Fracking? It’s in the (Plastic) Bag!

Our Coop (PSFC) opposes hydraulic fracturing— fracking—in New York State, and for good reasons.

Fracking threatens NYC drinking water and upstate farmers’ ability to grow the healthy, affordable foods PSFC mem- bers have long relied on.

What does this have to do with plastic bags?

Many plastic bags are made from fracked gas! As fracking products, they contribute to the viability of fracking. Increased fracking will bring more frack-made bags. When we gobble up frack-produced consumer goods, we provide the excuse frackers need to expand their activities.

Read more in the recent Environmental Committee Report on page 5 of the Linewaiter's Gazette.

Park Slope Food Coop's Roll Bag Phase Out

The Environmental Committee of the Park Slope Food Coop is responsible for monitoring and assisting change towards more sustainable environmental practices.  It should also provide the fuel which keeps pushing the coop's environmental consciousness "envelope" and continue to set a visible example for coops, stores and our city.  It has done this since its founding and we hope will continue to do so.  This isn't the whole purpose of the coop, but it's one of it's stated missions. 

The Environmental Committee will provide education where needed, and find answers to all the concerns which have been brought forth about the plastic roll bag phase out.

With all of us working together for more real environmental change, we can make it happen, without the coop or its members suffering any ill effects.

Please see the post on this blog about the coop's General Meeting on May 28th and vote to make the coop ever more responsible to the environment and to all of our members' needs.

General Meeting May 28th - Plastic Bag Phase Out Vote

At the General Meeting on Tuesday, May 28, Coop members will be asked to vote on the following proposal:

"To phase out the free distribution of plastic roll bags on the Coop’s shopping floor by 6 months from the date of the GM vote. Shoppers are welcome to reuse plastic bags already taken from the Coop and elsewhere. Environmental Committee and other concerned Coop members will continue to work with our General Coordinators to educate our membership, provide a wider range of light-weight reusable bags for purchase, and determine the most equitable and sustainable adjustments for weighing produce and bulk products."

The Environmental Committee has sponsored this proposal with the support of many concerned Coop members, in ongoing dialogue with our General Coordinators. We welcome the growing awareness and discussion of this issue in the Gazette, at General Meetings and elsewhere, and want everyone to understand the issues at stake.

Our Mission Statement and Environmental Policy commit the Coop to what is known as a “triple bottom line,” or TBL. First introduced in the mid-1990s as an accounting framework to evaluate the sustainability of business ventures, the TBL integrates concern for the “three P’s” of Profits, People, and the Planet.

In other words, the Coop is obligated in its bottom-line impact to balance financial success with social and environmental sustainability.

Read more of this recent Committee Report in The Line Waiter's Gazette (PDF) and join us at the May 28th General Meeting!

• The meeting is at Middle School 51, 5th Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets at 7pm. 
• If you would like to get work slot credit for attending the meeting, please remember to use the signup sheet near the front elevator.

Shout-out to our Fellow PSFC Committees

The Food Coop's Environmental Committee has enjoyed collaborating with other committees. Check out their blogs to learn more about some of the great work they are doing:

• The Animal Welfare Committee has only been in existence a short time, but has already surveyed several aisles of the Coop, to determine which products have been tested on animals. Their blog has a listing of their work, plus other useful information.



• The GMO Shelf Labelling Committee has been investigating which products on our shelves contain genetically modified ingredients, since US law does not currently require manufacturers to disclose this information. Their blog will keep you up-to-date on the latest in the quest for better labelling laws in this country and more.

Electronics Recycling this Weekend!!!

Two chances this weekend to recycle your electronics! Sponsored by the Lower East Side Ecology Center, these events let you safely discard  unwanted electronics.   See a complete list of acceptable items. 

Saturday, January 19, 2013 | 10:00am - 4:00pm Flyer Directions

Tekserve, 119 West 23rd Street, Manhattan 10011

Sunday, January 20, 2013 |
10:00am - 4:00pm Flyer Directions

Prospect Park West and 3rd Street, Brooklyn 11215

Can't make it to an event? You can also drop off your e-waste five days per week at the E-waste Warehouse in Gowanus Brooklyn.

Clean water, air and farms in NY State at Risk

The risk to the clean water and produce we enjoy from upstate New York, not to mention the beautiful land itself is at risk from hydrofracking. The time to comment on the latest plans from the NYC DEC is now—the deadline is January 11, 2013. Please don't put it off—every comment helps. The easy-to-use form at the New Yorkers Against Fracking site will help you quickly construct a few comments and send them. Otherwise, New York State may look like this:

Learn more about how hydro-fracking affects the food and water supply, as well as air quality and global warming.

Farms in upstate New York: Photo by Keturah Stickann/John Menier
Fracking image by J. Henry Fair

Azerbaijan Creates Control System for GMO Crops

by Vladislav Vorotnikov21 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.allaboutfeed.net 

In December a decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers, has approved the rules for determining the possible dangers posed by genetically modified plants for consumers and the environment in Azerbaijan.

These rules in particular provide the establishment of the Expert Group of the Scientific and Technical Council, who will determine the direction of research into the possible harm of the genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Azerbaijan plans to establish a control system to clarify how dangerous the GMO products are that currently can be found on the markets of human food and animal feed.
According to the document, the research team will be studying the impact of areas planted with GMO crops on the nearby crop plants, the elements of the natural flora, as well as  farm animals and wild animals that will be feed with such products. This group will conduct research in the laboratories of state agencies, members of the Scientific and Technical Council, which will develop measures necessary to prevent the possible risk of GMO products.

On the basis of this research the use of GMO products as well as their cultivation and import can be additionally restricted. The representatives of the Consumers Right Protection Organization generally support the initiative.

"Scientists have not fully examined the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in human health. However, experiments in animals have shown to have a negative impact of GM foods, said the chairman of the Free Consumers Union of Azerbaijan Eyyub Huseynov in an interview. He also pointed out that the use of GMO in the country should be banned immediately, before the results of the research is ready.  “It is necessary to restrict access to the domestic market of GMO or prevent its occurrence in Azerbaijan until it can be proven that genetically modified products are safe. "