Thursday, March 31, 2005
Global Village / Seeds
Biopirates Lose Patent on Seeds of India’s Sacred Tree, The Neem
WEB Reference, Mar. 14, 2005 (Organic Consumer's Association) - Under the New World Order of the World Trade Organization (WTO), corporations now have the right to "discover" seeds and genetic materials used by indigenous peoples for centuries, and patent these materials, thereby obtaining monopoly rights to its products and profits. One such example is that of India's Neem Tree, traditionally considered a sacred tree, whose seeds have a fungicidal quality that has been common knowledge to the indigenous people of India for centuries. Despite this widespread traditional use, an American company, Thermo Trilogy, was able to obtain a patent on that process. In other words, using Neem Tree seeds as a fungicide suddenly became illegal, unless you paid Thermo Trilogy its royalties first. But last week, for the first time in history, a patent has been revoked as a matter of protecting traditional knowledge and practices. This landmark decision, made by the European Patent Office, is being celebrated in India and will likely inspire the reassessment of dozens of other similar patents. http://www.organicconsumers.org/patent/neemtree030905.cfm.
Biopirates Lose Patent on Seeds of India’s Sacred Tree, The Neem
WEB Reference, Mar. 14, 2005 (Organic Consumer's Association) - Under the New World Order of the World Trade Organization (WTO), corporations now have the right to "discover" seeds and genetic materials used by indigenous peoples for centuries, and patent these materials, thereby obtaining monopoly rights to its products and profits. One such example is that of India's Neem Tree, traditionally considered a sacred tree, whose seeds have a fungicidal quality that has been common knowledge to the indigenous people of India for centuries. Despite this widespread traditional use, an American company, Thermo Trilogy, was able to obtain a patent on that process. In other words, using Neem Tree seeds as a fungicide suddenly became illegal, unless you paid Thermo Trilogy its royalties first. But last week, for the first time in history, a patent has been revoked as a matter of protecting traditional knowledge and practices. This landmark decision, made by the European Patent Office, is being celebrated in India and will likely inspire the reassessment of dozens of other similar patents. http://www.organicconsumers.org/patent/neemtree030905.cfm.
Resources / Pasture-based Farming
Eat Wild
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 31, 2005 (SSFPA) - A clearing house for information on pasture-based farming, this sites provides up-to-date, information about the benefits of choosing meat and dairy products from pastured animals. http://www.eatwild.com/.
Eat Wild
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 31, 2005 (SSFPA) - A clearing house for information on pasture-based farming, this sites provides up-to-date, information about the benefits of choosing meat and dairy products from pastured animals. http://www.eatwild.com/.
Food Miles / Local vs Organic
You Say Tomato, I Say Hidden Costs of Transport
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 31, 2005 (SSFPA) - Locally-grown food is more "green" than organic food, according to a report published in the journal Food Policy. The study found that the transportation of food over long distances -- anywhere outside a 20 km radius -- can cause more harm than the growing of food with non-organic methods. Researchers calculated the hidden costs of farming and food transport and found that the U.K. would save some $4 billion a year in environmental and traffic costs if all food consumed was locally grown, and an additional $2.1 billion a year if all food were grown organically. The study authors called on supermarkets to label items with the number of "food miles" they travel to get to the store. "The most political act we do on a daily basis is to eat, as our actions affect farms, landscapes, and food businesses," said study coauthor Jules Pretty of the University of Essex. To the BBC story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4312591.stm.
You Say Tomato, I Say Hidden Costs of Transport
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 31, 2005 (SSFPA) - Locally-grown food is more "green" than organic food, according to a report published in the journal Food Policy. The study found that the transportation of food over long distances -- anywhere outside a 20 km radius -- can cause more harm than the growing of food with non-organic methods. Researchers calculated the hidden costs of farming and food transport and found that the U.K. would save some $4 billion a year in environmental and traffic costs if all food consumed was locally grown, and an additional $2.1 billion a year if all food were grown organically. The study authors called on supermarkets to label items with the number of "food miles" they travel to get to the store. "The most political act we do on a daily basis is to eat, as our actions affect farms, landscapes, and food businesses," said study coauthor Jules Pretty of the University of Essex. To the BBC story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4312591.stm.
Food / Health / Events – Richmond, BC – Apr. 12
Healthy Family Living Seminar
VANCOUVER, BC, Mar. 31, 2005 (Tricia Sedgwick) - Do you want More Energy and Better Health For Your Family? Then join Tricia Sedgwick, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, to find out how to create extraordinary energy and health for you and your family. Learn simple techniques that will help you take the necessary steps to take control of your health and life. Seminar Topics Include: Hormones, Herbicides, Pesticides In Your Food may be impacting your energy, weight, mood and relationships; The Dangers of Trans-Fats, GMO’s and Processed Food; Super-Food Options to combat modern day toxins; Simple Meal Planning and Whole Food Supplements This interactive seminar will unlock the mysteries behind the cause of nutritional deficiencies and it’s relationship to the epidemic of disease in both children and adults. Most importantly you will learn simple solutions on how to create a nutritionally balanced life for the whole family. COST: *$20.00 per person or *$30.00 per family *Price includes a Healthy Lifestyle Manual. PLACE: Fitness Unlimited 150 - 2251 No 5 Road, Richmond DATE: Tuesday, April 12,2005 TIME: 7:00pm– 8:30 pm For more information please contact Tricia Sedgwick at beyondnutrition@shaw.ca or 604-817-7226. To reserve a seat cheques are payable to Tricia Sedgwick, address: 4041 West 35th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6N 2P4 * Approved for 2 BCRPA Credits.
Healthy Family Living Seminar
VANCOUVER, BC, Mar. 31, 2005 (Tricia Sedgwick) - Do you want More Energy and Better Health For Your Family? Then join Tricia Sedgwick, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, to find out how to create extraordinary energy and health for you and your family. Learn simple techniques that will help you take the necessary steps to take control of your health and life. Seminar Topics Include: Hormones, Herbicides, Pesticides In Your Food may be impacting your energy, weight, mood and relationships; The Dangers of Trans-Fats, GMO’s and Processed Food; Super-Food Options to combat modern day toxins; Simple Meal Planning and Whole Food Supplements This interactive seminar will unlock the mysteries behind the cause of nutritional deficiencies and it’s relationship to the epidemic of disease in both children and adults. Most importantly you will learn simple solutions on how to create a nutritionally balanced life for the whole family. COST: *$20.00 per person or *$30.00 per family *Price includes a Healthy Lifestyle Manual. PLACE: Fitness Unlimited 150 - 2251 No 5 Road, Richmond DATE: Tuesday, April 12,2005 TIME: 7:00pm– 8:30 pm For more information please contact Tricia Sedgwick at beyondnutrition@shaw.ca or 604-817-7226. To reserve a seat cheques are payable to Tricia Sedgwick, address: 4041 West 35th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6N 2P4 * Approved for 2 BCRPA Credits.
Conferences / Reporting
Food, Delivered Sustainably
GALT, CA, Mar. 17, 2005 (CIP, by Carol Brodie) - One of the much-discussed topics at the October 2004 Education for Sustainability Conference in Portland was sustainable food production, and sustainable food service. These talks made me curious as to what is going on in this area, and what I found was a plethora of information and activity. (Here’s what I learned): Read more.
Food, Delivered Sustainably
GALT, CA, Mar. 17, 2005 (CIP, by Carol Brodie) - One of the much-discussed topics at the October 2004 Education for Sustainability Conference in Portland was sustainable food production, and sustainable food service. These talks made me curious as to what is going on in this area, and what I found was a plethora of information and activity. (Here’s what I learned): Read more.
