Tag Archives: politics

Hello Ms Truss

Posted on July 15, 2014 by argylesock

Our new UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is Elizabeth Truss. Er… who? She’s been working for improvements to education, very important, yes, but I haven’t seen much to suggest that she knows anything about the … Continue reading →

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Goodbye Mr Paterson

Posted on July 15, 2014 by argylesock

Here in Britain, our Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has been Owen Paterson. Not any more! Today, in a Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Paterson’s been sacked. I wonder who’ll take his place. Whoever that person is, I … Continue reading →

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Is transatlantic free trade a lose-lose deal for food and farming?

Posted on July 11, 2014 by argylesock

The biggest free trade deal in history is being negotiated now. If finalised, this will be the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). The non-profit Corporate Europe Observatory … Continue reading →

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Debating GM across the Pond

Posted on July 8, 2014 by argylesock

The biggest free trade deal in history is being negotiated now. If finalised, this will be the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). A few hours ago I … Continue reading →

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Opening the door on talks about trade

Posted on July 8, 2014 by argylesock

The biggest free trade deal in history is being negotiated now. If finalised, this will be the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union and the United States of America. This matters to everybody because we’re all … Continue reading →

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Syngenta withdraws application to use banned pesticide linked to bee harm

Posted on July 7, 2014 by argylesock

argylesock says… I’m not sure which neonic Syngenta wants to bring back here in Europe. Maybe all of the three which are temporarily banned: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. [Edit] Soon after this story broke, I’m feeling cynical about it. Maybe … Continue reading →

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Séralini’s rat-feeding trial (part 3)

Posted on July 3, 2014 by argylesock

Professor Gilles-Eric Séralini is a French scientist researching pesticides and GM (genetically modified, genetically engineered, GE) crops. A research paper from his team was published in 2012, retracted (withdrawn) in 2013 and republished in 2014. Here it is. This is … Continue reading →

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Owen Paterson wants Roundup Ready crops in England

Posted on July 2, 2014 by argylesock

Helen Wallace at GeneWatch UK tells us that a committee within our UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA, headed by Owen Paterson), hopes to see Roundup Ready crops on English farms. Those are genetically modified (GM, genetically … Continue reading →

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Hillary Clinton loves biotech and she doesn’t love climate change denial

Posted on June 28, 2014 by argylesock

Here’s a report about Hillary Clinton’s opinions on biotechnology and climate change. Mrs Clinton may, or may not, aim to become President of the United States. She makes clear in this report that she loves crop biotech. ‘[A]s U.S. Secretary … Continue reading →

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U.S. Calls on Europe to Ease Limits on Gene-Altered Food

Posted on June 25, 2014 by argylesock

James Kanter at the New York Times tells us about negotiations towards the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Genetic modification (GM, genetic engineering) is a big sticking point, as we knew it would be. ‘There can’t be a trade … Continue reading →

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