Today's News - 22 November 2012

 “It can be hard for fashion shoppers to know how to make the right choices but there is one way that consumers can be absolutely sure their clothes are not polluting rivers and drinking water in the poorest countries and that the clothes themselves won’t contain poisonous chemicals – buy organic.”
Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director, Soil Association 22 November 2012

Is Your Clothing Toxic?
Lots of people worry about their clothing. But they probably don't worry about whether it's toxic. Greenpeace International's newest research indicates that you probably should, Kate Sheppard writes.
Mother Jones (21 Nov)
The Big Fashion Stitch-Up
Huffington Post (20 Nov)
Greenpeace launches new report
Ecotextile (22 Nov)
Read the Soil Association comment

Should we label genetically modified food?
On the sidelines of the US presidential election, battle lines were drawn on a Californian ballot that has potential implications for broader debates about the challenges of global food security. Proposition 37, which was narrowly defeated (52.8% of voters opposed the measure), would have required mandatory labelling for all genetically engineered food sold to consumers in California.
The Guardian (22 Nov)

Sainsbury’s survey reveals shift in shopping habits
As many as 83% of shoppers have changed their shopping habits in the past year, a new survey by Sainsbury’s has revealed.
The Grocer (21 Nov)

Global development podcast: farmers, GM crops and agriculture's future
What will farms look like in 20 years? Do small-scale farmers hold the key to global food security? Is there a role for GM crops to play? The debate was recorded at the 2012 Development Studies Association conference in London.
Guardian Podcast, listen now (21 Nov)

GM corn variety 'cannot be regarded as safe': Author of study linking food to cancer issues new attack
The team of researchers who caused uproar when they claimed a variety of genetically modified corn causes cancer has insisted the crop 'cannot be regarded as safe'.
Daily Mail (21 Nov)

Organic Holiday Fare to Face Pesticide Test Purists Call Flawed
A new rule designed to bolster the integrity of next year’s organic holiday food by testing for pesticides and contaminants may be too weak to be effective.
Bloomberg (21 Nov)

Ban GMOs, top Indian scientist urges government
The government should ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country, Indian scientist Dr. Tushar Chakraborty said on Wednesday.
Business Mirror (21 Nov)

Organic Consumers Association Calls for Boycott of 'Organic' and 'Natural' Brands That Helped Defeat Prop 37
In Finland, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) today called for a national boycott of the popular natural and organic brands owned by 10 parent companies that donated to defeat Prop 37, the California Right to Know GMO labelling initiative.
Yuba.Net (20 Nov)

UK dairy sector keeps improving welfare, says report
The dairy sector is continuing to raise the bar in its quest to improve dairy cow welfare, according to the Dairy Cow Welfare Strategy's second annual report.
Farmers Weekly (20 Nov)

Special guest joins kids for a hearty lunch
Warwickshire’s Joint Director of Public Health, John Linnane was a guest of honour at the Food for Life Partnership’s National Roast Dinner Day celebrations at Park Lane Primary School last week.
Warwickshire News (21 Nov)

Organic fertilizer fraud nets 6.5-year prison term
A federal judge sentenced a California man to 6 1/2 years in prison and ordered him to pay a $9 million judgment for defrauding the organic industry with synthetic fertilizer that he represented as certified for use in organic operations.
The Packer (20 Nov)

Farming Today
Flash floods have wiped out harvests in the South and West of England. Farmers say they are being forced to give up on their crops and start again in the spring, but are struggling to find seeds to plant as stocks run low. The weather is also threatening the welfare of livestock. And ahead of the EU budget negotiations which start today, Rural Affairs Secretary for Scotland Richard Lochhead tells Anna Hill that maintaining subsidies for farmers is vital for food production.
BBC Radio 4, listen again (22 Nov)

And finally… Bigfoot like creature spotted in Tunbridge Wells
Residents of the upmarket Royal Tunbridge Wells claim they have a giant ape-like beast running around the nearby countryside.
The Telegraph (22 Nov)