it. Just take a trip in summer along your favourite stream and you will find the same thing. The levels of faecal and total coliform bacteria in our Manitoba surface waters and beaches are indicative of this pollution.
The science clearly indicates that keeping livestock out of the zone close the water's edge has a huge impact on both nutrient and pathogen contamination in our lakes, rivers and streams. My data indicates that this is a widespread problem in southern Manitoba.
Look into what New York city has done for farmers to prevent the huge expenditures needed to filter Cryptosporidium out of drinking water.
Best regards
Bill
(William Paton, Prof. of Biology, Brandon University)
Click on headline for original story.

A Fight for the Amazon That Should Inspire the World

Johann Hari: The Independent - UK -

The uprising In the Amazon is more urgent than Iran's - it will determine the future of the planet.
Click on headline for more.

Help Save the Earth, Time to Subsitute Hemp for Oil

By Dara Colwell, AlterNet. Jn. 18, 2009.

Every man-made fiber we wear, sit on, cook with, drive in, is a by-product of the petroleum industry -- all of which could be replaced by hemp.

Hemp photo by L.P.

Machinery Accident Kills Farm Advocate Paul Beingessner

June 26, 2009 - CBC

A farm accident in southern Saskatchewan has claimed the life of Paul Beingessner, known as a passionate advocate for farmers...

Please also Read related story here.

Read Paul's articles on the blog, "The View From Out Here"