Author Archives: Norm Benson

Scientists Refute Greenpeace Claims About GM Corn

Lanham, MD; January 6, 2012 — An article in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management (JIPM) refutes claims by Greenpeace Germany that the western bean cutworm (WBC), Striacosta albicosta (Smith), is “a new plant pest” that was “caused by genetically engineered corn.” The Greenpeace Germany report, which was written by authorContinue reading “Scientists Refute Greenpeace Claims About GM Corn”

Weekend Postcard from the East Coast to Left Coast USA Road Trip

For the return from the east coast to the west coast we took the more southerly route of Interstate 40. After you get out of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, well, the scenery is not near as interesting, unless you really, really, like sage brush. We did like Oklahoma City though.

Resolved to go organic in 2012? Consider these 10 points.

Over at Eco Women: Protectors of the Planet! you can find eight resolutions for 2012. A few of them make sense: turn off any unnecessary appliance; choose tap water over bottled water; cut down on meat. These are, if not necessarily environmentally sensible, at least economically sensible. I have quibbles with their list but itContinue reading “Resolved to go organic in 2012? Consider these 10 points.”

The Food-Miles Dilemma

In Michael Pollan’s New York Times essay, The Food Issue – An Open Letter to the Next Farmer in Chief , he says, “[W]hen we eat from the industrial-food system, we are eating oil and spewing greenhouse gases.” It would seem to be a no-brainer that local produce needs less fuel to get to marketContinue reading “The Food-Miles Dilemma”

Comparing organic farming to conventional. Is one better for the environment?

Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution, estimated we could feed four billion people if we used organic farming. The earth now is home to seven billion people and will probably go to nine billion before leveling off and declining, according to the United Nations. Organic farming means 50% of our world population would dieContinue reading “Comparing organic farming to conventional. Is one better for the environment?”

New Year’s Resolution: Eat Healthier. Does that mean organic food?

Perhaps you have decided to toast the New Year with organic champagne or an organically produced high-gravity craft beer because organic is better, not just for you but for the planet. After all, you have made a New Year’s resolution to eat better and healthier while caring for the environment. So, is organic superior toContinue reading “New Year’s Resolution: Eat Healthier. Does that mean organic food?”

Timberati’s Weekend Postcards: Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware

Last weekend the Weekend Postcard was of our trip to the east coast of the USA. This week the postcards hit some of the high points of our 3 month stay. From mid-state New York to Richmond, Virginia must hold some of our country’s most uptight people. The drive east is rather easy and lowContinue reading “Timberati’s Weekend Postcards: Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware”

Timberati’s Weekend Postcards: USA Road Trip, Left Coast to East Coast

This last August my wife and I headed east. We strapped two bikes on top, threw camping gear, computers, clothes, toiletries, Immodium, and homebrew beer in the back, and drove across these United States to the east coast. We recommend this form of travel to everyone; driving across what is usually “flyover country,” is funContinue reading “Timberati’s Weekend Postcards: USA Road Trip, Left Coast to East Coast”

‘Twas the Night Before Deadline

I write a column called the Green Chain for the Lake County Record-Bee‘s environmental page, the Green Scene. The Record-Bee printed this yesterday. ‘Twas the night before the Record-Bee’s Green Chain deadline. I had writer’s block, and not for the first time. When up in the sky, riding the clouds like a boat, I spottedContinue reading “‘Twas the Night Before Deadline”