Posts

My MP Helps Nix a Bill That Would Have Protected Farmers From GMO Crops. Letter-to-the-Editor

Image
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 fro

GMO Bill Struck Down in Ottawa

By Colleen Kimmett February 9, 2011  A private members' bill that would have added a layer of scrutiny….

Mexico, Cradle of Corn, Finds its Noble Grain Under Assault

Image
By Tim Johnson | McClatchy Newspapers GUELATAO, Mexico — Yank the husks off...

Greens Urge Manitoba to Become "GE-Free"

Image
       

The USDA Approves Another Controversial GE Crop

Image
Enough is Enough: Tell President Obama to Stand Up to Monsanto Dear Larry, Is This the Monsanto Administration or the Obama Administration? Demand President Obama Stop Approving Monsanto's Crops! Is the Obama Administration becoming the Monsanto Administration? A few days ago, the USDA approved the planting of genetically engineered (GE) sug

Catastrophic Weather Events Are Becoming the New Normal -- Are You Ready for Life on Our Planet Circa 2011?

Image
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.

Climate Benefits of Natural Gas Overstated?

Image
Natural gas production has skyrocketed in the U.S. and elsewhere lately. And one big supposed benefit of this energy source is that it creates a lot fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal. However, new research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that these climate change claims may have been greatly overstated - as ProPublic reports reports here.

Save Uncontacted Tribes From Loggers - Watch the Video - Sign the Petition!

USDA Hits Organics Again, Approves Monsanto’s GMO Sugar Beets

Image
Jeremy Bloom Feb 7 - 2011 - Planetsave   EDITOR'S NOTE: Once again, Monsanto's puppet, Ag Secretary Vilsack, pisses on the courts and gives the corporation what it wants.  Barack! What were you thinking? l.p.

Shell Cancels Plans to Drill in Arctic!

Image
Planetsave - Feb.6 '11 Shell announced that they’ve...

An Appeal to Farmers! From Yukon Farmer, Tom Rudge

Image
Please send around and read his great letter to Members of Parliament.   Date: February 4, 2011 1:46:08 PM GMT-05:00 Subject:  My future and Bill C-474: Your future too? There is a vote in Parliament on genetic engineering this Wednesday February 9 that could help support the future of my farm. Below is the letter I sent to Michael Ignatieff , Wayne Easter and my Member of Parliament, Larry Bagnell.  I've asked them to support Bill C-474 this Wednesday and I hope my MP also speaks up in the debate on February 8. I urge all farmers who have a concern about genetically engineered crops or who already have negative experiences with GE crops   to send a letter to your MP as well.  Now is the time  to tell our politicians how genetic engineering has already cost us or could harm our businesses and our families.  Bill C-474 would support Canada's farmers by requiring that “an analysis of potential harm t