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Archive for the 'Long Live Planet Earth!' Category

Flap Your Lips Friday

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 9th August 2013


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Good morning!

Prism Princess: Thank you for posting these articles. This is just simply horrific. I HOPE that something can and will be done soon. I decided to post one of the articles for today’s write because it is such an important topic. Should this information “disappear” from the internet, at least it can still be found here. Thanks for doing the homework. I appreciate you making time in your busy day. I HOPE you are doing good.

You won’t find this on mainstream media:

Fukushima leaking radioactive water for ‘2 years, 300 tons flowing into Pacific daily

Published time: August 07, 2013 10:07
Edited time: August 08, 2013 11:05
A laboratory technician uses a Geiger counter to measure radiation levels in fish, which was caught close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant (Reuters / Issei Kato)
A laboratory technician uses a Geiger counter to measure radiation levels in fish, which was caught close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant (Reuters / Issei Kato)

The rate at which contaminated water has been pouring into the Pacific Ocean from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant is worse than thought before, an Industry Ministry official said as PM Shinzo Abe pledged to step up efforts to halt the crisis.

We think that the volume of water is about 300 tons a day,” said Yushi Yoneyama, an official with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, which regulates Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO).

Abe put the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in charge of the situation, while demanding that the plant’s operator, TEPCO take the necessary steps to deal with the cleanup, which is anticipated to take more than 40 years at a cost of US$11 billion.

On Wednesday TEPCO confirmed the leak but refused to confirm the quantity being emitted from the plant. 

“We are not currently able to say clearly how much groundwater is actually flowing into the ocean,” Tokyo Electric Power spokesman Noriyuki Imaizumi told Reuters when asked for an estimate.

Japanese authorities are working in crisis mode, attempting to assure the public both at home and abroad that the situation will not further deteriorate into a widespread environmental catastrophe.

Yoneyama said the government plans to reduce the leakage amount to 60 tons per day by as early as December, but given the Japanese government’s progress in the cleanup to date that goal may be difficult to achieve. Removing 300 tonnes of groundwater, however, would not necessarily halt leakage into the sea, he said.

The nuclear plant was severely damaged in an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011. About 90,000 people within a 20km radius of the plant were forced to evacuate their homes due to the possibility of a full-scale nuclear meltdown.

Nearing boiling point?

An aerial view shows (from top to bottom) No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4 reactor buildings at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)'s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (Reuters / Kyodo)
An aerial view shows (from top to bottom) No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4 reactor buildings at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)’s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (Reuters / Kyodo)

Earlier, TEPCO said it detected 2.35 billion becquerels of cesium per liter in water that is now leaking into the groundwater through cracks in the plant’s drainage system. This radiation level is roughly the same as that measured in April 2011.

The normal level is 150 becquerels of cesium per liter of water.

For the past two years, TEPCO has claimed that it managed to siphon off the excess water into specially-constructed storage tanks. However, the company was forced to admit late last month that radioactive water was still escaping into the Pacific Ocean. These consistent failures are testing the patience of Japanese authorities.

You can’t just leave it [disposing of radioactive waste at the plant] up to TEPCO,” Shinji Kinjo, head of a Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) told Reuters. “Right now, we have an emergency.”

Earlier this month, TEPCO was forced to go on the defensive after a scathing first-page article appeared in The Asahi Shimbun daily criticizing the company’s cleanup efforts.

TEPCO did nothing for more than two years despite having pledged to seal a leaking hole between a turbine building [the leakage source] and an underground pit [a trench] in April 2011 when water contaminated with radioactive materials…was found to have leaked into the ocean; and the company only began preparing for shielding tests this summer after contaminated water was found to be leaking into the sea this time,” the newspaper stated on August 1, 2013.

TEPCO fired back with its own version of events, saying that despite “technical difficulties and a severe work environment” the company has been working to implement a plan “in order to further reduce the risk of having outflow of contaminated water beyond the trench.

Although TEPCO engineers have constructed a barrier between the destroyed facility and the ocean, it only extends 1.8 meters below the ground, thus water continues to accumulate inside the plant vaults.

A radiation monitor indicates 114.00 microsieverts per hour near the No.4 reactor (background C) and it's foundation construction (background R) for the storage of melted fuel rods at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)'s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (Reuters / Issei Kato)
A radiation monitor indicates 114.00 microsieverts per hour near the No.4 reactor (background C) and it’s foundation construction (background R) for the storage of melted fuel rods at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)’s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (Reuters / Issei Kato)

If you build a wall, of course the water is going to accumulate there. And there is no other way for the water to go but up or sideways and eventually lead to the ocean,” Masashi Goto, a nuclear engineer who has worked at several TEPCO plants, told Reuters. “So now, the question is how long do we have?

TEPCO has pledged to begin pumping enough radioactive seepage to stop the water level from rising. But the company faces limitations, as its storage tanks are 85 percent full.

New measures are needed to stop the water from flowing into the sea,” emphasized Kinjo, who accused TEPCO of failing to implement long-term solutions for a crisis that has been continuing for more than two years.

Not only is TEPCO running up against technical problems associated with the cleanup efforts, it must also deal with the unpredictable force of nature, specifically in the form of earthquakes.

On Sunday, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, the same northeastern region of the island country that was devastated by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in 15,000 people killed and more than 3,200 missing.

No damage or injuries were reported in the latest earthquake, but some roads and railways were temporarily closed for safety inspections.

*******

Zen Lill: Thanks too for your contribution.

LeTa0: I am liking you as our newbie to the blog. I HOPE that you’ll continue to share your words with us, and become a “regular”. I promise there will be no censoring here. Sending my best to you.

Peace out

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Aliens, Long Live Planet Earth! | 30 Comments »

Atmospheric CO2 Surpassed A Notable Milestone

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 16th May 2013

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Good morning!

In response to yesterday’s blog write, since according to republicans “…the world is going to end at a predestined time anyhow,” why bother with interrupting “…God’s ordained date.” Ah…those environmentalists….they’re just a “left wing cult which seeks to bring down the kind of government I believe in.”

With that said, here is the status of our beloved Earth:

Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations Surpass 400 PPM Milestone

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide surpassed a notable milestone this week.

They reached a daily average above 400 parts per million, reported NOAA, for the first time in human history.

The milestone, hit on May 9, may be symbolic, notes Climate Central, but manmade CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels continue to rise, bringing greater atmospheric warming and exacerbating the effects of climate change.

Scientists argue we’ve loaded the “climate dice” in favor of more weather anomalies and extreme heat waves.

Research also shows that continued emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide will mean “largely irreversible” climate change for 1,000 years even after we curtail emissions.

“The last time we’re confident that CO2 was sustained at these levels is more than 10 million years ago, during the middle of the Miocene period,” climate scientist Michael Mann told The Huffington Post in an email. “This was a time when global temperatures were substantially warmer than today, and there was very little ice around anywhere on the planet.”

Readings are taken at the NOAA-operated Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii and form part of the Keeling Curve – a continuous record of CO2 measurements dating back to 1958. Bubbles found inside Antarctic ice core samples provide a longer record of CO2 in the air for the past 800,000 years.

CO2 measurements surpassed 400 ppm in the Arctic last summer, but the readings from Hawaii mark the first time prolonged levels above 400 ppm have been observed at more moderate latitudes.

Global carbon dioxide levels fluctuate over the course of the year, reaching an annual peak in May. LiveScience explains that the cycle reveals how trees and vegetation remove more CO2 from the air during the summer, until the annual minimum is reached in October.

“Take this day and the milestone it represents to reflect on the fragility of our civilization and and the planetary ecosystem on which it depends,” Al Gore urged on Friday. “We must take immediate action to solve this crisis. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year. Now.”

350.org founder Bill McKibben said in a statement emailed to HuffPost, “The only question now is whether the relentless rise in carbon can be matched by a relentless rise in the activism necessary to stop it.”

********

Readers: Like I said, the repubs are a disease that will eventually die when the host they’re living off of ceases to be able to sustain them. That is if their racist and misogynistic plans don’t come to fruition first. I am doing all I am able to prevent that. I HOPE you are too.

Blog me.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Long Live Planet Earth! | 24 Comments »

Saturday Speak

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 4th May 2013

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Good morning!

 

I discovered this segment; an interview with the writer Marianne Williamson on Oprah’s network. I haven’t read Williamson’s book, however, I found this to be interesting and…wanted to share it, and hear your thoughts.

In 1992, Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love, said that the following 20 years would be critical to the survival of mankind. Now that time has come. Find out why she says we’re both better and worse off than before—and reveals the one force that still has the potential to turn everything around.

Marianne Williamson on What’s Wrong—and Right—with the World

Readers: I agree with Williamson – I too believe that small groups of people can become powerful with their voice and their ideas and bring about big change. We’ve seen it happen historically, how even one person’s actions can change the world. We can’t wait on the majority to all agree. We are recently seeing how some issues are literally at a standstill.

Sometimes…many times, it takes radical ideas or actions to get something to happen, something to change.  Rosa Parks, is perfect example. I try to think of how I can have a positive affect in the things I believe in…the things that I think will be for the good of all. How about you?

We are the only species that systematically destroys our own habitat because we are the only species on our planet that is greedy. And because of that greed we do things that are not in our best interest or the best interest of our planet, which in the end effects our livelihood. Throw in racism, mix it up with greed, and you have a recipe for “how quickly can we destroy our economy, our environment…?” I could go on.

I also like that Williamson points out that although reading spiritual books is good we can’t just be all about crystals and rainbowsand la de da...” We need to get involved and have a voice. I found it interesting when she speaks about what Martin Luther King said about Ghandi, lifting love beyond mere personal relationship, and turned it into a broad scale social force for good. Terrorists have taken hatred and turned into a political force….the only way to transform that..is if we turn love into a social and political force, like King and Ghandi.” Hmm…I like that.

Thoughts? Blog me.

Happy  Saturday! Thanks for being here with me. Sending love…

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Posted in Health & Well Being, Journeys within, Long Live Planet Earth!, Political Powwow | 15 Comments »

Midway’s Powerful Message Of Beauty And Love…

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 2nd April 2013

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Good morning!

I cry about many things. Lots of things in this world get to me. This is one of them.

This story is going around on the net, FB and youtube. As much as I feel I am perusing everywhere, I still miss things. This was posted on my FB page by a good friend. I’m not sure she wants to be mentioned but I will give her a shout out and say “Thanks.”


MIDWAY - a film by Chris Jordan


Midway’s powerful message of beauty and love is poised to reach a global audience.

The MIDWAY film will take the viewer on a stunning visual journey into the heart of an astonishingly symbolic environmental tragedy.

 

Near the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Midway Island is one of the most remote places on Earth, and the iconic site of a world-changing naval battle. Today Midway is inhabited by a million Laysan albatrosses– magnificent and beautiful seabirds who range over the entire Pacific from their home base on the island. Midway is a multi-layered kaleidoscope of natural wonder and human history, and it also serves as a powerful lens into a shocking environmental tragedy: tens of thousands of albatrosses lie dead on the ground, their bodies filled with plastic from the Pacific Garbage Patch.

Returning to the island over several years, our team has witnessed and filmed cycles of birth, life, and death of these birds as a multi-layered metaphor for our time. With internationally acclaimed artist Chris Jordan as our guide, our film will walk directly into the fire of horror and grief, facing the immensity of this tragedy—and our own complicity—head on. And in this process, we discover a unexpected doorway to a deeply felt experience of hope, beauty and reverence for the mystery and miracle of our world. Stepping far outside the stylistic templates of traditional environmental or documentary films, MIDWAY will take viewers on a lyrical guided tour into the depths of their own spirits, delivering a profound message of renewal and love that is already reaching an audience of millions of people around the globe.

Please join our story

Through this KICKSTARTER we hope to finance our two final trips to Midway to complete our filming, including the cost of a remote-controlled helicopter and pilot to film spectacular aerial shots of the island; and the cost of bringing a world-class editor onto our team to help us cut the film together.

We also are seeking additional funding to complete production of the film for release. This includes the cost of the musical score (original composition and studio recording); sound editing and mix-down fees; color correction and title editing; production of multiple versions of the film for release through television, internet, theaters, etc.; translation of the film into multiple languages for international release; creation of educational curriculum materials for teachers; creation of a state-of-the art website and mobile apps with user forums and additional resource materials; and other associated costs to reach a global audience with our message.

Every contribution helps, however small!

We are a team of devoted artists who believe that the mythical story of Midway has the power to break open the hearts and minds of viewers worldwide. Our job is simply to honor this story as it has revealed itself to us, and deliver it to a global audience with the best quality filming, editing, production, and distribution that we can achieve. The process has been transformational to everyone on our team, and we look forward to sharing our results with you in 2013. Thank you for your contribution.

~with big smiles from chris jordan and the Midway team.

*******

Readers: I hope this has touched you in some way. The above article was posted on Kickstarter to raise funding, and last July they reached their goal. Yay! I am not sure where this film is available now but I think the full version is going to be released sometime this year. If anyone knows anything, please blog me.

Blog me your thoughts on anything else you want to talk about as well. Peace & Love.

Anonymous: So sorry to hear that. I HOPE you’re doing better.

Marty: It was nice to see you a few weeks back. This photo is for you.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

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Posted in Animals, Health & Well Being, Long Live Planet Earth!, Travel | 13 Comments »

The Greed Of Monsanto Continues

Posted by Michelle Moquin on 13th March 2013

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Not to mention their horrific impact on the planet. 

Good morning

 

 

From Think Progress:

How One 75-Year-Old Soybean Farmer Could Deal A Blow To Monsanto’s Empire Today

By Aviva Shen on Feb 19, 2013 at 1:40 pm

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a 75-year-old soybean farmer’s appeal against biotech giant Monsanto, in a case that could permanently reshape the genetically modified (GM) crop industry. Victor “Hugh” Bowman has been battling the corporation since 2007, when Monsanto sued him for violating their patent protection by purchasing second-generation GM seeds from a grain elevator. An appeals court ruled in favor of Monsanto, and despite the Obama administration’s urging to let the decision stand, the nine justices will hear Bowman make his case today.

Monsanto is notorious among farmers for the company’s aggressive investigations and pursuit of farmers they believe have infringed on Monsanto’s patents. In the past 13 years, Monsanto has sued 410 farmers and 56 small farm businesses, almost always settling out of court (the few farmers that can afford to go to trial are alwaysdefeated). These farmers were usually sued for saving second-generation seeds for the next harvest — a basic farming practice rendered illegal because seeds generated by GM crops contain Monsanto’s patented genes.

Monsanto’s winning streak hinges on a controversial Supreme Court decision from 1981, which ruled on a 5-4 split that living organisms could be patented as private property. As a result of that decision, every new generation of GM seeds — and their self-replicating technology — is considered Monsanto’s property.

Unfortunately, second- and third-generation seeds are very hard to track, which may explain why Monsanto devotes $10 million a year and 75 staffers to investigating farmers for possible patent violations. Seeds are easily carried by birds or blown by the wind into fields of non-GM seeds, exposing farmers who have never bought seeds from Monsanto to lawsuits. Organic and conventional seeds are fast becoming extinct — 93 percent of soybeans, 88 percent of cotton, and 86 percent of corn in the US are grownfrom Monsanto’s patented seeds. A recent study discovered that at least half of the organic seeds in the US are contaminated with some genetically modified material.

Bowman’s appeal gives the Supreme Court an opportunity to determine whether or not Monsanto is using patent enforcement to control their monopoly on a vital resource. As GM seeds become more ubiquitous, farmers who want to avoid Monsanto’s strict patents have few alternatives. As a recently released Center for Food Safety reportnotes, the concentration of market power among Monsanto and a handful of other companies has led to skyrocketing seed prices and less innovation by smaller firms:

USDA data show that since the introduction of GE seed, the average cost of soybean seed to plant one acre has risen by a dramatic 325 percent, from $13.32 to $56.58. Similar trends exist for corn and cotton seeds: cotton seeds spiked 516 percent from 1995-2011 and corn seed costs rose 259 percent over the same period.
[...] USDA economists have found that seed industry consolidation has reduced research and likely resulted in fewer crop varieties on offer:“Those companies that survived seed industry consolidation appear to be sponsoring less research relative to the size of their individual markets than when more companies were involved… Also, fewer companies developing crops and marketing seeds may translate into fewer varieties offered.”

Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates that Monsanto has hardly perfected the technology. A core argument for GM seeds in the 1990s claimed they would reduce chemical pesticide use because the plants themselves would repel pests and weeds. But studies have confirmed the spread of so-called “superweeds” that have developed a resistance to Monsanto’s gene, leading farmers to deploy even heavier doses of herbicides like Monsanto’s own product, Roundup. Another new report debunked the company’s argument that GM seeds would have higher yields; in fact, two of Monsanto’s most popular genes caused yields to drop.

Despite the mounting evidence against their products, the biotech industry enjoys a cozy relationship with government regulators. In December, the Justice Department abruptly dropped their investigation into anti-competitive practices in the industry without so much as a press release. The stalled Farm Bill also contains generous provisions that would allow these companies to put their products on the market with cursory or no review by the USDA.

Today’s oral argument is a study in these intertwined interests: the Obama administration is presenting their own defense of Monsanto, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was once a Monsanto lawyer (but will not recuse himself from Bowman’s case). Still, the same high court that enabled the current state of American agriculture in 1981 now finds itself in a position to check Monsanto’s power — or help them tighten their hold on the industry.

**********

Readers:  And as was expected, Justice Clarence Thomas didn’t recuse himself from this case. From what I could find, this more recent article “Monsanto likely to score Supreme Court Win”  is the update to this sad and sick story. If anyone has any more recent news on the Supreme Court verdict, please share. Blog me.

Cheryl: What a nice thing to say. And I agree with you. There are many great women role models on my blog. And yes, I too love wearing dresses in the summer. I was a big fan of Hillary as well. We’ll just have to wait and see what she has planned.

Jennifer: I am inspired everyday that I am here.

Ella: And it is a shame that the media does the same same thing, which perpetuates the issue.

Harrietta: It is because of readers like you and so many other that say such things that keep me here going. If I wasn’t inspired or feeling like I was making some contribution I wouldn’t be doing this. I now can’t imagine my life without waking up to read my blog either.

Alicia: You sound like you have a wonderful father. A real man. Lucky lucky you.

Tracy: :) You talking to you husband on the blog reminds me of that commercial where the couple is texting each other while sitting on the couch next to each other.

Rebecca: That about covers everything except my beloved four-legged pals. :)

Ingrid: My fave word too. :)

Hmm…what’s going on here on this day? It feels very much like a “blog appreciation” day. Sweet. Thanks to all for the nice things you are saying about the happenings here.

Robert, RT: I was driving home in my car and listening to 60 Minutes on the radio and caught this exact show. It is a sickening story. Thank you for sharing. The way the numbers are going, at some point OTWs will be the majority and will run this country, but the question is when and will it be in time before this country is destroyed? I HOPE you are good.

Irene: Really? HRH declared gay rights? It’s about time. After all that country is full of queens, and I mean that in the most respectful way. :) I like the link. Thanks.

Martha: I have not until now. Quite an interesting story, albeit grossly barbaric toward the women, but that’s not surprising. Thanks for sharing.

Zen Lill: Love the video. And I checked out her site too. Interesting. Thanks for remembering the animals. It’s been awhile since I gave them some blog time. Done.

Peace out.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012

“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream 

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Posted in Health & Well Being, Long Live Planet Earth! | 23 Comments »