India’s population is nearing 1.4 billion and plays an important role in the global economy. Industry, employing about three-fifths of the Indian workforce, and agriculture, employing the other two-fifths, are the twin engines of India’s soaring economy.Both sectors depend on fossil fuels, and the demand for fossil fuels in India is unlikely to diminish anytime soon. The agricultural sector in particular is completely dependent on fossil fuel-based crop enhancement systems.Indian agriculture … [Read more...]
The Good and the Bad of Netflix Documentary “Seaspiracy”
Ali Tabrizi’s Seaspiracy is a popular and controversial new Netflix documentary which details overfishing and what to do about it.Tabrizi brings many important points to light. However, he draws several questionable conclusions. In particular, his “final solution” to overfishing — a real problem — is mistaken. And, like most environmental films, Seaspiracy misses the real “whale in the room.”Here’s a survey, with assessments.The Taiji Dolphin Hunting TraditionPeople in Taiji, … [Read more...]
The Gates of Hell (or Heaven) in Africa?
Agribusiness, Small Family Farms, or Both?According to many critics, Western billionaires do not make the best farmers. Perhaps it is their inability (or unwillingness) to downsize grandiose plans from a Western-style agribusiness model to merely helping millions of subsistence farmers that dot the African landscape succeed in providing nutritious diets for their families and communities.That’s the conclusion of a major report from Germany entitled False Promises: The Alliance for a Green … [Read more...]
Climate Change No Threat to India’s Agricultural Triumph
I meet a lot of farmers in India. Two-thirds of India’s 1.3 billion people depend on farming. When they learn that I do research in environmental sciences, the first question they ask is, “How is climate change going to impact agriculture in India?”Unpredictable MonsoonThe answer is not clear. Indian rainfall seasons have shown no specific trend over the past hundred years, and it is extremely difficult to predict the impact of warming or cooling. The farmers here—like those … [Read more...]
GM Crops: More Important to Africa’s Food Security Than Ever
The economic situation in Africa has improved a lot since the 1990s. Yet, rampant poverty and food insecurity still impact millions of lives there.Currently, there is a huge demand/supply gap in the agricultural sector. At least three hundred million are malnourished.The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization defines food security as “a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets … [Read more...]
New Climate Summary: Meat, Livestock Have Little Climate Impact
American ranchers and U.S. meat consumption have virtually no impact on greenhouse gas emissions or climate, reports a compelling new climate summary. The new climate summary, “Climate at a Glance: Livestock and Methane,” documents that cattle and beef account for just 2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. All livestock combined account for less than 4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.Climate activists, many of whom are vegans for other reasons, often claim that ranchers, livestock, and meat … [Read more...]
Food Security in a Post-Covid World
European Conservatives and Reformists Party hosts another ‘Europe Debates’ webinarUS-EU trade talks are already stalled over agriculture issues. And yet the European Union’s new “Farm to Fork” strategy doesn’t just double down on the EU’s contentious agricultural regulations. It promises to use access to European markets to compel the United States and other countries to adopt EU-style organic farming, precautionary and other regulations if they want to remain trading partners with Europe. … [Read more...]
Indian environmental scientist blasts anti-GMO celebrity Vandana Shiva for ‘baseless’ assault on biotech crops
A reader curious about celebrities’ role in the radical environmental movement emailed me recently. He wondered if and their claims about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) were credible.He was particularly interested in anti-GMO claims by Indian scientist Vandana Shiva. Shiva is no newbie to GMO. She speaks often against it. Her celebrity status gives her high visibility.Recently, Shiva claimed that Bill Gates perpetuates Monsanto’s work by promoting GMO in India. She said GMO crops … [Read more...]
Dominion, 1; Poison Ivy, 0
Today---Tuesday, June 2---we canceled the "From the Stacks" livestream I normally do every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Cornwall Alliance's Facebook page. Why? Well, the official explanation went like this: "Dr. E. Calvin Beisner had an unfortunate battle with poison ivy during which the poison ivy won."Various folks posted condolences and wished me well.I'm thankful for their condolences, but, really, the poison ivy didn't win. True, I'm a "wounded warrior"---you should see all the weeping … [Read more...]
UNPREPARED: Covid-19, Locusts, Refugees, Floods, and Climate Change
by G. Cornelis "Kees" van KootenI live on a Pacific Island off the coast of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Vancouver Island is about the same size as the Netherlands, but only has a population of about ¾ million (about 60% of whom live in the Victoria area) compared to 17 million in the Netherlands. As of April 8, 2020, BC had 1,291 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 43 deaths (mainly at long-term care homes), while the Island had 81 confirmed cases. The Netherlands had 20,682 confirmed cases and … [Read more...]
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