Composting the Liverpool Plains, Bee Decline Accelerates, Bee Industry Spurns Pesticide Sponsorship, Organic Farming Not Good for Wildlife?, Farm Subsidies and Health, More Water Privatisation, Combating Malaria Ecologically, EU Moratorium on Cloned Aimals, Australia's First GM Bananas, Feeding the World or Population Control?, Plant Virus Affecting Human Health?, Profitable Depopulation, Round-Up Resistant Weeds, Ethics of Global Geoengineering, The Periodic Table - Location, Location, Location, Neighbourhood Eco-friendliness, Biological Capital, What's New, Free Life Web, Biodynamics2024 Turns 1!, Grazing BestPrac Newsletter, RCS Conference Program, Health (adverse vaccination theory, vaccine ingredients, altering your destiny, shampoo turning water toxic, why do we teach in classrooms?, starching the cheese, Quote, Cartoon, Miscellaneous, Events, Postscript

Composting the Liverpool Plains

Cam McKellar of 'Inverary Downs' on the Liverpool Plains has been working hard on the family’s 800-hectare Spring Ridge property, and across their 1320-hectare aggregation, to condition the soil by incorporating compost. The presence of beneficial bugs and fungi has reduced disease and insect attacks. For the sceptics, the clear benefits are the fewer screenings and increased bushel weights. Grain colour is better, too. The soil carbon has also been boosted from a low of 0.5% in 1985 to 3.5% now, and soil fertility has lifted as a result.

Bee Decline Accelerates

Disturbing evidence that honeybees are in terminal decline has emerged from the United States where, for the fourth year in a row, more than a third of colonies have failed to survive the winter. "Bees contribute to global food security, and their extinction would represent a terrible biological disaster." In the UK it is still too early to judge how Britain's estimated 250,000 honeybee colonies have fared during the long winter - but losses have been documented.

Bee Industry Spurns Pesticide Sponsorship

The British Beekeepers’ Association is moving away from cash sponsorship deals with pesticide manufacturers after concerns that the chemicals may be harmful to bees.

Organic Farming Not Good for Wildlife?

UK birds such as the skylark and lapwing are less likely to be found in organic fields than on conventional farms, contradicting claims that organic agriculture is much better for wildlife. A study concludes that organic farms produce less than half as much food per hectare as ordinary farms and that the small benefits for certain species from avoiding pesticides and artificial fertilisers are far outweighed by the need to make land more productive to feed a growing population. The research found that organic farms had, on average, 12% more biodiversity in terms of the number and variety of plants, birds, earthworms and insects. But the yield from organic fields was 55% lower. [Give me biodiversity any day! I wonder if the higher wildlife yields also include pests...]

Farm Subsidies and Health

These are the US federal subsidies for food production. Meat/Dairy -- 73.8%; Grains -- 13.2%; Sugar/Oil/Starch/Alcohol -- 10.7%; Nuts/Legumes -- 1.9%; Vegetables/Fruits -- 0.4%. That’s right – just 1.9% for nuts and legumes and 0.4% for fruits and vegetables. As a result, a salad often costs you more than a Big Mac.

More Water Privatisation

Private companies are poised for a surge in demand to take over water supplies, despite widespread opposition to privatisation of what is seen as a life-giving public service. Demand is especially strong in North Africa, the Middle East and China. Renewed growth is being driven by poor services and the need for huge investment to repair and expand supplies, which in a recession is even harder for governments and municipal authorities to fund. One thought is that private companies could help build networks and big infrastructure, but they should not be able to make a profit from supplying water. [Not a bad compromise perhaps]

Combating Malaria Ecologically

For over half a century, the battle against malaria has been waged with powerful anti-malarial drugs and potent mosquito-killing insecticides, weapons born from the wonders of synthetic chemistry. In recent years, however, fed up with the financial and ecological drawbacks of chemical warfare, malarious communities from China to Tanzania to Mexico have been forging a new way to fight the scourge, one that draws inspiration from the lessons of ecology more than chemistry.

EU Moratorium on Cloned Animals

Food from cloned animals must be excluded from draft legislation on ‘novel foods' in direct opposition to a position adopted by EU environment ministers just weeks ago. The committee also declared food produced from nanotechnology processes must undergo a specific risk assessment before being approved for use and be labelled on packaging. The decision was made because of concerns relating to food safety, safeguarding human health and animal welfare.

Australia's First GM Bananas

Australia's first genetically modified bananas have been harvested in Far North Queensland. The GM bananas were developed as part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded project, which aims to alleviate mineral and health deficiencies in East Africa. The bananas have genes added to increase the levels of pro-Vitamin A and iron in the fruit. 'There is a belief that this genetic modification could solve some of the problems which we have failed to solve using conventional means and East Africans don't mind.'

Feeding the World or Population Control?

Hamsters fed genetically modified (GM) foods produce grandchildren that are unable to produce fourth generation offspring. Genetically modified foods will feed the hungry, but you could also call it population control. Technically, the final result would be an end to world hunger. They didn’t lie.

Plant Virus Affecting Human Health?

Perhaps a rather over the top article, but it includes an interesting observation that over 2 million “mysterious and unexplained” American deaths are nearly all lung related and being erroneously documented as being caused by influenza and pneumonia type diseases, and may in fact caused by an unidentified plant virus that has successfully jumped the species barrier to human beings. CNN have already exposed that most so-called influenza statistics are not actually caused by influenza, and new research has discovered a plant virus affecting human health...but I guess there are still a lot of long bows being drawn on this theory...

Profitable Depopulation

A medical investigation into suspicious outbreaks and propaganda used to sell drugs and vaccines has exposed investment bankers at JP Morgan-Chase (JPMC) and Goldman Sachs (GS) for plotting to shock/stress, frighten, poison, and kill billions of people most profitably–pharmaceutically–according to the Editor-in-Chief of Medical Veritas journal. 

Roundup-Resistant Weeds

American farmers’ near-ubiquitous use of the weedkiller Roundup has led to the rapid growth of tenacious new superweeds. Farmers throughout the East, Midwest and South are being forced to spray fields with more toxic herbicides, pull weeds by hand and return to more labor-intensive methods like regular plowing. Monsanto argues that Roundup still controls hundreds of weeds. But the company is concerned enough about the problem that it is taking the extraordinary step of subsidizing cotton farmers’ purchases of competing herbicides to supplement Roundup.

Ethics of Global Geoengineering

Should geoengineering tests be governed by the principles of medical ethics? Nearly 200 scientists from 14 countries met last month to focus on setting up voluntary ground rules for research into cloud-brightening, giant algae blooms, and other massive-scale interventions to cool the planet. The analogy of global warming to a curable disease was central to the discussions at the meeting. [At least they acknowledge respect for persons - they should obtain "informed consent" from their test subjects...but how could you possibly obtain that?! Worryingly I think they are deadly serious about the topic]

The Periodic Table - Location, Location, Location

The periodic table is a list of all known elements and tells us the two most important things about the atoms of any element: how many protons are in the nucleus, and how many electrons are buzzing around in the outermost shell. They may not sound like much, but a single proton and one electron are the only difference between the carbon atoms in a diamond and the nitrogen atoms that make up 80% of the air we breathe. There's an underlying message in the rows and columns of the table, which is actually quite easy to decode. [A colourful easy explanation of chemistry]

Neighbourhood Eco-Friendliness

Communities that are compact, walkable and energy-efficient are the goal of a national US program being launched. By locating stores, restaurants and services close to homes and encouraging people to walk more, such developments lower the risk of obesity, heart disease and hypertension, improve mental health and reduce auto pollution. [Let's hope the next step is to link healthy food with healthy humans too]

Biological Capital

I found an ad for this on my webpage (googleads), so followed the link. Biological Capital is an Australian business developing an investment model that, not only rewards hard work and wise stewardship, but incubates knowledge and innovation among the world’s best biological farmers. They have a small group of investors who seek both an economic and an environmental return... And they stand ready to pay for performance. Thought this might interest some.

What's New...

Ecological Agriculture Australia Assoociation's new website is just beautiful! Check it out, and take time to read the mission statements for each of the 5 EAAA pillars - Ecology, Ethics, Education, Farming Food. What a fabulous reason to belong. This is just the beginning, so much more is yet to come.

Free Life Web

Free Life Web is intended to help promote a Free Life, using the Web as a tool for networking and resource sharing. Free Life Web is dedicated to the idea that it is our key human right to live freely and to determine our own lives as individuals and communities, and that human needs are provided to us freely by natural systems and processes. With total freedom comes total responsibility – freedom does not imply freedom to exploit and damage the natural systems that provide for us, nor does it imply freedom to limit the legitimate freedoms of other human beings. [There are some extraordinary networks working in cyberspace - all for free, and being brought together in this one site. From currency, markets and science to media, software and spirit - what a gorgeous project!]

Biodynamics2024 Turns 1!

The year 2024 will be the centenary of the lecture series The Spiritual Foundations for the Development of Agriculture given by Rudolf Steiner at Koberwitz in June 1924. Over the past three years community perceptions have changed considerably regarding soil and soil carbon; the speed of this change gives Hamish Mackay confidence that biodynamic farmers and gardeners will achieve a significant impact by 2024. Biodynamics2024 has held 18 workshops over the past year and these will continue across the country. There are also requests for advanced workshops. In August the first of a new series of workshop will commence on this theme. There are many other projects on the boil as well.

Grazing BestPrac Newsletter

Grazing BestPrac has been established to assist graziers in sourcing information and support towards achieving Grazing Best-Practice. The standards for “Best-Practice” are evolving month by month as new information and techniques become available. They have just published their latest newsletter which includes an outline on their new Best Practice Groups program, some trial results and a discussion on why grass grows so well in cattle yards. They include concepts such as timed grazing, dung beetles, keyline and much more...

They are also hosting Bart Davidson of Bionutrient Solutions who will be discussing cutting edge soil and plant nutrition options. Toowoomba 31st May - 1st June, Emerald 3rd - 4th June.

RCS Conference Program

RCS have released their conference program, being held in Brisbane 20th - 22nd July. It will be like no other event with a blend of themes and speakers not previously brought together in Australia. From world food supply to carbon farming to food nutrition to the use of subtle energies and being entertained by Peter FitzSimons. They really are building the heros of the future!

Health

Adverse Vaccination Theory

The exposure to last year's swine flu outbreak may have caused children to be more susceptible to experiencing severe reactions that are now manifested through recent influenza vaccinations. That is one of the theories as to why more than 250 children in WA have been administered to the hospital for experiencing adverse reactions after being inoculated with the seasonal flu vaccine.

Vaccine Ingredients

As one subscriber states - would you like to take your chances with this? It is remarkable what a cocktail of nasties are used for vaccines. It's hard to imagine that someone actually contemplated...'lets throw some mercury in, and perhaps some formaldehyde and borox, and top it off with some aluminium, then inject it directly into our bodies, that should keep our immune system ticking!'

Altering Your Destiny

While DNA lays out the options, many life experiences — the foods you eat, the stresses you endure, the toxins you're exposed to — physically affect the DNA and tell it more precisely what to do. "The thing I love about epigenetics is that you have the potential to alter your destiny." Though it hasn't been proved, some scientists suspect that epigenetic changes laid down generations ago — in your grandparents, for example — are still active in your body today.

Shampoo Turning Water Toxic

New research reveals that common household products such as shampoo can interact with disinfectants at U.S. wastewater treatment plants to form a little-studied class of cancer-causing substances. These substances, called nitrosamines, can end up in drinking water, experts say. "...we measured nitrosamine concentrations in swimming pools, and the precursors are either consumer products or human waste." which refers to the fact that people sometimes urinate in pools.

Why Do We Teach in Classrooms?

At Naperville Central High School, west of Chicago, children who are having problems with math or reading go to gym class first. The results are amazing -- reading scores have doubled, and math scores are up by a factor of 20. Research shows that after 30 minutes on the treadmill, students solve problems up to 10 percent more effectively. [This story comes on the tail of a local story related to me of troublesome kids suddenly performing when taken out into the school gardens...]

Starching the Cheese

Starch powder is routinely added to grated cheese, pizzas and cheese slices to prevent the cheese from clumping together. [Amazing what they do to our food! I wonder if the starch is wheat-based...just another range of foods causing hidden problems for coeliacs and wheat intolerants]

Quote

"Whatever you give a woman, she will make it greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her a bit of crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit." 

Cartoon

Miscellaneous

I absolutely believe the future is not about problem-solving, but creating the future you want - but the difference between the two is completely missed by many. Bruce Elkin explains it exquisitely in his free e-book 'Staying Up in Down Times' and I would like to nearly beg everyone to dive in and experience the difference. I promise the way you view life will change - for the better. I've had some ecoag friends finally 'pop' and never look back. The creative approach to me is the only valid approach to our environment - focus on what you do want and the problems will solve themselves....truly.

In summary, problem-solving is driven primarily by a desire to get rid of (or relief from) the intensity of the problem -- the bad feelings associated with it. Creating is a more powerful and effective way to to produce results.  It is about embracing and accepting reality-as-it is, as the raw material for creating results that truly matter--independent of
the problems, circumstances, or adversity you face.

Events

* Soil and Plant Nutrition Workshop - Toowoomba Qld 31st May - 1st June 2010.

* Soil and Plant Nutrition Workhsop - Emerald Qld 3rd - 4th June 2010.

* RCS Conference - Brisbane 20th - 22nd July 2010.

Postscript

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence in Yarralumla (the Prime Ministers residence). One is from Canberra, another from Melbourne, and the third one is from Sydney.

All three go with a government official to examine the fence.

The Canberra contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works out some figures with a pencil. "Well", he says, "I figure the job will run to about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me".

The Melbourne contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me" The Sydney contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the government official and whispers "$2,700". The government official, incredulous, says "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?'

The Sydney contractor whispers back "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the bloke from Melbourne to fix the fence". "Done!" replies the government official. And that, my friends, is how the new stimulus plan works."