California’s Proposition 37, the awkwardly titled “California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act,” does not educate consumers enough about what is in their food.
Author Archives: Norm Benson
Analysis by the Legislative Analyst of Proposition 37, the “California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act.”
This the text of the analysis done by the Legislative Analyst on the proposed Proposition 37, the “California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act.” (PDF file here) Genetically Engineered Foods. Mandatory Labeling. Initiative Statute. Background Genetically Engineered (GE) Foods. Genetic engineering is the process of changing the genetic material of a living organism toContinue reading “Analysis by the Legislative Analyst of Proposition 37, the “California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act.””
No One Expects the Organics Inquisition
Here is this month’s Green Chain column for the Lake County Record-Bee: In 312, Roman Emperor Constantine was told in a dream to paint a cross on his army’s shields. Based on that dream, he commanded his generals to have crosses put on pretty much everything. If it went into battle, it had a crossContinue reading “No One Expects the Organics Inquisition”
Can a $40 Washing Machine Really Bring Families Out of Poverty?
Yes, yes it can. GiraDora is a blue bucket that conceals a spinning mechanism that washes clothes and then partially dries them. It’s operated by a foot pedal, while the user sits on the lid to stabilize the rapidly churning contents. Sitting alleviates lower-back pain associated with hand-washing clothes, and frees up the washer toContinue reading “Can a $40 Washing Machine Really Bring Families Out of Poverty?”
Genetically engineering microbes to work for us
Interesting video from the Open University. Genetically engineered (GE) E. coli bacteria produce much of today’s insulin supply. By using GE, we are turning microbes into “tiny factories” that happily churn out what they get re-programmed to do.
Weekend Postcard: Gads Zeus…Hops
In the middle of the month of May I posted a weekend postcard of my Zeus hop bines in a half barrel container. The juvenile growth looked more like blackberry (Rubus spp.) vines than hops, which are a cousin of nettles and hemp (now you have an idea of why hops smell as they do).Continue reading “Weekend Postcard: Gads Zeus…Hops”
“Hey, I care about the planet—can I go to Rio?”
My latest Green Chain column for the Lake County Record-Bee. Last month the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) marked its 20th anniversary of the “Earth Summit,” meeting once again in Rio de Janeiro. In 1992, Earth Summiteers envisioned the future they wanted, which included uplifting the “social and economic development” status ofContinue reading ““Hey, I care about the planet—can I go to Rio?””
Sites Complex Buildup to Quiescence July 9
These pictures show the increase and decrease in energy on at least one of the fires at the Sites Complex Incident from 2:15pm to 5:50pm. The photos were taken at ~10 minute intervals. Below those is the California Fire Situation Report which features footage from the Sites Complex.
Morning view: smoke looks like marine layer
Here’s the view from my deck this morning. What looks like low-hanging clouds is actually smoke from the Sites Complex Incident in Colusa county on the Mendocino National Forest.
Weekend Postcard: Wildfire in California
These are pictures of the smoke columns from the Sites Complex, five fires that are being coordinated as one incident under the Incident Command System. I have to say I much prefer seeing the column from my deck rather than fire camp. My thoughts are with the (younger) firefighters.
Nullius in Verba 