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Help Famiy Farms, Support GIPSA Rule

We recently received this note, and felt compelled to ask you to joinin and support-

Enough is Enough.

For decades, family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock have endured abuses from corporate giants that control the market. But, you can help level the playing field for independent farmers and ranchers.

Today, just four companies own 83.5% of the beef market, 66% of the hog industry and 58.5% of the broiler chicken industry. These giant meatpackers and poultry processors have enjoyed unchecked market power, allowing them to control prices, issue unfair contracts with farmers and bully, intimidate and abuse farmers who stand up against corporate power.

Help Out for World Water Day

The U.N. has designated March 22 as the day of the year to spotlight the global safe water and sanitation issue and the collective efforts underway find solutions and help those struggling and in need.

Please join in Washington, DC, across the United States and around the world to celebrate sustainable solutions being implemented right now to solve the global safe drinking water and sanitation crisis. Be a part of the solution. Help make World Water Day 2011 and the events that week a success!  Right now, you can do two amazingly important things:

1. "Donate Your Voice" on Facebook and Twitter to the cause. Each day next week, a story or fact about the water and sanitation crisis will be posted on every donor's wall or feed with a link back to the Water Day site. Please Sign Up at Waterday.org and Donate Your Voice.
2. Join in for Advocacy Day on March 23. Show your support for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues and urge continued support from Members of Congress. Whether you plan to be in Washington, DC or in your home district, you can connect with Congressional offices to let them know we need greater US leadership for WASH. Please sign up by March 16 to Participate in Advocacy Day.

 

America Recycles Day, November 15

November 15, 2010 is “America Recycles Day”, a day to remind us of the importance of recycling and to encourage folks to "join the movement toward creating a better natural environment by recycling and buying recycled products” and “promotes the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling.”

Will you participate, support the day and spread the word?  Share with GH on what you will do...

 And, as we celebrate the day, let’s remember WHY we recycle:
•    to reduce pollution  •    tosave energy  •    to help the environment
•    to save natural resources  •    to keep trash out of landfills

 

Mike Adams over at naturalnews.com shares this interesting news: San Fran bans toy giveaways at fast food chains! Will more states follow? Here is Mike's take on the issue.

 More @ naturalnews.com

USDA Updates Organic Regulations Over Dairy and Meat Producers

After years of discussion and review, the USDA announced their plans to strengthen organic regulations on organic dairy and meat producers, mandating that animals have to have at least 120 days out in a pasture.

Before this, the existing rules were consider vague, by some, and only required that the animals had to have “access” to pastures. Critics of the old policy have said for years that the loophole allowed dairies to claim organic while maintaining factory-farm like conditions and operate at odds with the full intension of "organic" and mislead consumers in the process.

Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst at the Cornucopia Institute (WI), had battled for the change had this to say in a Cornucopia press release.

Sir Paul McCartney Hosts New PETA Video, "Glass Walls"

PETA released a video short hosted by longtime PETA friend, Sir Paul McCartney. "People ask me every day why I became a vegetarian, and I felt that in this case—unlike in my songs—images speak louder than words," he says. In the video, McCartney shows viewers what happens on factory farms and discusses the recent U.N. report revealing that meat production is responsible for 18 % of global carbon emissions; more than all the cars, planes, trains, and boats in the world combined. The chilling video, titled "Glass Walls," can be seen here:

Find out more at Meat.org.

And for all of McCartney's many fans out there (and who isn't), to team up with the launch of "Glass Walls" video,  Peta's launched a contest to win The Beatles: Rock Band. More info,  here.

COAL COUNTRY Screening at NYC's Town Hall

 On October 20, 2009 at NYC's Town Hall, The Sierra Club and Earthjustice will present a special screening of 'Coal Country', the new feature length documentary that confronts the devastating effects of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.  The film reveals the truth about modern coal mining and is told by the people directly involved, both working miners and activists who are battling the coal companies in Appalachia. It’s a “new civil war,” as families and communities are deeply split over the issue of mountaintop removal mining (MTR). The tops of mountains are blasted away, exposing seams of coal, while debris is pushed into valleys and streams. Residents endure health problems, dirty water in their wells, dust and grime on their floors. The miners are frightened that, without MTR, they’ll lose their jobs and won’t be able to feed their families. 

The NYC event is part of a series of concerts, previews, and screenings of 'Coal Country' across the USA leading up to the release of the film on DVD on November 10, 2009 (order below thru GH ), the companion CD is available now. The film will debut worldwide on Discovery Networks' PLANET GREEN channel November 14, 2009.

The Town Hall event will feature musical performances by Diana Jones, the Klezmatics, Kathy Mattea and Jean Ritchie as well as special guests and a screening of excerpts from the film. Written, produced and directed by Phylis Geller with executive producer Mari-Lynn Evans, 'Coal Country' fearlessly confronts the repercussions of surface coal mining - the type of mining that requires the complete defoliation of mountaintops in conjunction with aggressive blasting, permanently altering the landscape and natural environment.

WHAT: 'Coal Country' screening and concert featuring special guests
WHEN: October 20, 2009 @ 6:30pm
WHERE: New York Town Hall
123 W 43rd St.
NYC, NY 10036-6507

More @ CoalCountrytheMovie.com , SierraClub.org and  EarthJustice.org

New Film, "FOOD, Inc" Examines the USA Food Industry

In the new film Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from  Americans with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli--the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

Food, Inc opens June 12 with a limited run in NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles, from Magnolia Pictures. Watch the Food, Inc trailer below -

Celebrate WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY !

  

Today, June 5th, is World Environment Day! Celebrate the wonderful environment that we live in and work to inspire others to do what they can to ensure and protect its beauty.   World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly back in 1972 to commenorate the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. It's celebrated every year on June 5th and is one of the main ways the United Nation generates worldwide awareness of the environment and serves to enhances political attention and action.

Each year the UN has a theme and host country for the day. The 2009 theme is ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.  Click here for more info on the day and what you can do.

Around the world, there are hundreds of events and social media actions are being held, so pick how you can be involved, and jump in!  One event is the worldwide release of the highly anticipated film, HOME (watch it online here), by renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and produced by Luc Besson.  The beautifully made movie will be shown in more than 100 locations worldwide, in 23 languages and also available on DVD and BluRay today (order your copy below)!  Omaha, is North America’s host city for the United Nations World Environment Day, and will join cities around the world in the release of HOME, a stunning tour of our planet shot in high definition entirely from the air. Omaha and other cities, Paris (at the base of the Eiffel Tower), New York City ( Central Park) and London ( Trafalgar Square) will have free screenings today.

"Bicycle For a Day" & Matthew Modine Host Benefit for Solar One

You may know that Causecast leader Matthew Modine is really into bicycling. His comparison of automobiles to cigarettes inspired some strong reactions from readers on The Huffington Post.  For some time, he’s been an outspoked voice urging us to change our culture and especially the way we think about transportation.

If you’ve been involved in the great bike vs car debate and live in or near New York City, you can share in Modine’s revolution by joining him and his organization, Bicycle For a Day, for a fundraising benefit for Solar One on June 4 at 23rd Street & the East River.

Profits from event ticket sales will be donated to Solar One, to be used towards the purchase of 60 bike racks for the new Solar Two building, The First Carbon-Neutral, Net-Zero Energy Building in New York City.

Details:
Event Date and Time: 06.04.09, 06:30pm
Location: Solar One, 2420 FDR Drive, Service Road East
Price: $30 in advance, $35 at the door

The event will include a performance by hip-hop artist Rahzel and special promotions for the Bicycle Film Festival and the Brita Climate Ride.