Activists Move to ‘Occupy Our Food Supply’

Exchange seeds, not stocks. That’s just what many environmental activists and occupiers did on Monday’s ‘Occupy Our Food Supply’ global day of action, an effort organized by the Rainforest Action Network and a coalition of various environmental and Occupy groups worldwide.

And the day of action could not have been more necessary or come at a more crucial time. As activists were busy conducting seed exchanges in front of stock exchanges, taking back unused lots for community gardens, and labeling genetically modified food items in grocery stores across the world, a federal judge was ruling in favor of giant agribusiness Monsanto—a food corporation that, along with Dupont, Cargill Tyson, and others, ignited  resistance  among farmers and environmental activists alike.

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Big U.S. Wage Gains Signal Boost to Spending

The biggest six-month increase in U.S. worker pay in almost five years helps lay the ground for a pickup in consumer spending, the largest part of the economy. Wages (GDPWWAGE) and salaries in the third and fourth quarters grew a combined $197.3 billion, the most since the six months ended March 2007, according to revised Commerce Department figures released Feb. 29. The report also showed the economy grew faster in the fourth quarter than previously estimated and Americans saved more.

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Energy Department Announces $180 Million for Ambitious New Initiative to Deploy U.S. Offshore Wind Projects

Washington, D.C.— As part of President Obama’s all-out, all-of-the-above approach to developing every domestic energy resource, Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the start of an ambitious initiative to capture the potential of wind energy off American coasts.  As part of a planned six-year $180 million initiative, an initial $20 million will be available this year as the first step in supporting up to four innovative offshore wind energy installations across the United States. These offshore wind projects will accelerate the deployment of breakthrough wind power technologies that will help diversify our nation’s energy portfolio, promote economic development and launch a new industry here in America.

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