Friday, July 15, 2016

Musings: Dark Days

It doesn't get much darker than this, moaned the anti-GMO groups, when confronted with the new labeling bill that President Obama is expected to sign into law.

Which underscores just how screwed up their priorities are. Really? A deadly drought is hammering East Africa, 84 people in France were just mowed down by a terrorist, cops and citizens are killing each other in America and a fricking food label is the darkest thing on the horizon?

Still, I can't help but chortle when I see Andrew Kimbrell, director of Center for Food Safety, sputtering and wringing his hands in despair. Whassa matter, Andy? Worried about losing one of your longest-running fundraising gambits, the demand for labeling?

Or are you just whimpering because you gambled, and lost, when you believed that teeny-tiny Vermont would serve as a labeling model for the nation? You folks pushed, and Congress pushed back and voided Vermont. So suck it up and deal.

Kimbrell and crew took a similar gamble in Hawaii with the anti-GMO bills they pushed through here. The Hawaii laws have nothing to do with protecting anyone (save CFS's fundraising machine) and everything to do with establishing a precedent for supposed “home rule,” which groups like CFS define as their right to meddle in local affairs.

Thus far, however, the courts have dealt the antis a losing hand, firmly establishing the pre-emption authority of state over counties in these matters. We'll see whether the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals solidifies that authority further, as it appears inclined to do.

It's also fascinating to watch these guys whine about how the law keeps people in the dark, when the anti-GMO groups themselves are so very non-transparent about their own funding and actions. To use their line against food manufacturers, if you've got nothing to hide, why aren't you disclosing?

Speaking of which, I see that Kauai House candidate Fern Rosenstiel is promising: “Personally I will work to develop a strong reputation for very transparent and clear decision-making relating to all positions I take.” So why not start, Fern, by disclosing the finances of your anti-GMO group, Ohana O Kauai — like who gave you money, how much and where it was spent? Also, how much have you gotten in crowd-sourcing, and did you declare it as taxable income? And why are you giving your occupation as “environmental scientist” when you're a bartender at Tahiti Nui?

Meanwhile, the labeling issue is becoming increasingly moot, anyway, since the USDA has declined to regulate crops modified through the new process of gene-editing. First up: canola oil rich in omega 3 fatty acids and mushrooms that resist browning with age. Also in the works: genetically-edited soybeans that produce oil able to withstand high cooking heat without producing trans fat; low-gluten wheat and potatoes with fewer neurotoxins.

Though the antis have lost labeling as a powerful fundraising tool, they can still simplistically exploit many other complex issues, such as pollinator health. The Hawaii Branch of CFS just came out with a scary schtick in which they are trying to blame pesticides for the decline of native Hawaiian birds — uh, guess they never heard about habitat loss, avian malaria and rat/cat predation — while painting a dire picture of honeybee health.
In fact, Hawaii's managed honey bee colonies are among the healthiest in the nation. There has been no colony collapse disorder in the Islands, and there's a hearty feral bee population. The greatest risks to Hawaii bees are the varroa mite and small hive beetle, but they're not sexy fundraisers, so CFS focuses on pesticides.

In the real world, pesticides are but one of many threats facing pollinators. Scientists are now starting to suspect a new culprit in the decline of bees: soaring levels of carbon dioxide associated with global warming. As Yale Environment 360 reports:

The adverse impact of rising CO2 concentrations on the protein levels in pollen may be playing a role in the global die-off of bee populations by undermining bee nutrition and reproductive success.

Though beekeepers can supplement with protein patties in the fall, no such option exists for native bees, which actually do the lion's share of pollination. 

 Meanwhile, high CO2 levels are affecting more than protein levels in pollen:

Samuel Myers, a senior research scientist at Harvard’s School of Public Health, has published groundbreaking studies on how rising CO2 levels lower the nutritional quality of foods that we eat, like rice, wheat, and maize, which lose significant amounts of zinc, iron, and protein when grown under higher concentrations of CO2.

“We are fundamentally transforming all of the biophysical conditions that underpin the global food system,” said Myers. “Global food demand is rising at the same time the biophysical conditions are changing more rapidly than ever before.”

To quote Mr. Toad: “Hold on to your hat, because away we gooooo.....”

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the information Joan. I was going to vote for Fern until last night. When she said that she would work to legalize recreational marijuana in Hawaii, she lost my support and respect. I support medical marijuana for conditions that have been shown to respond positively to MM. Recreational use is another story. Sorry Fern, I think you turned off a lot of people in your district. Good luck in recovering from that one.

Anonymous said...

@8:10am. Are you kidding? Recreational use legalization is the reason Fern will win! This wave is building in every state and Hawaii needs to paddle in. The tax revenue from tourists is huge.

Joan Conrow said...

Dear 8:10,
There are so many reasons not to vote for Fern: inexperience, lack of understanding of the governmental process, propensity to lie, threatening and bullying behavior, questionable ethics, tunnel vision. Glad you found one that worked for you.

Anonymous said...

Yes Joan, many reasons to not vote for her. I was willing to give her a shot. I think Nadine is too connected to the old boy network. But I will vote for Nadine for many of the reasons that you have stated. Thank you.

no said...

I attended last evening's candidate forum and the differences between these two candidates is significant, as evidenced by the breadth of experience Nadine brings to our many issues, and her understanding of the many sides to our concerns. Fern may find herself very useful at the beginnings of her political future by learning from Boards and Commisions, community volunteering (in addition to her non-GMO interest) and earning her positions by filling in the many gaps. I wish her success, but it needs to be earned.

Anonymous said...

Another Joan spin of constant regurgitation of pro gmo. Your side lost Joan. Gmo will be labeled with the stupid label that in time will mean the same as "made with gmo", no one will buy it but the poor because that's all they can afford, the profits will not sustain the greed, and gmo will be replaced with the next money making idea.

Anonymous said...

You sound very bitter for someone who "won". 12:09

Anonymous said...

@ 12:09pm - I have several anti-gmo friends, who ironically eat tortilla and potato chips made with GM corn. GM products are in a number of our food products and since scientists say they are safe, I have no problem eating them. Also GMO is not a money making idea - it's a resource and food sustainability issue.

Anonymous said...

Fern gets my vote. Nadine is old boys network.

Anonymous said...

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/07/05/judge-rules-against-monsanto-in-cancer-lawsuit.html?intcmp=ob_article_footer_text&intcmp=obnetwork


so what is your take on this?

Anonymous said...

Wonder where the money came from to fund the 'CO2 is killing the bees' study?
Because surely the bees can't be dying from a little exposure to the GM crop pesticides, right?

Joan Conrow said...

You obviously didn't read the article, or apparently the blog post, which said pesticides are likely one factor in the decline of the bees. Instead, in typical anti fashion, you construct a conspiracy theory because you can't accept anything that doesn't fit into your narrow, blinders-on, knee-jerk interpretation of reality. Also, GM crops aren't the only ones using pesticides. Organic farmers also use pesticides, some of which kill bees. As I previously reported, the neem oil embraced so many holier-than-thou gardeners and small farmers is extremely toxic to bumble bees in very small doses. Wake up, sheeple . The world is far more complex than the one framed by your foolish ideologies.

Anonymous said...

8:33. The take is "In last week's hearing, US District Judge Michael Seabright decided that a 2009 editorial in the Kona Coffee Farmer's Association newsletter in which Sheppard expressed misgivings about Roundup did not mean the 2-year statute of limitations for claims had passed..." The case now goes to trial with the burden on the plaintiff. It is a narrow decision on process and not on the facts of the suit. Your post is a red herring.

Anonymous said...

Let's see....we've been growing cane since the 1800s and using pesticides as they were developed for all these years and the bees on Kauai flourished.

Anonymous said...

"Organic farmers also use pesticides". Your really reaching for it Joan. That's some serious spin.

Anonymous said...

Joan said

Organic farmers also use pesticides, some of which kill bees. As I previously reported, the neem oil embraced so many holier-than-thou gardeners and small farmers is extremely toxic to bumble bees in very small doses. Wake up, sheeple . The world is far more complex than the one framed by your foolish ideologies.


Correct me if I am wrong but bumble bees do not produce marketable edible honey. Neem is ok for honeybees and won't cause cancer.

On a different note the ultra conservative President of Turkey believes in inequality for women. The flag wavers are similar to Trump flag wavers. What happened in Turkey could happen here with a Trump presidency.

Frankly right now GMO's are the last thing on my mind. The whole subject is boring. I am more worried about world events and our Presidential election!

Joan Conrow said...

@8:31-- It's not about honey. Bumblebees are important pollinators.

Dear Dolt at 8:21,
I doubt you're really interested in educating yourself on the topic, but since others might be, here is useful data on organic pesticide use:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/httpblogsscientificamericancomscience-sushi20110718mythbusting-101-organic-farming-conventional-agriculture/

https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/12/07/myth-busting-on-pesticides-despite-demonization-organic-farmers-widely-use-them/

One of the most widely used pesticides on organic farms is Bt, the very same bacterium used in genetically engineered pest-resistant corn, eggplant, cotton and soybeans.

Anonymous said...

"The genetic literacy project" really Joan? This is equivalent to the "Natural News" for the GMO industry.

Joan Conrow said...

Natural News just makes stuff up. GLP at least offers meaningful links. But hey, since you seem unable -- or more likley, unwilling -- to follow any links on your own, this will take you directly to the list of allowed and not allowed substances in organic farming:

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=9874504b6f1025eb0e6b67cadf9d3b40&rgn=div6&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7&idno=7

Anonymous said...

Lol 8:21!!! The organic industry has you totally brainwashed!

Anonymous said...

Our birds were killed by Newcastle Disease (passed on from domestic chickens to the moa then to the wild forest birds), then the deforestation via cattle, then the damn Norwegian rat, wild cats, pigs, and invasive plant species. A compounding catastrophe played out over 200 years. There was another mass extinction of the low land birds upon the arrival of the Polynesians.Then too, the most damage appears to have occurred in the first two hundred years of settlement. That appears to be first by humans, then by dogs and the Polynesian rat. The nene and koloa duck are the notable survivors of the indigenous birds.

Anonymous said...

what Joan said

Dear Dolt at 8:21,
I doubt you're really interested in educating yourself on the topic, but since others might be, here is useful data on organic pesticide use:

what this actual dolt said

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lol 8:21!!! The organic industry has you totally brainwashed!

July 16, 2016 at 10:30 AM

what I actually wrote

On a different note the ultra conservative President of Turkey believes in inequality for women. The flag wavers are similar to Trump flag wavers. What happened in Turkey could happen here with a Trump presidency.

Frankly right now GMO's are the last thing on my mind. The whole subject is boring. I am more worried about world events and our Presidential election!

If caring more about other issues makes me a dolt I am a proud card carrying dolt.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolt

amazing.

Joan Conrow said...

Dear 11:28,
The dolt comment was not directed at you -- unless you are the same anon who posted at both 8:21 and 8:31.

Anonymous said...

Organic farmers don't use pesticides. You trying to prove it by using industry propaganda to prove it just proves you are indebted to them because nobody else is going to pay you for writing this crap.

Joan Conrow said...

Industry propaganda? I provided a link to the USDA organic certification standards.

But I understand it's very hard for you to accept anything that counters your tightly held, but false, beliefs. And as I've repeated ad nauseum, no one pays me to write the "crap" that you so avidly read and comment on.

Anonymous said...


Blogger Joan Conrow said...

Dear 11:28,
The dolt comment was not directed at you -- unless you are the same anon who posted at both 8:21 and 8:31.

July 16, 2016 at 11:38 AM

I stand corrected thank you. No I am not. But still...can we not call names? This blog is a haven but I dislike name-calling, sorry.

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone vote for someone like Fern who makes threats on social media?. I'm pretty sure that she was the one who posted on FB a year ago about how she was going to be waiting for Joan at her PO box. Lovely. And another poster wouldn't vote for Nadine because she is part of the old "boys"?

Good thing Nadine will win overwhelmingly.

Anonymous said...

Nadine is more methodical than philosophical. Her comments were based on factual research and good planning. But her opposer claiming that she wanted to legalize recreational marijuana and gambling will probably set her back in the polls.

Anonymous said...

Rising CO2 levels and no money to build new roads are why it is imperative to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Ride the bus, reduce traffic and carbon emissions.

imuakauai said...

IF every American citizen were to BOYCOTT going to the polls or voting, it would send a very clear message to the world, not to mention ol boy American special interests like hilariousbillfoundations or trumpet tactics, federal to county clowns in this fake state setting. Do you really believe your lives matter?

Anonymous said...

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160715153719-extreme-weather-corn-sweat-exlarge-169.jpg

SO HERE

is the latest. Cornsweat.

As a science writer I would love to know Joans thoughts. Here is the link to the main article

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/weather/extreme-weather-heat-dome/index.html

thanks.

Anonymous said...

That's why there's electric and hybrid cars. Fuck your tax payer subsidized BUS.

Anonymous said...


imuakauai, you know I enjoy your thoughts..

"the very clear message attained "- "worldwide"---- if WE didn't vote'--------------------would be world wide anarchy...

And I must assume that is what you want! Love ya d but we gotta think a few more moves ahead than that.

Anonymous said...



DearCornsweat, you ain't gonna be happy till we grow corn " indoors"???

And furthermore Cornsweat, why don't you tell us YOUR thoughts before all the links???

I'm going to bet that you will not. If for no other reasons that scientists ( that your pretending to be) love getting opines published??

So unless your Nama is Cornsweat, I would love to hear your abriged opinion? Even if you keep it annon, say anything halfway intelligent !! Or even stupid would be fun. Go for it Cornsweat!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Fern's ag plan: weeeeeeeeed! And then we plant food for our munchies.

Anonymous said...

And roll bones and joints in paradise. Never mind the carbon footprint of a casino in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Anonymous said...

DearCornsweat, you ain't gonna be happy till we grow corn " indoors"???

And furthermore Cornsweat, why don't you tell us YOUR thoughts before all the links???

I'm going to bet that you will not. If for no other reasons that scientists ( that your pretending to be) love getting opines published??

So unless your Nama is Cornsweat, I would love to hear your abriged opinion? Even if you keep it annon, say anything halfway intelligent !! Or even stupid would be fun. Go for it Cornsweat!!!!!

July 17, 2016 at 9:57 PM

Um...lay off the sugar dude you are climbing the walls! Hey I was surfing CNN and saw it and thought it was funny. You are wound up pretty tight your gonna have an aneurysm. Actually I thought it might lighten things up a little but you got Rick Rolled.

Anonymous said...

Who pays for new roads? Get back to LA Californicating dipshit.

Anonymous said...

State of Hawaii has already budgeted 140 million for Kauai. The county of Kauai's budget is 70% or more allocated for salaries. That's why shit doesn't get fixed on Kauai. Everything is ass backwards on this dumb people island. The county of Kauai is filled with dummies running government offices pretending that they are professionals. Non/under qualified fucktards.

Anonymous said...

3:06, you often allege the county department heads have no education. You are full of bull, they actually are educated, maybe you are not so.

Anonymous said...

July 16 8:31 - Bumblebees don't produce marketable, edible honey so who gives a crap about them, right? Because that's the ONLY thing bees are good for, right? Nevermind about all the produce we consume every day that require POLLINATORS in order to grow. No, nevermind that, as long as you have marketable, edible honey. smh.

Anonymous said...

Having a paper doesn't make you competent so there's a difference and for your question, I'm a life long learner.