Comments for Food and Farming Canada http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com The farming side of food Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:34:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on Farmers demand science-based policies by K. Jean Cottam http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/12/30/farmers-demand-science-based-policies/comment-page-1/#comment-194 K. Jean Cottam Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:08:41 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=660#comment-194 "Farmers' demand science-based politics" is the kind of title one does not attribute to farmers, but rather to spokesmen for the pesticide industry who appear to be pulling the strings. "Science" in this context is really a pseudo-science which tends to perceive pesticides as something virtually divine and does not distinguish between application of pesticides in farming, where the pesticide residues in food are cleansed by the liver, and the harm done by second-hand, totally unnecessary inhalation exposures to pesticides of young children in the crowded urban environment, where the residues go directly to the brain while by-passing liver, the cleansing organ. There is plenty of evidence linking pesticide exposures to cancer despite the fact that people do not have this written on their foreheads: i.e. "my cancer was caused by exposure to pesticides." Is this what was meant by the statement pertaining to what transpired at the the conference that alleged there was no direct connection between pesticides and cancer? Who were the attendees who claimed that Canada has an excellent regulatory system, when in fact this is very far from truth and Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency deserves to be called "Pesticide Manufacturers' Rubber-stamping Agency! A prominent scientist told me, "Jean, you are correct in that the PMRA is awaiting developmental neurotoxicity testing toxicology data and dioxin data from the industry." They registered herbicide 2,4-D despite missing vital data! "In addition, they have no mechanism for systematically searching for, synthesizing or assessing the publicly available epidemiological and other (environmental, basic science, etc.) information. Some dioxin, neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity and endocrine information was supplied by other parties. Yes, the PMRA is incredibly incompetent. It is incredible that I have still not received a single, complete list of the studies considered for the 2,4-D decision. What is more fundamental than a bibliography? There are good computer programs to do this." “Farmers’ demand science-based politics” is the kind of title one does not attribute to farmers, but rather to spokesmen for the pesticide industry who appear to be pulling the strings. “Science” in this context is really a pseudo-science which tends to perceive pesticides as something virtually divine and does not distinguish between application of pesticides in farming, where the pesticide residues in food are cleansed by the liver, and the harm done by second-hand, totally unnecessary inhalation exposures to pesticides of young children in the crowded urban environment, where the residues go directly to the brain while by-passing liver, the cleansing organ. There is plenty of evidence linking pesticide exposures to cancer despite the fact that people do not have this written on their foreheads: i.e. “my cancer was caused by exposure to pesticides.” Is this what was meant by the statement pertaining to what transpired at the the conference that alleged there was no direct connection between pesticides and cancer? Who were the attendees who claimed that Canada has an excellent regulatory system, when in fact this is very far from truth and Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency deserves to be called “Pesticide Manufacturers’ Rubber-stamping Agency! A prominent scientist told me, “Jean, you are correct in that the PMRA is awaiting developmental neurotoxicity testing toxicology data and dioxin data from the industry.” They registered herbicide 2,4-D despite missing vital data! “In addition, they have no mechanism for systematically searching for, synthesizing or assessing the publicly available epidemiological and other (environmental, basic science, etc.) information. Some dioxin, neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity and endocrine information was supplied by other parties. Yes, the PMRA is incredibly incompetent. It is incredible that I have still not received a single, complete list of the studies considered for the 2,4-D decision. What is more fundamental than a bibliography? There are good computer programs to do this.”

]]> Comment on Meeting Ontario’s unsung heros by Owen http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/11/18/our-unsung-heros/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Owen Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:18:43 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=622#comment-184 I have mentioned to several people in the past two weeks that the rest of the world will now have to learn to survive like farmers have for the past few years. I have had a great year - yields of corn, wheat and soys are some of my best in 28 years. I sold 2007 crops for my best $ ever. And the ethanol plant project that we began in 2002 is producing some 450,000 litres a day. I'm having too good a time to participate in a recession! I have mentioned to several people in the past two weeks that the rest of the world will now have to learn to survive like farmers have for the past few years. I have had a great year - yields of corn, wheat and soys are some of my best in 28 years. I sold 2007 crops for my best $ ever. And the ethanol plant project that we began in 2002 is producing some 450,000 litres a day. I’m having too good a time to participate in a recession!

]]> Comment on Dealing with climate change by A global environmental research hub http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/05/08/dealing-with-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-146 A global environmental research hub Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:03:27 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=198#comment-146 [...] Presentation at the May 2008 ECFWA annual meeting [...] [...] Presentation at the May 2008 ECFWA annual meeting [...]

]]> Comment on Breaking down the stereotypes by Kelly Daynard http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/10/31/breaking-down-the-stereotypes/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Kelly Daynard Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:15:39 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=593#comment-145 And people can see the full 2009 calendar at www.ofac.org And people can see the full 2009 calendar at http://www.ofac.org

]]> Comment on An award from Canadian Farm Writers by Mark Jewell http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/10/06/an-award-from-canadian-farm-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-134 Mark Jewell Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:54:34 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=506#comment-134 Congrats on the award. I recently came across your blog - and am enjoying it so far. Congrats on the award. I recently came across your blog - and am enjoying it so far.

]]> Comment on But for the kindness of strangers by Cathy Lennon http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/09/13/but-for-the-kindness-of-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Cathy Lennon Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:26:21 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=405#comment-124 A beautiful travelling story Lilian, ah but for the kindness of strangers. Looking forward to hearing more travel stories, and reading more blogs! A beautiful travelling story Lilian, ah but for the kindness of strangers.

Looking forward to hearing more travel stories, and reading more blogs!

]]> Comment on The hills ARE alive! by AgWired » Blog Archives » Sound of MOOsic http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/09/13/the-hills-are-alive/comment-page-1/#comment-123 AgWired » Blog Archives » Sound of MOOsic Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:37:00 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=389#comment-123 [...] Farm Animal Council both went on that tour and wrote about it on the blog, Food and Farming Canada. Lilian wrote: Much of Austria is covered in pastoral mountainside fields – beautifully scenic but largely [...] [...] Farm Animal Council both went on that tour and wrote about it on the blog, Food and Farming Canada. Lilian wrote: Much of Austria is covered in pastoral mountainside fields – beautifully scenic but largely [...]

]]> Comment on But for the kindness of strangers by Diane Johnson http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/09/13/but-for-the-kindness-of-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Diane Johnson Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:09:32 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=405#comment-122 Oh my, so glad to hear the rest of the story. Certainly a memory that you will not forget. I just hope you "had enough room" to stretch out on that bus! Great to see you --- look forward to the next time. Diane Oh my, so glad to hear the rest of the story. Certainly a memory that you will not forget. I just hope you “had enough room” to stretch out on that bus! Great to see you — look forward to the next time.

Diane

]]> Comment on Canada cleans up by Pieter Stokkermans http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/09/12/canada-cleans-up/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Pieter Stokkermans Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:30:09 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=378#comment-121 Very nice blog The Canadian writers and photographers did a great job in the last year. Next time I hope the Dutch photographers give a bit more competition. Not many of them did send in their pictures. In my country there are very good photographers. May be next year in Texas grtz Very nice blog

The Canadian writers and photographers did a great job in the last year. Next time I hope the Dutch photographers give a bit more competition. Not many of them did send in their pictures. In my country there are very good photographers.

May be next year in Texas

grtz

]]> Comment on Mud, minerals, water…ahhh! by KELLY http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/2008/09/08/mud-minerals-waterahhh/comment-page-1/#comment-120 KELLY Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:32:42 +0000 http://www.foodandfarmingcanada.com/?p=338#comment-120 Guess you didn't need your bathing costume after all if you were all Nekkid... Guess you didn’t need your bathing costume after all if you were all Nekkid…

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