Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-0306 Documents Submitted at Mtg C'Ufa . Y�tzo rZ To whom it may concern; I am writing regarding the allowance of chickens and other poultry on residential properties. The City of Portland has made chicken owning on small properties legal and easy, with the express understanding that a few backyard birds in a small coop are easily managed and provide benefit to the homeowner and community. Homeowners can have three chickens without a permit; more than three requires a permit and a one time fee. Permits can be amended to reflect changes in flock numbers without additional fees. The space needed for a few egg-laying chickens is minimal no more than 2 square feet of housing per bird, and 3 to 5 square feet of contained yard and can be easily maintained by a small property dweller. A coop of 2 x3 with an attached pen of 5 x3 is a smaller area than many dog runs. Chickens make very little noise(roosters are not allowed in the City of Portland), and none at night, when they naturally retreat to their coop for protection. If a homeowner wishes to raise chickens for meat, it is an easier process even than a laying flock, as meat birds only live for 10 to 12 weeks before they reach the size for processing . These birds need only I to 2 square feet of pen and a minimal shelter once they are large enough to leave a contained brooder(at approximate 5 weeks, half their life), and neither perch nor make much noise, even males. At ten weeks, they are either processed by a licensed facility or the homeowners themselves, and the live animal possession period is over. I have raised both egg-laying birds and meat poultry for more than 8 years in my 1/2 acre garden area within the Portland city limits, and have had nothing but interest and positive response from neighbors, customers of my CSA, and any passers-by. My aunt, a longtime resident of Ashland, had chickens in her backyard near Briscoe Elementary for as long as l can remember. Allowing small-property owners this ability will help continue to foster the community that Ashland is known for, and encourage cooperation among residents because of the discussion these practices inspire. The more that people know where food comes from the better they will understand that eating is the foundation of health, and health is the foundation for our ability to interact well with our community and beyond. Raising animals for food even vegetarians use eggs, honey and milk will also raise consciousness of how communities and individuals can work together for collective benefit. Thank you for considering the Ashland citizenry s requests and looking at ways to implement best practices use language in your legislation. Sincerely, Kelly Wood Amaranth Produce Portland, Oregon / v IJ C'k(C_l� C vtc MAO c4, Z i v> . pw( cwt 61Zolz_ PROFILES Food at the Frontline A conversation with Vandana Shiva, Ph.D. 0 rganic Gardening joined Leah plant;you have to add antibiotic-resistant Zerbe,Rodale.com's online markers to separate the cells that absorbed editor,in an interviewwith the gene from those that didn't.And Vandana Shiva,who began because no plant wants an alien gene in it, her career as a particle physi- like no organism wants an alien element, cist and has evolved into a food activist and what you have to add is a viral promoter to eco-feminist.Our first question was sure pump up the expression of the gene.", to light a fire:"So,what's the big deal about So,as Shiva reckons,for every GMO genetically modified organisms(GMOS)?" created,there are three lethal transforma- "Suicide,`food fascism,'and gene- tions:the introduction of a toxic gene jumping,among other things,"says Shiva. whose ultimate impact we cannot know; Despite those grave issues,she envisions the addition of antibiotic resistance a GMO-free future.And in her opinion, markers(important,given that antibiotic protecting the future means going back to resistance is a growing problem in farm our roots,back to the soil and to the seeds. animals and people);and the possibility That is her strategy for saving her native that the viral promoters or antibiotic resis- India from a corporate-GMO takeover. tant genes will"jump"to other organisms,, Shiva,who earned her doctorate in particle including humans. physics,turned her knowledge and energy We ask:What has been the Indian _ to leading the attack against GMOs in experience with GMOs,and what do India.In the mid-1980s,she launched people need to understand about them?. Navdanya,a seed-saving organization Shiva is clear in her vision as she that has helped rescue thousands of plant explains that the first GMO was brought varieties from extinction. to India by Monsanto,which presented its Shiva speaks of"freeing the seeds"as the way to Saving seed on a BT cotton as a"miracle seed"with an extensive and liberate farmers from dependence on unstable and worldwide scale while expensive advertising campaign.She remembers,"I potentially dangerous biotech agricultural methods, rejecting GMO crops know the laws of my country and checked with the which not only are gougingly expensive for small farm- is our best insurance environmental administrator,and found Monsanto for a eafer future, ers but also require increased use of pesticides,now yandarla Shiva did not ask for approval,although we have an environ- that the biotech"marvels"have led to pests and weeds maintains. mental protection act stating any deliberate release of becoming resistant to the chemicals used to combat GMOs must go under environmental assessment.Just them.She sees connections among GMOs,antibiotic- like they have sponsored the dismantling of bio-safety resistant superbugs,the current unprecedented levels of chronic laws in the United States,the corporation thought they could just global hunger,and biopollution.As she explains: walk into India and do the same." "GMOs actually increase the toxification of our food system, Shiva filed a case and held the GMO introductions off until even while claiming to be an alternative to chemicals.Look at 2002,when approval was finally given."Since then,"Shiva what{agribusiness}has achieved in the last two decades:There continues,"we've seen an escalating rate of farmer suicides,which are herbicide-resistant crops and BT-toxin crops.(BT is Bacillus began when Monsanto started to control the cotton seed.Today, tburingienw,a naturally occurring bacterium that poisons certain Monsanto has 90 percent control over the seed supply of cotton pest insects when they ingest it from their host plant.}The former in a land where we used to have 1,500 varieties,Including open- was intended to survive herbicide applications;the latter to con- pollinated varieties."Shiva also notes that the cost for BT cotton trol pests.Instead there are now superweeds,which has increased seed when it was first released in India was more than three times the usage of herbicides,and superpests,which has increased the more than the cost of conventional seed,nearly 80 percent of use of pesticide sprays.We have monitored BT cotton in India: which was a royalty share paid to Monsanto. Thirteenfold more pesticides are sprayed on BT cotton. I Furthermore,as Shiva makes plain,the.issue is bigger than "The second problem is with the BT toxin;you've taken the the bottom line."It is a failed technology:Pesticide usages have genes that produce a toxin and put them into a plant.And because increased,farmers are in debt,and it's that indebtedness that has it's such a clumsy technology,you don't just put a toxic gene into a 's->ace 1997 pushed 200,000 Indian farmers to suicide." 76 Organic Gardening Vol. 58:5 "Monsanto tried to launch BT eggplant in 2009,"Shiva continues."We have 4,000 varieties of eggplant;it was domesticated in India.And we've compelled the govern- ment to reconsider the approval.The environmental administrator held public hearings around the country,and after hearing farmers,citizens,scientists,he called for a moratorium." So what are the lessons for U.S.farmers, especially in view of the contentiousness surrounding the Farm Bill? "The lessons India has for the U.S.are, first,there has to be bio-safety regulation. Second,democracy must have a role.Every time there is talk of democracy violations in China,I think of the democratic violations that occur when people are denied their right to know and to choose. Monsanto is working right now to prevent labeling laws in India—which have already been drafted,but they'll prevent them if they can.I don't think you can have a product where a company says,'I'm push- ing it on you,destroying your alternatives, and I'm preventing you from knowing what's in it'Especially when it's food. I think this food fascism must end.The kind of movements India has built on food democracy,I'd like to see in the U.S. I think the U.S.needs far more community seed banks,far more open-source seeds, especially now that the GMOs are failing. We can't leave farmers without options." Are we getting closer to eliminating or reducing GMOs?The answer is optimistic, but to achieve it requires work and commitment from each of us.As Shiva sees it,`We are making progress if you look at data in the U.S.It's not just those who don't like GMOs who are turning away from them;it's also farmers who went for GMO planting who are realizing it's more costly,and that long term they were better off in'GMO-free agriculture. Monsanto shares are coming down,and the acreages they expected to be turned to their purpose are not appearing.A false promise was sold with GMOs,and with that knowledge,I do believe we have a GMO-free future ahead." For more information see Find It Here at right.