(FYI) For your information
|
Tobago has a small and limited land area, which supports a rapidly growing population that is producing ever-escalating amounts of waste. The Studley Park Landfill is fast approaching capacity and urgent action must be taken to reduce the generation of waste by Tobagonians. Our children and youth must be educated on how they can take definite action to address and resolve this critical issue in Tobago. This is the reasoning behind Environment Tobago’s “Keep A Clean School Competition”. |
| Unsafe food imports |
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2 Many alarming agricultural issues, including the now infamous Mad Cow disease, have made vegetarianism look increasingly attractive. But, consumers beware - even plants are under suspicion these days. There is growing concern, especially in Europe, that certain foods that are being exported from the USA may be unsafe. Genetically modified (GM) plants are at the centre of this controversy. Genes determine the specific characteristics, which can be inherited, of any living organism and these plants have had that genetic material modified, or ‘engineered’. Since the 1970s techniques have been developed which allow transfer of a gene from one organism to another or the modification of the genetic code within an organism. Over the last few years this technique has moved beyond the research stage. Genetically modified crops are now being commercially produced and there are many more in the pipeline. Soybeans and corn, for instance, have been given genes that make them resistant to the herbicide ‘Glyphosate’ and tomatoes have had their genes modified to give them a longer shelf life. Genetically engineered soybeans have passed safety standards in USA, Canada and Japan, but consumer organisations in many other countries are sceptical of these tests and are boycotting genetically modified foods. European governments are, so far, resisting banning these foods but they are facing strong lobbies calling for a moratorium on the production and sale of genetically modified foods to allow time for further independent testing and to assess long term effects on humans and on the environment. |
