Thursday, February 10, 2011
My MP Helps Nix a Bill That Would Have Protected Farmers From GMO Crops. Letter-to-the-Editor
Dear Editor,
I see my new Member of Parliament, Robert Sopuck (Conservative Party - Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette - above.) has already made his mark on the political landscape. He voted with the rest of his Conservative Party and many Liberals last night to defeat an NDP private members' bill. The thrust of Bill C-474 was pretty simple - protect farmers by requiring “an analysis of potential harm to export markets before the sale of any new genetically engineered (GMO) seed is permitted."
In other words, new GM seeds would actually be examined to make sure other countries would want to buy them. (This, of course, is something an honest, competent government should have been doing anyway.)
Had it passed, the bill almost certainly would have prevented the GM flax fiasco of 2009. Canadian farmers paid a heavy price in that year (and since) when unwanted GM contamination damaged their export flax markets.
It might have also saved many organic farmers in this country from harm and misery when widespread plantings of GM canola contaminated their crops and ruined their market opportunities many years ago.
It would have at least provided a check-and-balance against the introduction of GM alfalfa and GM sugar beets. Both of these "Frankenfoods" have recently been approved by the USDA (in the case of sugar beets - in defiance of a court order).
Our weak-kneed government "regulators" here in Canada even beat the misguided USDA to the punch. They approved GM alfalfa some time ago - although no sales or plantings have gone ahead yet. And, make no mistake - GM wheat, unpopular tho it may be, is also coming.
GM alfalfa has been opposed by more than a hundred farm and consumer groups in Canada. And according to one advocacy group, more than 10,000 people signed petitions supporting Bill C-474!
Alfalfa is a marvellous, hardy cover crop which I have planted myself to suppress weeds and replenish the soil when I rotate my vegetable plots. Alas, our legislators seem not to have learned anything from the wise old saying - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Because alfalfa is a key feed for livestock, fears are even being expressed for the future of the organic beef and dairy industries in this country! (That's because pollen from GM crops travels and contaminates those of organic growers.)
So why did most of our MPs line up with rich, monumentally ruthless corporations like Monsanto, (which manipulates food genes so it can hook producers on its infamous "Roundup" herbicide) rather than individual farmers? Monsanto no doubt had the most to gain from the death of C-474.
Before the vote, Mr. Sopick told me, the private members bill would have "harmed the Canadian agriculture industry." He added, it would have meant more "red tape." Funny, those are the precise words also used by Syngenta, another "gene-giant," to criticize the same bill.
He also described Canada's current oversight of GM products as "science-based" and "rigorous!"
Science-based?
Rigorous?
A scant few years ago, federal regulators lifted not a finger while Monsanto and its partner, Dow AgroSciences, went ahead and introduced "Smatstax"corn, yet another GE product, into this country. No health study - no market study - nothing. "Smartstax" is shot-full of chemicals, including an especially nasty one implicated in the poisonings of billions of precious, life-giving pollinators like honey bees, in many parts of the world.
The biotech industry has been lobbying hard against C-474. According to the Globe and Mail, its national association held 50 meetings with federal politicians and government officials last fall, trying to have it quashed!
(Don't you wish you had that kind of influence over our decision-makers?)
Mr. Sopick will undoubtedly be running for office again when the general election is held.
Will he continue to represent corporate interests in the next House? Or will he see the light and begin representing people, instead?
If you would like to question him about this issue, here is his contact information.
Sopuck.R@parl.gc.ca
Constituency Offices
1450 Main Street,
Dauphin Marketplace Mall (Main Office)
Dauphin, Manitoba R7N 3H4
Telephone: (204) 622-4659 Fax: (204) 622-4654
PO Box 68 Whirlpool Drive West Unit A - No. 9 Public Road 354
Onanole, Manitoba R0J 1N0
Work Address:
Hill Office House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Larry Powell is an organic grower, journalist and blogger near Roblin, Manitoba
In other words, new GM seeds would actually be examined to make sure other countries would want to buy them. (This, of course, is something an honest, competent government should have been doing anyway.)
Had it passed, the bill almost certainly would have prevented the GM flax fiasco of 2009. Canadian farmers paid a heavy price in that year (and since) when unwanted GM contamination damaged their export flax markets.
It might have also saved many organic farmers in this country from harm and misery when widespread plantings of GM canola contaminated their crops and ruined their market opportunities many years ago.
It would have at least provided a check-and-balance against the introduction of GM alfalfa and GM sugar beets. Both of these "Frankenfoods" have recently been approved by the USDA (in the case of sugar beets - in defiance of a court order).
Our weak-kneed government "regulators" here in Canada even beat the misguided USDA to the punch. They approved GM alfalfa some time ago - although no sales or plantings have gone ahead yet. And, make no mistake - GM wheat, unpopular tho it may be, is also coming.
GM alfalfa has been opposed by more than a hundred farm and consumer groups in Canada. And according to one advocacy group, more than 10,000 people signed petitions supporting Bill C-474!
Alfalfa is a marvellous, hardy cover crop which I have planted myself to suppress weeds and replenish the soil when I rotate my vegetable plots. Alas, our legislators seem not to have learned anything from the wise old saying - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Because alfalfa is a key feed for livestock, fears are even being expressed for the future of the organic beef and dairy industries in this country! (That's because pollen from GM crops travels and contaminates those of organic growers.)
So why did most of our MPs line up with rich, monumentally ruthless corporations like Monsanto, (which manipulates food genes so it can hook producers on its infamous "Roundup" herbicide) rather than individual farmers? Monsanto no doubt had the most to gain from the death of C-474.
Before the vote, Mr. Sopick told me, the private members bill would have "harmed the Canadian agriculture industry." He added, it would have meant more "red tape." Funny, those are the precise words also used by Syngenta, another "gene-giant," to criticize the same bill.
He also described Canada's current oversight of GM products as "science-based" and "rigorous!"
Science-based?
Rigorous?
A scant few years ago, federal regulators lifted not a finger while Monsanto and its partner, Dow AgroSciences, went ahead and introduced "Smatstax"corn, yet another GE product, into this country. No health study - no market study - nothing. "Smartstax" is shot-full of chemicals, including an especially nasty one implicated in the poisonings of billions of precious, life-giving pollinators like honey bees, in many parts of the world.
The biotech industry has been lobbying hard against C-474. According to the Globe and Mail, its national association held 50 meetings with federal politicians and government officials last fall, trying to have it quashed!
(Don't you wish you had that kind of influence over our decision-makers?)
Mr. Sopick will undoubtedly be running for office again when the general election is held.
Will he continue to represent corporate interests in the next House? Or will he see the light and begin representing people, instead?
If you would like to question him about this issue, here is his contact information.
Sopuck.R@parl.gc.ca
Constituency Offices
1450 Main Street,
Dauphin Marketplace Mall (Main Office)
Dauphin, Manitoba R7N 3H4
Telephone: (204) 622-4659 Fax: (204) 622-4654
PO Box 68 Whirlpool Drive West Unit A - No. 9 Public Road 354
Onanole, Manitoba R0J 1N0
Work Address:
Hill Office House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Larry Powell is an organic grower, journalist and blogger near Roblin, Manitoba
GMO Bill Struck Down in Ottawa
By Colleen Kimmett February 9, 2011
A private members' bill that would have added a layer of scrutiny….
A private members' bill that would have added a layer of scrutiny….
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Mexico, Cradle of Corn, Finds its Noble Grain Under Assault
By Tim Johnson | McClatchy Newspapers
GUELATAO, Mexico — Yank the husks off...
GUELATAO, Mexico — Yank the husks off...
The USDA Approves Another Controversial GE Crop
Dear Larry,
Is This the Monsanto Administration or the Obama Administration? Demand President Obama Stop Approving Monsanto's Crops! |
Add these GE crop approvals with this administration's moves towards approving GE salmon, approving chicken from China, and the slowness with which they're implementing fair farm rules, and it starts to equal an administration being run by corporate agribusiness. Enough is enough: Tell President Obama to stop pushing Monsanto's agenda.
Soon, many sweet treats in America could be produced with sugar from Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets. Adding insult to injury for farmers and people who don't want GE foods, last week, the USDA announced it would allow the ‘partial deregulation’ of the growing of GE sugar beets. This was in defiance of a court order mandating an environmental impact statement before proceeding with this GE crop approval.
This series of bad decisions effectively gives a green light to Monsanto to hold even more sway over the food system. While Americans enjoy their dessert, Monsanto will reap ever-larger profits and enjoy ever-greater power over what you and I eat.
The Obama Administration has given corporate agribusiness too much influence on these decisions, and now farmers, the environment and consumers will all suffer with biotechnology’s increasing stranglehold over the food system.
President Obama has to stand up to corporate agribusiness. Take action now to demand President Obama stand up to Monsanto.
http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5810
Thanks for taking action,
Sarah Alexander
Outreach Director
Food & Water Watch
goodfood(at)fwwatch(dot)org
p.s. Fighting the corporate control of our food is an ongoing battle. On Valentine's day we need you to make a call asking President Obama to implement the fair farm rules. We'll send you the details on Monday!
Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Catastrophic Weather Events Are Becoming the New Normal -- Are You Ready for Life on Our Planet Circa 2011?
AlterNet / By Bill McKibben - Feb '11
For two decades now we've been ignoring the impassioned pleas of scientists that our burning of fossil fuels was a bad idea. And now we're paying a heavy price.
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