The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights, by David E. Gumpert has recently been featured on GreenBookReviews.ca"The Raw Milk Revolution, by David E. Gumpert, would more accurately be entitled "Milk Wars." Any attempt to sell raw milk creates a froth of such proportions that we must conclude that it is symptomatic of something bigger.The war is all about politics and ideology - about food control and food beliefs. So when battle lines are outwardly drawn around issues of food safety and the right of citizens to choose the food they want, it takes Gumpert's sharp journalistic skills to uncover what risks to profits and livelihoods could lie beneath...."[Read the full review by Ellen Desjardins]  ... continue reading.

Submissions due July 26, 2010 The food movement, whether in Canada or around the world, has come a long way in a short period of time. People are more aware than ever that food matters for a whole range of physical, economic, social, health, environmental and spiritual needs. Community food security and what's often called food sovereignty are drawing together diverse groups - from rural folks and farmers to urbanites, environmentalists and those involved in public health and social justice. It has created powerful new alliances that are being replicated globally. In this issue of Alternatives, we will investigate the people's food movement, both domestically and globally. We want examples of what is working and what isn't, and what these ... continue reading.

From the web (CPCHE) - The Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE) is pleased to announce its newest publication, Advancing Environmental Health in Child Care Settings: A Checklist for Child Care Practitioners and Public Health Inspectors. This hands-on resource is designed to assist child care practitioners and public health inspectors in identifying practical steps to reduce potentially harmful exposures to toxic chemicals and pollutants in child care settings. View news release Download a free copy of the Checklist Order a hard copy with the CPCHE order form A French version of the Checklist will be available in March 2010 in hard copy and via the CPCHE website: www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca We hope that you will find the ideas and ... continue reading.

Recently a community rag, the Tri City News, published an op-ed suggesting B.C.'s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) should be scrapped. The News points as proof of the ALR's failings to a report by the Fraser Institute BC - Agricultural Land Reserve: A Critical Assessment. The News fails to point out that the Fraser Institute's bizarre assessment suffered blistering attacks by media, politicians and consumer groups, in addition to environmental and agricultural groups across the province. It was pointed out that the author, Diane Katz, is from the Eastern United States and doesn't appear to have even been to BC. Her statement that "British Columbia was not made for farming" is a clear indication she has no idea what she's talking ... continue reading.

EurActive (October 19,2009) - As preparations for the world summit on food security next month speed up, Bill Gates, the billionaire founder of software giant Microsoft, is urging governments, donors, researchers, farmer groups and environmentalists to overcome "ideological" divisions about technological solutions to increase agricultural productivity in Africa. The fight to end hunger is being hurt by environmentalists who insist that genetically modified (GM) crops cannot be used in Africa, Gates said on Thursday. He said GM crops, fertiliser and chemicals are important tools - although not the only tools - to help small farms in Africa boost production. "This global effort to help small farmers is endangered by an ideological wedge that threatens to split the movement in ... continue reading.

Below is an excerpt from Environmental Defence's GreenNews April 2009. Subscribe to day to get the latest up-to-date news about environmental and health issues across Canada.   New Book on Toxic Chemicals and Health: Available to Pre-Order Now! Co-authored by Environmental Defence's Executive Director, Dr. Rick Smith, Slow Death by Rubber Duck reveals how daily life creates a toxic soup inside each of us. Studies have shown that significant levels of toxic substances can leach out of everyday items in our homes and workplaces. How do these toxins make their way inside us and what affect do they have on our health? And more importantly, what can we do about them? The book will be released on May 9, 2009. ... continue reading.

PORT ALBERNI--The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and sixteen Nuu-chah-nulth Nations are pleased to announce the publication of Čamus: West Coast Cooking Nuu-chah-nulth Style. The 90-page cookbook, complete with colour photographs and illustrations, focuses on traditional recipes and seasonal ingredients from the west coast of Vancouver Island and Northern Washington. Marrying First Nations cuisine with cooking tips, cultural observations, and oral history anecdotes, Čamus (chum-us) features traditional and wild ingredients for a mouth-watering read. "Since time immemorial, Nuu-chah-nulth people have relied on our surroundings for sustenance. It is through this relationship that we have defined our culture, nutritional needs, genetic make-up, and economies," said Huu-ay-aht Ha'wilth (Hereditary Chief), Tom Happynook. Instructions about the traditional preparation of wild foods, including fish, kelp, ... continue reading.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 12, 2009) - On the evening of March 28, thousands of Canadians will be celebrating Earth Hour with parties and gatherings in their homes. WWF-Canada (World Wildlife Fund) has collected Earth Hour entertaining ideas and tips from renowned Canadian chefs Jamie Kennedy and bob blumer (creator/host of Food Network Canada's Surreal Gourmet and Glutton for Punishment) and Earth Hour sponsor Coca-Cola.Earth Hour, led by WWF, is a global lights out phenomenon to show support for action on climate change and demonstrate how each us can make a difference. To date, a record 1,000 cities and towns in 75 countries have committed to turn off their lights on March 28 from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. In Canada ... continue reading.

Building Community Food Security with Bits & Bytes Project, in collaboration with Food Secure Canada, has created an online food security resource database. It will be a living, ever-growing cornucopia of freely-accessible, community food security resources.   An intuitive user-interface ensures that people with minimal computer skills or on slow-speed internet will still be able to navigate the site and locate the information they are seeking. Fashioned after Wikipedia, the database will grow through the submissions and comments of the food security community who use it. In this way, it will continue to expand in richness and content, with a focus on credible, practical, accessible information that will be of use to community activists, academics, policy makers, farmers and anyone interested in food security. Content covers a range, from community ... continue reading.

Press release from Environmental Defence:December 12, 2008 - As Canadians prepare for the height of the holiday shopping season, Environmental Defence today warned that toxic chemicals are still being found in toys and other consumer products because the government has failed to pass adequate consumer protection laws.  "Canadians lack the legal protections of other industrialized countries when it comes to toxic chemicals in everyday household items," said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence.  "Until Canada catches up, it's 'buyer beware.'"   Over the past year, lead has been found in several consumer products, including children's jewellery and other toys.  Lead is a well known toxin that has been linked to damage to the nervous system, mental and physical ... continue reading.