Lumby holds its 1st March Against Monsanto!

************************************************************************************

The Russians Prove Small Scale Organic CAN Feed the World

 by Christina Sarich
May 29th, 2013
Updated 05/07/2014

If you’ve already been through an economic collapse, you might know a thing or two about how to feed your family with little money. More importantly, you might know how to do it without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and GMO seed. On a total of about 20 million acres managed by over 35 million Russian families, Russians are carrying on an old-world technique, which we Americans might learn from. They are growing their own organic crops - and it’s working.

According to some statistics, they grow 92% of the entire countries’ potatoes, 77% of its vegetables, 87% of its fruit, and feed 71% of the entire population from privately owned, organic farms or house gardens all across the country. These aren’t huge Agro-farms run by pharmaceutical companies; these are small family farms and less-than-an-acre gardens.

A recent report from Agro-ecology and the Right to Food says that organic and sustainable small-scale farming could double food production in the parts of the world where hunger is the biggest issue. Within five to 10 years we could see a big jump in crop cultivation. It could also take the teeth out of GMO business in the US. Read more: Small scale organic

*************************************************************************

GMO - the doctors speak! Watch the show today!

 

The popular Dr. Oz TV Show airing today Monday Sept. 22, features the dangers of GMO crops and their toxic pesticides - see a preview and please share this widely. Seems something has to hit popular culture for people to believe it. Maybe this will do it.   Huguette

 

The show will air at 5 PM on Cable 5, CTV. Click on the image for a sneak preview!

****************************************************************************

Watch this 14 Year Old GMO Activist Smackdown This Bullying 'Shark Tank' Entrepreneur

 No GMO

**************************************************************************

End of the line: GMO production in China halted

In a surprise U-turn, China’s Ministry of Agriculture has decided not to continue with a program which developed genetically-modified rice and corn. Some environmentalists say public concerns about GM crops played a key role in the decision.

On August 17, when these permits were up for renewal, the Ministry of Agriculture decided not to extend them. In 2009, the ministry's Biosafety Committee issued approval certificates to develop the two crops, rice and corn.

Developed by the Huazhong Agricultural University, near Wuhan, it was hoped that the GMO strains would help to reduce pesticide use by 80 percent, while raising yields by as much as 8 percent, said Huang Jikun, the chief scientist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Reuters in 2009. It is illegal to sell genetically-modified rice on the open market in China.

However in July, GM rice was found on sale in a large supermarket in Wuhan, which is just across the Yangtze River from the Huazhong Agricultural University, where the product was developed, which caused a public outcry. more

*********************************************************************

Mandatory GMO Labeling Bill Passed In Vermont Senate, Could Be Nation's First

By Carey Gillam and Lisa Baertlein

April 16 (Reuters) - The Vermont Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would make the state the first in the United States to enact mandatory labeling of foods made with genetically modified crops.

"We are really excited that Vermont is going to be leading on this," said Falko Schilling, a spokesman for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, which backed the bill.

The bill, approved 28-2 by the Senate, has already passed the Vermont House of Representatives. It now goes back to the House to see if members will approve changes made by the Senate.

The law is set to take effect July 1, 2016.

The move in Vermont comes as the developers of genetically modified crops and U.S. grocery manufacturers push for passage of an opposing bill, introduced in Congress last week, that would nullify any state law that requires labeling of foods made with genetically modified crops.

The Vermont law passed by the Senate would do just that - processed foods that contain genetically modified corn, soybeans or other GMO ingredients and sold at retail outlets would have to be labeled as having been produced or partially produced with "genetic engineering."

Andrea Stander, a spokesperson for the Vermont Right to Know GMOs coalition, said they expect the biotech industry to sue in an attempt to stop enactment of the bill. As such, the language of the bill includes formation of a fund that would pay legal bills.

"It's not just Vermont," said Stander. "This affects everyone who eats. Consumers all across the country have woken up to the fact that we've become an unregulated feeding experiment by the biotech industry. People want to know if their foods are made with these ingredients. This gives people the choice."

Consumer groups say labeling is needed because of questions both about the safety of GM crops - known as GMOs - for human health and the environment.

The language of the Vermont bill states that foods made with genetically engineered crops "potentially pose risks to health, safety, agriculture, and the environment" and should be labeled.

Last October, a group of 93 international scientists issued a statement saying there was a lack of empirical and scientific evidence to support what they said were false claims the biotech industry was making about a "consensus" on safety.

The group said there needed to be more independent research as studies showing safety tend to be funded and backed by the biotech industry.

But GMO crop developers like Monsanto, and their backers say genetically modified crops are proven safe.

"This debate isn't about food safety," said Karen Batra, spokeswoman for the Biotechnoloy Industry Organization. "Our science experts ... point to more than 1,700 credible peer-reviewed studies that find no legitimate concern."

Batra said mandatory labeling creates needless extra costs and complications for farmers and the food industry.

Ballot measures in California in 2012 and last year in Washington state narrowly lost after Monsanto and other GMO crop developers and members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association poured millions into campaigns to defeat the measures.

The Vermont bill makes it illegal to describe any food product containing GMOs as "natural" or "all natural." Unlike bills passed last year in Maine and Connecticut, which require other states to pass GMO labeling laws before they can be enacted, Vermont's law contains no such trigger clause. (Editing by Bernadette Baum)

 

***********************************************************************************************

Nature's Fare is sponsoring the Film GMO-OMG at the Vernon Towne Cinema

 

****************************************************************************************

Brazil Seeks Ban on Monsanto Herbicide Due to Alarming Toxicity Risks

 

************************************************************************

MEDIA RELEASE - BeeSafe Monashees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 4^th December 2013

About 250 people came to hear scientist Thierry Vrain's recent presentation on “Genetically Modified Foods and Human Health”, in Vernon last week. Dr. Vrain clearly demonstrated the dangers associated with GM crops. As a geneticist who worked with agriculture Canada for 30 years, Dr. Vrain fully understands why farmers were attracted to the promises of GM crops. However, now that independent science is available and that the initial promises have proven empty, he warns of the dangers of letting these crops continue to proliferate and contaminate the soil, water, and food supply.

Among the issues discussed, Dr. Vrain insisted on the fact that GM crops were never independently tested prior to their release. Test results were given to governments by the same corporations that profited from the sales of the GM seeds and the pesticides used to grow them.

He then spoke of how GM corporate interests are now permeating not only government, but also science as industry finances universities and corporate officials sit on boards of scientific journals.

Dr. Vrain was in Vernon as part of a cross-Canada tour he is doing most often accompanied by Dr. Shiv Chopra, the author of “Corrupt to the Core” a book that tells “what happens when your government chooses to Side-Step Scientific Truth”. Dr. Chopra is the scientist who, when working for Health Canada, refused to sign up on the Bovine Growth Hormone. Unfortunately dr. Chopra was not able to be in Vernon but his speech on the “Canada's Food: the most toxic on the planet” can be heard on BeeSafeMonashees.org

Dr. Chopra talks of how hormones, antibiotics, slaughterhouse waste, GMO and pesticides – and are all in our food system illegally, making Canadian food the most toxic in the entire planet. Europe, in comparison, bans or regulates four out of the five unwanted contaminants.

Both scientists are donating their time to inform people about the danger of corporate food, and the need to act now, and not wait for politicians, in order to take the power back from corporatocracy. Farmers and growers take note: In Vernon, as in other places across BC, people all stand up and cheer when asked “Would you support your region becoming GMO Free?” !

-30-

 

*******************************************************************

Readers write - GMO and human health

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 15^th November 2013

"Genetically Modified Foods and Human Health" comes to Vernon.

November 15^th, 2013 , VERNON –  

The Vernon event will occur at the Schubert Centre at 7 PM on Thursday, November 28th. Entrance is Free. 

This public program will feature an illustrated talk by Dr. Thierry Vrain, a retired soil biologist and geneticist who, after a 30-year career with Agriculture Canada, no longer supports Genetic Engineering (GE) technology.   

Alarmed by the avalanche of scientific studies out of Europe raising many concerns about the long-term safety of GE foods, Dr. Vrain is intent on increasing public awareness about this important issue and having federal agencies in the US and Canada take notice. Dr. Vrain will explain what genetic engineering is, how it began, and how it has progressed. Citing the latest scientific studies, he will speak about the documented effects of Genetically Engineered (GE) foods, and what the future holds for us if GE foods are not stopped. 

This program is part of a cross-Canada speakers’ tour on the topic of GE foods and Human Health designed to provide the Canadian public with an opportunity to discuss their concerns around GE foods, including the allergenic potential of GE plants, and the fact that there is no independent testing of GE crops or animals in Canada. 

“We encourage everyone, and particularly elected officials, to attend as the perspective on GE foods is often overshadowed or discounted by the proponents of GE technology and the Canadian Government,” states Sigrid Ann Thors, Chair of SENS. “Given that within Canada, GE salmon, apples, and alfalfa are close to entering the marketplace, it is more important than ever for Canadians to have the opportunity to learn and discuss the repercussions of growing and eating GMO and to discover how they can advocate for change.”

During November and December, Dr. Vrain and his colleague, Dr. Shiv Chopra, will speak in over 30 communities in Western Canada, and in many others in Eastern Canada in the coming year. The tour is sponsored by the Society for a GE Free BC and Greenpeace Vancouver, and locally by SENS and SENS and the Food Action Society (FASNO). The Vernon event will occur at the Schubert Centre at 7 PM on Thursday, November 28th. Entrance is Free.

-30-

*****************************************************************

Readers write - who represents the people?

The article below is in response to the Morning Star's article entitled "GMO issue sent to regional board" published October 23rd, 2013.

If Advisory Committee won't advise and Representative won't represent, who can people count on?

Since NORD was unwilling to make a decision on supporting, or not supporting the resolution proposed by BeeSAFE to be a GMO free community, they formed the RAAC over a year ago. The role of this committee was to advise NORD on this issue so they could make the decision.

The proof of contamination has been admitted by the committee itself showing that co-existence is impossible.

For director Macnabb, chair of the committee to now refuse to give advice makes a mockery of the entire process and of the hundreds of people who showed up at meetings or wrote letters asking NORD to protect organic and conventional growers. It is also an insult to committee members who took their responsibility seriously.

The two communities in RDNO that held a vote on GMO both voted over 90% to become GE FREE.  At UBCM 60% of community leaders voted to ask the province to make all of BC GE FREE. For the chair to now refuse to give advice on this matter is unacceptable. It is a blatant diversionary tactic and a clear refusal to represent the public who has spoken clearly on this matter.

The actions, or non-actions of director Macnabb, have made it clear from the beginning he has been opposed to our region working to be GE FREE.  Further proof came when he took the mic at UBCM  to urge other leaders to not support the resolution to make BC GE FREE.

Clearly director Macnabb should step down as chair of this committee.

Director Macnabb states," the people can make their own choice". They already have. Yet NORD continues to defer this issue, to neither accept the votes that have occurred or do their own referendum, even though they have been informed that time is of great importance. This is a clear indication that NORD is refusing to represent the people.

 

The recent charges against NORD for not doing due diligence in protecting the water of this area can also apply to this. Despite having been clearly informed about the severe environmental, health and economic risks associated with allowing GM crops to continue, they are not protecting our area from further contamination while being completely aware that by not making a decision, they are allowing further contamination.

If the board on Nov. 6th. cannot make a decision based on the will of the people, if they refuse to accept the votes that have occurred as representative, then they must call for a referendum without delay.

Huguette Allen, Jane Emlyn, Carla Vierke

co-founders, Bee SAFE 

***************************************************