Fwd: Organic Bytes: Organic Politicians, Natural Health, Aerial Spraying, and...

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Hello Cynthia,

ORGANIC BYTES #137

Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!

 

6/26/2008

 

 

 

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

ALERT OF THE WEEK: PROTECT CHILDREN: PASS THE KID-SAFE CHEMICALS ACT

PRESS THE POLITICIANS: FIND OUT HOW "ORGANIC" YOUR CANDIDATES ARE

ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK

GNA ALERT OF THE WEEK: NO NEW DRILLING: GREEN ENERGY ALTERNATIVES NOW

NATURAL HEALTH ALERT OF THE WEEK:

GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: AERIAL PESTICIDE SPRAYING OF URBAN AREAS SUSPENDED

SUSTAINABILITY TOOL OF THE WEEK: FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT

WEB VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

TOP OCA NEWS HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

SPECIAL STATE NEWS AND ALERTS: FL, MN, OK

 

 

 

 

 

Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALERT OF THE WEEK:

PROTECT CHILDREN: PASS THE KID-SAFE CHEMICALS ACT

Our nation's children are both our greatest treasure and the most vulnerable members of our society. Sadly, children are now "preborn" with hundreds of industrial chemicals and are victims of numerous environmental sicknesses like learning deficits, cancers and autism. The federal government has the responsibility to ensure that our children are protected from toxic chemicals. Learn more about OCA's Appetite for a Change Campaign and and urge your Congressperson to reform and update the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Take Action Today: http://organicconsumers.org/afc.cfm

 

 

 

 

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PRESS THE POLITICIANS:

FIND OUT HOW "ORGANIC" YOUR CANDIDATES ARE

The Organic Consumers Fund's 2008 Grassroots Netroots Alliance Survey asks candidates and elected officials whether they support strict organic standards, mandatory labels for genetically engineered food, the conversion of U.S. farmland to energy-efficient and carbon-sequestering organic farming, and an increase in USDA support for local food systems and organic transition. The results are starting to come in. Click here to find out how the politicians are answering the survey. http://grassrootsnetroots.org/food.cfm

Sign up for Grassroots Netroots Alliance emails: http://grassrootsnetroots.org/.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

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ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK

The OCA alerted its readers about the new Grassroots Netroots Alliance (GNA) in the last issue of Organic Bytes. We received a number of interesting letters. We have begun to post some of these to a new GNA section of our web forum.

NOTE FROM READER: "I commend your concern but believe that the climate change issue subsumes everything else and must take precedence. Until the social justice and peace groups recognize this, climate change will remain just an entry on a laundry list, not the major focus. Everything else pales in comparison to the climate emergency we face and we have very little time to turn things around, maybe ten years."

RESPONSE FROM GNA: I couldn't agree more, but I also believe it's all connected. Especially as the US military is the single greatest consumer of fossil fuels and what the war has cost so far would have been more than enough to convert the world to clean energy. (See NoWarNoWarming.org and priceofoil.org) I hope that you will choose to send the GNA survey to the politicians in your area with this message.

Read more of this exchange and share your thoughts about GNA on our web forum here: http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=1622 & st=0 & gopid=6482 & # entry6482

 

 

 

 

 

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GNA ALERT OF THE WEEK:

NO NEW DRILLING: GREEN ENERGY ALTERNATIVES NOW

With gas prices skyrocketing and the peak of the summer driving season upon us, many elected officials and candidates are calling for new oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, off our coasts, and other environmentally sensitive areas. Drilling is not the answer to our energy crisis. Contact your Congressperson and candidates for elected office and urge them to invest in renewable energy and green jobs. Take action with OCA's partner organization, the Grassroots Netroots Alliance.

http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=11528266 & type=ML

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATURAL HEALTH ALERT OF THE WEEK:

Earlier this year, the FDA instigated an unusual new policy restricting women's access to prescriptions containing estriol, a hormone treatment that many practitioners consider to be safer and more mild than some of the FDA approved estrogen therapies. This is a frightening example of how big drug companies clout can limit our access to natural medicines and we must work to end these restrictions. Congress is now considering a resolution that calls on the FDA to end these restrictions. Take action at the American Association for Health Freedom's website: http://ga4.org/campaign/Estriol_Resolution/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK:

AERIAL PESTICIDE SPRAYING OF URBAN AREAS SUSPENDED

The OCA and a number of allied groups recently sounded the alarm over aerial spraying of a hazardous moth pesticide over densely populated areas of California. Last week, officials announced that due to public uproar about the issue, the program has been suspended. "I know there's concern out there, and we want to be able to address that," stated A.G. Kawamura, state secretary of food and agriculture.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13098.cfm

 

 

 

 

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DONATE HERE!

HELP OCA FIGHT FOR HEALTH, JUSTICE, & THE ENVIRONMENT

Support OCA with your stimulus check.

During a recession, nonprofits need private donor help more than ever.

 

http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

 

 

 

 

 

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SUSTAINABILITY TOOL OF THE WEEK:

FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT

You may have heard about "carbon footprint" - the amount of energy we use in driving our vehicles, turning on the TV and living the fossil fuel life. Did you know we also have a "water footprint" - the amount of water used not only for our daily needs, but in the processing of the many items we eat (like meat), wear (cotton) and write on (paper). Learn more about your water footprint and how you can reduce it by taking this quick quiz:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13165.cfm

 

 

 

 

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WEB VIDEOS OF THE WEEK:

 

ABC I-TEAM INVESTIGATES FAKE ORGANICS

Carcinogens in "organic" personal care products? Natural food chain selling "organic" foods predominantly from China? Watch and learn:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13166.cfm

RBGH: YOUR MILK ON DRUGS

Watch this new rBGH video online here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13062.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

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SIGN-UP FOR OCA'S ACTION ALERTS

As you know, Organic Bytes is sent to its rs twice per month. But oftentimes, there are alerts that need to have immediate response and simply can't wait for the next issue of Organic Bytes. The OCA is inviting you to sign up for our action alert email list. If you , these alerts will be sent to you on an "as needed" basis. Some weeks you may get none at all, and some weeks you may receive 2 or 3, depending on the urgency of the alert. Sign up for OCA's action alerts here:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/signUp.jsp?key=3457

 

 

 

 

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TOP OCA NEWS HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

Tired of drowning in endless news headlines? Let the OCA wade through the media quagmire for you and sift out the most important stories. The OCA website has 20 or more news articles posted each day, which are related to health, justice, food and farming, politics, and the environment. With over thirty thousand visitors per day, OrganicConsumers.org is a valuable resource for consumers, activists, and journalists. Please Bookmark OrganicConsumers.org as your daily source of news, analysis and inspiration. Below are 5 of the top stories posted to the OCA website this last week:

 

Why Koreans Still Reject U.S. Beef

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13078.cfm

Rotten Tomatoes: Latest Health Scare Exposes a Frayed Food-Safety Net http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13093.cfm

Alert: Pharma reveals its hand: Flood the FDA with comments

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13164.cfm

 

 

Alert: Stop the school lunch program from requiring NAIS http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13147.cfm

 

 

Organic Consumers Battle Organic Label Fraud with Litigation http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13119.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

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SPECIAL STATE NEWS AND ALERTS

 

FLORIDA: Protect Our Coasts- Oppose Offshore Drilling http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25030

MINNESOTA: State Legislative Session Could Have Been a Landmark One, if Not for Excessive Vetoes By Governor. Read the Summary Here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/MN.cfm

OKLAHOMA: 2008 Legislative Session Wraps Up Early With Mixed Results. Progressive States Network's Review Here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/OK.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DR. BRONNER'S MAGIC SOAPS HELPS LEAD WAY IN ORGANIC BODY CARE

Marking the 60th Anniversary of the company, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is pleased to announce that all classic liquid & bar soaps are now not only certified under the USDA National Organic Program, but also certified Fair Trade! In addition, we are pleased to introduce a revolutionary new range of high-quality organic products, from hair rinses to shaving gels - all certified under the same USDA program that certifies organic foods.

Dr. Bronner's is supporting the Organic Consumers Association's "Coming Clean" campaign for strong organic body care standards. For more info, please see: http://www.drbronner.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on web sites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

 

NOTE TO CO-OP AND NATURAL FOOD STORE SUBSCRIBERS:

Organic Bytes is a great tool for keeping your staff and customers up to date on the latest issues. Feel free to forward this email to your staff and print for posting on bulletin boards and staff break tables. You are also welcome to use this material for your newsletters. There's an attractive print-friendly PDF version of this available for free download at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm

 

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ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

6771 South Silver Hill Drive

Finland, Minnesota 55603

Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652

 

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Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on web sites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

 

NOTE TO CO-OP AND NATURAL FOOD STORE SUBSCRIBERS:

Organic Bytes is a great tool for keeping your staff and customers up to date on the latest issues. Feel free to forward this email to your staff and print for posting on bulletin boards and staff break tables. You are also welcome to use this material for your newsletters. There's an attractive print-friendly PDF version of this available for free download at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm

 

_________________________________

ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

6771 South Silver Hill Drive

Finland, Minnesota 55603

Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652

 

 

 

 

 

 

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