Comments on: Roundup: The birds and bees

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:06:25 +0000

The number 1 herbicide applied to soybeans is also Roundup. Since the new varieties of soybeans are resistant to the effects of Roundup ( a systemic poison); bred specifically to resist being killed by Roundup what is left in the harvested crop?
Believe it or not, there has not been any published research that I am aware of that even looks at what may be in the soybeans treated with Roundup. I was considering a research project at UT School of Public Health a few years ago and could not generate any interest in looking at this. When I did a literature search I could find nothing published.
I am sure Monsanto has looked at this but they have not published anything so it makes me wonder if there is a problem lurking in the harvested soybeans.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:53:39 +0000

From NPR, more on the affects of the inert (implied to be not injurious to humans) ingredient atrazine that clogs the noses of fish, preventing them from spawning and smelling prey. Apparently, it's also killing frogs.

All over the world, frog populations are declining because of diseases and the destruction of wetlands. A new study suggests another reason for the drop: a cascade of environmental changes set off by farmers who spray crops with the weed killer atrazine.

By: Frustrated in VA

Frustrated in VA — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:39:25 +0000

Venting…I am a sucker for new trends, new fabrics. Frustrated by the choices in fashion, I set out to find eco conscience clothing. I hit the
jackpot on the internet. So many handmade clothing companies using hemp, hemp blends, bambo, soy, recycled, organic. Yes! Our fashion industry future. I had hope for all these talented stitchers. I placed orders and paid the big price tag. You know what I found? I am the greenest fashionista I know. I am still wearing last years clothes. That’s right, 4 months later and I am still waiting on my fall skirts. I have been making do with last years and it’s not half bad. I have have handed over the “green” to the ladies that have either a)not made the clothes or b) declared “I quit” because it’s just too much business (hire help). Somebody please start an eco conscience company and actually do what you
say you are going to do. I am not underminding the talent and time it takes to create. It’s just disappointing that’s all.

By: Kevin Carson

Kevin Carson — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:30:48 +0000

One solution to the organic price premium might be for the price of the chemically-produced stuff to reflect its real cost. American courts in the 19th century made huge alterations in the traditional common law of torts, to make it more commercial-friendly. They created high burdens of proof for malicious intent or negligence in cases of pollution and other torts; the old law held tortfeasors automatically liable for any harm they caused, regardless of intent. Then the twentieth century regulatory state created fairly dumbed-down and minimalist regulatory standards that preempted the old civil courts, so that if one’s pollution could squeak by the regulatory standards it was presumptively “legal” even if it caused harm.

We need to restore legal liability for all harm done, and turn angry juries loose on these people. Then that roundup-ready cotton might not be so damn cheap.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:38:03 +0000

If you like freecycle, you may be a freegan…

article

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:43:17 +0000

I love FreeCycle. On Freecycle, they'll give away anything. A lady in my local group is giving away a spider: I caught a wolf spider and we have it in a make-shift habitat right now. My kids have been catching bugs from outside and feeding it. I wanted to see if anyone wanted to give him a good home. He is alot of fun to watch. My kids have caught plenty of bugs to keep him happy for a while, But whoever wants him is going to need to bring something to take him and his 'food' home in. I can only keep him through the weekend otherwise I'll release him on Monday.

By: Eric H

Eric H — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:19:30 +0000

"Peter Melchett of the Soil Association, Britain's leading organic lobby group, says that environmental concerns, rather than health benefits, are now cited by British consumers as their main justification for buying organic food." From this article in The Economist (may be subscription-only?). Of course, this is talking about food, and it's easy enough to say you're doing it for the children when in fact it is for your own consumption, but shouldn't we accept either motivation when we agree with the answer?

By: jinjer markley

jinjer markley — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:06:13 +0000

Another thing you can do: write your congressperson to say you support a massive overhaul of the Farm Bill that encourages overproduction of commodites like cotton through subsidies. The Farm Bill is up for a revision/vote this year, and it usually slides by without notice because people think it only affects a few people in midwestern states. It affects all of us! Michael Pollan has written an excellent article about it here: http://www.ecoliteracy.org/publications/rsl/michael-pollan.html

By: Miracle

Miracle — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:44:46 +0000

The funny thing about all of this is that change, for the masses, is really about accessibility. And accessibility comes through mass retailers. I live in California, where anything organic and healthy is abundant and accessible, yet Trader Joes (which I visit frequently) is a 20 minute drive. Wal Mart, 5 minutes away, Safeway 5 minutes away, and a soon to be Super Mega Humongous Wal Mart is opening up 7 minutes away.

We say Wal Mart and most people cringe. Yet Wal Mart will be the biggest organic retailer soon and will be the company to lead change. When Sams Club carried organic cotton yoga wear, it sold like hotcakes, and Wal Mart has been in the spotlight, repeatedly, for overseas labor issues. Wal Mart has pledged a commitment to organics, but the downside is that industry analysts think it may cause more problems in a world where demand exceeds supply (from a company that is known to muscle its suppliers into offering lower prices).

There really are no easy answers, and there is no perfect solution. Sure I can drive 20 minutes to go to Trader Joes, making other errands on the way so that it’s not a complete waste of gas. And I can shop online for organic or sustainable clothing (because that’s a difficult thing to do locally). But the reality is that change for the masses is about accessibility. And accessibility comes through mass retailers.

And there’s a price to pay for that too…

By: Harmony

Harmony — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:01:22 +0000

As far as residue on conventional cotton goes.. there is little to no evidence of this. However, there are studies about the off-gassing from say new car interiors and flame retardants that are sprayed on things like crib mattresses... Here's a good article if you want to know more about off-gassing