John Kinsman: Activist FarmerJohn Kinsman: Activist Farmer

table of contents

2-3 TableofContentsandBiographicalIntroduction4-9 InterviewwithJohn10-29 WritingsAboutJohn30-37 WritingsbyJohn

SpecialThankstoJohnPeck,SusanHunter,JoelGreeno,transcriptionbyIrinaContreras,layouthelpbyEricTriantafillou,LaurenCumbia,AmyMallandSherwinOvidfromFamilyFarmDefenders;andHarishPatel,TaraLaneandLisaLeefromtheJaneAddamsHullHouseMuseum.

CoverphotobyJuliaBaumgartner(JustCoffee)LayoutbyDanielTucker(FarmTogetherNow)

Bookletproducedfor:FirstAnnualJohnKinsmanBeginningFarmerFoodSovereigntyPrizeHarvestDinnerandAwardCeremonyon11-12-11GoodmanCommunityCenter(149WaubesaSt,Madison,Wisconsin.)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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John Kinsman is an organic dairy farmer and forester from Lime Ridge, Wisconsin. On the farm he purchased 60 years ago with his wife Jean, he raises 36 cows on a 150-acre farm – 80 acres of which are devoted to rotational graz-ing and hay production, while another 70 acres is devoted to woodland. Kinsman is president of Family Farm Defenders (FFD), a group he helped found in 1994 to promote sustainable agriculture, fair trade, workers rights, animal welfare, consumer safety, environmental stew-ardship and – above all - food sovereignty. He is also the secretary of the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC). Through FFD, John also works to relocalize food/farm economies and forge new economic relationships between consumers and farmers. One example of this is the Family Farmer Fair Trade Project that enables FFD to direct market cheese from Cedar Grove in Plain WI, giving farmers a fair price while providing a healthier rBGH free alternative to consumers. John remains one of the leading U.S. critics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and is also an outspoken critic of corporate globaliza-tion. As one of the farmer leaders involved in Via Campesina, the largest umbrella organization for farmers, fishers, foresters, hunters, gatherers, and indigenous peoples in the world – he has also traveled extensively around the world to share the message of food sovereignty.

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Interview with John

photo by John Peck

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ConductedlivebyDanielTuckerattheJaneAddamsHullHouseMuseum(Chicago,IL)September27th,2011

Daniel Tucker (DT): Your parents farmed during the Great Depression. You have said it was easier for farmers then than it is for farmers now. Why is that?

JohnKinsman(JK):Atthattime,wewerediver-sifiedfarmers.Wehadcows,pigsandchickens.Weraisedwheat,oatsandbarley.Andwhenwedidn’thaveenoughmoneytobuywonderfulwhitebread,slicedwhitebread,mygodwehadtoeatwheatbread,wetookittothemillandgroundit,hateditandnowweloveit.Andwearelookingforitallover.Sothatispartofhowwelivedbutitwasnotaproblem.Anditwasaleisurelylife,believeitornot.WeneverworkedonSunday.Nobodyinthefamilyhadtoworkout[offfarm]tosupportthefarm.Afarmnowisal-mostahobbyforsomepeople.Themanandthewomanhavetogetajobtosupporttheirhobby.Myparentswereabletogototheworld’sfairChicagoin1933andthisisduringtheDepres-sion.AndIremembermygrandmothercameandtookcareofus.IforgothowoldIwasbutnotoldenoughtorunthefarm.Andtheydidthat,mygrandparentswenttoCalifornia.AndIhaveapictureofthat,mygrandmawithgoggleson,sheandGrandpawentonaflightinanopencockpitplaneinCaliforniaandsoon.Well,anywayitwasamoreleisurelytime.Weateberrieseverydaysowepickedberries.Wildberriesandafewtameones.Irememberthegooseberriesespeciallybe-causetheywereprickly.Andmymothercannedthem.Andnowweknowthatberriesareveryhealthy.But,wehadberriesforalmosttwiceadayandweatethemfreshorcanned.Andso,itwasagoodlifeinspiteoftheso-calledDepres-sion.

DT: You’ve said that you agree with a recent UN report saying “supporting low carbon and re-source preserving small holder farms” is the only kind of agriculture that will cool the planet - in reference to global warming. You have farmed or-ganically since the 60’s but you didn’t always. Can you talk about your transition to organic farming and what you have learned from this approach to agriculture?

JK:Certainly.TheUWMadison,theCollegeofAgriculturewasthebestfriendofmyfatherandmyself.Andastimewenton,itwaslikethingswerechanging.Weweregettingintotechnologythatwehadquestionsaboutbutwethoughtwehadtodoit.Youknowthestoryofthefrog?Youputthefroginwaterandyouturnuptheheatalittlebitandalittlebitmoreandprettysoonthe

frogisboiledanditdoesn’tevenjumpout.Andthishappenedtous.AndIstartedusingherbi-cidesthinking“well,thiswillsavemealotoftime”.AndIendedupintheUniversityHospitalwithsomeseriousburns.Theywouldneversaywhatitwasbecauseoftheresearchgoingon.Butthedoctorssaid,“What’syourname?What’syouroccupation?”“Farmer.”“Whenwasthelasttimeyouusedherbicidesorpesticides?”Andthesamewiththemedstudentswhoexaminedme.Samething,exactly.SoIknewwhatitwasandyettherewasn’teveranythingintherecordsthatsaidwhatitwas.

DT: And these were herbicides that they had given you? Is that right?

JK:ThiswaswhattheypromotedattheUniver-sityandthenwestartedlooking…andIbecameorganicovernight.Thatwasalmost50yearsago.AndIwasinthatdirectionbutwewereledawayfromitbytheresearch.Wedidn’tknowthatthesechemicalcompanieswerefundingthere-searchandtherestsowedidaFOIAsearchonetimeandfoundoutalotofthings...

DT: So can you say a little bit more, just give us a sense of what your farm is like and what your farming practices are like?

JK:Mypassionistreeplantingandfarming.BecauseIamasustainabletreefarmerandmyfamilyhaveplantedovera100,000trees,butwehavenoplacetoplantanymorebecauseeveryinchthattherecouldbeplantedatreeisplantedalready.So,it’sjustajoytoseewhatthatdoestotheenvironmentandbecomesthemostvaluablepartofwhatcouldhavebeenclearedandsoon.That’spartofit.Whatwastherestoftheques-tion?

DT: And tell us a little bit about your dairy opera-tion.

JK:Okay.Wehave36cows;maintainthatnumberandit’sanintensiverotationalgraz-ing.Mycowsgetfreshpasture,greengrassandcloverevery12hours.Andiftheydon’tgetit,theycomplain.So,buttheyspreadthemanure,theyspreadthefertilizerandtheycarrythemilkinandtheycarrythefertilizerout.Sowehaveaverylowcarbonfootprint.Manyfarmers,espe-ciallythefactoryfarmsthinkIamnotafarmer.Infact,theUWCollegeofAgriculturedoesn’tconsidermeafarmerbecauseIamnotrunningthetractor12/14hoursaday.But,mycowsaredoingtheirwork.Andthat’swherethecheeseyouwillhavetodayandsoon.Itcamefrommycows.

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DT: I want to step back a little bit in history and talk about some of your civil rights and anti-rac-ist activism throughout the US and in Wisconsin, in particular. Project Self Help and Awareness or PSA is a 40-year-old organization that you be-came involved in very early on and played a lead role in. You coordinated other white Wisconsin families to host a visiting… hundreds of visiting Black children and teenagers from Mississippi for 3 weeks every summer. And this in an ongo-ing program. Can you tell us a little about the motivation behind these exchanges, this exchange program and how it related to the Civil Rights Movement?

JK:Itwasactually45yearsago.And,aBlackwoman,EulaWashingtonwhohostedthisman,MalcolmGissen,whowasaUniversitystudentandwasoneofthefreedomriders,andshesaid“nowwecan’tendthishere.Wehavetocon-tinueinsomewaybecausethisisthefirsttimemychildrenhaveeverhadagoodrelationshipwithwhitepeople”.Andso,theythenpatchedthisplanthatwasexcellentandafterabout…wewereinthe2ndyear,andafterthatitbecamesodifficult,heturneditallovertome.Andsoitwasverydifficult.Wedid12roundtripswithanoldschoolbusthatwerefurbishedtobringthesechildrenmatchedwithcoordinatorsinWiscon-sinmatchedwithcoordinatorsinMississippitogivethemanexperiencethatwouldraisetheirself-esteem.Thatwasthewholepartofitwastomakethemfeelgoodaboutthemselvesandtonotbeahandout.Itwassolidarity.Itwasawaytomakethemfeelthattheywereequal;theycoulddoanythingtheywanted.AndthepovertywassogreatthefirsttimeIwasthere.IstayedinahomeinCarrollCountyinthehills.Partofthehousehadadirtfloor.Thereweren’tno…noelec-tricity.Andthiswastypicalofmanyoftheruralpeople.AndsoIlearnedalot.Icriedalottoo.Butyoudon’tmakefriendsbycryingso…theywouldsaywhyareyoulaughing?Youwannaseemecry?So,itwastremendous.So,these12roundtripswouldbringthesechildrenupwestartedtakingadultsdownandcollegestudentstodoHeadstartworkandjusttoimmersethem-selves.That’stheonlyway.Youcan’texplainitofhowgreatitis.Icouldseethecourageandjoythatthemostpovertystrickenstateintheunionandsomeofthemostpovertystrickencoun-tiesandsomeofthemstillaretoseeallofthesepeopleandcelebrateandmakeyoufeelgood.

DT: You told me a story about how this was kinda transformative for you and an exchange you had with a woman named Rosie, Rosie May Hosey I think her name is. What did Rosie say to you?

JK:Rosiewasoneofthepeoplethatherchildren

cametoWisconsin.Shelivedaverytoughlife.Justanexample,oneofmyneighborshostedherchildrenandsoshewentandstayedwithRosiefortwodays.Andforbreakfast,Rosieborrowedahotplatefromaneighborandwarmedupsomefatback.Andthenforthenoonlunch,theywenttoalocalJuniorsconveniencestoreanddividedabagofCheetos.Anyways,Rosiewasalwaysahappyperson.Andjustagreatpersontobewith.WisconsinPublicTelevisioninterviewedRosieandIsawthedocumentaryfilm.Andinit,heaskedRosiequestions.

“Whoarethewhitepeoplethatyougottoknow?”Shewentonandnamedafew.“AndthentherewasJohnKinsman,nawbutheisoneofus”.

Iwillneverforgetthat.ThatwasoneofthegreatestcomplimentsIhaveeverhad.

DT: Yea, that’s great. When we talked on the phone, you were telling me a little about your ancestry and saying that your ancestors were settlers. And that that was something you were critical about. And since you have done work in Wisconsin to defend Native land and farm sovereignty. Can you give us an example of these experiences?

JK:MygreatgrandparentscamebycoveredwagonandoxenfromtheEast.Andtheysettled.ButwhenIthinkaboutitnow,therewerepeoplethere.Theyweresettlersandthat’snotthewayitissupposedtobe.And,theytooktheland.TheNativepeople,nowandallovertheworldare…Landgrabbingisgoingon.Andthatwaslandgrabbingalsobutitwasnotnamedthat.Andofcourse,thereweresavages.Inmygrand-mother’sdiary,sheandheryoungersisterwhowasJeanette.Shewas16andmygrandmotherhadjustmarried,shewasprobably20or21.TheyweregoingfromoneareatoanotherandabandofIndianshadmovedin.Andtheywentdowntotalktothemtwice.Theyhadnofearofthesesavages,socalled.Itwasinteresting.But,theywerestillsettlers.

DT: And what were some of the exchanges or ac-tivism you had around Native land in Wisconsin?

JK:Well,weTheCrandonMinewasabigmineabouttenyearsagoproposedbyExxoninNativelandinnorthernWisconsin.Anditwouldhavedestroyedtheirwildricebeds,headwatersofabeautifulriverthatwentthroughthereserva-tion.Itwasverydestructivesowedida,asortofahearing.AndIrepresentedfarmersofNorthAmerica.Therestofthemdidn’tknowitbut

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eh...wehadNativepeople,indigenouspeoplefromSouthAmericawheretheyhadahistoryofminesandallthewayintotheSouthwest.ThiswasonareservationinnorthernWisconsinandallthewaytoCanada,uptoAlaska.Everytime,itwasapathofdestruction.Theydidnothirelocalpeople.Theybroughtinpeople.Theydidnotcleanup.Theyjustdestroyedthecommunity.Therewasprostitution.Thereweredrugs.Therewaseverythinggoingonaftertheyleft.Andthereisanotheronewearefightingrightnowattheheadwatersofanotherriver,theBadRiverthatisontheBadRiverReservation.So,it’snever-ending.

Iamgoingtorepeatthis.Thepriceofjusticeiseternalvigilance.Andjusticeisjustus.Andsoit’ssomethingwehavetothinkabout.Andtherewillneverbepeaceunlessthereisjustice.SoWi-nonaLaDuke...Doyouknowthename?WinonaranforvicepresidentunderRalphNaderatonetime.SheisaverygoodfriendoftheJohnPeckandmyselfandtheFamilyFarmDefendersandsheinvitedustohaveourannualmeetingontheWhiteOakreservationanditwastremendous.Tremendoustojustbeabletositdownwiththepeopleandhelp,exchangeanddosolidarityanddothebattleswithpeople.

DT: And there is something else I am wonder-ing . . .You mentioned Family Farm Defenders. I wanna jump off from Wisconsin and talk more about global work that you have done. In 1994, you were part of a group that started Family Farm Defenders. And through that group and the National Family Farm Coalition which is an um-brella coalition, you built international solidarity through another larger international network called Via Campesina, the international network of peasant farmers. And you have started to call yourself a “peasant farmer” and refer to yourself in those terms that Via Campesina has proposed. So I want to ask you about one of the groups that you have interacted with through these travels and that’s the Landless Workers Movement or the MST in Brazil. You have been to Brazil several times, met these organizers in other countries throughout the world. Can you tell me a little bit about your experiences with MST and how they influenced you?

JK:TheyareagroupofpeoplethatinBrazilthatwentthroughbloodshedtooccupyun-usedlandthatbiglandownersinBraziltookoverandmostofwhatwasstolenfromindigenouspeople,throughlandgrabbing.Anditlayidle.Andtheyhadsomanyprivilegesthattheydidnotproduceanything.Sothesepeoplesimplytookoverandsettledontheirownlandactually.Theyweresowellorganizedinwhattheydidoverthetime

thattheyfoundtheywererecognizedbythegovernmentaftertheywentthroughayearandahalfoflivinginaplasticcampwithonlydirtforfloor.

They’reimpressive...Thewaterwashauledin…thatwasanotherthingthatalwayssticksinmymind.Itwashot.Itwasunderthetreesandamancameoutandsetachairunderthetreeandbroughtmeaglassoflukewarmwater.Itwaslikegivingamilliondollarsbecausethatwasallhehadtooffer.But,itwassograndtoseethat.Andthenwewenttowheretheyhadbuiltupthecommunities.Beautifulcommunitycenters.Everyonehadaplotofland.Therewasanicehouse.Theyhadanimals.Itwasdiversified.Andtheyaredoingsowellthatnowit’smoving,Ithink300,000peoplehavebeenre-settledontotheirlandandareproductive,producingfoodthatthecountryneeded.AndnowtheyaregoingintoAfricawiththesamemodel.

ViaCampesinamembershavevisitedusmanytimes[inWisconsin].Andsowehaveorganizedtoursofourfarmsandlocalentrepreneursandthingsthatworkandsomethingsthatdon’twork.TheyhavebeenabiginspirationbutIhavetosaythatitstartedwiththeBovineGrowthHormone.HowmanyareawareoftheBovineGrowthHormone?Thefirstgeneticallyengi-neeredproducttoenterthefoodchain.Well,itcametous30,no27yearsagointheUniversityofWisconsinhadagatheringofscientistsandtellingusthatfarmersarenotsmartenoughtounderstandit.That’samistake.Someofem’aren’tbutmostofem’are.

Sowecouldnotgetattentionfromthepress,becauseonehalfofallthedairyproductssoldevenintheUniversityofWisconsincafeteria,evenintheirhospitalcamefromthatexperimen-talherd.Andthepeopledidnotknowit.Andwecouldnotgetpress.Andso,IhadbeentoalltheseprotestsincivilrightserainMississippiandsoImadethiscrudesignthatsaid“Areyouawarethatyouareallguineapigsoraproduct?”AndIhadhandoutsthatwereprettycrudeatfirstandstoodinfrontoftheMemorialUnion,thebiggestconcentrationofstudentsandfacultyandstaff.Andimmediately,wehadinternationalattention.Therewerecamerasalloverbecauseofthisinformationandthefactthatwewerestand-inguptoit.

Andsowithinsixmonths,Iwasinvitedonatenmonth,tendaytourofEuropeandspeakonthisbecauseatthesametimethepeople,thefarm-ers,theyhaddecidednottoallowitinEurope.Andtheysaiditwassoexciting[forthem]toseethefarmersmarchingontheuniversity.I

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said,“HereIam”.Allthesestudentsandalltheseotherpeopleandthisbigcrowd[gatheredonthetour].Andso,sometimeifyoudon’tevenknowwhatyouaredoing,itworks.Andso,that’showthatgotgoing.AndNationalFamilyFarmCoali-tiondidnotacceptittillFamilyFarmDefendersandmyselfhadtopracticallydragthemkickingandscreamingtoacceptthatyouneedtofightthesethingsandlookatwhattheyaredoingandwhoispayingforit?Allthemoneyandsothatisthewayitwent.

DT: And just to clear up the names one more time for everyone, Via Campesina is the name of the international network. And that’s how John ended up in Brazil and Europe through this international network of peasant farmers. And the National Family Farm Coalition is the US representatives or chapter of Via Campesina. And they are based in DC. And that is something that John Kinsman has been deeply involved with, networking on a national level. And Family Farm Defenders is the group that John works most consistently with on a regular basis and they are based in Madison, Wisconsin.

AndsothroughNationalFamilyFarmCoalitionandFamilyFarmDefenders,youhavedonealot.Soyouhavedonealotofbuildingwithpeopleonanationalscale.AlotofthedirectorganizingandsolidarityyouhavedonehasbeenonthescaleoftheUS.YouhavesentfarmequipmenttofarmersinthesouthafterHurricaneKatrina.Mostrecently,youhavebeenworkingonsend-inghaytofarmerswhohavebeenexperiencingdroughtinOklahomaandTexas.AndsoIjustwantyoutosayalittlebitaboutyourdecisiontodothiskindofdirectserviceanddirectactiononthenationalscale.AndanythoughtsyouhaveaboutfoodpolicyandwhatwecandohereintheUnitedStates,ontheturfthatweexiston?

JK:FamilyFarmDefendersbecameinterna-tionallikeIsayovernightbecausepeople,wehadamessagethatwasinternationalbecausewecouldseetheconnectionsalways.IhavebeentoeverycontinentexceptAntarctica.Andthesepeoplepaidmywayandoften,JohnPeck’swaytogotheseinternationalmeetings.IwaspartofViaCampesinawhenitwasbeingformed.Ihaveworkedwiththesepeoplefor26,27years.

Asfaraslocallyjustasanexample...soIstarted,wellmyselfandmydaughterandafewothersworkinglocallyaroundfood.Thatwasacommondenominator:everybodyatefood.Otherwise,itjustdidn’twork,itseemedlike.Andsowegottofourlocalchurchesthatwereinacluster.Theyhada“peaceandjusticecommittees”andthebiggestthingtheycoulddowasabakesale.

Theydidn’tknowwhatelsetodo.So,wejustwentonwiththat.AndIwasabletoshowthemthe“sevenprincipalsoffoodsovereignty”,whichincluded“justiceforworkers”,which“organics”doesnotinclude.Wehaveformedthefairtradeneighborhood…soafterthesemeetingswithourlocalpeople,theAmishpeoplewereatremen-douspartofit.Andothers,wewouldcomehomefromthemeetingandourheadsweremovingsofastatnight,andwecan’tsleepatnight.But,thisisreallyworking.Wearedoingalotoflocalfoods;wedidacommunitymeal,lastSunday,inthecommunity.It’sthebiggestcrowdsweeverget.Monthlymealsthatwedomaybethreeorfourtimesayear.Alllocal.

DT: And recently you had a chance to go to Iowa and you bumped into um, our buddy President Obama and had a chance to talk to him. What happened in Iowa?

JK:Thiswasthe“ruraleconomicsummitandlisteningsession”abouttwomonthsago.Andwewere[only]abletogetanotherfarmerJoelGreenoandIticketsbecausetherewerelessthan100peopleandhalfthestaffofObama.Andsomehow,Ihadaseatinthefront,inthemiddleandObama’srightthere.Idon’tknowhowIgotthatseatbutwehadfineseats…maybehethoughtIshouldlisten.Itwasgood.Theydidcampaignlikeweexpected,alittlebitandthentheydividedusintoworkshopssortofanddif-ferentstaffpeoplelikesecretaryofagriculture,secretaryoftransportation.IwasintheonewithRayLahood,SecretaryofTransportation.

DT: So what did you say to Ray Lahood?

JK:So,IgothisattentionandIsaid,“IlivedthroughtheGreatDepression.Thatwasnotasbadasthisis.”AndItoldhimsomeofthethingsIamtellingyou.AndItoldhimIhadlivedthroughanumberoftheseeconomicproblems,downturnsandemergencies.AndIsaidtheyareallpoliticallymotivated.It’sbigcompaniesbuyingthegovernment...Ialso[criticized]theFTA,theFreeTradeAgreementyouknowtheyaretryingto[start]inKorea,PanamaandBoliviaandnowColumbia.IwasinvitedtoSouthKoreathreemonthsago.AndsoIcouldsay[toRayLa-hoodthat]‘IwasinSouthKoreatwomonthsagotalkingtothesepeople.It’sgoingtoput40%oftheirfarmsofftheland.Don’tyouthinkit’sbet-terthatweworktocooperateinsteadoftryingtocompete?We’recompetingwiththewholeworld.HowcanwecompetewithChinaandIndia?AndIknowpeoplefromIndia...[like]VandanaShiva,youknowher?Shesays“wewereselfsufficient,andourpopulationwasstablebeforecoloniza-tion”.Andshesaidthesefreetradeagreements

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areanotherformofcolonization’.

SoIaskedthewholegroup,“isn’titmoreimpor-tanttomakefriendsthantotryandcompeteforthelowest”?Andthat’swhattheydo.It’saracetothebottominprices,wagesandenvironmen-taldegradation.Andso,withabigsilence.[But]IcantakeasmuchtimeasIwanttocuzIhavelivedthroughallthethingsIwastalkingabout.Andtherewasmoreofcourse.Andsotheydidn’tknowquitehowtostopme.Itchangedthewaythiswholeconversationwent.Awoman,alesserstaffperson,aBlackpersonsaid,“myfather’sfarmisbeingisindangerofbeinglost”.[Therewas]Silence.

AndthentheFutureFarmersofAmericawerein-vited,theofficersofthreeorfourstatesbecausethatlookedgood,tohaveFFA.Andso,IwassittingnexttooneandItalkedtohimwhileweateandthen[someonecalledonhimtospeak]andhesaid,“IwanttofarmbutIcan’tbecausethepricesaresolowandtheconditionsareortheexpensesaresohigh”.Andhesaid,“NotonepersoninmyFFAchapterisgoingtofarm”.Ofcoursetheydidn’twanttohearthat.Thentheguynexttomespokeout.Hesays,“Mypassionisfarming.Iwanttofarm.But,Ican’t.”NotonlyIcan’tbutIamgoingtohavetomoveoutofthecommunity.Andtheydidn’twanttohearthateither.So,therewasalotofgoodtestimony.

Meanwhile,myfriendJoelwasinanotherexten-sionwhereObamacameinandhegavehimthewholething...Joeljustgavehimeverything.AndObamastayedtheretoolong.Joelwouldn’tlethimgo.Andthesecretaryofagriculture[TomVilsack]wasthereandJoelsaid,“Doyouknowme?”Hesaid,“Isuredo”.Andhetookalongde-touraroundmethatdaytoo.Weconfirmedthat.

DT: What you said about emphasizing coopera-tion over competition is pretty essential espe-cially as you are describing the entire disillusion of the farms across the US and the farms across the world. I wonder what note you would like to end on?

JK:SowhatIamsayingiswhatcountsislocalfoods…ifwealldemandtoknowwhereourfoodcomesfrom,ifyoucan’tfindyourfarmerthat’sproducingandknowthempersonally…atleastquestionwhereyourfoodcomesfrom.Andwewanttochangepolicies.Onewomanisonourexecutiveboard,anurbanwoman[fromMilwau-kee]andtheydid.Sheaskedaboutwheredoeshermilkorcheesecomefrom[andifthe]cowswereinjectedwithBovineGrowthHormone.Well,thegrocersdon’tknow.Shesayswell,I’msorrywewilljusthavetogosomewhereelseand

buyourgroceries.No,no,no,comeback.Andso,theycamebackinacoupleofweeksandtheychangedtheirpolicy.Ittooktwopeopletoaskthat.

Iwilljustrepeatthepriceofjusticeisinternalvigilanceandtherewillbenopeacewithoutjustice.AndJohnPeckandIhavebothreceivedawardsbecauseofwhatwearedoingandwenevertalkedaboutpeacebutitisthiskindofthingthatwillbringpeace.Youareallpartofit.Andyoucanallmakeadifference.Itonlytakesoneortwotorattlethewholecage.Thankyou.

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Got Economic Justice? byJohnKinsman

TheU.S.cannotachievelastingeconomicrecov-eryuntilitshiftstoaneconomybasedonjustice.GovernmentofficialsinWashington,DCandthefiftystatesarescramblingtocutfundingforessentialserviceswhileignoringtheelephantsinthelivingroom.

Whywon’tgovernmentofficialsacknowledgetheelephantsandsolvethiscrisis?

1.)The#1industryintheU.S.isthemilitary.Overhalfofourfederalbudgetnowgoestomili-taryrelatedexpenditures.TheU.S.istrappedinamilitaryindustrialcomplexbasedonwarandfearofviolence.Our#1exportisarmsandmili-taryhardwaretomostanynation,ofteneventu-allyusedagainstoneanotherandagainstus.Billionsofdollarsgotomaintaintroopsandthe700+U.S.militarybasesallovertheworld.Thebudgetforhighlypaidsecretivemercenariesishigherthanthebudgetforregularmilitaryper-sonnel.Billionsofdollarsareunaccountedforinrampantlycorruptmilitaryoutlaysthatseemtobeaboveprosecution.“Americaispre-pro-grammedforwar,andunlesstheanti-warmove-mentdramaticallychangesthemannerinwhichitconductsitsstruggle,Americawillbecomeanationofwar,forwar,anddefinedbywar,andassuchanationthatwillultimatelybeconsumedbywar,”notedformerMarineCorpsmajor,ScottRitter,inhis2007book,WagingPeace:TheArtofWarfortheAnti-WarMovement.

2.)Blatantcriminalactivitybyhugebanksandinsidetradersareimpoverishingmillionsofpeo-ple.Pricefixingandlandgrabbingbycommoditytradersandfinancialspeculatorsaredestroyingcountlessfamilyfarmers.Obviously,seriousenforcementofanti-trustlegislationwouldembarrassandimplicatetoomanypolitical“friends”inCongressandotherhighgovernmentpositions.Hundredsoffarmers,consumers,andtheiralliesspokeoutagainstcorporatecontrolofourfood/farmsystematjointUSDA/DoJanti-trustworkshopsheldacrosstheU.S.lastyear,yetnothinghasbeendone.

3.)TheU.S.prisonsystemisanotheroneofourlargestindustries.TheU.S.hasthehighestrateofincarcerationpercapitaofanycountryintheworld.Infact,accordingtothePewResearch

Center,1outofevery100Americansisnowbehindbars.Muchofthistrendisbasedondestructivedrugpoliciesthatareselectivelyenforced.Millionsofpoorpeopleofcolorareimprisonedforengaginginthesametypesofminordrugcrimesthatgoignoredinlargelywhitemiddleclasscommunitiesandoncollegecampuses.Ifwereturnedtotheincarcerationratesournationhadinthe1970s(whichmanycitizensthenthoughtweremuchtoohigh),wewouldneedtoreleasefouroutoffivepeoplecur-rentlybehindbars.Morethanamillionpeopleemployedbythecriminaljusticesystem/indus-trywouldlosetheirjobs.Presently,theU.S.istwoyearsbehindindrugrehabilitationandprovidinghelptothosesufferingfrommentalhealthproblems.Bothgroupsdeteriorateinprisonuntiltreatmentisavailable.Warehousingofpoorpeopleandpeopleofcolortosupportthemilitaryandprisoneconomiesdestroyscountlesslivesandonlyaddstothemoralandeconomicdecayofourcountry.TheroleofgeneralsanddefensecontractorsistoSPEND,particularlyindistrictsofpowerfulcongresspeopleandsenators.Thefightingislefttofarmkids,thepoor,andminorityyouthwhoaregraspingforawayoutoftheirpovertysitua-tion.Youngpeoplearesenttotheworld’skillingfieldsasamatterofcourse…AsU.S.SecretaryofAgriculture,TomVilsack,hasnoted,over40%ofU.S.militaryrecruitsarenowdrawnfromruralAmerica.A2007CarseyInstitutestudyfoundthatoveraquarterofthosekilledinIraqandAfghanistanalsocamefromruralareas.Obviouslyourgovernmentofficialswillnotchangethehighlyprofitablemilitaryandprisonindustries.Norwilltheytakeactionagainstthemassiveanti-trustviolationsthatallowthefewtoprofitattheexpenseofthemany.Thatleavestherestofusworkingtogether,tobringaboutaneconomicrecoverybasedonhumanvalues;arecoverythatredirectsthesebillionsofdollarswastedonviolencetowardsrebuildingprogramsthatbringdignitytoallpeople.Thisalsomeansshiftingdollarstobuilding“bridges”offriend-shipwithourglobalneighborsinsteadof“walls”ofviolenceanddistrust.

Thisbridgebuildingispossibleonlyifwehavethewilltoregardallpeopleofallculturesasourbrothersandsisters.Onlythenwillwebeabletoworkinharmonytochangethesystem.Thein-ternationalorganizationLaViaCampesina(LVC)

Writings by John

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representingalmost400millionfamilyfarmers,peasants,andworkersisagoodexample.Forfifteenyears,LVCdelegatesfrommanycountries(includingthosethatcertainpowerfulpoliticianshavedecidedare“enemies”oftheU.S.)haveshownitcanbedone.Afteryearsofdelibera-tion,LVCdelegatesfrom82countriesunani-mouslyapprovedandpledgedtoimplementthesevenprinciplesoffoodsovereignty:

1.)Foodisahumanright2.)Agrarianreform3.)Protectingnaturalresources4.)Reorganizingfoodtrade5.)Endingtheglobalizationofhunger6.)Socialpeaceand7.)Democraticcontrol.

Foodsovereigntyisbasicallytherightofallpeoplesandcommunitiestodeterminetheirownfoodpoliciesandtotakecareoftheirlocalneedsfirst.Theinspiringexperienceofworkinginharmonywiththewisdomofindigenouspeoples,peopleofallcultures,andallreligionsfromallovertheworldisaprivilegethatshouldgivemuchhopetothoseofusstillstrivingtobringabouteconomicjusticeintheU.S.

Constructive Cooperation or Destructive Competition?byJohnKinsman

PublishedinFFDnewsletter-Summer2009

Cattleandgrainfarmer,GlennTait,representingtheFarmersUnionofCanada&theCanadianWheatBoard,cametoourFFDannualmeetinginMarchinthespiritofcooperationandshar-ingofpoliciesincluding“supplymanagement”thatbroughtfairpricesinCanada.AlsoatourFFDmeeting,keynotespeakerProf.JohnIkerd,economistfromtheUniv.ofMissouri,stronglyendorsedsustainablefamilyfarmagriculturewhiledetailingthedestructionthatCAFOs(con-finedanimalfeedingoperations)imposeonfood,theenvironment,andtheoverallfarmeconomy.RafaelEnriqueColmanerez,acoffeefarmerandco-oporganizerfromVenezuelacamelaterinMarchtosharewithusthesuccessfulrebuild-ingofagricultureinhiscountry.Andearlier,lastNovember,RodrigoLopesoftheLandlessWorkersMovement(MST)cameinsolidaritytoenlightenuswiththeirexperienceincreatingprosperousfarmingcommunitiesinBrazil.PriortothatfarmerfriendsfromCentralAmerica,Europe,Africa,andAsiametwithus-nottocompeteforlowerpricesbuttocooperateforfairpricesandwages.Thesemodelsofjusticeforfarmersandworkersareindirectcontradictiontothecompetitive“racetothebottom”resultingfromthefreetraderegimesandotherregressiveagriculturalpoliciesforceduponus.

YearsagoIhadadiscussionwithawiseolderfarmerregardingthewisdomofhedging(play-ing)thefarmcommoditiesfuturesmarkets.Universityeconomistswerelabelingthoseofusasbackwardandstupidfornotinvestinginthefuturesmarkets.Mywisefarmerfriend,FrankGoodman,summedupourdiscussionwiththisstatement:“Ofcoursetheseprofessionalfuturestradersneedus;wheretherearebigwinnerstheremustbelosers-theyneedus!”

Wecanallbewinnersifweworktogetherinconstructivecooperation,usingsomeofthemodelsofourforeignneighborfriends.Fortoolongafewgiantcorporationshaveprofitedgreatlyatourexpenseasweareforcedintopoli-ciesofdestructivecompetitionwithourneigh-borswhethertheybenextdoororinanothercountry.

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TheUSDAmandatedCommodityCheck-OffBoardssqueezemillionsofdollarsfrombeef,dairy,hog,corn,soybeanandothercommod-ityfarmerstocompeteagainstoneanotherformarketswhentheyshouldbecooperatingforthecommongood.Toadd“insulttoinjury”thedairycheck-offboardsallowedindustrytodictatetheirpromotionmessages.Ourfamilyfarmercheck-offdollarswereusedtopromoteMonsanto’srBGHproductandotherindustrialagriculturetechnologiesthatweredesignedtoputusoutofbusiness.WhenFFDorganizedanationwidecampaigntoforceareferendumonwhethertocontinuethedairycheck-off,wefoundmassivefraudintheblocvotingbythehugedairycooperativestokeepitinplace.Severalfamilyfarmorganizationsattemptedtovoteoutothercounterproductivecheck-offboardsbutwereoverwhelmedbymassiveop-positionbyindustryandtheUSDA.Meanwhilethereappearstobecompetitionbetweenthewinners:theCargills,theTysons,theADMs,theMonsantosandotherstoseewhocanextractthemostdollarsfromfarmersandworkers.Toaidyouinaclearerunderstandingofhowthesewinnersconsolidatetheirpower,Iurgeyoutoread“TheWaronBugs”byWillAllenofVer-mont,publishedbyChelseaGreenPress(Seebookreviewsinthisissue.)

AsIreadmaterialfromLandGrantAgricul-turalCollegesandtheindustrydominatedfarmpress,thewords“compete”and“competition”dominatetheiradvice.The“competition”theypromoteisdesignedtotakeawaysomethingfromthecompetitortoharmthemortodestroythem.Thiseconomiccompetitionmodelbreedsdistrustasitpitsneighboragainstneighborandcommunityagainstcommunityimpoverishingthemwhileagribusinessgiantshaulawaymas-siveprofits.

TheheadlineintheMarch2009issueofTheOn-ionreads“FDAAPPROVESSALMONELLA”TheOnionisasatiricalmagazinewhichmakesfunofpoliticiansandpoliciesthatdeserveridicule.Thisheadlinejusthappenstobesomewhatrelevantatthistimeasa3/19/09articleinAgriViewreportsonacorporatedevelopedvaccineforcattlewhichpreventsthedevelopmentofmostofthedeadlyE.Coli0157inacow’sintestine.TheUSDAhasgrantedaconditionallicensetosellthisvaccine-EpitopixLLCanditnowonthemarket.Thearticlefurtherstated,“Somemajorpackersandproducerswillbethefirsttouseit,butdeclinedtobenamed,sayingtheydon’twanttheirnamesassociatedwithE.colievenforresearch.AspokesmanforTysonFoodsInc.,oneofthenation’slargestmeatprocessorsdeclinedtocomment.AcalltoCargillMeatSolutions

wasn’timmediatelyreturned.CAFOfactoryfarmsandfilthycorporatepackingplantscancontinuetoproduceandprocessfilthydiseaseddrugdrenchedbeefwitha“reduced”riskofE.colibacteria.Ifconsumershadachoicewouldtheychoosethisbeeforthatfromcattleraisedonagrass-fedenvironmentallysustainablefam-ilyfarm?

Thegoodnewsisthatourfamilyfarmerandpeasantfriendsfromaroundtheworldarebuild-ingmodelsofconstructivecooperation.TheprinciplesofFoodSovereigntyarebecomingarealitywithmanygrassrootspeople.IwaspartofaunanimousconsensusdecisionbydelegatesrepresentingmillionsoffarmersonplanstoimplementtheseprinciplesatainternationalconferenceinMozambiqueinOctoberof2008.Ourgoodfriend,HenrySarigih,presentedtheFoodSovereigntymessagetotheUnitedNa-tionsinNewYorkonApril7th,2009(toreadhisfulladdress,visitwww.familyfarmdefenders.org).HenryisafarmerfromIndonesiaandtheInternationalCoordinatorofLaViaCampe-sina,representingseveralmillionpeasantsandfamilyfarmersaroundtheworld.OurpresidentofNFFCandgoodfriend,BenBurkett,wasarespondertotheUnitedNationspanel.HenryandBenlaterenjoyedaproductivetwohourprivatemeetingwithMr.DeSchutter,SpecialRapporteurontheRighttoFoodattheU.N..Mr.DeSchutter‘sspeechtotheU.N.emphasizedseveraloftheprinciplesofFoodSovereignty,stressingthatgovernmentsmustlegislateandenforce“righttofood”lawsintheircountries.Henotedthat20countries,includingBrazil,India,SouthAfrica,Ecuador,Boliviaandothershaverecognizedtherighttofoodintheirconstitu-tions.

Peasants,familyfarmers(especiallywomen)arereclaimingdesertifiedareasthroughwaterreten-tiontechniques,reforestationincludingagro-for-estryfarming,soilrebuilding,managedgrazing,croprotationandothersustainablemethodsthatarehighlyproductiveandusingtheprin-ciplesofFoodSovereigntytoinsurealifeofdignityforthepresentandfuture.Itisextremelyhopefultowitnessgrassrootspeoplemakingtheseecologicallysoundcooperativechangesthatwillmaketheworldabetterplace.

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Whose Really Behind the Push for More Industrial Agriculture? – The Answer is AFACT, a Front Group for MonsantobyJohnKinsman

OnSept.7th,2011theCountryTodayrananopedbyHeidiClausentitled“Gore,PrinceCharlesNeedRealityCheckonFarming.”Unfortunately,Clausenneglectedtodoherhomeworkbeforewritingthisarticlesinceitbasicallyparrotsthehalftruthsspreadbyvariousfrontgroupsforcorporateagribusiness.OneofthesefrontgroupsthatisquiteactiveinWisconsinandisheavilybankrolledbyMonsantoisAFACT–AmericanFarmersfortheAdvancementandConservationofTechnology.

InherarticleClausenstates“England’schoiceshaveroutinelyscaredoffproposalsformoderndairyandhogoperations,makingthatcountrylargelydependentonothernationstofeeditsroughly60millionresidents.”Theimplicationisthattheonlywaytofeedtheworldisthroughindustrialagricultureanditstechnologies:recombinantbovinegrowthhormone(rBGH),biotechcrops,pesticides,syntheticfertilizers,antibiotics,andsoon.

Amajorinternationalstudyin2008sponsoredbytheWorldBankandfiveU.N.agenciesprovesotherwise.TheInternationalAssessmentofAgriculturalKnowledge,Science,andTechnologyforDevelopment(IAASTD)wasconductedby400respectedscientistsanddevelopmentex-pertsfrommorethan80countriesanditsresultshavesincebeenendorsedby58countries.Theynotethat“conventionalindustrialagricultureisdegradingtheworld’ssoilsandothernaturalresources,andnowthreatenswater,energy,andclimatesecurity.”TheIAASTDreportalsocon-cludesthatlocallybasedsmallscalefamilyfarmagricultureistheonlysystemthatcanfeedtheworldandcooltheplanet.

AnotherrecentstudybytheUniv.ofMichigan,comparingdatafromalmost100otherstudiesofconventionalandsustainableagriculture,alsofoundthataworldwideswitchtosustainableorganicagriculturecouldactuallyincreaseglobalfoodproductionasmuchas50%.Thatisenoughtofeedapopulationof9billionpeoplewithoutanyextraland.

Inreality,ithasbeenBritishpolicytoencouragefactoryfarmexpansionattheexpenseoffamilyfarms,evenwhenthesesmallersustainableop-erationsfedmorepeople.OnseparateoccasionsasI’vetraveledacrossEngland,I’veseentheseindustrialconfinementfacilitiesandthedanger-ousconsequencestheybring.PrinceCharles

doesnothavethepowertosetfarmpolicyintheU.K.,andifhedidhewouldcertainlychoosesmallscalesustainablefamilyfarming.PowerfultransnationalcorporationslikeMonsantoaretheonesdictatingdestructivefoodandfarmpoliciesintheU.K.justastheydointheU.S.andmanyothercountries.Inorderseetheirinfluence,justfollowthemoneyandwatchhowtheir“invest-ment”paysoffwhenitcomestopublicpolicy.

HereinWisconsinseveraldairyfarmerswhooftenappearinthemediaspeakinginfavorofindustrialagricultureareactuallyAFACTfigure-heads.TheseindividualsincludeLizDoornink,LauraDaniels,andDaphneHolterman.AJuly8,2011articleintheRiverFallsJournalreportedthatJon-DeFarmsnearBaldwin,WI,ownedbyLizDoornink,spilledliquidmanurefromabrokenpipelineintotheRushRiver.AccordingtotheDNR,suchmanurespillsfromJo-DeFarmhavehappenedseveraltimesbefore.Nonethe-less,DoorninkwasawardedtheDairyWomanoftheYearawardatthe2010WorldDairyExpo.AccordingtoAgriView(9/23/10),shereceivedtheawardbecauseshesets“thestandardforintelligenceandcommitmenttothedairyindus-try.”DaphneHolterman,whoownsRosyLaneDairynearWatertown,WI,wonthesameprizetheyearbefore,andhasbeenhardatworkforAFACTinWisconsincounteringthecriticismofindustrialagriculturebyauthorslikeMichaelPollen,whowasmetbyprotesterswhenhespoketo8000peopleatUW-Madison’sKohlCenterinSept.2009.LauraDaniels,oneoftheorganiz-ersofthisprotest,ownsHeartwoodFarmnearCobb,WI,workspart-timeasanutritionistforVita-Plus,isalsoonAFACT’snationalleadershipteam.

InheropedClausenclaimsthatAFACTismadeupoffarmfamiliesnationwide–inreality,itisafake“grassroots”groupcreatedandcon-trolledbyMonsanto.InhisMarch9,2008NewYorkTimesarticleexposingMonsanto’stiestoAFACT,investigativejournalistAndrewMartinconcludeswiththefollowing“AFACTalsolistedintegrity,honesty,andtransparentaswordswewishtoembody.TheycouldstartbybeingmorestraightforwardaboutwhoisbehindAFACT.”

Asmorefoodsafetyandenvironmentalcontami-nationdisastersoccur,farmersandconsumersareperfectlyjustifiedinrejectingdangeroustechnologieslikerBGHandRound-UpthatmembersofAFACTarepaidtopromote.Thatiswhysustainablesmallscaleagriculture–notlargescaleindustrialagriculture–isthefastestgrowingsegmentoffarmingtoday.Ifanyoneneedsarealitycheck,itisAFACT.

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Taxpayer Subsidized Manure Digesters Stimulate Factory Farm PollutionbyJohnKinsman

Whatisthelatesttaxpayersubsidizedeconomicstimulusscheme?Why,manuredigestersonfactoryfarms,ofcourse!

AttheU.N.ClimateChangeConferenceinCo-penhagenlatelastDec.USDASec.TomVilsackunveiledplanstopromotemanuredigestersasawaytoreduceU.S.greenhousegasemissionsby25%-thetrickisthatyouhavetobeafactoryfarmtoqualify.InhisStateoftheStateaddressinearlyJan.,WIGovernor,JimDoyle,alsoan-nouncedhislatestroundoffreshtaxcreditsforfactoryfarmexpansion,includingawhopping$6.6millionfortwomanuredigestersinDaneCountycateringtojustahandfulofmegadair-ies.DaneCountyExecutive,KathleenFalk,hasalsobeenpushingfor$1millioninherownbud-getforthesedigesters.ThetotalpricetagfortheoneproposednearWaunakeeisover$17million–justimaginehowmuchgoodthatmoneycoulddoifdevotedtopromotingsustainableagricul-tureinstead!Therealtragedyisthatmanuredigestersactu-allymakeglobalwarmingworsewhile“solving”amanureproblemthatwouldnotevenexistifcowswereallowedtograzeonpastureratherthanbeingconfinedindoors.AsParisReidheaddocumentsintheJan.2010issueoftheMilk-weed,methaneis21timesasbadascarbondioxidewhenitcomestocausingglobalwarm-ing,andthismethanethreatlargelystemsfromfactoryfarmsthatstoreliquidmanureinlagoonsunderanaerobicconditions.Incontrast,utiliz-ingmanureascompostunderaerobicconditionsreducesthe“carbonfootprint”ofdairycowsbyover90%.Suchcommonsense,though,doesnotmakeasmuchmoneyforthecorporateinter-eststhatnowdriveU.S.farmandenergypolicy.FromJan.11th-24thIwasinGermanytospeakonthedairycrisisintheU.S.aspartoftheInter-nationalDairyandEcoFairTradeConferenceinBerlin.RepresentativesfromcountriesinAsia,Africa,andEuropeallspokeontheproblemsnowfacingdairyfarmersintheirregions.OliverduSchutter,specialrapporteurtotheU.N.,churchleaders,theEMB(EuropeanMilkBoard)andothersdiscussedthecausesoftheglobaldairycrisisandresponsestoit.Inthefollowingpaneldiscussionsweagreedonglobalstrategiestoraisefarmgatepricesandbringdignitytofam-ilydairyfarmers.

TheEMBhostedthesecondhalfofmytrip,includingtoursofdairyfarmsandmilkplants.Ourfirststopwasa950cowdairyonaformer

EastGermancollectivefarm.Thefarmbuildingsandconnectedmethanedigesterwereseveralyearsoldandreceivedhugegovernmentsubsi-diestokeepthemoperating.Therewerechronicproblemswiththedigesterandatthetimethemixerinthetankwasbroken,requiringspecialscubadiverstorepairit.Theconditionsweresobadthatthediverscouldonlyremaininthetankforanhour.SimilarproblemsplaguemanuredigestersinWisconsin,whichalwaysseemtobeonperpetualhightechlifesupport.

WhileinGermanywealsotourednewer600-800cowdairieswithdigesters.Theowners’explainedthatthedigestersoperatelikeacow’sstomachandneedtheproperbacterialbalancetofunctionefficiently.Andforthisbalance,thefarmershavetoaddcornsilageorotherbio-massmaterialtotheliquidmanure.Theownersexplainedthatthesedigestersweresimplynotprofitablewithoutthefivetotenyearcontractsthatguaranteedhugegovernmentsubsidies.Asproblemsdevelopedtheywereforcedtoinstallanewermoreexpensivesystem,andwiththat“fix”camenewerproblems.Itseemedthistread-millwasmostlydesignedtobenefitsalespeople,technicians,andmanufacturersofmanuredi-gesters,notfamilyfarmersortheenvironment.

Withoutafairmilkpricethatactuallycoverstheircostofproduction,manyoftheGermanfarmerssaidtheywouldnotsurvivethrough2010.ThesamecrisisisfacingdairyfarmersintheU.S.whohaveendureda50%declineinfarmgatepricesduetocorporatecontrolevenasconsumerpricesformilkinthestorehavenotbudgedandthedairygiantsreportrecordprof-its.Incontrast,sustainableorganicgrass-baseddairyfarmerswereabitbetteroffinGermanyastheyareintheU.S.,thoughtheirfutureisnotsecureeither.NumerousstudiesbyTomKriegloftheUWCenterforDairyProfitabilityhaveshownthatthemostefficientdairyoperationshavelessthan100cowsmostlyoutsideandeat-inggrass–yet,suchafamilyfarmisnotlargeenoughtoqualifyfortaxpayersupportanddoesnotcreateenoughmanuretorequireamethanedigester.

OnthefinaldayofInternationalGreenWeekinBerlin,theBDM(Germany’slargestdairyfarmerorganization)heldtheirannualcon-gresswithover1500people.,mostlyfarmerspresent.Germany’sAgriculturalMinister,IlseAgner,gaveapro-industrymorefreetradepeptalknotunlikewhatU.S.farmersmustendurefromourownUSDASecretary,TomVilsack.Inmyscheduledtalkanddiscussionsafterwards,GermanfarmerswereshockedtohearthatU.S.farmerswerealsosufferingfromlowpricesand

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repressivetrade/farmpoliciesjustastheywere.TheUSDA,industry,andtheFarmBureauhadconvincedthemallthatU.S.dairyfarmerswereprosperous.TheyhadalsobeentoldthatallU.S.dairyfarmerswerejumpingonthefactoryfarmmanuredigesterbandwagoninordertotakeadvantageofcarboncredits–justafewofthemanyfalsesolutionstoclimatechange,includingbiotechcrops,biochar,andagrofuels,thatarenowbeingpushedatpublicexpense.

Aslongasmytaxdollarsandthoseofotherorganicsustainablefarmersarebeingusedtobankrollschemesthatjustincreasepollutionformorecorporateprofit,therewillbenoeconomicrecovery.Indigenouscommunitiesdeveloped“earth-friendly”farmingmethodsthatkeptourplanethealthyforthousandsofyears.Manyofthesepracticesarebeingincorporatedintofamilyfarmingtodayaroundtheworld.Infact,arecent2008studyby400scientistsfortheUnitedNationsInternationalAssessmentofAgriculturalScienceandTechnologyforDevel-opment(IAASTD)concludedthatsmall-scaleorganicagricultureisnotonlythebestmeanstofeedtheworld,butalsothebestresponsetoclimatechange.Let’sstopwastingmoneyonexpensivedigest-ersforamanureproblemthatdoesnotneedtoexist,andputcowsbackoutsideonpasturewheretheybelong.Whenmanureistreatedasavaluableresource,asitisonsmallfarms,thenwecaneliminateordrasticallyreducetheneedforpetroleumbasedchemicalfertilizers.Endingfac-toryfarmsubsidiesandpromotingsustainableagricultureinsteadwillnotonlyleadtofairermilkpricesforfamilyfarmersandhealthierfoodchoicesforconsumers,butitwillactuallyhelpsparetheplanetfromclimatechange,too.

No More Nukes opinionarticle4/18/11byJohnKinsman

Nuclearpowerisnotonlyunnecessary,itisamongthecostliestandpotentiallythemostdangerouswaystoproduceelectricity-whichiswhyinvestorsdemandloanguaranteesandtaxpayersubsidizedliabilityinsurance,ratherthanrisktheirowndollarsbuildingnewnuclearplants.Nonetheless,justfivedaysaftertheFu-kushimadisasterinJapan,U.S.EnergySecretary,StevenChu,wastestifyingbeforeCongresswant-ingtobuildmorenukes.Infact,Pres.Obamaisproposing$36billiontoenticeprivateindustrytobuildtheplantswhilecuttingbillionsfromrenewableenergyalternatives.This$36billioninfreshloansisoverandabovethe$18.5billionalreadyapprovedundertheBushadministration.Apparently,thenuclearlobbyenjoysbipartisansupport.

TheWorldWildlifeFundandGreenpeaceInternationalhavedoneauthoritativestudiesthatshowtheU.S.andtheworldcouldsheddependencyuponfossilfuelsandnuclearpowerandshifttorealgreenenergyby2050ifgov-ernmentschosetodoso.Butcanwe,andthegovernmentswhosupposedlyrepresentus,riseabovecorporateprofitandbureaucraticinertiatostopglobalclimatechangeandservethebet-terinterestofsocietyasawhole?

Puttingcorporateinterestsfirstmeantafour-teenhourdelaybeforethemanagersoftheFukushimaplantbeganpumpingseawaterintotheoverheatedreactors,andthisdelayallowedadisasterofhorrificconsequencestounfold.AccordingtotheWallStreetJournal,ittookadirectcommandfromtheJapanesePrimeMin-istertostartthepumping.Afterall,introducingseawaterwouldpermanentlyruinthereactorsandrenderthecompany’sassetsworthless.

BesidesthebraveJapaneseworkerswhoaresacrificingthemselvesinthebattletostopthismeltdown,whoisnexttosufferfromtheseinevitablenuclearaccidents?Why,ofcourse,farmers,fishers,gardeners,andconsumerswhohavetodumpmilk,destroyanimals,andburyproducethathasbeencontaminatedbyfallout.ThesamethinghappenedafterChernobylwhentheLapplanderswereforcedtokillthousandsoftheirprizedreindeerandtonsoftaintedproducehadtobepulledfromEuropeanfarmersmarketsandgroceryshelves.WewillallbelivingwithFukushimaforgenerationstocome.

CorporateproponentsofmorenuclearplantsintheU.S.claimtheirsafetyisassuredbecause

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theyaredesignedtowithstandearthquakesofthehighestmagnitude.TheFukushimareactorswerealsobuiltbaseduponthisprinciple,buttheydidnotplanforotherunpredictableeventsthatcouldtriggerameltdown.Withglobalclimatechange,weareexperiencingnaturaldisastersofgreaterintensityandfrequency-floods,hurricanes,droughts,tornadoes-thatwerepreviouslythoughtimpossible.And,asshownbytheBPGulfOilspillfiasco,corporatedominateddecisionmakingdoesnotaddhumanerror,sabotage,safetyviolations,andgreedintotheequation.NodoubtGeneralElectric’scostcuttingMark1reactordesignhadaroletoplayintheFukushimadisaster,whichiswhytheGEengineerswererighttoresigninprotest35yearsagowhentheirsafetyconcernswereoverruledbyGEexecutives.Incidentally,GEmanagedtopaynotaxestotheU.S.governmentthisyear.

HereinWisconsinthereisalsoarenewedpushtoexpandnuclearpowerplants,whilefailingtoseriouslypursueothergreeneralternatives.Worseyet,asspentfuelrodspileupatexistingreactorsontheshoresofLakeMichiganandonislandsintheMississippiRiver,eyesareshiftingtoWisconsinasapotentialhostforanationalhighlevelradioactivewastedumpsite.Onecanonlyimaginetheinherentdangerswithtrans-portingsuchwastebytruck,ship,andtrainacrossthecontinenttoourNorthWoodsforburialforever.

In2008theInternationalAssessmentofAgri-culturalKnowledge,Science,andTechnologyforDevelopment(IAASTD),sponsoredbytheWorldBankandfiveU.N.agencies,issueditslongawaitedstudy.Thestudy’sconclusioncallsforatransformationoftheworld’sfoodandfarmsys-temtowardssmallscalesustainableagriculture.Accordingtothe400scientistsanddevelopmentexpertsfrommorethan80countriesinvolvedinthestudy,thisistheonlywaytocooltheplanetandfeedtheworld,andtheIAASTD’sfindinghasalreadybeenendorsedby58countries.Thesesmallfamilyfarmsworkwithnatureandrequirefarlessfossilfuelandelectricitydemand-incontrasttoindustrialagriculturewhichisresponsiblefor25%ofallU.S.greenhousegasemissions.

Concernedcitizensneedtocontacttheirelectedofficialsatboththestateandfederalleveltoopposethesemisguidedtaxpayersubsidizedpro-posalstobuildmorenukes.TheU.S.shouldbefollowingtheexampleofGermany-where2%ofallelectricitynowcomesfromsolar-andimposeanimmediatemoratoriumonnewreactorspend-ingacomprehensivesafetyreviewofexistingones.Betteryet,therearetheexamplesofother

nations-likeAustralia,Denmark,andMalaysia-thathaverefusedtogodownthenuclearroadatall.Renewablegreenenergycouldeasilyfulfillallourelectricityneedsandmakedangerousunsustainableoptionslikenuclearobsolete.

activist farmer��John Peck (in cow costume), John Kohler and John Kinsman at the Tractorcade (2011). Photo by Ruth Simpson.

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FAMILY FARM DEFENDERS

CONTACT US

Mailing Address:P.O Box 1772Madison, Wisconsin 53701

Office Address:1019 Williamson Street #BMadison, Wisconsin 53703

PHONE/FAX: (608) 260-0900

EMAIL: familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.om

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