The Food Crisis: “A Perfect Storm” - and How to Turn the Tide
Biodiversity, Consumerism, Economics, Food Shortages, GMOs, Global Warming/Climate Change, Health & Disease, Population, Society, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Water Contaminaton — by Craig Mackintosh
A recently released study, the largest of its kind, examines the root causes of, and solutions for, a food crisis that will likely get much worse before it gets better — and that will never get better if we continue with business as usual
I’m hungry.
No, not because I don’t have enough food to eat, but because I’m too busy typing and too lazy to walk to the refrigerator. How I wish it were this simple for the people I keep reading about.
Comments (3)Posted on: November 14, 2008
The Failures of Genetically Modified Crops Continue
GMOs, Health & Disease — by GM Watch
The GM industry has been ailing at least as far back as 2005, but kept alive by an aggressive campaign of disinformation. GM Watch brings you the latest GM failures 2007-2008
GM cotton debacle in India
GM cotton has been failing in India and elsewhere for years [1] (Broken Promises, SiS 22), escalating the epidemic of farmers’ suicides [2] (Stem Farmers’ Suicides with Organic Farming, SiS 32). Unfortunately, the Indian government has allowed the commercial planting to continue with drastic consequences.
BT cotton failed in Vidarbha
A study on the introduction of Bt cotton in India’s cotton-growing belt of Vidarbha revealed that it failed in the region. Suman Sahai, director of Gene Campaign, which conducted the study, said that despite knowing that Bt cotton would not work in rainfed areas, the state government introduced it. The high input costs of Bt cotton increased indebtedness, and the study showed that 70 per cent of small farmers lost their landholdings as collateral for loans that they could never repay.
Comments (1)Posted on: October 28, 2008
75 Percent of Food Diversity Lost in Last Century
Biodiversity, GMOs — by Craig Mackintosh
The average person, roaming supermarket aisles with their trolley, is under the impression that our modern globalised food production system, despite being damaging in every other respect, brings one major benefit to consumers — that being more food choices.
Wrong.
Comments (0)Posted on: September 23, 2008
The World According to Monsanto
GMOs — by Craig Mackintosh
The following documentary is a thorough, in-depth look at the history of one of the world’s most dangerous and despised corporations and the serious issues swirling around genetically modified crops — from the implications for biodiversity and personal health, to the corporate control of our food, and more. Don’t miss it! (particularly U.S. residents who will likely never otherwise get to see this material on their screens…).
Part I
Comments (3)Posted on: September 18, 2008
Calling Five Percent of US Residents to Action on GMOs
GMOs, Health & Disease — by Craig Mackintosh
Pinky, who is fast becoming my favourite cat, has conducted the following excellent interview with Jeffrey Smith, founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology and author of Seeds of Deception.
The 43 minute interview covers a lot of ground, including the latest incarnation of life patenting — the patenting of human genes. Did you know that many of the genes in your body are owned by corporations? Absurd, but true. This has worrying implications.
As well as all the depressing reasons why genetic tinkering is not a good thing, Smith concludes the interview with a message of hope — that you as a consumer have the power to topple the multi-billion dollar industry that’s threatening our health and our planet. Using the historical example of how consumer demands in Europe incentivised supermarkets to stop stocking GM products, Jeffrey Smith believes if only five percent of the U.S. population were to determine not to purchase GM products, supermarkets would be motivated to source GM-free stock for their shelves, and we would see a domino effect that could bring an end to this industry.
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