Balcells Blog Home

Drove a Sebring convertible over the weekend. It was OK, nice but not really sporty. I would say it was satisfactory.

Jordi sent me an interesting article by Argentinian biologist Javiera Rulli. She, and other members of the Grupo de Reflexión Rural in Argentina recently released a new report at the U.N. Biodiversity Summit in Brazil detailing human and enviromental rights violations related to genetically-modified soy expansion in South America. Companies like Cargill and Monsanto are amongst those most benefiting from the expansion of soy production. Rulli also explains that soy is actually quite bad for young kids and pregnant women, and doesn't have as many benefits as we are led to believe. The Chinese consume it in lesser amounts, not genetically modified, and as Miso or Tofu, which is fermented.

Below is the article in Catalan:

Evil Soy

For those who do not speak Catalan, below are some key points:

- The authors claim that the expansion of soy monocultures is causing a wave of environmental and social destruction throughout the MERCOSUR, spurred by the free trade policies headed by the WTO, that are at the basis of the expansion of industrial agriculture.

- The situation in Paraguay presents the most pronounced case of this violence against the rural and indigenous population. Soy monocultures cover 2 million hectares, causing a great loss of (agro)biodiversity and food security. Communities are frequently threatened by violent evictions, carried out with help of corrupt police forces and paramilitaries. Intensive fumigations with agrochemicals intoxicate people, animals, destroy harvests, contaminate water sources and ruin rural livelihoods.

You can read more about it here:

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/199/44/

Got an email from Christina, Hans' sister. She will be in NY in a couple weeks for Surtex - a show where artists sell and license artwork and design. She is a very talented graphic artist, check out some of her illustrations here:

http://www.childrensillustrators.com/illustrator.cgi/CSWald

She has done work for major book publishers, kids games, and collectible card game publishers. She illustrated several Magic The Gathering cards, it doesn't get much cooler than that

We'll try and hang out if I am in town. Here are a couple exhibits she wants to go to:

http://www.jonathanlevinegallery.com/?method=Exhibit.Upcoming

http://www.nyscience.org/nyhs-pressroom/nyhs-pressreleases/pr-art_of_scifi.html

Back in NY, will catch up later this week. Spent the weekend in super sunny Miami, cool stuff.