Your thoughts

Both Sides of the Story

Re: “GM Foods – What You Should Know” from Fall/Winter 2004.

We understand that it can be tricky to find clear answers to difficult, complex issues. A close examination of this article reveals that it was neither objective nor balanced. GM Agriculture is actually undermining the resource base of healthy soil, clean water and diversity that is needed to sustain the world’s growing population. The article did not use enough points of view representing this side of this complex issue. If Food for Thought is truly committed to providing the most relevant, accurate and timely information on the role of food and agriculture, our hope is that in the future your writers will challenge us as well as educate us in an honest manner.”

Tony and Penny Marshall, Highwood Crossing Farm, Aldersyde, AB (producers of organic oils and whole grain flours and cereals)

Editor’s note: Food for Thought always aims to provide you with a balanced point of view on issues that matter most to you. We acknowledge that we could have done a better job of presenting both sides of this complex issue and will aim to better achieve this balance in future issues.

Family Friendly

It was heart-warming to read about the loving and caring family in the BSE article. [I would like] more articles showing strong, successful humanitarians working together to benefit their families and their communities.

Nadine White, Sherwood Park 

Adjusting Attitudes

I have a concern about the article “Battling BSE” in the past issue. The following statement is made in this article: “I had the little guy on the tractor when he was eight years old…. Couldn’t keep him off it.”  It takes very careful reading of the article to fully realize that the quote is from years ago. I read your magazine two days after a seven-year-old girl was killed by a farm machine operated by her nine-year-old brother in Alberta. She was the fifth child killed in a farm accident in Alberta this year. I am very disappointed that you allowed a quote in your magazine that appears to accept this attitude.

Marie Walker, via e-mail

Editor’s note: We apologize for advancing what must become an outdated view of safety on the farm. In response, we have addressed the issue of farm safety in our article “Safety on the Farm” on page 16.

We welcome your comments

Drop us an e-mail at info@growingalberta.com or fill in our reader response card. You can also visit our website at www.growingalberta.com.  While you’re there, sign up for our Food for Thought Online newsletter. You could win a family vacation for four at Brown Creek Ranch.