Posted: October 9, 2013
(http://gmwatch.org)UK-based Oxitec has developed new genetically modified insects that it plans to release in open field trials in the coming months. The company plans to release GM olive flies in Spain and GM Mediterranean fruit flies in Brazil. The olive fly strain being used is not native to Spain, and studies of the species in Greece have identified different levels of pesticide-resistance in different areas. The flies are engineered to breed with native pests and produce offspring with them, the females of which mostly die as larvae. In this way, they plan to suppress the native pest population.
Many are concerned that release of non-native strains of GM pests could spread undesirable, unnatural traits, such as pesticide resistance.
"Use of non-native strains is reckless because Oxitec's GM pests are not sterile and the non-native strain of GM males will survive and breed with wild flies for many generations," said Dr. Helen Wallace, Director of GeneWatch UK. "It is very risky to introduce non-native strains of pests into a new country. Harmful traits such as pesticide resistance would be impossible to eradicate once they spread through the wild population."
Posted: October 8, 2013
(http://www.northamericanlawcenter.org)The North American Law Center (NALC) recently released a brief detailing the atrocity of Obamacare and how this unconstitutional law must be repealed for the sake of our nation. They prepared their document for the American people and the States, because they fear that Republicans in the House of Representatives will soon cave in to the extortive demands of Democrats.
The NALC contends that the Senate, under control of Democrat Harry Reid, plans to "'extort' money illegally and unconstitutionally from the American people under their Affordable Health Care Act in which the Federal Government is attempting to seize control of the health care industry, namely ALL related revenue."
The NALC's brief describes how the US Supreme Court ruled that Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional back in June of 2012.
One basis for the legislation's unconstitutionality is that it originated in the Senate, while the Constitution rests all power to "lay and collect taxes" in the House of Representatives, so "tax" revenue related bills are not allowed to come from the Senate. To get around this, the bill denied that it was a "tax," but the courts later attempted to rewrite Obamacare, making it a "tax" so it would appear to be constitutional. However, the bill is not in fact a "tax," and if it is, then its origin in the Senate makes it unconstitutional.
According to the NALC, "As an 'unconstitutional' piece of legislation, [Obamacare] has no legal force or effect. It is therefore "unconstitutional" for the House of Representatives to 'fund' an 'unconstitutional' act of the Senate and Executive Branch."
The NALC report then addresses the government shutdown and refers to the despicable tactics being used by the Obama administration, including shutting down just parts of government that people would notice and cutting off access to open air monuments on public land which belongs to the American people, not the Federal Government, to make things seem worse than they actually are.
The brief explains why Obamacare is extortion. The goal of the act is to allow the Federal Government to seize control of American health care, which makes up 1/7th of the total national economy. It will force the American people to purchase a "product" they might not even want "or face stiff 'penalties' from the I.R.S. which are already ruled "unconstitutional" by the Supreme Court."
This unconstitutional, tyrannical law negatively affects every state, business and American, and as such, each has legal standing to bring charges against those who helped pass it. Every citizen has a right and a duty to oppose Obamacare, before it completely destroys our freedom.
Right now, it is up to the Republicans in the House of Representatives to continue opposing Obamacare, right up to the budget deadline of October 17, 2013. Democrats have thus far refused to pass any bills defunding the ACA and have even refused to negotiate with the other party. The Democrat party's plan is to continue blaming Republicans for the shutdown, despite the fact that their party is actually trying to make it worse on the American public. But it is up to the Republicans to persevere and keep the government shutdown, past the deadline if necessary, until the Senate is forced to pass a budget without funding for Obamacare.
In conclusion: "House Republicans simply cannot fold like a cheap lawn chair this time. They must hold the line for the American people and completely defund ObamaCare, not delay it."
Click here to read the North American Law Center's full brief, "Shut Down of Federal Government Set to Uphold Federal Health Care Extortion Scheme."
Posted: October 8, 2013
(http://www.cornucopia.org)Governor Jerry Brown recently signed a piece of legislation that should make it easier for California cities and counties to encourage community gardens and small-scale urban farms. The legislation will allow municipalities to lower the assessed value and property taxes on plots of three acres or less if the owners pledge to dedicate the land to growing food for at least five years.
This should help the expansion and sustainability of urban agriculture, which is often at risk because of steep property taxes and development. It is voluntary for local governments to opt in to the program. Cities and counties that move forward to create "urban agriculture incentive zones" can expect a modest revenue loss from the lower property taxes, but the benefits to the community should be worth it.
With this legislation, it will be easier for cities to take unsightly empty or decrepit lots and transform them into gardens, providing nutrition and likely raising property values.
Posted: October 8, 2013
(http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/2936193)An Ohio appeals court has overturned a judge's previous decision to uphold the rights of Amish parents who wish to seek alternative treatment for their daughter with leukemia. The court has ruled that 10-year-old Sarah Hershberger can be forced to receive chemotherapy against her parent's wishes. The court also ruled that an attorney who is also a nurse at the hospital she represents should be granted limited guardianship over the girl and allowed to make medical decisions for her.
Sarah was originally receiving conventional treatment at Akron Children's Hospital. Her condition improved, but the chemotherapy was too painful and she begged her parents to cease the treatment. After that, they decided to treat her leukemia with natural medicine.
The previous court ruling noted that Sarah's parents are completely fit and competent enough to make medical decisions for their daughter and that it would be unconstitutional to strip them of that right. The judge from that ruling also noted that chemotherapy is not guaranteed to cure her, but it is guaranteed to put the young girl through more agony.
A county probate court investigator found that Sarah is not in remission, and hospital staff believe that she will die without conventional treatment. The court said that the rights of the state to protect the child outweigh the beliefs and convictions of the parents. Hospital officials say that, although the girl's illness, lymphoblatic lymphoma, is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, there is a high survival rate with treatment.
Posted: October 7, 2013
(http://gmwatch.org)El Salvador, in a move far ahead of countries like the U.S., has voted to ban glyphosate, the pesticide that most GM crops are designed to be grown with, along with 52 other chemicals. This historic vote comes one year after the famous (or infamous) Seralini study, which found that the pesticide and the GM maize engineered to go with it caused severe organ damage, tumor growth, behavioral changes, negative reproductive effects and premature death in rats. RoundUp, the brand name of Monsanto's glyphosate, has been found to be toxic at half the level permitted in EU drinking water. Paraquat and endosulfan are two chemicals that are also on the ban list.
Posted: October 7, 2013
(http://www.gmwatch.org)Bangladesh's High Court has barred genetically modified eggplant from being commercially released in the country. The transgenic crop, called Bt Brinjal, is infused with pest-resistant genes, similar to previously released Bt maize and Bt cotton, which have contributed to increased resistance in pests.
The High Court also ruled that the bar would be in place until independent research based on Codex Alimentarius Commission's standards is conducted to test the GM crop's safety. The court also ruled that the government submit a report after conducting the research and they must explain why the release of the crop should not be declared illegal.
The order was passed following a petition that asserts that, because there is no law in Bangladesh regulating GM foods, if there was any adverse effect to human health, its liability can not be determined. It also mentions Indian Lok Sabha's 37th report, which states that GM Brinjal is harmful for human development and environment.
In August, a group of internationally recognized scientists sent a letter to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, urging her not to approve the release of Bt Brinjal in her country. The letter said that the introduction of the GM crop would harm biodiversity, lead to genetic contamination, increase costs and pose a serious health risk.
Posted: October 7, 2013
(http://www.globalresearch.ca)Over the better part of the last 60 years, Americans have been unknowingly eating arsenic, a toxic, carcinogenic chemical.
Arsenic intentionally fed to chickens has been justified by the FDA and the food industry by their unfounded claims that the chickens safely excrete it and that it is safe to consume at low levels. However, the FDA's own research contradicts their previous unscientific claims; it shows that arsenic in chicken feed ends up in the chicken meat. From there, it is eaten by consumers, and then it accumulates in human tissues, increasing people's risk for chronic health problems.
Thankfully, mounting evidence has led to the voluntary recall of Roxarsone, an arsenic chicken feed product produced by Pfizer, despite the FDA continuing to claim that arsenic-contaminated chicken is safe to eat.
This disturbing FDA indifference to dangerous chemicals used in the meat industry completely contradicts their attitude towards safe substances used as alternative treatments. Take for instance their 2011 raid on Wyldewood Cellars, a producer of elderberry juice, which the FDA decided was an "unapproved drug." The FDA has also been engaged in a ruthless war against producers and distributors of nutritional supplements, natural herbal products and healthy raw milk, which humans have drank for millennia.
This comes from a federal agency that also lets beef factories feed their cows chicken feces.
Posted: October 7, 2013
(http://japandailypress.com)Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told attendees at the international science conference held in Kyoto on Sunday that Japan is now willing to receive foreign assistance to bring the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant under control.
"We are wide open to receive the most advanced knowledge from overseas to contain the problem," Abe said during his speech at the forum.
TEPCO, the nuclear plant's operator, has suffered setback after setback in containing the radiation at the plant, despite positive reports from the company and the Japanese government.
Last month, Japan included the former director of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission at Three Mile Island, Lake Barrett, as an adviser in dealing with the situation at the Fukushima plant. According to Japan Daily Press, "Russia has also reminded Japan that its assistance, which was first offered back in 2011, is still available."
Although Japan is now open to foreign assistance, it has been criticized for waiting so late, after so much radiation has already contaminated the sea.
Posted: October 7, 2013
(http://www.sacbee.com)The City Council of Davis, California, voted 4-1 on Tuesday to reject a proposal to fluoridate the city's drinking water
The vote comes after an earlier measure was passed that authorized city leaders to expand existing water supplies. Water fluoridation was not a part of that measure, so when it came up as a proposal, many citizens vehemently opposed it. Alan Pryor, the leader of Davis Citizens Against Fluoridation, said, "It's truly a moral issue. People were told we would get pure, clean water. They did not give consent to mass medication."
Councilman Dan Wolk was the only person to vote in favor of fluoridation.
According to preliminary estimates, fluoridating the city's planned water treatment plant could cost $301,000 a year before operating costs. The cost to add fluoride to the city's six deep wells would cost as much as $2 million, according to some estimates, while operation and maintenance costs were expected to be around $181,000. All that is in addition to the adverse effects that fluoride can have on health and the environment: it can lead to fluorosis, and water going down the drain or in people's yards can contaminate the environment with fluoride.
Jeff Boone, a managing director at Davis-based small business lender California Statewide CDC and fluoridation opponent, pledged $10,000 toward the purchase of a mobile dental van to help protect children's oral health in the city without subjecting its citizens to harmful forced medication with chemicals in their drinking water.
Posted: October 4, 2013
(http://www.ajc.com)Clostridium difficile is a bacterium often located in people's guts. When people take antibiotics, it kills many of the healthy bacteria in their digestive tracts. This can cause C. difficile to take over the gut, leading to a diarrhea-causing infection that kills 14,000 Americans a year.
Now, researchers from Canada have developed a new therapy to treat C. difficile infections: pills made from fecal matter. The pills are triple-layered capsules that contain healthy microbes extracted from the fecal matter of patients' family members.
The researchers tested their "poop pills" on 27 patients who had to take up to 34 of the pills in 15 minutes, and they found the experimental therapy to have a 100% success rate.
As quoted by NBC, Dr. Thomas Louie, one of the researchers involved, said, "There's no smell. There's no taste. ...It looks like peanut butter."
Posted: October 3, 2013
(http://www.reuters.com)Another tank at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has been found to be leaking contaminated water.
This is the second such leak to occur in two months. Last month, amid growing international concern, Japan's government said it would fund efforts to improve management of the radioactive water at the site.
Yoshihide Suga, Japan's top government spokesman, said that he thought the situation was under control, but these latest leaks show that the Tokyo Electric Power Company's (Tepco) efforts to improve its containment of contaminated water has been insufficient.
Tepco said that the leaked water contained 200,000 becquerels of beta-emitting radioactive isotopes per liter. Over as much as 12 hours, about 113 gallons (430 liters) of contaminated water spilled over the brim of a tilted tank set on uneven ground, Masayuki Ono, a spokesman for Tepco, told reporters.
The company is filling the containment tanks to the top, as it struggles to find storage space for all the radioactive water.
Tepco admitted only this past summer that contaminated water from the Fukushima plant was leaking into the Pacific Ocean. Ono said that the recently found water leak has likely flowed into a trench leading to the Pacific Ocean.
Officials claim that radiation leaks are mostly confined to the harbor around the plant and that it does not represent an environmental threat, as the radiation will be diluted by the sea. Of course, Tepco and the Japanese government have been downplaying this disaster since it began, so how much can we really trust such claims?
Posted: October 2, 2013
(http://www.elcomercio.com)Ecuador's authorities have given a deadline of November 11 for all foods and drinks produced or marketed in the country to include labeling to show whether or not they contain genetically modified ingredients.
Monica Orozco of elcomercio.com recently interviewed Pedro Paez, the superintendent of Ecuador's Control of Market Power, who issued the decision.
In the interview, Paez says that Ecuador's Consumer Protection Act of 2000 required companies to include relevant information on product labels and that labels omitting information about GMOs could be a violation of that law.
Orozco mentions that there are laboratories in the country that can certify information for food products, to which Paez replies, "It is the responsibility of large companies, before they even occur, to know what is in the product, they can not come to tell me they do not know. This is the gloomy mood of Maria Angula is serving me some sausages, asked what are the black pudding and she says, 'I do not know, but the man who lives next to the cemetery always sells good cheap.'"
To cover the more than 45,000 products on the Ecuadorian market, Paez says that the rule will be enforced with the help of the citizenry. They will also only go after large companies and the products that have the greatest impact first.
He explains that his department is currently working with several ministries to coordinate effective implementation of the deadline. Penalties for violations of the Consumer Protection Act over the past decade could carry a maximum amount of 12% of a company's annual gross sales, according to Paez. However, exemptions for the fines may be given to companies that meet the November 11 deadline.
Regarding concerns that implementing the law could lead to companies restricting their supply of products into the country, Paez said that that was unlikely, and even so, the government is considering criminal and administrative penalties for such an occurrence.
(Translation by Google Translate)
Posted: October 2, 2013
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24335710)A metaepidemiological study published in the British Medical Journal on October 1, 2013, shows that exercise can be just as good as medication for heart disease and better than stroke medicine.
The study analyzed hundreds of trials involving nearly 340,000 patients to find research comparing exercise with pills. The researchers found 305 trials regarding managing conditions such as heart disease, stroke rehabilitation and pre-diabetes. After studying all the relevant data, they found that death rates in those who took such drugs were comparable to death rates in those who exercise.
The researchers found that diuretics seemed to work best for heart failure patients, but stroke patients can get the most life-extending benefit from exercise.
"By taking important steps, such as regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and stopping smoking, people can significantly reduce their risk of stroke," Dr. Peter Coleman of the Stroke Association said.
Posted: October 1, 2013
(http://www.march-against-monsanto.com/)Millions of activists are preparing for another March Against Monsanto to take place on October 12. Marches will be held in over 400 cities around the world and are currently scheduled in 47 U.S. states. The event will protest the controversial use of genetically modified organisms and the dangerous heavy use of pesticides in our food supply.
GMOs have never been properly tested for long-term safety. The only published study that examined the long-term effects of eating genetically modified corn produced horrifying effects in rats, but it was rejected by Monsanto and the general scientific community. The revolving door between government and biotech companies like Monsanto basically allows it greater government influence than even citizens seem to have. The use of GMO crops leads to increased pesticide usage, destroys the soil and biodiversity and contributes to bee colony collapse. GMOs have been linked to adverse health effects such as organ damage, sterility, infant mortality, birth defects, auto-immune conditions, allergies and increased cancer risks. Monsanto's business practices are equally as evil, as they file lawsuits against any innocent farmer whose field was contaminated by their mutant seed. More than a quarter of a million Indian farmers have already committed suicide after the GMO crops they bought were a failure that left their families in poverty. 62 countries mandate GMO labeling, which Monsanto has spent millions of dollars opposing in the U.S. alone. They don't even want you to know that you are eating their poisons.
That is why activists continue to march against Monsanto. And that's why anyone concerned with their health, their children or the future of the world and sustainable agriculture should join in. Protestors will march in St. Louis, Monsanto's headquarters, at 1:00 pm. To find an event near you, visit docs.google.com. You can also visit the March Against Monsanto website or Facebook page for more information.
Posted: September 30, 2013
(http://www.scoop.co.nz)The "Joint Irish Houses of Parliament Draft report on Water Fluoridation in Ireland" was written in 2007 for the Department for Health and Children, but pro-fluoride activists have vehemently suppressed the document until it was published online this month.
The report warns of the harmful effects that water fluoridation has on the population and states that any supposed benefits to dental hygiene are minimal.
The Report states "The Department of Health's assessment of the overwhelming benefits of water fluoridation is not justified... We believe on the basis of the international studies there would be no long-term increase in dental decay if fluoride were not added to Irish drinking water" and "We note that dental health has improved to the same degree in countries where there is no water fluoridation."
The report continues, stating that the positive aspects of fluoridation have been over-stated, growing negative impact has not been properly recognized and no general health studies have ever been carried out. This is truly alarming, considering that four in ten 15-year-olds now suffer from fluorosis.
The fact that this report has been suppressed for the last six years shows that fluoridation supporters are desperately hanging on to an outdated practice with no scientific evidence to back up its effectiveness. The report says, "The practice of water fluoridation should end immediately. All of the available evidence suggests that not only will this lead to a marked reduction in fluorosis but that there would not be a significant rise in dental caries."
Posted: September 30, 2013
(http://www.bbc.co.uk)A Chinese herbal medicine called "Yangzhen Xiaoji" has recently undergone scientific testing by experts from Cardiff and Peking Universities.
Yangzhen Xiaoji, a formula consisting of 14 herbs, has previously been shown to be beneficial to cancer patients, but the way that it works has been a mystery. However, recent research has revealed that it blocks a pathway to stop the spread of cancer cells in the body.
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been practiced successfully for centuries in East Asia, but lack of scientific explanation has lead to skepticism from the West. With new research to prove the efficacy of such treatments, scientists from the Cardiff University-Peking University Joint Cancer Institute hope that Chinese medicine can be used in combination with traditional methods to realize more positive outcomes for patients.
Professor Jiang, the director of the joint cancer institute, says that clinical trials for combined treatments on cancer patients have already begun and are providing positive results.
Posted: September 30, 2013
(http://www.thedailycourier.com)A rally is planned today, Monday, September 30, from 10 am to noon at the Capitol Building in Salem, Oregon, to protest Senate Bill 633, which, if passed, would prohibit communities from passing local laws relating to agricultural seeds, including those of genetically engineered crops.
The bill is being considered in special legislative session called by Governor John Kitzhaber. The governor says that the purpose of the law is to decide if the state should have one agricultural policy or if each county should be able to make its own.
Several Oregon counties already ban or are trying to ban GMO crops, the passage of this law would nullify those bans and effectively destroy peoples' rights to govern themselves and regulate genetically modified seeds through local government.
One protestor had this to say about the Senate Bill:
"Have no doubt. GMO's are a clear and present economic danger to Oregon as a culture. The people have a right to be heard and this body has a duty to listen. Kill 633."
Community rights groups in Benton and Lane counties are in the process of forwarding ballot initiatives that would ban GMOs in their counties. Efforts to pass similar measures are also under way in Jackson, Josephine, Lincoln, Marion and Multnomah counties.
Posted: September 27, 2013
(http://www.usatoday.com)Badger, the maker of a natural sunscreen product, has issued a recall on about 30,000 tubes of sunscreen after tests found some to be contaminated with bacteria and fungi. The products initially passed testing, but routine quality checks later discovered three microbes, one of which was only found in one previously handled sample.
The company has issued the recall voluntarily and preemptively, as no reports of adverse events have been reported. Nonetheless, Badger CEO Bill Whyte has issued an apology regarding the problem and stated that the contaminants are "unlikely to cause problems except for in immune-compromised persons or for persons with severely damaged skin."
The company says the problems were caused by "preservative instability." A spokeswoman for the company, Deirdre Fitzgerald, said, "We are already reformulating all products in question for improved shelf-life stability for next year's sunscreen season."
The recalled products include:
- SPF 30 Baby Sunscreen Lotion tubes with UPC codes of 34084490091 and 634084490114. (Lot #'s 3024A, 3057B, 3063A, 3063B, 3132A, 3133A)
- SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Lotion tubes with UPC codes of 634084490145 and 634084490169. (Lot # 3164A)
To get refunds, consumers can return the tubes to retailers or contact Badger at 1-800-603-6100 or
[email protected].
Posted: September 27, 2013
(http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com)NSF International, an independent testing and certification organization, has recently announced that it will join the Non-GMO Project as a technical administrator in early 2014.
This news comes after an earlier announcement by Whole Foods that all GMO-containing products in their stores must be labeled by 2018. Whole Foods' decision was influenced by an increasingly huge consumer demand for GMO-free foods and recent efforts to pass GMO labeling legislation.
The Non-GMO Project Verified seal is one of the fastest growing third-party assurance seals in the country, according to Steven Hoffman, managing director of natural products marketing agency Compass LLC.
Posted: September 26, 2013
(http://butternutrition.com)Many people enjoy cheese, but it's getting harder to find high-quality GMO-free cheeses. As many readers already know, most dairy cows are fed GMO feed, but what few people may know is that even cheese derived from grass-fed cows may be contaminated with GMOs.
Rennet is used as a coagulant to separate milk into curds and whey as well as break down the protein casein. Chymosin is the active enzyme in rennet.
According to Catherine of butternutrition.com, five types of coagulants are used in cheese-making:
- Animal rennet (most expensive, up to twice the cost of alternatives)
- Microbial rennet (mold derived rennet, hard to find, now replaced by FPC GMO rennet)
- FPC-Fermentation Produced Chymosin rennet (GMO)
- Vegetable rennet (hard to source)
- Citric acid or vinegar (often sourced from GMO corn)
GMO FPC rennet is used because of the law of supply and demand. Cheese is in high demand, and rennet made from GMOs is less expensive and more readily available than traditional ingredients.
Finding out GMO rennet is in your cheese could be difficult, because companies are not required to disclose on the label what kind of rennet was used. Cheeses imported from European countries where GMOs are banned aren't necessarily safer either. Although they don't distribute GMO FPC rennet products in their own countries, they freely import them to the U.S.
Look for a seal from the Non-GMO Project to ensure that your cheese does not contain bioengineered rennet. According to Catherine's research, "FPC is not permitted in USDA Organic Cheese," but that is being challenged.
<<>>
