A Conversation with Nature

Its hard to imagine a new way of thinking, or paradigm, but Wendell Berry has some uplifting ideas - I was particularly taken with this quote from one of his books that outlines a type of conversation farmers could embark on with their land, by 'consult(ing with) the genius of the place'.

Nature Provides

There is a call from the pharmaceutical industry to preserve plants from extinction. It admits that 70% of all newly-developed drugs in the United States, the world's largest and wealthiest pharmaceuticals market, are derived from natural sources and despite major scientific advances, human health is still overwhelmingly dependent on the plant kingdom. It is curious that they are focusing on plants used in Chinese medicine, and other ancient healing arts, but not the actual practices themselves? Surely these are the less toxic and best tested routes compared to our currently concentrated purified plant extract versions.

Organic Going Mainstream

The organic produce market continues to grow steadily in Australia and is moving from the trendy into mainstream. Ideally though, these markets need to grow locally to reduce premium prices. This is what we will be able to achieve in Inverell with the upcoming Biological Co-op where local organic produce will be able to match conventional produce prices in most cases.

Perhaps freshness will help drive these local markets too. As this article points out, not all produce is truly fresh from the farm, with supermarket apples often over 9 months old before they are put on the shelf.

Palm Oil Dilemma

In Indonesia, rainforest clearance is currently occurring at the staggering rate of 300 football fields an hour, and the major driver of this destruction is the demand for palm oil, which is used in food, cosmetics and biodiesel. Australia is unwittingly supporting this by offering tax rebates for biofuels that include imports, and has no certification scheme in place to identify and separate out rainforest derived palm oil.

The plight of orangutans orphaned after the complete destruction of their rainforest for palm oil plantations highlights this problem. Fortunately it appears that the EU is about to implement a certification program for palm oil.

UK's Biofuel Concerns

Even the UK is worried about the use of biofuels - its inefficiencies, particularly after the energy required for growing it is factored in, its suspect greenhouse credentials, and its likely competition with food and natural landscapes. As one committee member states "Biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport - but at present most biofuels have a detrimental impact on the environment overall."

Vanishing Birds

Much like bees, birds are vanishing at alarming rates in North America and the deteriorating state of the ecosystem is suspected. Some species of birds have plummeted by 60 percent to 80 percent.

Arctic Melt and Pollution

It appears that pollution is responsible for 1/3rd of the Arctic melt - not just greenhouse warming alone, and as the scientists explain "If you can keep a relatively small region of the poles from warming by a few degrees, it will keep climate more stable than keeping a similar-size region of the tropics from warming," which all up is seen as a more do-able exercise.

The EU Ignores US GM Deadline

The European Union missed a midnight deadline on January 11, of complying with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel ruling on a challenge on genetically modified (GM) grain imports into the US brought by the United States. This will be interesting to track.

FDA Says Clones are Safe

As expected the FDA have determined that cloned foods are safe opening the door to more manipulated foods onto the marketplace. As stated "Moral, religious and ethical concerns . . . have been raised... But the risk assessment is "strictly a science-based evaluation," because the agency is not authorized by law to consider those issues. Yet, they do not help the moral, religious or ethical consumer make their choice because labeling will not be required...

I just love this quip in support of clones: 'cloned animals have been studied much more than naturally produced animals.' Of course they have, they were produced in a laboratory and did not exist before scientists got involved, but does that prove they are safe? Naturally produced animals don't need such studying, they have been eaten safely for thousands of years.

But curiously, and contradictorily the USDA is recommending that cloned food stays off the market due to consumer resistance both domestically and internationally. The last thing needed, insiders said, was a new U.S. product that nobody wants. Hear hear!

Soil Association Bans Nanomaterials

UK's organic association, The Soil Assoiciation, has decided to follow the precautionary approach, in line with organic principles, by banning manufactured nanoparticles as ingredients under their organic standards. They are the first organisation in the world to take regulatory action against the use of nanoparticles to safeguard the public.

The Three Laws of the First World

These laws explain so so much. The first is that governments must ensure that First World economies grow and deliver profits to First World and corporations; the second, that First World people must be provided with low cost energy, food and consumer goods except where this would conflict with the First Law; and thirdly, the global environment and the Third World must be protected and/or helped except where this would conflict with the First and Second Law. The explanations and observations of this are brilliant - do read. The Three Laws 17/01/2008,21:10 28.00 Kb

Gary Zimmer Newsletter

Gary's Winter 2008 newsletter covers a range of topics - including an excellent overview of soil nitrogen strategies that follow my own ideas about placing nitrogen right where it's needed (the root zone), adding a carbon source, and prods you to challenge your nitrogen inputs rates backwards - it is truly surprising how little is really needed. Manure crops and legumes are also discussed. There is also a lovely comparison between conventional and biological approaches to agriculture.

Covering Our Future Field Day

This field day at Condobolin NSW on 21st February brings together two existing events - the CWCFA annual field day, and the CWFS Machinery Field Day. The field day will feature static and active displays from commercial exhibitors featuring a range of machinery relating to conservation agriculture. There will also be farmer converted machinery, soil pits and information available from the CMA's, NSW DPI and more.

Managing the Challenge of Climate Change

This one-day professional development program in Byron Bay NSW on 25th February is for managers from the business, community and the public sector. It covers the challenges of climate change for businesses and communities and explores the concept of resilience. Dr Brian Walker of Resilience Alliance and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems is the keynote speaker.

Inverell Forum 2008

Guaranteed to be a politically incorrect occasion! Each year a swag of amazing, sometimes controversial speakers give presentations that often challenge the status quo over a miscellaneous range of topics. This year they have Dr Helen Caldicott (anti-nuclear compaigner), Dave VonKleist (9/11 and Gulf War Sickness), Peter Palvaast (Honour/dishonour principles NZ courts), Laurie Perkins (Health issues Qld Correctional Centres), Greg Clancy (author - Conspiracies of Multiculturalism), Meryl Dorey (Vaccination Network) and more...In Inverell NSW 7-10 March.

Sofenica - Part 27

Because house temperatures and air currents are important to our overall solar passive design, we will need to insulate our raised wooden floors for winter. It would be lovely to put wool batts under floor, but the cost of both the batts and required holding structures will blow out our budget, and make it awkward for future access to pipes and cables.

Aircell is an attractive and relatively cost -effective option, especially due to its ease of installation and ready access to under house utilities. Environmentally it is no doubt a compromise, but at least the company has a corporate citizenship policy and doesn't use toxic or reactive adhesives!

We are still waiting for the final roof design to determine the ideal insulation option there, but our weakest link will be all our northern facing windows...

Health

Prescription Drugs vs Recreational Drugs

The statistics say it all - recreational drugs are less dangerous than prescription drugs. One proposed solution to the illegal drug problem was encouraging potential users to ignore peer pressure and "just say no." Interestingly, this strategy is not being recommended for prescription drugs. Perhaps it should be.

Suppressed Antidepressant Results

The makers of antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil never published the results of about a third of the drug trials that they conducted to win government approval, misleading doctors and consumers about the drugs' true effectiveness, a new analysis has found.

Big Breasts, Oestrogen and Breast Cancer

British breasts are getting bigger. In less than ten years the average bra size has grown from a 34B to 36C, and there are suspicions it is related to high oestrogen levels found in HRT (hormone replacement therapy) which is directly related to breast cancer - but xeno-oestrogens (environmental oestrogen mimics) are also under suspicion.

Greener Cleaners

The chemical cleaner industry is scrambling to clean up its toxic image, but interestingly the mixed messages of what should be considered 'green', 'natural', 'non-toxic', 'low carbon footprint' etc is very challenging to them. The cosmetics industry could certainly do with this sort of shake-up too.

And on this subject I just discovered that the deceptively environmental dishwash liquid 'Earth Choice' is more toxic than most with a good mix of nasties like sodium laureth sulphate, but also cocodiethanolamide. After discovering that, I coincidently heard about Natra-Kleen from a totally unrelated source. It seems to be perfectly natural and non-toxic and can be used for all cleaning jobs. I will see how it performs over the next few months and get a friend, Lucinda White, to check out its chemical credentials.

Miscellaneous

This 4-Corners program is about the Amercian Meltdown and helps explain exactly what the sub-prime mortgage is about and why it is affecting the whole world. For an absolutely eye-opening explanation of the existing money system though I would still guide you to Graham Dwyer's (an Australian) e-book on the upcoming depression.

Events

For all January events

For all February events

* Covering our Future Field Day - Condobolin NSW 21st February 2008.

* Managing the Challenge of Climate Change - Byron Bay NSW 25th February 2008.

* Inverell Forum 2008 - Inverell NSW 7th - 10th March 2008.

Postscript

This photo gallery is truly beautiful. Isn't nature simply awesome?