BIOSOLIDS - SOIL CONFERENCE
SUNDAY MARCH 13th-PIER 21
Message from Lil
Hello Everyone,
Its me, Lil Mac Pherson from The Wooden Monkey with an important message so I hope you read to the end. I have been sitting here for sometime now trying to think of what to say that will encourage you to come to a VERY IMPORTANT 'Soil Conference'. There is an urgency as decisions are being made this Spring regarding biosolids spreading in areas of Nova Scotia and possibly HRM again! (Remember Clayton Park? It could be your neighbourhood next!)
The spreading of biosolids on public and private land around Nova Scotia is a practice that should concern all of us - at least those of us who care about the environment and human health and anyone who eats food! (oh I guess that would be ALL OF US!) This major threat will be felt for generations to come, if we don't 'crap and get off the pot'.
As we are seeing in Cairo, people do have a VOICE and a CHOICE to change their FUTURE! These biosolids so called fertilizers are called 'safe' will effect our health, foods, rivers, fish, animals, trees, birds, parks, playgrounds, OUR KIDS , every living thing that lives here on the soils and in the soils of Nova Scotia.
I was reading just this morning about the new lists of pharmaceuticals and chemicals going on the market everyday. Well, folks this will all be apart of this Chemical Cocktail of 'biosolids fertilizer' to be spread on our soils in Nova Scotia. And then this thought crossed my mind ... if you don't agree with a product and think its not safe or unhealthy; you just don't buy it right? And I do the same. Well this issue is a lot different ... why?
Tell me how do we stay away from the very soil we walk on, feed from, drink from?? Are you starting now to get my drift ? At this conference we will be discussing some of the disastrous consequences of biosolids use and alternative solutions for Nova Scotia as well as teaching new ways to grow healthy soils, gardens and lots more!! Please come,
As you read the attached poster, you will see Lucinda and I have quite the day planned. AND a special thanks to Ellen for funding this very much needed conference, we get to learn and have a say in our future. (it's your choice?).
Okay, I think I have said enough and ask you to think about this ... Are you ok with having a highly unknown toxic soup, with hundreds if not thousands of unknown chemicals, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, chemotherapy drugs and the list goes on and on... running threw the veins of Nova Scotia??
See you March 13 and bring a friend or two or three or four or five!!
Lil Mac Pherson
(please pass this on)
Agenda
Ellen Page joining us at 10:30 Via live Feed from Texas
9:00am - 9:15 Opening remarks by Lil Mac Pherson
9:15 - 10:15am Screening Sludge - Diet this film shows the disastrous consequences of biosolids and the need for Government to ban it's use on land in Nova Scotia.
10:15 - 11:00 am Q & A Panel Discussion with:
Dr. Marilyn Cameron – Veterinarian, Chair Biosolids and Waste Water Caucus of Nova Scotia Environmental Network Protecting our Environment, Food and Health.
Jim Poushinsky – Chair of Ottawa Citizens Against Pollution and Sewage, assisted with Ottawa interviews in Sludge Diet film
Dr Jason Hofman - President, Food Soil Web Canada East. Background in plant physiology,biochemistry, molecular genetics,composting and soil ecology.
11.15am - 11.45 – Special Guest Speaker – Dr. David Lewis "How EPA stopped my research on health effects of land-applied sewage sludge"
11.45 – 12:30 Discussion.
12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch Break - Farmers Market or Screening of "Feast or Famine"
1:30 – 2:30 pm Screening "Dirt" this film shows the importance of healthy soils - "this resource is more valuable than gold"
2.30– 3:15 pm Q & A Panel Discussion with:
Logie Cassells – Managing Director of La Have Forest creating North America's "Next Generational" Organic Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in Nova Scotia.
Jason Hofman – President, Food Soil Web Canada East.Background in plant physiology,biochemistry, molecular genetics,composting and soil ecology.
Dr. Av Singh - Organic &anp; Rural Infrastructure Specialist at AgraPoint in Nova Scotia working with organic and small-scale farmers .
3.15-3.30pm - Coffee Break
3:30pm - Scott Travers President and COO of Minas Basin Pulp and Power "Turning A Problem Into An Opportunity will discuss the potential in Nova Scotia to extract safe and efficient energy from biosolids" followed by Q&anp;A
Biographies
Dr David Lewis - Retired EPA Microbiologist- Forced out of the EPA for telling the truth.Documented adverse health effects of land-applied sewage sludge (biosolids) in peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature. Nature published a supportive editorial and news article highlighting the independent confirmation of research findings linking gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory illnesses to land application of sewage sludge.Published first-authored article in Nature concerning effects of climate change on biodegradation of chiral chemicals in soils This work was recognized by EPA Administrator with the Science Achievement Award for Biology/Ecology in 2000, and by EPA's Office of Research & Development with a Science & Technological Achievement Award in 2001. Published first-authored articles in Lancet and Nature Medicine demonstrating that dental handpieces and other reused devices treated with liquid chemical disinfectants present a risk of HIV infection Lancet published a supportive editorial to accompany research article.This work prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other public health organizations worldwide to institute the current infection control standard for dentistry in which all devices entering the oral cavity must be heat-sterilized or discarded after each use. Board Member and Director of the Research Misconduct Project at the National Whistleblowers Center, Washington, DC. Graduate Faculty Department of Marine Sciences and School of Ecology at the University of Georgia in Athens.
Jim Poushinsky is a retired MSW social worker and homestead farmer in the Ottawa Valley. He has been fighting ignorance about the risk of harm from spreading sludge on farm fields since 2001, as Chair of Ottawa Citizens Against Pollution by Sewage, and assisted with the Ottawa interviews in Sludge Diet.
Marilyn Cameron is a practising veterinarian in Kings County for 15 years. Chair of the Biosolids & Waste Water Caucus with the Nova Scotia Environmental Network and a founding member of No Farms No Food - a coalition of concerned Kings County citizens striving to preserve farmland for future generations. She lives with her pharmacist husband and daughter in Greenwich and own a small “naturally grown” fruit operation.
Av Singh serves as the Organic & Rural Infrastructure Specialist with AgraPoint in Nova Scotia, working predominantly with organic and small-scale farmers on issues of production, processing, and marketing of agricultural goods. Av emphasizes farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange and works towards revitalizing rural communities through increasing social capital. Av has had the privilege of visiting over 800 farms in North America which has shaped his work on extending holistic, system-based solutions for farm management with emphasis on soil health.
Logie Cassells served as an investment manager with U.K. based Caple Cure Myers for 15 years, running the group's flagship Hallmark Growth and Income Fund, winning the U.K.'s diversified fund manager of the year award in 2000. Logie currently is the managing director of LaHave Forests, that is creating North America's leading dedicated 'Next Generational' organic centre for agriculture and forestry in Nova Scotia. In a nut shell, "Making Soil Come Alive." In his spare time he runs a successful garden design and build business in Chester and lecturers on landscaping and agriculture in Nova Scotia.
Jason Hofman Scientist -President and Lab Director of Soil Foodweb Canada East. Soil and Composting consultant and lecturer. He was born and raised on a dairy farm in Iowa and with his background in plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, composting and soil ecology he maintains a deep interest in agriculture and food production.
Scott Travers President and Chief Operating Officerof Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd.,
President and Chairman of Newton Falls Fine Paper LLC. Scott is a Mechanical Engineer has served as a Director of several companies and organizations to name a few, past Chairman of Canadian Pulp& Paper Association(PAPTAC), Renewable Energy industry Association of Nova Scotia (REIANS) Fundy Ocean research Centre For Energy ( FORCE) Nova Scotia Business Inc.( NSBI) and a founding member of the Electrical Consumers Association of Nova Scotia. Scott has held project manager and leadership roles in the paper mill expansion, natural gas development, environmental compliance, union negotiations, water resource management, championed a leadership program, restructuring of the electrical energy sector in Nova Scotia, including development of wind energy and lead the charge, as Minas Basin became involved in “Instream tidal power
