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Mother Earth Heals Award 13 y
First in a series of "Mother Earth Heals" awards to food companies with earth-responsible products: Newman's Own Organics
Dear Readers:
I’m going to give the "Mother Earth Heals" Award to food companies that promote sustainable, eco-friendly agriculture and are farm worker friendly.
My first awards goes to: Newman’s Own Organics, The Second Generation, for their 100% premium organic chocolate bars.
From the Newman’s Own website: "The USDA Organic Seal assures that at least 95% of the ingredients are organically certified." Read more about USDA Organic labeling requirements: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&acct=nopgeninfo
Checkin ... read more Take Action Against GMO's! 13 y
I've been posting information regarding the recent controversy between the Organic Consumers Association and other companies in the organic "community". Despite the controversy, it is important to remember that the USDA approved Monsanto's latest GE crop. TAKE ACTION to STOP GE alfalfa from being planted in the spring! SIGN PETITIONS for Truth-in-Labeling so you know if the foods you buy contain GMO's!
Summary:
The Organic Consumers Association accused Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm of no longer opposing GE crops, and further stated that these companies are willing to "coexist" with Monsanto. Most damaging is the statement by OCA’s spokesperson Ronnie Cummins that these companies were willing to "cut a deal" with Monsanto, the USDA, and Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, accusing the CEOs of Whole Foods and Stonyfield of being "personal friends" with USDA Vilsack and of making "financial contributions to Vilsack’s ... read more OCA Responds 13 y
Ronnie Cummins of the Organic Consumers Association responds to my email seeking comment on the OCA accusations against Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farms. OCA stands by it's original accusations that these 3 companies betrayed the trust of organic consumers.
Dear
Thanks for your note. From our standpoint a company is either on record opposing GMOs (and not just with words, but with money and concrete actions as well) or else they are not. WFM, OV, and Stonyfield sat in on meetings (and accepted the USDA’s decision to not allow the OCA to send a representative, see: http://www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/ob256.htm)
with the USDA and betrayed the trust of organic consumers. They have all admitted publicly they supported/support a ”coexistence” compromise with the USDA to allow Monsanto’s GE-alfalfa to be commercialized. We and most of our ... read more Whole Foods Responds 13 y
Whole Foods Market responds to my two emails of inquiry regarding the Organic Consumer's Association (OCA) accusations that the company no longer opposes the mass commercialization of GE crops. They state that the OCA "distorted" their position and that they were trying to secure protections for organic farmers in light of the USDA's stance of approval for Monsanto's GE alfalfa. READ Whole Foods Market responses here:
Hello
Thank you for being passionate about genetically engineered (GE or GMO) crops and for expressing your concern about the availability of non-GMO foods. We are very passionate about this too and are extremely upset that our position has been distorted out there.
Don’t be fooled by the OCA (Organic Consumers Association) as it often twists the truth which confuses consumers. This time, OCA is misleading you by implying that we have “surrendered” to Monsanto and “cut a deal” for co-existence and that we’ll receive “compensation.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Whole Foo ... read more Haitians Burn Monsanto Seeds 13 y
Haitians Burn Monsanto seed given to them by their government as symbolic act of support for their native maize and as protest against GMO's (Please read author's note at the bottom of the article--clarifies errors in the original article)
http://www.truth-out.org/the-new-earthquake-manifest-haiti-monsantos-destiny66930
Manifest Haiti: Monsanto’s Destiny
Thursday 20 January 2011
by: Ryan Stock, t r u t h o u t | News Analysis
Rural Haitian farmers gathered in Papaye, June 4, 2010. Many wore straw hats reading, ”Aba Monsanto - down with Monsanto and Aba Preval - down with Preval.”
Let It Burn
”A fabulous Easter gift,” commented Monsanto Director of Development Initiatives Elizabeth Vancil. Nearly 60,000 seed sacks of hybrid corn seeds and other vegetable seeds were donated to post-earthquake Haiti by Monsant ... read more Organic Valley Responds 13 y
Organic Valley/Organic Prairie responds to my letter of inquiry regarding the Organic Consumer's Association (OCA) accusations that the company no longer opposes the mass commercialization of GE crops. They state very strongly that these accusations are false and they have not "sold out" to Monsanto and continue to be committed to keeping organic crops safe from GMO's.
01/29/2011 07:19 AM
Thank you for contacting Organic Valley and Organic Prairie.
The family farmers of Organic Valley and Organic Prairie have not and will never knowingly or willingly utilize genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in any of our products, processes or feed. We have held this position since our inception in 1988.
To comment on the recent OCA article, and to set the record straight, we are not nor have we ever ’sold out’ to Monsanto. The controversy came down to a difference in opinion over approach - not a difference in commitment to keeping organic safe from GMO ... read more Stonyfield Farm Responds 13 y
Stonyfield Farm responds to my letter of inquiry regarding the Organic Consumer's Association (OCA) accusations that the company no longer opposes the mass commercialization of GE crops. They state very strongly that these accusations are false and they will continue to vehemently oppose GMO's.
Hello,
On Thursday the USDA announced a policy that supports the interests of Monsanto and big biotech and deals a major blow to organic farming. They decided to “deregulate” genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, meaning to
allow its unrestricted use. In the months leading up to this decision, a coalition of us has been working ceaselessly to fight for any and all alternatives. I’ve personally spent days, nights, weekends and vacations as
we worked right though the holidays along with our colleagues to try to prevent this chemical giant from steamrolling over farm ... read more Letter to Whole Foods Market 13 y
UPDATED: I wrote an email to Whole Foods Market telling them I would no longer be a patron of their store until they clearly labeled their non-organic foods with the label "May Contain GMO's".
Whole Foods in Bed with Monsanto? Organic Consumer’s Association accuses Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm of "publicly admit(ing) that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto’s controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for "coexistence" with Monsanto and USDA biotech cheerleader Tom Vilsack (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)." Read More: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1760836
After reading the OCA article (see blog post above), I wrote t ... read more Whole Foods in Bed with Monsanto? 13 y
UPDATED: Organic Consumer's Association accuses Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm of "publicly admit(ing) that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto's controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for 'coexistence' with Monsanto and USDA biotech cheerleader Tom Vilsack (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)." ***
The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now?
By Ronnie Cummins
Organic Consumers Association, Jan 27, 2011
Straight to the Source
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22449.cfm
"The policy set for GE alfalfa will most likely guide policies for other GE crops as well. True coexistence is a must." - Whole Foods Market, Jan. 21, 2011
In the wake of a 12-year battle to keep Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered (GE) crops from contaminating the nation’s 25,000 organic farms and ranches, America’s organic consumers and producers are facing betra ... read more Alternative Energy by 2050 13 y
Researchers state that by 2030, all new energy generation could come from wind, water and solar, and by 2050, all pre-existing energy production could be converted as well. "It is a question of whether we have the societal and political will."
World Can Be Powered by Alternative Energy, Using Today’s Technology, in 20-40 Years, Experts Say http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110126091443.htm
ScienceDaily (Jan. 25, 2011) — If someone told you there was a way you could save 2.5 million to 3 million lives a year and simultaneously halt global warming, reduce air and water pollution and develop secure, reliable energy sources -- nearly all with existing technology and at costs comparable with what we spend on energy today -- why wouldn’t you do it?
According to a new study coauthored by Stanford research ... read more EMAIL to Obama:NO NUCLEAR POWER! 13 y
I just wrote an email to President Obama regarding his call for more nuclear power in order to meet our country's energy needs. I also called the White House and let them know I supported President Obama's goal of "clean" energy production, yet emphasized that nuclear energy is not "clean".
”President Obama calls for 80% of America’s electricity to come from clean energy sources by 2035. I wholeheartedly agree with this goal, but NUCLEAR ENERGY should NOT be part of this mix. There is still no viable solution to the accumulation of nuclear waste that takes thousands of years to degrade. Nuclear power is NOT ”clean energy” and causes more problems for the environment and for national security.
Solar power, wind power, geothermal power, hybrid and electric cars, tidal energy, and aggressive energy efficiency are climate solutions that are safer, cheaper, faster, more secur ... read more "NO!"to Nuclear Energy! 13 y
President Obama calls for 80% of America's electricity to come from clean energy sources by 2035. I wholeheartedly agree with this goal, but NUCLEAR ENERGY should NOT be part of this mix!!
There is still no viable solution to the accumulation of nuclear waste that takes thousands of years to degrade. Nuclear power is NOT "clean energy". I made this sign in response to President Obama’s call for more nuclear power to meet our energy needs.
Excerpt from President Obama’s State of the Union speech, January 25, 2011, regarding energy policy:
"...we’ve begun to reinvent our energy policy. We’re not just handing out money. We’re issuing a challenge. We’re telling America’s scientists and engineers that if they assembl ... read more "NO!" to Plastic! 13 y
Cute video with an important message!
(Sorry, I can not get the embed code to work here, go to the webpage directly for YOUTUBE Video!)
The Bag Monster dances, Bolsas Plásticas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV2BeT_DqrU&feature=player_embedded
The Bag Monster dances, Bolsas Plásticas. Don’t let plastic cover the world. Do something. Don’t let the BagMonster win. Use cloth bags.
read more Electrical Grid Failing 13 y
The Electrical Grid in the U.S. is failing due to age. One Solution: Off-the-Grid Energy!
What, the U.S. Electrical Grid is Getting Less Reliable?
By Paul Kedrosky · Friday, January 14, 2011
Centrally-planned, declining R&D, government regulated and old: Despite all of this the U.S. electrical grid is becoming more prone to outages? Shocker. As I wrote in Harvard Business Review, one of my entrepreneurial interests in 2011 is fomenting more change and enemy incursions into electrical provision in the U.S.
You can see why, in part, with the following figure from the latest IEEE Spectrum showing the rapid rise in grid outages. The ... read more Green Eco-Christmas 14 y
Have a Green and Eco-Friendly Christmas!
How to Have a Green and Eco-friendly Christmas
By Terria Fleming , eHow Member
http://www.ehow.com/how_5563763_green-ecofriendly-christmas.html
User-Submitted Article
We’ve had white Christmas, and maybe a blue Christmas or two, but the time has come for a green Christmas.
North Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage each week between Thanksgiving day and New Years day, and that’s not something the earth can support indefinitely.
Why not find ways to use less stuff this year, and to recycle and reuse what y ... read more Micro Farms Endangered 14 y
Barry Logan is one of the most intelligent people I've heard talk about agriculture in the U.S.
I visited La Milpa Organica Farm on Thanksgiving Day as Barry and his wife were packing up their possessions to leave their home and farm after a State crackdown.
An intelligent, idealistic, and spiritual man, Barry Logan ran an experimental organic micro-farm in San Diego County. After 7 productive years, La Milpa Organica Farm is shut down. Young people came to the farm to learn organic techniques. The State deemed these students to be ”workers” and jailed and fined Barry for worker’s compensation violations; he could not afford to keep La Milpa going. In this video by Your Enchanted Gardener, Barry speaks about the need for the freedom for small and micro-farmers to grow nutritious organic food without the strangulation of the rules and regulatio ... read more America Recycles Day 14 y
November 15, 2010 is America Recycles Day!
The Sun Newspapers
Cartridge World celebrates America Recycles Day
Special To The Sun | Fri, Oct 29 2010 09:13 AM
http://www.sunnews.org/business/cartridge-world-celebrates-america-recycles-day/
America Recycles Day, on Monday, Nov. 15 , is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. This year, at Cartridge World locations, part of the world’s fastest growing ink and toner refilling retailer, join with Cartridge World stores nationwide to celebrate America Recycles Day and raise awareness about ... read more |