Thanks to an article by Alan Simpson, Labour MP for Nottingham South from 1992-2010, and published recently in the Morning Star, I discovered that EDF proposes to have company volunteers who will... 'go out into the community and schools to tell the story.'
Yes, on the streets... Hundreds of them, jogging. "Their stated objective will be to 'normalise
nuclear to consumers.' " He also, in the same article, explains briefly how the nuclear power industry uses Public Relations in relation to MPs. and it's a bit of an eye opener.
Frankly, the idea of hundreds of EDF volunteers jogging round the streets trying to normalise nuclear, strikes me as quite funny. The company volunteers going into schools, does not.
A quick Google search for the EDF website, revealed that they have been offering the "Pod", a free programme for greener schools,... to our educational establishments and according to the Met Office figures, posted I guess some time ago, this has been ongoing since 2008 and had more than 14,300 schools involved and over 3.7 million school children involved. If you are wondering what the Met Office has to do with EDF, well, the web page I found had it neatly subtitled, "Education >> Collaboration >> Working with EDF Energy."
Don't get me wrong, some of the things that they do are really good and they are "collaborating" with some excellent organisations. It reminds me of Monsanto's and Bayer's funding towards "National Pollinator Week" in the USA from June 16th to 22nd. The Organic Consumers Association would appreciate it if you would share their article http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_30250.cfm
It also reminds me, perhaps unfairly, but then that's the way my memory works, of some research that the NIS (Nuclear Information Service) and Medact did over a two year period and made public in February. They found that over fifty British universities, that's over a third of British universities, receive funding from the Atomic Weapons Establishment, AWE. Although much of the work supported by AWE is "Blue sky" research and not aimed at any special application, some of it is considered to have"dual use" potential. This is the link: http://nuclearinfo.org/article/awe-aldermaston/atoms-peace-investigation-int-links-between-uk-universities-and-atomic
In a following short blog post, which I found very helpful, they examined AWE's own comments, which led them to this conclusion, "AWE aren't funding
research in universities for philanthropic purposes: they're doing it
because they think the results will be of use to Britain's nuclear
weapons programme."
This means, the way I see it, that even if you think you are going to be doing research purely for the good of humanity, there could be a horrible twist to it. You can find out which universities are involved from the article and I shall be blogging about this again later!
Meanwhile back at EDF and their company volunteers, who, I gather, will be taking "Talk Service " into schools:
"The concept is simple. Use the best advocates – our people – to talk to
colleges, schools and other organisations in the communities where we
work. The aim is to create open and honest dialogue and to help people
understand more about the industry."
Really? Well, if that's the case, perhaps it would be only fair, and in accordance with a balanced education, if the schools invited someone from CND or Greenpeace, or the local groups campaigning against new nuclear power plants or nuclear waste, to come along and give their views at the same time. Not, by the way, a troll in anti-nuclear clothing, but a genuine, clear thinking, moral activist.
Are children in Britain today taught to think for themselves, or is it "Don't rock the boat, we have to keep the sponsors happy." ?
Happily, across the Irish Sea, which is apparently the most radioactively polluted in the world, there are school students who seem to be very aware of the problems. I don't think that EDF would cut any ice with the then 14 to 17 year olds who made "Nuclear Winter" an animated film which was given a special recognition award at the recent International Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro.
"A ship dumps its cargo of nuclear waste in the Artic, stirring something strange up from the depths".
Wow! http://www.pureproject.ie/what-we-do/pure-animation-movies/ (Scroll down a few films to find it... but worth the trip.)
Showing posts with label Monsanto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monsanto. Show all posts
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Monday, 25 March 2013
You can ring the president and perhaps you should.
Just had this letter from "Food Demoracy Now" If you live in the USA, this is for you.
Dear....
We want to thank the more than 175,000 Food Democracy Now! members who have taken action so far. The response has been incredible and a sign of how outraged everyday Americans are at the continued backroom deals struck by our elected officials and Monsanto lobbyists.
How do these things happen? This morning we are reminded of the famous quote from Edmund Burke:
Right now, the short-term spending budget bill with Monsanto's poison pill is sitting on the President's desk, waiting for him to sign. He has until Wednesday March 27th to sign this into law, unless you stop him.
We need you to do three things:
1. Make a phone call to the White House asking that President Obama veto H.R. 933, and send it back to Congress with the express instructions of removing Section 735: The Monsanto Protection Act.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/801?t=3&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
We realize that the phone lines will be very busy today, but please keep calling until you get through. Every voice counts! Update: we're hearing the phone line is very busy today so please click on the link to make a call and report back.
You can call the White House at (202) 456-1111 or if that line is busy, please call (202) 456-1414 - then ask at least 5 of your friends to join you!
2. If you haven't already done so, please sign this letter calling for President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/791?t=6&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
If we reach more than 200,000 signatures today, Dave and Lisa will fly out to Washington DC to deliver your comments to the White House.
3. Please consider chipping in $3 to help send us to the White House to deliver your comments and then help spread the word to your friends.
http://fdn.actionkit.com/go/804?t=9&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
We understand the odds that we're up against, that many will say that President Obama can't afford not to sign this budget bill, which if not signed will temporarily shut down the federal government.
But the truth is there is no legitimacy in elected officials that stand idly by when violations of our basic rights like this happen. Section 735 sets a dangerous precedent that allows corporations to work back room deals to undermine the rule of law.
Obama has a clear choice, veto the Monsanto Protection Act or allow Congress and corporate special interests to continue to lead America down this slippery slope.
Tell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act! America deserves better. Every voice counts.
Thanks for participating in food democracy,
Dave, Lisa and the Food Democracy Now! team
SOS: Last Chance to Stop the Monsanto Protection Act!
Dear.....
This is the fight of the century, either corporations like Monsanto will rule America with an iron fist or we will rise up and take our country back. It's that simple.
Tell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act!
Late Friday evening we electronically delivered more than 100,000 comments from Food Democracy Now! members from all 50 states to the White House calling for President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act.
This is in an incredible response from Americans who are outraged that once again Congress has allowed Monsanto lobbyists to undermine our most basic and fundamental rights in another shady backroom deal.
Right now, H.R. 933 - with its poison biotech pill - is sitting on President Obama’s desk waiting for him to sign it. We need you to contact President Obama before he signs and HR 933 and the Monsanto Protection Act become law.
Tell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act! If we reach 200,000 comments, we’ll hand deliver your comments to the White House. Every voice counts!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/791?t=18&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
When he first ran for president, Barack Obama promised to clean up Washington’s culture of corruption, pledging to put an end to the revolving door and backroom deals with lobbyists. Sure, we know that hasn’t happened yet, but with your help it could today.
Now is President Obama’s chance to make true on that promise. Either he is for the American people and our democratic rights or he supports Monsanto and corporate lobbyists undermining our basic rights. We already know that Congress has abandoned us.
The choice is clear, President Obama can veto H.R. 933 or he can side with Monsanto.
Tell President Obama to stand up for your rights over Monsanto’s and do the right thing and Veto the Monsanto Protection Act.
Already people are telling us that this is a fight we cannot win. That's because Section 735, the Monsanto Protection Act, is a small provision snuck into a 841 page “appropriations bill for the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other departments and agencies for the fiscal year 2013” so the President "has to sign it".
We disagree. As a Constitutional law scholar, President Obama understands better than anyone the threat the Monsanto Protection Act poses to our Constitution and our democracy. Unfortunately, President Obama does not have the option of a line item veto, and the only recourse is for him to veto the entire bill.
Don’t worry, we understand the odds. More importantly we know the odds if we don't stand up. This is a corporate coup d'etat and Monsanto and everyone else in Washington DC wants you to be quiet.
But we can’t afford to. There’s too much at stake to sit silent. Some say it will only last 6 months and expire in September. And we think that’s much too long. Here at Food Democracy Now! we’re not willing to surrender our democratic rights for even one second. As long as these bastards work to undermine our rights we will fight them. And with your help, we’re just getting started.
Please join us in telling President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act! If we can reach 200,000 comments by Monday afternoon, we’ll fly to Washington DC and hand deliver your comments to the White House. Every voice counts!
What’s at stake:
By sneaking Section 735 into a federal appropriations bills, Monsanto has successfully planted a dangerous provision in U.S. law that strips judges of their constitutional mandate to protect American’s health and the environment while opening up the floodgates for the planting of new, untested genetically engineered crops.
Even if their new GMO crops are ultimately proven to be harmful to human health or the environment, Section 735 allows them to be planted the minute the USDA approves them!
Even more alarming, currently 13 new crops are awaiting approval at the USDA and AquaBounty’s GMO salmon is on the verge of being approved by the FDA. This new provision opens the door wide open for these approvals.
The floodgates would literally be open for Monsanto, DuPont and Dow Chemical’s new GMO crops that are resistant to more toxic chemicals like 2,4-D, Agent Orange and dicamba that will replace failing Roundup Ready GMO crops.
According to legal experts, this provision would create a precedent-setting limitation on judicial review and is a dangerous assault on fundamental federal and judicial safeguards needed to protect America’s farmers, citizens and the environment from the wanton approval of Monsanto's new GMO crops.
Tell President Obama to Veto H.R. 933 and the Monsanto Protection Act - Every voice counts!
Thanks for participating in food democracy,
Dave, Lisa and the Food Democracy Now! team
We want to thank the more than 175,000 Food Democracy Now! members who have taken action so far. The response has been incredible and a sign of how outraged everyday Americans are at the continued backroom deals struck by our elected officials and Monsanto lobbyists.
How do these things happen? This morning we are reminded of the famous quote from Edmund Burke:
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Let's make sure our voice is heard loud and clear today!Right now, the short-term spending budget bill with Monsanto's poison pill is sitting on the President's desk, waiting for him to sign. He has until Wednesday March 27th to sign this into law, unless you stop him.
We need you to do three things:
1. Make a phone call to the White House asking that President Obama veto H.R. 933, and send it back to Congress with the express instructions of removing Section 735: The Monsanto Protection Act.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/801?t=3&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
We realize that the phone lines will be very busy today, but please keep calling until you get through. Every voice counts! Update: we're hearing the phone line is very busy today so please click on the link to make a call and report back.
You can call the White House at (202) 456-1111 or if that line is busy, please call (202) 456-1414 - then ask at least 5 of your friends to join you!
2. If you haven't already done so, please sign this letter calling for President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/791?t=6&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
If we reach more than 200,000 signatures today, Dave and Lisa will fly out to Washington DC to deliver your comments to the White House.
3. Please consider chipping in $3 to help send us to the White House to deliver your comments and then help spread the word to your friends.
http://fdn.actionkit.com/go/804?t=9&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
We understand the odds that we're up against, that many will say that President Obama can't afford not to sign this budget bill, which if not signed will temporarily shut down the federal government.
But the truth is there is no legitimacy in elected officials that stand idly by when violations of our basic rights like this happen. Section 735 sets a dangerous precedent that allows corporations to work back room deals to undermine the rule of law.
Obama has a clear choice, veto the Monsanto Protection Act or allow Congress and corporate special interests to continue to lead America down this slippery slope.
Tell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act! America deserves better. Every voice counts.
Thanks for participating in food democracy,
Dave, Lisa and the Food Democracy Now! team
Join 100,000 Americans to Veto the Monsanto Protection Act!
Tell President Obama: "It's time to Vote for Peoples' Rights not Corporations!"
Dear.....
This is the fight of the century, either corporations like Monsanto will rule America with an iron fist or we will rise up and take our country back. It's that simple.
Tell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act!
Late Friday evening we electronically delivered more than 100,000 comments from Food Democracy Now! members from all 50 states to the White House calling for President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act.
This is in an incredible response from Americans who are outraged that once again Congress has allowed Monsanto lobbyists to undermine our most basic and fundamental rights in another shady backroom deal.
Right now, H.R. 933 - with its poison biotech pill - is sitting on President Obama’s desk waiting for him to sign it. We need you to contact President Obama before he signs and HR 933 and the Monsanto Protection Act become law.
Tell President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act! If we reach 200,000 comments, we’ll hand deliver your comments to the White House. Every voice counts!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/791?t=18&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
When he first ran for president, Barack Obama promised to clean up Washington’s culture of corruption, pledging to put an end to the revolving door and backroom deals with lobbyists. Sure, we know that hasn’t happened yet, but with your help it could today.
Now is President Obama’s chance to make true on that promise. Either he is for the American people and our democratic rights or he supports Monsanto and corporate lobbyists undermining our basic rights. We already know that Congress has abandoned us.
The choice is clear, President Obama can veto H.R. 933 or he can side with Monsanto.
Tell President Obama to stand up for your rights over Monsanto’s and do the right thing and Veto the Monsanto Protection Act.
Already people are telling us that this is a fight we cannot win. That's because Section 735, the Monsanto Protection Act, is a small provision snuck into a 841 page “appropriations bill for the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other departments and agencies for the fiscal year 2013” so the President "has to sign it".
We disagree. As a Constitutional law scholar, President Obama understands better than anyone the threat the Monsanto Protection Act poses to our Constitution and our democracy. Unfortunately, President Obama does not have the option of a line item veto, and the only recourse is for him to veto the entire bill.
Don’t worry, we understand the odds. More importantly we know the odds if we don't stand up. This is a corporate coup d'etat and Monsanto and everyone else in Washington DC wants you to be quiet.
But we can’t afford to. There’s too much at stake to sit silent. Some say it will only last 6 months and expire in September. And we think that’s much too long. Here at Food Democracy Now! we’re not willing to surrender our democratic rights for even one second. As long as these bastards work to undermine our rights we will fight them. And with your help, we’re just getting started.
Please join us in telling President Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act! If we can reach 200,000 comments by Monday afternoon, we’ll fly to Washington DC and hand deliver your comments to the White House. Every voice counts!
What’s at stake:
By sneaking Section 735 into a federal appropriations bills, Monsanto has successfully planted a dangerous provision in U.S. law that strips judges of their constitutional mandate to protect American’s health and the environment while opening up the floodgates for the planting of new, untested genetically engineered crops.
Even if their new GMO crops are ultimately proven to be harmful to human health or the environment, Section 735 allows them to be planted the minute the USDA approves them!
Even more alarming, currently 13 new crops are awaiting approval at the USDA and AquaBounty’s GMO salmon is on the verge of being approved by the FDA. This new provision opens the door wide open for these approvals.
The floodgates would literally be open for Monsanto, DuPont and Dow Chemical’s new GMO crops that are resistant to more toxic chemicals like 2,4-D, Agent Orange and dicamba that will replace failing Roundup Ready GMO crops.
According to legal experts, this provision would create a precedent-setting limitation on judicial review and is a dangerous assault on fundamental federal and judicial safeguards needed to protect America’s farmers, citizens and the environment from the wanton approval of Monsanto's new GMO crops.
Tell President Obama to Veto H.R. 933 and the Monsanto Protection Act - Every voice counts!
Thanks for participating in food democracy,
Dave, Lisa and the Food Democracy Now! team
Background:
1. "H.R. 933: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013", passed Congress March 22, 2013 containing Section 735, Monsanto Protection Act.
Monsanto Protection Act language:
Sec. 735. In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretary’s evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into commerce and carry out other authorized activities in a timely manner: Provided, That all such conditions shall be applicable only for the interim period necessary for the Secretary to complete any required analyses or consultations related to the petition for non-regulated status: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority under section 411, 412 and 414 of the Plant Protection Act.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/803?t=24&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
2. “H.R. 933: Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year ... (Concurring in the Senate Amendment)”, which contains Section 735, the Monsanto Protection Act passes Congress 318-109.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/802?t=26&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
3. “H.R. 933: Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year (On Passage of the Bill)” March 20, 2013
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/797?t=28&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
4. “House Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown, Support Troops and Veterans”, March 6, 2013
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/798?t=30&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
5. “Monsanto Protection Act, Section 735 Language from Senate Continuing Resolution, HR 933,” Passed Senate vote 73-26, March 20, 2013 Page 80
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/799?t=32&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
6. “Sen. Tester: Who Put These Agribiz-Friendly Riders into This Unrelated Bill?” Mother Jones, March 15, 2013
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/800?t=34&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
7. "‘Monsanto Protection Act’ would keep GMO crops in the ground during legal battles ", Grist, June 29, 2012
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/734?t=36&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
1. "H.R. 933: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013", passed Congress March 22, 2013 containing Section 735, Monsanto Protection Act.
Monsanto Protection Act language:
Sec. 735. In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretary’s evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into commerce and carry out other authorized activities in a timely manner: Provided, That all such conditions shall be applicable only for the interim period necessary for the Secretary to complete any required analyses or consultations related to the petition for non-regulated status: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority under section 411, 412 and 414 of the Plant Protection Act.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/803?t=24&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
2. “H.R. 933: Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year ... (Concurring in the Senate Amendment)”, which contains Section 735, the Monsanto Protection Act passes Congress 318-109.
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/802?t=26&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
3. “H.R. 933: Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year (On Passage of the Bill)” March 20, 2013
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/797?t=28&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
4. “House Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown, Support Troops and Veterans”, March 6, 2013
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/798?t=30&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
5. “Monsanto Protection Act, Section 735 Language from Senate Continuing Resolution, HR 933,” Passed Senate vote 73-26, March 20, 2013 Page 80
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/799?t=32&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
6. “Sen. Tester: Who Put These Agribiz-Friendly Riders into This Unrelated Bill?” Mother Jones, March 15, 2013
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/800?t=34&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
7. "‘Monsanto Protection Act’ would keep GMO crops in the ground during legal battles ", Grist, June 29, 2012
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/734?t=36&akid=791.402322.4A-_A4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
