Urgent Campaigns: GE salmon

GM Salmon: Chronological events:

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GE Free BC is a 100 per cent volunteer run NPO. 100% of your membership fee goes to campaigns. And we need your help. If you have time, want to work with an energetic group of great humans, and are interested in helping to create a better and healthier world (especially here in BC)  then…     WE NEED YOU!

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The Greed Revolution

ETC Group
News Release
18 January 2012
www.etcgroup.org

Big Agribusiness Influence Threatens to Override Public Interest in Greed Revolution

A new 30-page report that documents the growing influence of agribusiness on the multilateral food system and the lack of transparency in research funding has been released today by the international civil society organization ETC Group. The Greed Revolution: Mega Foundations, Agribusiness Muscle In On Public Goods presents three case studies – one involving the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and two involving CGIAR Centers (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) – which point to a dangerous trend that will worsen rather than solve the problem of global hunger. The report details the involvement of, among others, Nestlé, Heineken, Monsanto, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Syngenta Foundation.

If U.S. approves GE salmon, Canada may follow suit: memo

Altered fish on federal ministry's menu

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Altered+fish+federal+ministry+menu/5948253/story.html#ixzz1icYL0lZy

Roundup Ready Alfalfa Ready to be planted

From CountryWorld Online

For the first time since 2006, Roundup Ready alfalfa has been planted, despite suits that aimed to block the action.

Seeds of destruction

This book comes recommended by an organic farmer on Vancouver Island

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25303

Canada’s food dependency

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRfjMOjrfnI

Here’s a graphic display of how little of our food we grow.

BASF retreats from Europe as GM crops rejected

BASF retreats from Europe as GM crops rejected

Brussels, 16 January 2012 – BASF today announced it is abandoning its plans to develop and commercialise genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe .Greenpeace EU agriculture policy director Marco Contiero said: “BASF admits that Europeans don’t want GM crops, and for good reason. It’s not just the worrying health concerns, GM crops go hand in glove with factory farming, pesticide use, pest resistance and disappointing long-term yields.

“Europeans are not alone in rejecting GM food. BASF’s retreat to the Americas follows a string of defeats for the industry over the last two years in China, India, the Philippines, Thailand and elsewhere. Over 90% of GM food crops are grown in just four countries in the Americas.”

In 2011, India rejected the authorisation of a GM aubergine, the only GM food for which an authorisation was sought, while in September 2011 China suspended the commercialisation of GM rice. The Philippines and Thailand have also rejected GM rice.

BASF is shelving its antibiotic resistant potato Amflora, one of only two GM crops authorised for cultivation in Europe. The crop was a commercial flop.

Good news: court to review safety of Roundup

Court demands Health Canada re-examine pesticide

The Canadian Press

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/11/22/pesticide-review-roundup.html

A court has ordered Health Canada to reconsider its decision not to review the effects of a popular herbicide, a ruling that some say will strengthen the public’s hand in forcing the government to answer environmental concerns.

“We put a crack in the door,” said Josette Wier, who took the government to court after a forestry company began spraying Roundup from airplanes near her Smithers, B.C., home. “That door was locked — it was impossible.”

This is HUGE: California considers a ballot referendum on labelling

And, if it’s possible in California, why not in BC?

http://carighttoknow.org/?q=node/17

December 12, 2011

Dear friends and colleagues,

We have some exciting news to share with you. On November 10, 2011, we filed the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act with the State Attorney General. This initiative, when passed by a majority of California voters in November 2012, will require foods sold in California retail outlets that contain genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled, just like other nutritional facts.

Monsanto Corn May Be Failing to Kill Bugs, EPA Says

December 02, 2011, 10:34 AM EST By Jack Kaskey

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-02/monsanto-corn-may-be-failing-to-kill-bugs-epa-says.html

Dec. 2 (Bloomberg) — Monsanto Co. corn that’s genetically engineered to kill insects may be losing its effectiveness against rootworms in four states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

Greenpeace summary on Roundup

Read this excellent resource on the dangers of Roundup:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/agriculture/2011/363%20-%20GlyphoReportDEF-LR.pdf

Biotech giants promoting dangerous pesticides?

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1122020/monsanto_bayer_and_dow_face_trial_for_systematic_human_rights_abuses.htmlThe world’s major agrochemical companies, Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, Syngenta, DuPont and BASF, will face a public tribunal in early December accused of systematic human rights violations.

Review of glysophate on the books

Safety Review of Glyphosate Herbicide Faces Tough Critics

http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2011/11/21/safety-review-of-glyphosate-herbicide-faces-tough-critics/

By

Glyphosate, the non-selective herbicide that is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup formula, is up for a routine safety review in the United States and Canada. The herbicide has been used in eliminating weeds in soybeans, corn, cotton, as well as for lawn and garden maintenance since the early 1970s. “More than 2 billion lbs of herbicide were used globally in 2007, with one quarter of that total – 531 million lbs – used in the United States in that timeframe, according to a report issued in February by the EPA,” recently reported Reuters. Since at least 1996, the thirst for glyphosate was fueled in large measure by the development of glyphosate tolerant crops (e.g., Monsanto’s Roundup Ready lines), which are able to withstand continued application of this herbicide.

Peru bans GMOs

GMOs 10 year moratorium in Peru

Agence France-Presse
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:01 CDT

© Lexpress
Genetically Modified maize

Lima – Peru’s Congress announced Friday it overwhelmingly approved a 10-year moratorium on imports of genetically modified organisms in order to safeguard the country’s biodiversity.

Action alert: write to Agriculture Canada

Action Alert: Deadline November 25, 2011  Issued by the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

Stop Canada from legalizing contamination from unapproved GM foods.

Write to Agriculture Canada from http://www.cban.ca/llpaction

The Canadian Government is proposing to allow contamination of our food supply with genetically engineered foods that have not been approved for safe eating in Canada. Agriculture Canada has opened a comment period until November 25, 2011.

young farmers: part 2

A couple of days back we had a post on young folk getting into farming in BC. Lo and behold, the NY Times has an article about this phenomenon in the U.S. today. So, it must be true (unless of course you agree with Noam Chomsky that the NY Times is just another mouthpiece of the U.S. administration).

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/garden/sheep-lawn-mowers-and-other-go-getters.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

Concern about GE mosquitoes

Having worked for an Indian NGO for several years, in West Bengal, a low lying delta area, I know all about mosquitoes. But, like all other types of genetic engineering, scientists are trying to find technological solutions to social problems. The people who suffer from malaria and dengue fever are usually too poor to afford good protection (e.g. bed nets) or health care, or even mosquito repellent. If they had the money for a few basics we wouldn’t need GE mosquitoes.

Lots of concerns were raised a couple of days ago in a piece in the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/science/concerns-raised-about-genetically-engineered-mosquitoes.html?_r=3&ref=business&pagewanted=all

The latest on GE salmon

http://www.naturalnews.com/029769_GM_salmon_frankenfish.html#ixzz1cTfvojMk

New book on food sovereignity in Canada

Creating just and sustainable food systems

http://www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/Food-Sovereignty-in-Canada/

Are there more young farmers in BC?

As I’ve travelled the Province this year, from Bella Coola (where I had coffee with a bunch of farmers including one who has just started farming pigs profitably) to Campbell River (where I met two young women farmers who are in the their second year of sharecropping from a local farmer to grow organically) to Kaslo (where I bumped into an old friend at the local coffee shop who helped turn Kaslo into a GE free zone), I’ve noticed that there are more young people wanting to get into farming- especially is we stretch young to under 40. Given the demographics with many Canadian farmers due to retire in the next 10 years, this is a positive sign. And the young farmers I have spoken to are into local and organic. I heard the same from friends outside York in Ontario recently. Who knows if this is a trend or just the places I’ve been going to, but there’s a magazine article to support this hypothesis:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/new-livelihoods/a-growing-movement

CBC supporting GE fish?

Did anyone hear CBC reporter Bob McDonald on the CBC this morning talking in favour of GMOs, saying they are safe, will feed the world, and supporting GE fish? If you did, please leave a comment with what McDonald said and what you think about it.

Enough Tricks: Consumers Speak Up Against Monsanto’s GE Sweet Corn

This post is taken from the Centre for Food Safety, which is one of the most prominent organisations working against GMOS.

With the threat of genetically engineered sweet corn hitting grocery stores next year looming, 264,000 people petition top retailers and food makers
In response to Monsanto’s release of the company’s first genetically engineered sweet corn for human consumption, a coalition has collected more than 264,000 petition signatures from consumers who refuse to purchase the corn and are asking retailers and food processors to reject it. Today the coalition, including the Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, CREDO Action, Food Democracy Now!, and Food & Water Watch, announced that they have delivered the signed petition to 10 of the top national retail grocery stores including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway, and top canned and frozen corn processors including Bird’s Eye and Del Monte.

Raw milk

Not a GMO issue, but an important area nonetheless which is why we are posting it:

“The right to buy food direct from a farmer is as old as our country. Yet, today, that right is being taken away from Canadians by a government that insists that only corporate Canada be responsible for feeding our citizens.”                                                 -Michael Schmidt

http://thebovine.wordpress.com/

Micheal Schmidt, a farmer in Ontario,  is now on his third week of a hunger strike to support our right in Canada to choose the food we consume.  He, like many of us, believe that food freedom is a fundamental right!

Must view – global citizens report on GMOs

According to a just released report with input from 20 citizens’ organizations, GMOs are bad news – as reported in the London Guardian: “Genetic engineering has failed to increase the yield of any food crop but has vastly increased the use of chemicals and the growth of “superweeds”, according to a report by 20 Indian, south-east Asian, African and Latin American food and conservation groups representing millions of people.” You can read the Guardian article and download the report at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/19/gm-crops-insecurity-superweeds-pesticides?newsfeed=true

Reports from World Food Security in Rome

You may have noticed no posts for a while. I was in Rome doing some work on food security and dropped in on the Committee for World Food Security held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Faris Ahmed from USC was there too and you can check out his blogs at http://usc-canada.org/

Severe damage to GMO corn studied

A number of news articles have noted damage to GMO corn – here is a link to one in Illinois where farmers are planting Bt corn year after year.

http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1555

US about to approve GM fish?

Press Release

U.S. Rubber-Stamp of GM Fish Imminent?

U.S. approval would trigger corporate plans to produce genetically modified salmon eggs in Canada, but Environment Canada remains silent

For Immediate Release

October 11, 2011.  The White House has confirmed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finished an environmental assessment of the genetically modified (GM) fast-growing Atlantic salmon called “AquaAdvantage”. The assessment is expected to be released to the U.S. public soon, for a 30-day comment period.

Join the Society for a GE Free BC

C’mon guys, join up, put your money where your mouse is.

We are 100% voluntary so if you don’t join up, we can’t campaign.

Click on the little piggie to the right of the screen where it says subscribe to GE Free BC today.

This will take you to a subscription form you can print out and mail off – with your cheque of course.

We are working on an electronic donation button!

Canadian GM canola escapes into wild: study

Superweeds have become a major problem with GE farming, especially with canola where superweeds are being found in fields, along roads and railway tracks. These weeds are genetically engineered and resistant to herbicides. See the latest study from the University of Kansas at:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/technology/Canadian+canola+escapes+into+wild+study/5509691/story.html

Independent Study on Roundup Effects: Vancouver Island

This post about birth defects and Round Up (the herbicide used on GE crops) was sent by an organic farmer on Vancouver Island. It’s an interesting piece because it is written by a group of well respected scientists who have brought together a lot of information on Round Up. If you don’t have time to read the whole thing, just look at the summary. Anyone would have to think twice about spraying Round Up after reading this.

http://farmandranchfreedom.org/sff/RoundupandBirthDefects.pdf

France retains ban on GE corn

Thank goodness someone is opposing GE corn, if it wasn’t for Europe and Japan we would be in a lot more trouble. Europe has a different food culture to North America – in Europe so much more of the food is grown and eaten locally.

The French government still refuses to lift its ban on growing genetically modified corn in France, despite the European Court of Justice saying that France’s 2008 prohibition against Monsanto’s MON810 variety was out of line on procedural grounds.

http://www.allaboutfeed.net/news/france-retains-ban-on-gm-maize-despite-eu-court-opinion-12221.html

China Suspends Commercialisation of Genetically Engineered Rice and Wheat

Title : China Suspends Commercialisation of Genetically Engineered Rice and Wheat
Date : 06 October 2011

Contents:

THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE

Re: China Suspends Commercialisation of Genetically Engineered Rice and Wheat

Dear friends and colleagues,

After several years of scientific and public debates it is reported that China will not commercialise genetically modified (GM) staple food crops such as rice and wheat for the next 5 to 10 years. The widely read Economic Observer, a financial weekly publication, citing a source close to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) confirmed this move in its 23 September 2011 issue: see Item 1 below.

 

Failure to yield

During Lucy’s tour, we had a few questions about the yield of GE crops. A comprehensive review of the literature had the following to say:

For years the biotechnology industry has trumpeted that it will feed the world, promising that its genetically engineered crops will produce higher yields.

That promise has proven to be empty, according to Failure to Yield, a report by UCS expert Doug Gurian-Sherman released in March 2009. Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields.

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/failure-to-yield.html

Photos up of Lucy Sharratt’s tour

See Lucy and April on tour here  http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Tools/Photos-and-Graphics/CBAN-BC-Tour-2011

See the Courtenay and Campbell River photos here

http://www.facebook.com/n/?photo.php&fbid=282122985140080&set=a.282122831806762.72695.252908071394905&type=1&mid=4f828feG291ae109G7ba00e5G52&bcode=S0Dcq9l8&n_m=tonybeck%40shaw.ca

Organic yields more than GE

A recent study shows that organic farms yield more than conventional or GE famrs

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Study+debunks+myths+organic+farms/5462520/story.html#ixzz1Zx1qjSXw

US Dept of Agriculture provides .5million$ for GE fish

USDA provides half a million $ to support genetically modified fish

http://www.grist.org/food/2011-09-29-feds-help-gmo-salmon-swim-upstream

Hear Lucy Sharratt in Courtenay Friday and Campbell River Saturday

Last chance to meet Lucy this time around for her tour in BC. We have had an amazing response to the tour so far and the movement against GMOs in BC is alive and spreading.

Friday September 30
Courtenay
7:00 – 9:00pm Lucy Sharratt will talk and answer your questions. Free Admission.
9:30pm Music Benefit with Shane Philip! Admission by donation. Join us for revelry and dancing to the the music of multi-instrumentalist Shane Philip www.shanephilip.com
Royal Canadian Legion Br 017, 367 Cliffe Ave. Courtenay
Presented by CBAN, the Society for a GE Free BC, and GE Watch Comox Valley

Saturday October 1
Campbell River
2:00 – 3:30 Timberline/North Island College Auditorium, 1681 South Dogwood Street.
Featuring Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator.
Presented by CBAN and the Society for a GE Free BC

Hear Lucy Sharratt on GMOs in Richmond 29th September

Thursday September 29
Richmond
7:00PM-9:00PM, Ralph Fisher Auditorium, Richmond Hospital
Featuring Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator and April Reeves, The Society for a GE Free BC.
Presented by CBAN, the Society for a GE Free BC and the Richmond Food Security Society

Lucy is talking to full houses wherever she goes. Get the real scoop on GMOs in Richmond Thursday night, and find out what to do about them.

US Govt. study shows significant levels of Roundup in air and water

Significant levels of the world’s most-used herbicide have been detected in air and water samples from two U.S. farm states, government scientists said on Wednesday, in groundbreaking research on the active ingredient in Monsanto Co’s Roundup.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/31/us-glyphosate-pollution-idUSTRE77U61720110831

Hear Lucy Sharratt in Vancouver 26th September 7pm

Monday September 26
Vancouver
7:00PM-9:00PM

Vancouver Public Library, Peter McKay + Van Dusen rooms, Free Admission
Featuring Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator.
Presented by CBAN, the Society for a GE Free BC, Vancouver Council of Canadians, and Health Action Network Society (HANS)

http://www.cban.ca/Events

Meet Lucy Sharratt at Trout Lake and in Langley on Saturday

Saturday September 24
Vancouver
9:00 – 2:00 Trout Lake Farmers Market. Come and visit the CBAN/GE Free BC table!
North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake
Between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley

Saturday September 24
Langley
Find the CBAN table and talk to Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator
2:00 – 6:00PM Nature’s Fare store, Langley
#120 – 19880 Langley Bypass 200th, St. Access

Lucy is coming to Vancouver on Saturday

For full details go to http://www.cban.ca/Events

Saturday September 24
Vancouver
9:00 – 2:00 Trout Lake Farmers Market. Come and visit the CBAN/GE Free BC table!
North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake
Between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley

Saturday September 24
Langley
Find the CBAN table and talk to Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator
2:00 – 6:00PM Nature’s Fare store, Langley
#120 – 19880 Langley Bypass 200th, St. Access

Hear Lucy Sharratt in Princeton on the 22nd September

This is part of the CBAN tour of BC. Keep coming back to the blog for updates or go to http://www.cban.ca/Events

Thursday, September 22
Princeton
7:00PM – 9:00PM Princeton Legion, 170 Bridge Street, Free Admission
Featuring Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator, with Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior and other panelists.
Hosted by Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior. Co-sponsored by CBAN, The Society for a GE Free BC, and Save Our Similkameen (SOS)

Hear Lucy Sharratt from CBAN on GMOs in Osoyoos and Keremeos on Wednesday

Go to http://www.cban.ca/Events for more details

Wednesday September 21
Osoyoos
2:00 PM Sonora Centre, 8505 68th Avenue, Osoyoos, Free Admission
Featuring Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator, with Allan Patton, Oliver farmer and Regional District director and Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior.
Hosted by Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior. Co-sponsored by CBAN and The Society for a GE Free BC.

Wednesday September 21
Keremeos
7:00-9:00 PM Victory Hall, 427 7th Avenue, Keremeos, Free Admission
Featuring Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator, with Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior; Andrea Turner, Similkameen Okanagan Organic Producers Association; and Lee McFadyen, Live Earth Organic Growers Association.
Hosted by Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior. Co-sponsored by CBAN and The Society for a GE Free BC.

Beekeepers win major court victory against Monsanto in Europe

A court ruling this week could have major implications for the planting of GE crops in Europe, and for Canadian exports of honey. See the article and link below.

EU Court Puts Limits on Modified Honey

Associated Press, September 6 2011

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=14456268

CBAN Tour Details for BC

Events Tour Notice – Public Forums in British Columbia: “Genetic Modification and the Future of Food”

September 18 – October 1, 2011. Kelowna, Nelson, Grand Forks, Keremeos, Princeton, Langley, Vancouver, Bella Coola, Richmond, Comox, Campbell River! See below for details.

Featuring Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Ottawa

Genetically modified (GM) crops and foods are a threat to the environment and to the future of organic food and farming. What GM foods are on the market and what is coming? What actions can we take to stop GM apples, salmon and alfalfa? Join us to get the latest information and ask your questions!

A critique of a New York Times piece that said GMOs will save the world

The article below is quite informative, check it out.

Sorry, NY Times: GMOs still won’t save the world

http://www.grist.org/industrial-agriculture/2011-08-20-why-gmos-wont-save-world-nina-federoff-new-york-times

We need help with the GE Free BC/CBAN tour

See the details below. If you can help in any of the communities, please email gefreebc07@yahoo.ca

In Vancouver we need help tabling and putting up posters, and during the event at the Vancouver Public Library.

Here’s your chance to help stop genetically modified crops and animals.

GMO Tour 2011 – Lucy Sharratt from CBAN

Lucy Sharratt from CBAN – Canadian Biotechnology Action Network and April Reeves of GE Free BC will be touring BC Canada this September. Look us up when we come to your area! See many of you at the Okanagan Organic Festival! Look for our table!

Horses and GE Alfalfa: A Bad Deal For Equines

April: There are lots of reasons why I’m against the planting of GE Alfalfa, but being a horse owner I’m especially against this crop. So I put together a brochure “Genetically Modified Alfalfa And Your Horse”: The hard facts behind why this is just a bad deal for equines.

Please download and distribute among feed dealers. Many of them are not aware of the issue. Please take this to them and educate them, but most of all, let them know you will not be buying it when it’s harvested this fall. At least don’t buy US alfalfa: we don’t have GE alfalfa in Canada, yet.

You can get the downloads here: PDF of Horse brochure

Thanks everyone, and keep printing and handing out ALL our brochures! Thank you for the support – spread it around! And as always, you can email me at: aprilreeves at shaw dot ca

Rally For The Right To Know

April: This post contains links, posters, brochures and all the media you may need for organizing your US rally! I will continue to add to this over the week. If you think something is missing, please add it into the comments section! Thanks everyone!

Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s Statement for the Rallies – please print and read out to the crowds on Saturday: Statement of Congressman Kucinich to Millions Against Monsanto Right to Know Rally 03-26-2011