http://gaildines.com/2013/03/letter-iceland/

Letter of Support for Iceland’s Anti-Pornography Initiative
Posted by admin | Under Gail Dines' Blog

March 18, 2013

Ögmundur Jónasson
Innanríkisráðuneytið (Minister of Interior)
Sölvhólsgötu
Reykjavík, Iceland
Dear Mr. Jónasson,

We are writing to express our support for current efforts in Iceland to develop and implement legal limits on violent Internet pornography. As scholars, medical and public health professionals, social service providers, and community activists, we commend your government’s determination to confront the harms of pornography. As part of a comprehensive approach to violence prevention, sex education, and public health, legally limiting Internet pornography will reduce the power of this multi-billion dollar global industry to distort and diminish the lives, opportunities, and relationships of Icelandic citizens.

Especially commendable is your government’s commitment to protect children from the harms of pornography. We recognize in other contexts (e.g., advertising) that children’s unique developmental needs mandate protecting them from predatory corporate interests. As pornography invades children’s lives and psyches at ever earlier ages and with ever more distressing effects, this recognition must be applied to pornography. It is naïve and unrealistic to expect parents and schools to counter effectively the influence of this powerful and pervasive industry. Rather, society must act on its compelling interest in providing a safe and nourishing environment for children. We applaud your government’s effort to exercise collective responsibility for children’s well-being by placing limits on a toxic media environment from which they cannot otherwise be sufficiently shielded.

We understand that your deliberations remain at an early stage and that many important aspects of the proposed legislation remain to be worked out. That said, we commend your government’s stated intention to define pornography narrowly (as sexual material involving violence and degradation), thus ensuring Icelandic citizens’ access to the fullest possible range of online information consistent with the protection of children and of women’s civil right to equality. As your efforts continue to develop, we would urge you not to be dissuaded by dark invocations of totalitarianism or of an unregulated black market in pornography. The pornography industry could hardly be any less regulated than it is currently, nor could the motivations and methods of the Icelandic initiative differ more starkly from those of authoritarian governments.

From adopting the so-called “Nordic” approach to prostitution in 2009 to banning strip clubs in 2010, and having stood virtually alone among nations in holding banks to account in the wake of the global financial crisis, Iceland is a global leader both in gender equality and in confronting corporate power. We are inspired by your boldness and innovation in protecting children, honoring women’s rights to safety and equality, and maintaining the integrity of Icelandic culture against the onslaught of an unrestrained industry of sexual exploitation. As a group of similarly committed scholars, activists, and professionals across the globe, we stand with you and look forward to seeing the final result of your efforts.

Sincerely,

• Dr. Esohe Aghatise, Executive Director, Associazione Iroko Onlus, Turin, Italy
• Ruthanna Barnett, Human Rights Lawyer, Santa Cruz, California, USA/Oxford, England
• Roseanne Barr, Actress, Producer (“Roseanne”), USA
• Dr. Kathleen Barry, Author, “Female Sexual Slavery” and “Prostitution of Sexuality,” Professor Emerita, Penn State University, USA
• Angela Beausang, Chair, Roks (The National Organization for Women´s Shelters and Young Women’s Shelters), Sweden
• Julie Bindel, Journalist and Feminist Activist, London, England
• Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Actress, Iceland
• Dr. Ana Bridges, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Arkansas, USA
• Anne Burns, 
Health Improvement Lead, Child & Maternal Health, 
Health Improvement Team
 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Scotland, Scotland
• Tanith Carey, Author, “Where Has My Little Girl Gone?” London, England
• Vivien Caldwell, Solicitor, The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscals Service, Glasgow, Scotland, former Local Councillor, Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Elaine Carr, Clinical Psychologist, Coathill Hospital, Coatbridge, Scotland
• Vednita Carter, Founder and Executive Director, Breaking Free (Anti-Trafficking Organization), St. Paul, Minn., USA
• Alexandra Charles, President, Ordförande, 1.6miljonerklubben, Stockholm, Sweden
• Chris Cherry, Director of Communications, South Carolina Democratic Women’s Council, USA
• Dr. Deirdre Condit, Associate Professor of Political Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
• Angie Conroy, Activist, Strategic Advisor, Strey Khmer, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Dr. Gail Dines, author of “Pornland,” Professor of Sociology and Chair of American Studies, Wheelock College Boston, Mass., USA
• Anni Donaldson, Violence Against Women Team Lead, West Dunbartonshire Violence Against Women Partnership, Glasgow, Scotland
• Kezia Dugdale, Member, Scottish Parliament, Shadow Minister for Youth Employment, Lothian Region (Labour & Co-op) Scotland
• Sharon Dunn, Scottish Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation
• Matthew B. Ezzell, Ph, Assistant Professor of Sociology, James Madison University
• Harrisonburg, Va., USA
• Dr. Melissa Farley, Executive Director, Prostitution Research & Education, USA
• The Feminist Party of Germany
• Camilla Silva Floistrup, Project Manager, Danish Institute for Human Rights, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Robert L. Franklin, MS, Sexual Violence Prevention Professional, Virginia, USA
• Fredrika-Bremer Association (Oldest Women’s Movement Organisation in Sweden)
• Dawn Fyffe, Say Women, Glasgow, Scotland
• Marlyn Glen, Former Member, Scottish Parliament
• Ruchira Gupta, President, Apne Aap Women Worldwide (sex trafficking), India
• Sophie Gwyther, Team Leader, Children and Young People’s Service, Fife Women’s Aid, Scotland
• Professor Simon Hackett and Dr. Nicole Westmarland, Durham University Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA), UK
• Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir, President, Federation of Icelandic Artists
• Elizabeth Handsley (Northwestern) Professor of Law, Flinders University; President, Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM)
• Birgitta Hansson, Union President, Sweden Union, Soroptimistklubbar
• Maree Hawken, coordinator, Queensland Women’s Health Network, Australia
• Dr. Susan Hawthorne, Publisher, Spinifex Press, Adjunct Professor, James Cook University
• Ann Hayne, Gender-Based Violence Manager, Coathill Hospital, Coatbridge, Scotland
• Marta Torres Herrero, Violence Program Coordinator, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain
• Wiveca Holst, Swedish Expert, The Observatory European, Women’s Lobby
• Derrick Jensen, Author, “Endgame,” Crescent City, California, USA
• Cherie Jimenez, Director, Kim’s Project (Anti-trafficking), Boston, Mass., USA
• Dr. Jennifer A. Johnson, Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
• Hetty Johnston, Founder and Executive Director, Bravehearts (child abuse prevention), Australia
• Dr. Sue Jones, Centre for Gender and Violence Research, School for Policy Studies, Bristol University, UK
• Guðrún Jónsdóttir, Spokesperson for Stigamot, Reykjavík, Iceland
• Jackson Katz, Ph.D., Director, MVP Strategies, Long Beach, Calif., USA
• Dr. Liz Kelly, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University London, England
• Jenny Kemp, Coordinator, Zero Tolerance Campaign, Scotland
• Connie J. Kirkland, National Certified Counselor, Certified Trauma Specialist, Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists, Northern Virginia Community College, USA
• Dr. Renate Klein, Associate Professor (retired), Women’s Studies, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia; Publisher, Spinifex Press
• Elizabeth Koepping, Associate Director, CSWC, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• Iluta Lace, Manager, Association Resource Centre for Women, MARTA, 
Riga, Latvia
• Dr. David Levy, Professor and Chair, Business School, University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA
• Linda MacDonald, MEd, BN, RN, Nurse and Human Rights Defender for Women, Persons Against Non-State Torture, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Finn Mackay, Founder, London Feminist Network; Centre for Gender and Violence Research, University of Bristol, UK
• Jan Macleod, Senior Development Office, Women’s Support Project, Glasgow, Scotland
• Dr. Ramesh Manocha, Convenor and Chairman, “The Right to Childhood,” CEO Healthed and Generation Next, Australia
• Malka Marcovich, Mediterranean Network Against Trafficking in Women; International Coalition Zero Impunity
• Dr. Betty McLellan, Coalition for a Feminist Agenda, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
• Robin Morgan, Author, Activist, USA
• Kate Morrissey, Counselling and Supervision Services, Manchester; UK Feminist Network
• Sarah Morton, Co-Director, Knowledge Exchange, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR), University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• Wendy Murphy, JD, Professor of Sexual Violence Law, New England Law, Boston, Mass., USA; Former Sex Crimes Prosecutor
• Pauline Myers, National Chairman, Townswomen’s Guilds, Birmingham, England
• The National Organization for Women’s Shelter and Young Women’s Shelters, Sweden
• Rachel McPherson LLB (Hons) M.Res (Law), Institute for Society and Social Research, Glasgow, Caledonian University
• Bel Mooney, Author, Columnist, UK
• Hiroshi Nakasatomi, Associate Professor, University of Tokushima, Japan
• The Hon. Alastair Nicholson, AO RFD QC, Former Chief Justice of the Family Court and Founding Patron, Children’s Rights International, Australia
• Dr. Caroline Norma, RMIT University, Australia, School of Social, Urban and Global Studies
• Dr. Lesley Orr, Feminist Historian, Theologian; Acting Chair, Zero Tolerance Trust (Fighting Male Violence Against Women), Scotland
• Sue Palmer, Author of “Toxic Childhood,” Edinburgh, Scotland
• Bridget Penhale, Reader in Mental Health, School of Nursing Sciences, University of East Anglia Norwich, UK
• Dianne Post, International Human Rights Attorney, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
• Dr. Helen Pringle, School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
• Rape Crisis Scotland
• Rape Crisis Glasgow, Scotland, Emma Ritch, Chair; Isabelle Kerr, Manager
• Eha Reitelmann, General Secretary, Estonian Women’s Associations Roundtable
• Dr. John Sanbonmatsu, Associate Professor, Philosophy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass., USA
• Amber Schalke, Feminist Party of Germany; Renate Schmidtsdorff-Aicher, Treasurer; Margot Müller, National Spokeswoman
• Dr. Marsha Scott, Convener Engender, Scotland
• Elaine Smith, Member, Scottish Parliament
• Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, British Home Secretary (2007-09), UK
• Gloria Steinem, Writer, Lecturer, Co-founder, Ms Magazine
• Ane Stoe, Ottar (Feminst Organization), Norway
• John Stoltenberg, MDiv, MFA, Author, Washington, DC, USA
• Jacci Stoyle, Amnesty Paisley (Campaign Against Human Trafficking), Scotland
• Swedish Medical Women’s Association, Gothenburg, Sweden (Johanna Berg, National, Coordinator)
• Swedish Women’s Lobby, Gertrud Åström, President, Stockholm, Sweden
• Melinda Tankard Reist, Editor, “Big Porn Inc.,” Australia
• Emily Thomson, Lecturer, Co-Director of Women in Scotland’s Economy Research Centre, Glasgow, Caledonian University
• Liane Timmermann, MillionWomenRise, Wales, UK
• Linda Thompson, National Development Officer, Women’s Support Project, Scotland
• Teresa Ulloa Ziaurriz, Regional Director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and Girls in Latin America and the Caribbean; Winner, 2011 Gleitsman International Activist Award (Harvard)
• Megan Walker, Executive Director, London Abused Women’s Centre, London, Ontario. Canada
• Vivien Walsh, Professor, Innovation Studies, University of Manchester, England, Author, “Whose Choice?”
• Karin Werkman, Researcher, The Netherlands
• Maria Weston, Nurse, National Health Service, Nottingham, England, UK
• Dr. Rebecca Whisnant, Associate Professor, Philosophy, University of Dayton, Ohio, USA
• Women Graduates’ Association, Dr. Catherine Dahlstrom, Associate Professor, Stockholm, Sweden
• Women’s Front of Norway, Agnete Strøm, International Coordinator
• WOCAD: Women’s Organisations Committee on Alcohol and Drug Issues, Stockholm, Sweden
• John Woods, Consultant Psychotherapist, The Portman Clinic, London, England

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_27427.cfm

GMO Food Labeling Drive Heats Up
Health24, April 26, 2013

Straight to the Source: http://www.health24.com/Diet-and-nutrition/News/GMO-food-labeling-drive-heats-up-20130426

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/usa-gmo-labeling-idUSL2N0CZ14O20130425

U.S. GMO food labeling drive has biotech industry biting back
Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:39pm EDT
By Carey Gillam

CHICAGO April 25 (Reuters) - New efforts to force labeling of foods made with genetically modified crops, including a bill introduced by U.S. lawmakers Wednesday, have struck a nerve with biotech crop developers who say they are rushing to roll out a broad strategy to combat consumer concerns about their products.

Executives from Monsanto Co., DuPont, and Dow Chemical, among the world's largest developers of biotech crops and the chemicals used to help produce them, told Reuters this week they are putting together a campaign aimed at turning the tide on what they acknowledge is a growing public sentiment against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used as ingredients in the nation's food supply.

Last year, the industry spent $40 million to defeat a labeling measure in California. But similar initiatives are underway now in more than 20 states, and the move by the big biotech firms is designed to thwart the spread of such initiatives, which the companies say would confuse consumers and roil the food manufacturing industry.

"Even when we prevail, we lose," said Cathy Enright, executive vice president for food and agriculture for the global Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO,) which includes Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical as members.

"To try to oppose this state by state, that is unsustainable," she said.

The big biotech firms are still working out details of their plan, but it will likely have a large social media component, the company executives said. The group will focus on conveying what it says are the many benefits of biotech crops. Participants have not yet set a budget for the campaign, Enright said.

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http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_27429.cfm

Council Opposes Genetically Engineered Salmon
Seattle City Council, April 22, 2013

Straight to the Source: http://council.seattle.gov/2013/04/22/city-opposes-genetically-engineered-salmon/

Seattle -- Seattle City Council adopted a resolution today opposing the commercial production of genetically engineered (GE) salmon. A proposal is currently before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would allow GE salmon commercial production. The Mayor concurred with the resolution.

The City's action supports a bipartisan coalition, supported by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, which is seeking to ban the genetically engineered fish or require it to be labeled as transgenic. More than 400,000 fishermen, environmentalists, food safety advocates and others have written to the FDA with concerns about the FDA's preliminary finding that this project should be allowed to proceed.

"This is a threat to the livelihood of Northwest and Alaska fishermen," said Councilmember Richard Conlin, sponsor of the resolution. "I'm also deeply concerned about potential health concerns related to consuming genetically engineered salmon. That's why we felt the need to act."

AquaBounty Technologies Inc., is seeking permission from the FDA to alter Atlantic salmon with genes taken from the Pacific Chinook salmon and the eel-like Ocean Pout. Adding these growth genes from other species causes fish to produce growth hormones continuously, allowing them to grow larger and faster than natural salmon.

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http://www.nj.com/sussex-county/index.ssf/2013/04/fbi_undercover_agents_foil_alleged_kidnapper_former_byram_councilman_connected_to_cannibal_cop_plot.html#incart_river_default

FBI undercover agents foil alleged kidnapper, former Byram councilman, connected to ‘cannibal cop’ plot

By Seth Augenstein/The Star-Ledger
on April 16, 2013 at 8:37 AM, updated April 16, 2013 at 8:38 AM


STANHOPE — A former Sussex County undersheriff has been arrested and accused of plotting to kidnap, torture, rape and kill women and children, according to the Manhattan U.S. Attorney.

The initial targets of the alleged plot were family members of a man charged in the infamous “cannibal cop” case, according to the undercover FBI investigation.

Richard Meltz, 65, a former Byram councilman who lives in Stanhope and Nashua, N.H., and Robert Christopher Asch, a 60-year-old from Manhattan, are accused of planning to kidnap and kill the family members of a co-conspirator, identified as Michael Vanhise, authorities said.

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Their actions were not confined to talking about these ghoulish plans,” said George Venizelos, the FBI’s assistant director-in-charge. “They acquired the tools to accomplish the deed, including a taser and the chemical means to anesthetize their victims. And they made detailed plans to use these instruments – plans that were foiled by the FBI’s intervention.”

Meltz and Asch are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping – which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, the FBI said.

Meltz served several terms as a councilman in Byram Township, was a Sussex County undersheriff and ran unsuccessfully for the sheriff's seat in 1998. He is currently the Chief of Police for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the Bedford, Mass. Veteran Affairs Medical Center, the FBI said.

Asch is a former high school librarian, authorities add.

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20130410_Lautenberg_to_push_bill_to_regulate_chemicals.html

Lautenberg to push bill to regulate chemicals

Sandy Bauers, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 3:01 AM

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), plans Wednesday to introduce what he hopes will be signature legislation for his final term in office - a bill aimed at ensuring the safety of the many chemicals that Americans come in contact with every day.

The measure would give regulatory officials the authority to evaluate the safety of the flame retardants in couches, the phthalate compounds responsible for the smell of new vinyl shower curtains, the bisphenol A that protects food in cans, and other chemicals of concern in common household products.

Lautenberg's legislation would update the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. Environmental groups, public-health advocates, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials and the chemical industry have called for reform.

But the bill will likely face heavy opposition from industry. Scott Jensen, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, said the version of the legislation he is familiar with has "serious deficiencies" that would make a complicated program "even more complex."

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Lautenberg has been working on TSCA reform since 2005. Last year, his proposed legislation gained committee approval. But it passed out of committee late in the congressional schedule and never made it to the floor.

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