BIG ORGANIC MILK VICTORY!!!!!!!

New USDA Rules Establish Strong Organic Standards for Pasture and Livestock
Family Farmers Call Rule a Victory for Integrity of Organic Food and Agriculture
Swift and Judicious Enforcement of Abuses Now Expected by Obama Administration
WASHINGTON - February 12, 2010 -
After over 10 years of lobbying, family farmers across the country, who produce organic milk, are celebrating the release of strict new USDA regulations that establish distinct benchmarks requiring the grazing and pasturing of dairy cows and other livestock. Many hope that the new rule will put an end to the abuses that have flooded the organic market with suspect milk from a handful of mega-dairies generally confining thousands of animals in feed lots and barns.

The biggest scandal in the history of the organic industry centered around one such USDA investigation with the regulators finding "willful" violations of 14 organic regulations on factory farms operated by Aurora Dairy, a $100+ million company based in Colorado (Aurora produces private-label, store brand milk for Wal-Mart, Costco and large grocery chains). "The public controversies concerning Aurora, and alleged improprieties by the largest milk processor in the country, Dean Foods (Horizon Organic), put increasing pressure on the USDA to rein-in the scofflaws in this industry," Kastel added.

Specifically, the new rules require that dairy cows and other ruminants be out on pasture for the entire growing season, but for not less than 120 days. It also requires that the animals receive at least 30% of their feed, or dry matter intake (DMI), from pasturing. In addition, organic livestock will be required to have access to the outdoors year-round with the exception of temporary confinement due to mitigating and documentable environmental or health considerations.
Full Text: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/02/12-7
CONTACT: Cornucopia Institute
Mark Kastel, 608-625-2042

G.M. CROPS CANNOT COEXIST WITH CONVENTIONAL CROPS- U.S. COURT RULING!!! MORE CASES TO FOLLOW!

Food and Water Europe Welcomes U.S. Court Ruling for Compensation by GM Contaminators
Statement of Food & Water Europe Executive Director Wenonah Hauter
WASHINGTON - February 12, 2010 - “We welcome the ruling from a federal court in Arkansas requiring Bayer Crop Science to pay $1.5 million to two U.S. rice farmers as compensation for contamination. We are pleased to see the federal court step in to protect farmers and consumers when regulatory bodies fail.

“We hope this proves once and for all that genetically modified crops cannot ‘coexist’ with conventional crops. Bayer Crop Science has already been ordered to pay $2 million to two other farmers and three more test cases will be heard soon, including one from a rice exporter.

“This recent ruling is set against the backdrop of other U.S. court cases halting the cultivation of GM alfalfa and sugar beets because the regulators failed to adequately assess the impacts of the crops and because of potential irreversible environmental damage. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear a case about the safety of GM seed and the U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing an anti-trust investigation of Monsanto.”

Furthermore, U.S. rice exports to the EU are continuing to be affected by a contamination incident some three and a half years later, showing just how damaging GM crops can be. This is just more evidence that this technology is not economically or environmentally viable.”

For more information, visit http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/world/europe

Contact:
Eve Mitchell, Food and Water Europe, The Black Isle, Scotland
emitchell@fweurope.org +44 (0)1381 610 740

Gabriella Zanzanaini, Food and Water Europe, Brussels
gzanzanaini@fweurope.org, +32488409662

CONTACT: Food & Water Watch - Europe
Erin Greenfield at (202) 683-2457 or
news[at]fwwatch[dot]org

INDIAN COURT REJECTS BAYER'S CLAIM TO PATENT MEDICINES!!

Indian Court Gives Boost to Access to Medicines as Latest Appeal by Bayer is Rejected

NEW DEHLI/GENEVA - February 9 - In a welcome move for access to medicines, the Delhi High Court has rejected the appeal filed by the German pharmaceutical company Bayer Corporation against an earlier court order which had rejected the implementation of a drug regulatory system which essentially linked registration of medicines to their patent status.

In August 2009, the Delhi High Court had rejected the petition filed by Bayer Corporation, seeking to stop the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) from granting marketing approval to a generic version of a cancer drug patented by Bayer.

“We are delighted with this decision – at the moment in India we are seeing a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies trying to use litigation to stifle generic competition,” said Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer of Médecins Sans Frontières’ Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. “By rejecting Bayer’s attempts to introduce patent linkage, the Indian courts have ensured that public health safeguards like compulsory licensing can be used to open up generic production of life-saving medicines including antiretrovirals for millions in India and beyond. We hope this judicial precedent of safeguarding public health in patent disputes will continue, as matters such as these, and the forthcoming Novartis case go up to the Supreme Court.”

Anand Grover, counsel for Cancer Patients Aid Association added: “In India, we do not have a patent linkage system. The patent system and the drug regulatory system are two separate and independent mechanisms and this is Parliament’s intent. We hope that Bayer and other pharmaceutical companies respect this fact. A patent holder cannot use the DCGI, a government agency, to enforce its private rights. This was an attempt to introduce a TRIPS-plus requirement in India, which has been rejected.”
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Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. MSF's work is based on the humanitarian principles of medical ethics and impartiality. The organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.
MSF operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas.

CONTACT: Doctors Without Borders/MSF
Emily Linendoll Press Officer Direct: 212-763-5764 Mobile: 646-206-9387
E-mail: emily.linendoll@msf.org
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/02/09-11

USA Needs to Take A Page From India's Book

PURPLE PASSION: A government panel last year supported introduction of a genetically modified eggplant, but the government said it would consult experts and farmers before accepting the recommendations. (Photo: brew ha ha/Flickr)

NEW DELHI — India has postponed the launch of its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable, saying it would adopt a cautious approach and wait for more scientific studies on the impact of the new variety of eggplant.

"The moratorium will be in place until all tests are carried out to the satisfaction of everyone ... If that means no start of production, so be it," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters on Tuesday.

"They killed three birds with one shot. They have defused the public sentiment against them, number two is the political opposition was neutralized and three they prevailed over Sharad Pawar," said N. Bhaskara Rao of the Center for Media Studies.

Full Text: http://www.mnn.com/food/farms-gardens/stories/india-delays-genetically-modified-vegetable-start-for-further-tests

VIMEO: AGRICULTURE'S DEADLY INJUSTICE

from East Bay Pictures
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/02/08-0
Interview With Eric Holt-Giménez Part 2

Eric Holt-Giménez is executive director of Food First, the institute for food & development policy.

In part 2 of their interview, filmed in August of 2008, Eric talks about modern agriculture, how it came about, and the injustice it has created.

BRAVO AGAIN TO THE YES MEN!!!! STICKIN' IT TO DA "ADM MAN"

Leave it to THE YES MEN to produce this brutally honest report on Arthur Daniels Midland.

ADM Tries to Take Down Funny Video; Big Business Has No Solutions; Now What?
CLICK TO SEE VIDEO REPORT:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbz89k_davos-annual-meeting-2010-adm-ceo-p_news

NATIONWIDE - February 4 - A legal complaint from agribusiness giant ADM has resulted in the removal from Youtube of a fake video of ADM's CEO making over-honest pronouncements. (The video is still available here, here, and, for download and reposting, here.)

Last week, the filmmaking team behind The End of Poverty? partnered with the Yes Men to create a parallel, imaginary World Economic Forum in which world leaders came up with real solutions to poverty. The leaders seemed, in a series of videos, to be supporting a set of initiatives based on 10 Solutions to End Poverty, a petition for which the filmmakers are trying to get ten million signatures by the end of 2010.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2010
9:02 AM

CONTACT: The Yes Men
scurrilous@theyesmen.org, bportello@cinemalibrestudio.com

WILL OHIO LEAD THE WAY FOR COMPASSIONATE FARMS?

Ohioans for Humane Farms Petitions to Put Measure on November Ballot Protecting Animal Welfare, Food Safety, Family Farmers and the Environment
COLUMBUS, Ohio - February 1 - Ohioans for Humane Farms submitted a petition-including signatures from Ohio voters in 48 counties, demonstrating broad and regionally diverse support-to Ohio's Attorney General in support of placing an anti-cruelty measure on the statewide November ballot. The proposed measure would allow voters to require the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to adopt certain minimum standards that will prevent the cruel and inhumane treatment of farm animals, enhance food safety, protect the environment and strengthen Ohio family farms.

Utilizing a large volunteer base, the group will seek to collect more than 600,000 signatures of registered Ohio voters upon approval of the petition forms by the Secretary of State. The ballot measure is backed by The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary, Ohio SPCA, Toledo Area Humane Society, Geauga Humane Society, Ohio League of Humane Voters, Center for Food Safety, United Farm Workers, Consumer Federation of America, Center for Science in the Public Interest, and a growing list of organizations.
Full Text: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/02/01-12
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010
8:19 PM
CONTACT: Farm Sanctuary
Erin Williams, The HSUS, 301-721-6446, ewilliams@humanesociety.org
Meredith Turner, Farm Sanctuary, 646-369-6212, mturner@farmsanctuary.or