Protecting Us From Dangerous Pathogens

This ran on 91.3 FM this morning, part of their Health series. I thought it was interesting because it focused on security measures for level 3 pathogens currently in place at K-State's BRI and then talked about how security for level 4 at NBAF will differ.

From: http://kansaspublicradio.org/newsstory.php?itemID=13021
Date: January 26, 2009

"When the Department of Homeland Security chose Kansas State University as the site for the nation’s premier animal and plant disease research laboratory, political and business leaders cheered. But at least a few people harbor fears of what could happen if something goes wrong. As part of our series, “Kansas Health: A Prescription for Change”, Health Reporter Bryan Thompson explores the technologies and procedures designed to protect the public."

Related Links: (linked from website)
NBAF Record of Decision
Department of Homeland Security - NBAF
NBAF - Biosafety Levels
DHS - NBAF news release
NBAF site cost analysis
BioRegion News - Kansas Wins NBAF
NBAF environmental impact statement
World At Risk - Congressional Commission Report
AP report: Biological Attack Likely by 2013
Seattle Times - Doubts persist that troubled scientist was anthrax killer
Global Security Newswire - US bolstered security in 2008
Wikipedia - Biosafety Levels
Kansas NBAF Presentation
NBAF In Kansas
No NBAF In Kansas
Jerry Jaax bio
Scott Rusk bio
Biosecurity Research Institute at K-State
National Agricultural Biosecurity Center at K-State
NBAF Op-Ed by Nancy and Jerry Jaax

Eating Right Can Save The Planet

Mark Bittman: Eating Right Can Save the Planet

NPR.org, Morning Edition, January 22, 2009 · If you're one of those people hoping to change the world in 2009, writer Mark Bittman says you can start by changing what you eat.

In his new book, Food Matters, The New York Times food columnist writes about the environmental impact of industrial farming — and how individuals can make a difference by cutting down on the amount of animal products they consume.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99268166

New Local Food Alliance to Meet January 31

A number of K-State professors are teaming up with People's Grocery to promote some kind of local food alliance, and the first meeting will be a potluck lunch on January 31 at the Douglass Center.

This will be a prelude at 11:30 to the People's Grocery annual meeting, scheduled for 2pm at the Douglass Center.

The local food lunch will involve the K-State professors and other interested consumers, and we're working to involve local producers as well. The idea is to have a meeting of consumer and producer interests to figure out what the alliance will entail, and People's Grocery staff will be there to help plan with the producers for People's Grocery's local food needs.

I hope people read this and get excited about attending and participating in building a local food alliance that helps all kinds of people to grow closer to the sources of their food.

~Ben