timouse

chef serves human cheese until New York Health Unit says "eeeeew! cut it out you freak!"

PRESS RELEASE

Liberals and Conservatives Vote Down Bill C-474: Inaction on genetic engineering will cost farmers, groups vow to protect alfalfa in ongoing controversy

Thursday, February 10, 2011. Ottawa - Last night, a majority of Liberal MPs joined with Conservatives to vote down an important Private Members Bill on genetic engineering (GE). Bill C-474 would have required that “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.†The Bill was defeated 176 to 97.

“Farmers had everything to gain if the Bill was passed. Now we have everything to lose while biotech companies once again have everything to gain,†said Colleen Ross, Vice President of the National Farmers Union. “Our government has been supporting genetic engineering at any cost. But we refuse to accept their willingness to sacrifice some farmers and some crops for the sake of the biotech industry,†said Ross. “Our democracy has to work for farmers and consumers and not just for multinational biotech corporations.â€

“The excuses for not supporting the Bill were never truly valid,†said Maureen Bostock, speaking for the Ecological Farmers of Ontario, “This is a clear case of politicians siding with the powerful biotech industry.â€

“The Bill was voted down but a real debate about the impacts and future of genetic engineering has now started,†said Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, “Canadians defied the tremendous power of the industry lobby by pushing the Bill further than any other on this issue.â€

“Its crazy that the economic risks to farmers are not considered before GE crops are put on the market,†said Genevieve Grossenbacher a young Quebec farmer speaking for the Canadian Organic Growers. “Its farmers who pay the costs of GE contamination, not the biotech companies.â€

An immediate concern shared by both conventional and organic farmers is the threat of crop contamination by GE alfalfa. On January 27th, the US Department of Agriculture approved plantings despite widespread opposition from farmers and consumers, and after protracted legal cases. Canada is only one step away from allowing GE alfalfa to be planted here. “It's urgent that our Members of Parliament take action to stop GE alfalfa from being imported or being approved and grown in Canada. This is the only way to protect our conventional and organic alfalfa from loss of markets and loss of livelihoods,†said Cathy Holtslander speaking for the Organic Agriculture Protection Fund of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate. Because alfalfa is a perennial crop pollinated by bees, GE contamination is inevitable. In addition to export markets for processed alfalfa products, alfalfa is used as pasture and high-protein feed for animals like dairy cows, beef cattle, lambs, and pigs and is also used to build up nutrients in the soil, making it particularly important for organic farming.

“Genetic engineering has become more controversial over the years, not less,†said Eric Darier, Director of Greenpeace Quebec, speaking on behalf of the Quebec Network Against GMOs, a coalition of over 20 groups. “The problems with genetic engineering are not going away and the federal government is still refusing to address the issues head on.â€

“Building a strong future for food and farming in Canada will take political leadership. Elected representatives must listen to what farmers and consumers are saying,†said Tony Beck of the Society for a GE Free BC, a coalition of local grassroots groups, “Canadians are becoming more involved in farming issues and want to support a sustainable food system.â€

Private Members Bill C-474 was introduced by NDP Agriculture Critic and MP for BC Southern Interior, Alex Atamanenko.

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For more information:

Colleen Ross, National Farmers Union, Cell: 613 213 1522;

Lucy Sharratt, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, 613 241 2267 ext 25;

Cathy Holtslander, Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, 306 384 2141;

Maureen Bostock, Ecological Farmers of Ontario, 613 259 5757;

Genevieve Grossenbacher, Canadian Organic Growers, 613 234 6827 ext 244;

Eric Darier, Quebec Network Against GMOs, Cell: 514 605-6497 (English or French);

Tony Beck, Society for a GE Free BC, Cell: 604 671 2106.

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator

Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)

Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice

431 Gilmour Street, Second Floor

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 0R5

Phone: 613 241 2267 ext. 25

Fax: 613 241 2506

coordinator@cban.ca

www.cban.ca

Bill C-474 is concrete action! Final vote February 9! http://www.cban.ca/474

Subscribe to the CBAN News and Action Listserve http://www.cban.ca/About/CBAN-e-News

Wow that was a really moving trailer. I can't wait to go see this.

I can't wait until it comes out to the theaters and then 2 days later I steal it from the interwebs and watch it!

:chug:

"i've got the medication."

"i've got the bag."

"i've got the brain tumour."

wow. can't wait to see this!

Last night, the University of Guelph hosted a panel discussion featuring:

Sean McGivern, National Farmers Union Ontario, hog farmer

Roger Rivest, Ecological Farmers of Ontario, grain farmer

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Moderator: Jodi Koberinski, Executive Director, Organic Council of Ontario

All panel members spoke from their own experience about their experiences with the negative influence of genetically modified organisms. Roger Rivest provided background on the history of GM grains in Canada, and the harm done to the industry by GM soy among others. Roger went on to underscore the ubiquity of alfalfa in agriculture – alfalfa is fed not only to dairy cows, but is also incorporated in hog and poultry ration. GM contamination of alfalfa WILL mean GM contamination of our food chain.

Sean McGivern spoke about EnviroPig and the phytase supplement currently in use. He pointed out that the phytase supplement costs hog producers $5/kg, and at a feed rate of 250g per ton of feed adds approximately $1.25 per ton to feed cost. Given the development costs of EnviroPig, licensing the technology will not come cheap, and the “novel trait†promised by Enviropig is not significantly mnore effective than the phytase supplement currently in use.

Lucy Sharratt from CBAN spoke about the regulatory framework surrounding genetically engineered organisms, and pointed out that there is no requirement for public consultation or input in the approval process, and that the views of farmers and consumers are not only not being listened to, but are not required to be heard in order for regulators to come to a decision. Lucy also pointed out that there is not a separate regulatory framework for evaluating GE. “Biotech†is all lumped together, so that “novel (genetically engineered)†advances are evaluated within the same regulatory framework as conventional plant or aniumal breeding advances.

Jodi Koberinski spoke passionately about the potential for GE alfalfa in particular to harm the organic sector. Jodi invited Professor Rene Van Acker, associate dean from from OAC and a transgene research specialist to speak about alfalfa. Professor Van Acker has studied the movement of alfalfa genetics, and expressed concern for the future of non GMO alfalfa. As an insect pollinated perennial, “it is everywhere,†he told the crowd, and GE alfalfa will spread once released.

During the question period, an Ag student from the university stood up and spoke to Sean’s concerns about EnviroPig genetics moving through the population. She talked about buying hogs at auction, and noted that “ear tags come off.†Sean responded to her comments and pointed out that in the nine years of EnviroPig research, there have already been two “accidental†releases of enviropigs, one of which saw mortalities sent for rendering resulting in tonnes of feed being recalled and destroyed.

During the question and answer session, concerns were raised about “Roundup Ready†crops creating Roundup resistance in weed populations. Other concerns were raised specific to the lack of health studies regading consumption of “novel†foods.

The audience was encouraged to support Bill C-474, which would require “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.â€

Please write or call your MP and tell them that you need them to vote for C-474.

track 3 = Have Yer Tickets At And Ready

(funny american accent remix)

you can buy a cooling pilllow at the Japan Trend Shop.

Link

Weird Tokyo-based startup Kuchofuku [JP] and major trading company Itochu have developed a mattress of a very special kind: Just in time for the summer, the proud owners can switch on a built-in “air conditioning system†in order to cool off their bodies.

The fan is located at the foot of the mattress. When it’s switched on, air is being pulled in from behind the sleeper’s head and transported to the feet, drawing off that nasty body heat.

It’s quite cheap, too. According to the makers, operating the mattress for eight hours results in about 13 cents in monthly electricity costs, which is way less than using an air conditioner that cools an entire room. The best part is that the mattress can be used in winter as well, as buyers get a heater with the mattress.

Running eight hours a day, the system will generate only about 13 yen in — much cheaper than using an air conditioner to cool an entire bedroom. The mattress goes on sale in May in Japan in May and costs $300.

The Japan Trend Shop (a reliable English online store for stuff from Japan) is actually selling Kuchofuku beds already, like here. So if you live outside Japan and want to stop sweating, you now know who you can contact.

If its a Rock n Roll history tour around New York State:

Go see Big Pink.

and if you can fit it in to your schedule, do a ramble!

This would be cool to try.

Mushroom growing kits.

hey sharon, if you want a mushroom kit, get it from Bruno at Fun Guy Farm. They will ship direct, no customs hassles.

the first time jennifer saw a diesel dog show, they did "(will it go round in) circles" by billy preston. she thought that it was a dd tune and asked me why they weren't famous when they write songs that good...

Good Riddens?

Hukt on fawnix.

i can has riddens?

Bob: "Take a step back."

Bob: "Take another step back."

Jerry: "Look around you. This is the face of the planet in twenty years. Learn to love it now."

"Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite."

-John Kenneth Galbraith

he did post the video. thank you for posting the story behind it and explanation of how it in fact works.

happy birthday freeker!

fuuuuck indeed. we have gone from "taxpayers" to "stakeholders" to "customers." If we are ineed customers, expect "customer service" to take a nosedive.

fwiw there's a story about a farmer who is befuddled about the ubiquitous use of the word "service" in government lingo...it is finally cleared up when he has a breeder bring a bull to his farm to "service" his cows.

Suddenly "Service Ontario" takes on a whole new meaning

happy birthday catphish!!

happy birthday!

today i learned how to spell "kerfuffle." thanks, velvet!

mississippi governor haley barbour william shatner

Stardate 123010

... still woke up relatively early and Todd and I did a walkabout to try and find some morning coffees.

Whose writing these things?

it's nothing. they practically write themselves.