May 2013 National Geographic
▶ OUR FERTILIZED WORLD
If we don’t watch out, agriculture could destroy our planet. Here’s how to grow all the food we need with fewer chemicals.
N. Nitrogen. Atomic number seven. Unnoticed, untasted, it nevertheless fills our stomachs. It is the engine of agriculture, the key to plenty in our crowded, hungry world.
Enter modern chemistry. Giant factories capture inert nitrogen gas from the vast stores in our atmosphere and force it into a chemical union with the hydrogen in natural gas, creating the reactive compounds that plants crave. That nitrogen fertilizer—more than a hundred million tons applied worldwide every year—fuels bountiful harvests.
Yet this modern miracle exacts a price. Runaway nitrogen is suffocating wildlife in lakes and estuaries, contaminating groundwater, and even warming the globe’s climate. As a hungry world looks ahead to billions more mouths needing nitrogen-rich protein, how much clean water and air will survive our demand for fertile fields?... http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/05/fertilized-world/charles-text
UN Food and Agricultural Organization, February 16, 2014
▶ FERTILIZER USE TO SURPASS 200 MILLION TONS IN 2018
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/277488/icode/
February 18, 2013 Common Dream
▶ INDUSTRIAL CORPORATE AG TRIGGERS DEVASTATING 'WEB' OF POLLUTION - NEW UNDP REPORT https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/02/18-2
Grist, February 04, 2010
▶ THE DARK SIDE OF NITROGEN: IS AMERICA FERTILIZING DISASTER? https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/dark-side-nitrogen-america-fertilizing-disaster
Summit County Citizens Voice, March, 06, 2015
▶ AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL NUTRIENT POLLUTION DISRUPTING CARBON CYCLE IN STREAMS AND RIVERS http://summitcountyvoice.com/2015/03/06/environment-nutrient-pollution-disrupts-stream-carbon-cycle/
Summit County Citizens Voice, February 26, 2015
▶ INDUSTRIAL FERTILIZER RUNOFF IS LITERALLY CHOCKING SOME LAKES TO DEATH RISKING HUMAN EXPOSURE TO DANGEROUS TOXINS The immoderate use of fertilizers in the last half century is literally choking some lakes to death and raises the risk of human exposure to dangerous toxins, scientists said after studying the proliferation of blue-green algae. http://summitcountyvoice.com/2015/02/26/scientists-document-the-rise-of-blue-green-algae-in-lakes-around-the-world/
June 24, 2013 National Geographic
▶ BIGGEST DEAD ZONE EVER FORECAST IN GULF OF MEXICO http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130621-dead-zone-biggest-gulf-of-mexico-science-environment/
Summit County Citizens Voice, February 15, 2015
▶ GULF OF MEXICO DEAD ZONE CLEANUP TARGET PUSHED BACK -- BY 20 YEARS !! -- THE POWER OF BIG AG. In a classic example of government double-speak, the EPA announced this week that Mississippi River Basin states want to speed the reduction of nutrients that cause a huge Gulf of Mexico dead zone, but that they’re pushing back their target date for a cleanup by 20 years. http://summitcountyvoice.com/2015/02/15/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-cleanup-target-pushed-back/
Common Dreams, February 07, 2015
▶ WHO SHOULD CLEAN UP BIG AG's MESS?
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/02/07/who-should-clean-big-ags-mess
Mongabay, July 14, 2014
▶ TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: INDUSTRIAL FERTILIZER 'ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR DRIVERS OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS THIS CENTURY' http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0714-sutherland-fertilizer-grasslands.html
Terra Daily, October 16, 2013
▶ UNREGULATED, AGRICULTURAL AMMONIA THREATENS 38 U.S. NATIONAL PARKS' ECOLOGY http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Unregulated_agricultural_ammonia_threatens_national_parks_ecology_999.html
Nature, March 02, 2015
▶ EUROPE SOUNDS ALARM OVER FRESH WATER POLLUTION http://www.nature.com/news/europe-sounds-alarm-over-freshwater-pollution-1.17021
August 1, 2013 Huffington Post Green
▶ THE KILLING FIELDS: INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE, DEAD ZONE AND GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-kucinich/the-killing-fields-indust_b_3678515.html
CircleofBlue
- ▶ NEW THREAT TO GREAT LAKES COMES FROM AN OLD SOURCE - AGRICULTURAL, FACTORY FARM RUNOFF http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/CPX/cpx_great_lakes.shtml
July 5, 2013 NPR
▶ WHAT IS FARM RUNOFF DOING TO THE WATER? http://www.kccu.org/post/what-farm-runoff-doing-water-scientists-wade
EarthJustice, August 06, 2014
▶ IN FLORIDA, TOXIC ALGAE IS A YEAR-ROUND FIGHT In Florida, Toxic Algae is a Year-Round Fight. Recently, people in Toledo, Ohio, got a taste of the water problems that regularly plague Florida after a toxic algae outbreak left about a half a million Ohioans without a municipal drinking water supply. The likely culprit: agricultural pollution. http://earthjustice.org/blog/2014-august/toledo-s-algae-is-old-toxic-florida?utm_source=crm&utm_content=button
Reuters, August 03, 2014
- ▶ SOME 400,000 IN OHIO WITHOUT DRINKING WATER DUE TO TOXIN LEVELS FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/03/us-usa-water-ohio-idUSKBN0G30L620140803
NPR, January 12, 2015
▶ IOWA'S LARGEST CITY SUES OVER FARM FERTILIZER RUNOFF IN RIVERS http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/01/12/376139473/iowas-largest-city-sues-over-farm-fertilizer-runoff-in-rivers
Bloomberg View, August 05, 2014
- ▶ OHIO, TOLEDO' WATER, AMERICA'S DEAD SEA http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-08-05/toledo-s-water-america-s-dead-sea?alcmpid=view
August 21, 2013 Environment News Service
▶ FLORIDA WATERS ALIVE WITH TOXIC ALGAE, TOXIC POLITICS
Sickening people and killing dolphins, manatees, birds and fish http://ens-newswire.com/2013/08/21/florida-waters-alive-with-toxic-algae-toxic-politics/
SummitVoice, March 18, 2014
▶ OCEAN 'DEAD ZONES' CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING. The dead zones are caused by a variety of factors, including rising global temperatures and pollution from industry and agriculture http://summitcountyvoice.com/2010/03/18/environment-ocean-dead-zones-contribute-to-global-warming/
Summit Voice, November 28, 2014
▶ STUDY: HUMAN ACTIVITIES HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON PACIFIC OCEAN NITROGEN CYCLE http://summitcountyvoice.com/2014/11/28/study-human-activities-having-a-big-impact-on-pacific-ocean-nitrogen-cycle/
April 2, 2013 Science Daily
▶ INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL-BASED FERTILIZER USE RESPONSIBLE FOR INCREASE IN NITROUS OXIDE IN ATMOSPHERE http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402144930.htm
INDEPTH REPORT
GRAIN, September 16, 2014
AFRICA'S AG GIANTS "GREEN" REVOLUTION
THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF AFRICA' BURGEONING CHEMICAL FERTILISER RUSH
http://www.grain.org/bulletin_board/entries/5008-the-political-economy-of-africa-s-burgeoning-chemical-fertiliser-rush
Voice of America, May 22, 2014
▶ STUDY: MISSISSIPPI RIVER OVERWHELMED BY AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS : A RIVER OF DEAD FISH http://www.voanews.com/content/study-mississippi-river-overwhelmed-by-agricultural-chemicals/1920682.html
On Earth Magazine, July 09, 2014
-▶ IS IT TIME TO LET THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI BE MIGHTY AGAIN? . We've spent billions of dollars on dikes, locks, and levees in a vain attempt to subdue what Mark Twain called 'that lawless stream.' Is it time to let the river have its way? http://www.onearth.org/articles/2014/06/should-we-let-the-mighty-mississippi-be-mighty-again
WATCH
Emmy Award Winning 1 hr Film - University of Minnesota
▶ "TROUBLED WATERS: A MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORY" ▶
This excellent one hour documentary examines the "unintended consequences" of farming practices on water quality, soil loss and the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. Knitting together federal energy, farm and environmental policies, the film makes a compelling case for the revamping of US agricultural policy. Through beautiful photography and inspiring narrative, the film puts deliberate emphasis on solutions and provides a hopeful blueprint for progress and positive change... http://www.rememberthispoint.com/?p=212
CircleofBlue, Augut 01, 2014
- ▶ HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM EXPANDS IN LAKE ERIE http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2014/commentary/editorial-in-the-circle-fresh-focus/harmful-algal-bloom-expands-lake-erie/
WoscpmsomWatcj. August 19, 2014
- ▶ IN WISCONSIN, EVEN GOOD FARMING POLLUTES GROUNDWATER http://wisconsinwatch.org/2014/08/in-states-karst-area-even-good-farming-may-pollute-groundwater/
▶ PHARMACEUTICAL, ANTIBIOTICS, PESTICIDES, CHEMICAL POLLUTION IN OUR FOOD, STREAMS, RIVERS AND DRINKING WATER http://sco.lt/8qNmoz
▶ WHY ARE MILLIONS OF FISH SUDDENLY DYING IN MASS DEATH? http://banoosh.com/blog/2013/08/12/why-are-millions-of-fish-suddenly-dying-in-mass-death-events-all-over-the-planet/
StarNews Online, October 8, 2013
▶ MASSIVE FISH KILL CONTINUES ON NEUSE RIVER, CAROLINA http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20131008/ARTICLES/131009718?p=2&tc=pg
BBC News, February 16, 2014
▶ KILLER STARFISH THREATEN GREAT BARRIER REEF: AND AGRICULTURAL FERTILIZER RUNOFF IS TO BLAME http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26183209
WATCH
"A RIVER OF WASTE"
The Massive Pollution and History of Factory Farms - CAFOs
http://sco.lt/8NiH0j
NJToday.Net, November 24, 2013
▶ NEW JERSEY, USA: NO-FERTILIZER LAW GOES 'GREENER' FOR WINTER LAWNS http://njtoday.net/2013/11/24/the-state-were-in-new-fertilizer-law-goes-greener/
▶ U.S. OHIO SENATE BILL SEEKS TO CURB SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER RUN OFF http://www.beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/
cleveland.com, November 19, 2014
▶ CONGRESS HOLDS HEARING ON ALGAE CONTAMINATION OF LAKE ERIE DRINKING WATER http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/11/congress_holds_hearing_on_alga.html
Great Lakes Echo, November 1, 2014
▶ LAKE ERIE ISN'T ONLY LAKE WITH ALGAE HEADACHES: LAKE ONTARIO ALSO ON THE HOOK: AG FERTILIZER RUNOFF
http://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/03/lake-erie-isnt-only-lake-with-algae-headaches-lake-ontario-also-on-the-hook/
▶ MANGROVES, REEFS, FORESTS AND DUNES BEING OBLITERATED http://sco.lt/6tnLLF
Phys.org, January 13, 2015
▶ WASTEWATER DISCHARGES INTO THE PACIFIC IMPACTING FISH, MARINE MAMMALS AND HUMANS http://phys.org/news/2015-01-wastewater-discharges-pacific-affecting-fish.html
▶ HUMAN ACTIVITY IS LINKED TO MASS DOLPHIN DEATHS. "The immune systems of many marine mammals, especially coastal species like bottlenose dolphins, can be negatively affected by factors such as agricultural runoff, persistent organic pollutants (e.g., PCBs, DDT) and other contaminants," http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/359799
August 21, 2013 Environment News Service
▶ FLORIDA WATERS ALIVE WITH TOXIC ALGAE, TOXIC POLITICS
Sickening people and killing dolphins, manatees, birds and fish http://ens-newswire.com/2013/08/21/florida-waters-alive-with-toxic-algae-toxic-politics/
Huffington Post Green, September 24, 2013
- ▶ NEARLY ONE IN 10 U.S. WATERSHEDS IS "STRESSED; DEMAND FOR WATER OUTPACING SUPPLY http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/watersheds-stressed-study-supply-water_n_3983176.html
-▶ OUR INDUSTRIAL, WESTERN AGRICULTURAL FOOD SYSTEM IS DESTROYING THE EARTH AND OUR HEALTH http://sco.lt/63qRl3
Earth Policy Institute, January 08, 2014
▶ MANY COUNTRIES REACHING DIMINISHING RETURNS IN INDUSTRIAL FERTILIZER USE. Despite this U.S. advantage in fertilizer use efficiency over China, over-application poses serious pollution problems in both countries. Fertilizer runoff from the U.S. Corn Belt, for example, contributes heavily to an annual oxygen-starved “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico—an area where sea life cannot exist, which in some years grows to the size of New Jersey. http://www.earthpolicy.org/data_highlights/2014/highlights43
VIDEO
July 4, 2013 Guardian Environment
▶ CHINA'S LARGEST ALGAE BLOOM TURNS THE YELLOW SEA GREEN http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jul/04/china-algal-bloom-yellow-sea-green
June 29, 2013 Shanghai Daily
▶ THE DAY THAT THE RIVER TURNED BLACK http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/National/2013/06/29/The%2Bday%2Bthat%2Bthe%2Briver%2Bturned%2Bblack/
▶ DUTCH GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NITROGEN-REDUCTION BILL FOR NATURE AREAS http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Dutch_government_introduces_nitrogen-reduction_bill_for_nature_areas_999.html
The Ecologist, December 12, 2013
-▶ WHAT PRICE NATURE? : If the world is to feed a growing population against a backdrop of climate change and biodiversity loss, argues Charles Windsor, we must calculate in the cost of the damage we are causing to soils, water, climate and ecosystems... http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/2194757/we_must_put_a_price_on_nature.html
==========================
WETLANDS VITAL IN SUPPORTING HUMAN LIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
http://sco.lt/6Nfjcn
===========================
Terra Daily, October 28, 2013
▶ INCREASING TOXICITY OF ALGAL BLOOMS TIED TO NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Increasing_toxicity_of_algal_blooms_tied_to_nutrient_enrichment_and_climate_change_999.html
The Green Political Foundation, May 22, 2013
▶ A SOILED REPUTATION: ADVERSE IMPACTS OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS IN TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (PDF DOWNLOAD) http://www.boell.de/en/content/soiled-reputation-adverse-impacts-mineral-fertilizers-tropical-agriculture
VIDEO
MSNBC INVESTIGATIVE REPORT (22:36)
July 07, 2014
-▶ KOCH-BACKED AG HIDES TRUTH OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZER PLANT DANGERS - AG-GAG LAWS http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/koch-backed-ag-helps-hide-chemical-dangers-298973251858
===========================
-▶ MORE THAN HALF OF U.S. RIVERS ARE TOO POLLUTED TO SUPPORT LIFE http://sco.lt/5Gpafx
▶ OUR INDUSTRIAL, WESTERN AGRICULTURAL FOOD SYSTEM IS DESTROYING THE EARTH AND OUR HEALTH http://sco.lt/63qRl3
===========================
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
▶ WORLDWIDE STUDY FINDS THAT FERTILIZER DESTABILIZES GRASSLANDS http://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/unltoday/article/worldwide-study-finds-that-fertilizer-destabilizes-grasslands/
August 8, 2013 QUESTScience
▶ FARMERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS FROM FERTILIZER RUNOFF http://science.kqed.org/quest/audio/farmers-fight-back-against-toxic-algal-blooms/
VIDEO
The Vancouver Sun, June 09, 2014
▶ THREAT TO CRITICAL WATERWAYS REVEALS A U.S.-CANADA DIVIDE. They are the invisible waterways. Laced with farm manure, choked with invasive grasses and often seasonally dry, their subtle meanderings go unnoticed and unappreciated. There are hundreds of them in the Fraser Valley, providing critical habitat for endangered fish and frogs against a tide of government neglect, poor farming practices and public ignorance. http://www.vancouversun.com/Threat+critical+waterways+reveals+Canada+divide/9919381/story.html
The Guardian Science, November 2, 2013
▶ FROM FERTILIZER TO ZYKLONB: 100 YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY THAT BROUGHT LIFE AND DEATH http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/03/fritz-haber-fertiliser-ammonia-centenary
▶ THE NEXT GREEN REVOLUTION - THIS TIME WITHOUT FOSSIL FUELS AND LASHINGS OF PESTICIDES http://sco.lt/7yl1s1
Treehugger, October 9, 2013
▶ ARE BIOFUELS CONTRIBUTING TO DEAD ZONES? http://www.treehugger.com/environmental-policy/are-biofuels-still-contributing-dead-zone.html
THE DARK SIDE OF BIOFUELS.
RESEARCH SUGGESTS BIOFUEL WILL COST THE EARTH
http://sco.lt/8ezJ2X
ROUNDUP - THE ULTIMATE KILLING MACHINE
New Charges Against Monsanto's "Pesticide" Roundup
http://sco.lt/5TS0Hp
- ▶ IT'S TIME THE PESTICIDE/CHEMICAL INDUSTRY OWNED UP: THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR PESTICIDES ARE CAUSING AN ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE http://sco.lt/7qvjPt
▶ PESTICIDE/CHEMICAL REGULATION OVERHAUL NEEDED TO PROTECT WILDLIFE, ECOSYSTEMS AND FOOD CHAIN http://sco.lt/5oplFx
Scientific American, May 12, 2014
▶ DRUGS, CHEMICALS SEEP DEEP INTO SOIL FROM SEWAGE SLUDGE FERTILIZER. The researchers looked for 57 “emerging” contaminants that are increasingly showing up in the environment. Ten were detected in the soil at depths between 7 and 50 inches 18 months after the treated sludge was applied. None was in the field’s soil beforehand. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drugs-chemicals-seep-deep-into-soil-from-sewage-sludge/
PR Watch, January 15, 2014
▶ BIOSOLIDS: UNDER PRESSURE, WHOLE FOODS AGREES TO STOP SELLING PRODUCE GROWN IN SEWAGE SLUDGE... Industrial and hospital waste and human excrement http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/01/12359/whole-foods-agrees-stop-selling-produce-grown-sewage-sludge
SOIL AS A LIFELINE:
THE HIDDEN WORLD OF SOIL UNDER OUR FEET
http://sco.lt/4nJvdp
Feb 6, 2012 = YES Magazine
▶ GOING BEYOND ORGANIC, A NEW GENERATION OF FARMERS IS NURTURING NATURE AS WELL AS CROPS http://sco.lt/7uZHJR
Transition Network
▶ HOW DIFFERENT THE WORLD WOULD BE IF WE PAID THE TRUE COST OF FOOD AND FARMING? http://www.transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins/2013-12/how-different-would-world-be-if-we-paid-true-cost-food-and-farming
▶ UN: THE ERA OF EVER-LASTING PRODUCTION BASED ON MAXIMIZING PROFITS HAS REACHED ITS LIMITS http://sco.lt/6C3RoH
July 16, 2013 Guardian Sustainable Business
▶ THE SCIENTIST AND STARTUPS CONVERTING WASTE WATER INTO CLEAN ENERGY http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/waste-water-convert-clean-energy
FROM 'FERTILIZER TO FORK'
INDUSTRIAL FOOD ACCOUNTS FOR A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS http://sco.lt/5kCdfd
▶ +++THE HUNGER GAMES: HOW UK AND USA GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT FOR BIG AGRIBUSINESS IS FUELING POVERTY http://sco.lt/6UGd17
▶ +++ HOW NOT TO "FEED THE WORLD" http://sco.lt/6fKNnN
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FOOD OR FUEL? THE PROBLEM WITH BIOFUELS, AGROFUELS, BIODIESEL:
No Matter which way you cut the case the idea of biofuels, although glowing, is not "sustainable" and is tied to big profits in commodity trading, agriculture and the devastating global landgrabbing.
Nature requires a balanced, biodiverse ecosystem in order to maintain her balance and support for all life on this planet.
Monoculture crops destroy biodiversity with it's genetically engineered gene-altering technology that requires lashings and lashings of pesticides and chemicals to produce, creating a sterile environment where no life but the crop can survive.
The land grab issue is of deep concern, for once you own the land you can do what you want with it, including redirecting water rights and poisoning the soil (and water). The end result: the local environment, biodiversity and ecosystems (including animal life) is disappeared, leaving a barren rotating, monoculture crop designed for export.
This type of thinking destroys cultures, local communities and our biosphere contributing to climate change, more poverty, higher food prices and fueling the commodity markets for profit and quarterly bottom lines.
So let's rethink what we are doing with the rush for more biofuels.