[Biodemocracy] Organic Bytes #33 - Food and Consumer News Tidbits with an Edge!

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Fri, 28 May 2004 15:11:41 -0500

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[biodemocracy]

Organic Bytes #33 - Food and Consumer News Tidbits with an Edge!

 

 

 

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ORGANIC BYTES #33

Food and Consumer News Tidbits with and Edge!

by Organic Consumers Association

5/28/2004

 

 

Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on websites,

print it, and post it. Knowledge is power!

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

-VICTORY! USDA BACKS OFF FROM DEGRADING ORGANIC STANDARDS

-THOUSANDS IN UK MAY HAVE HUMAN FORM OF MAD COW DISEASE

-CANADIAN SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST FAMILY FARMERS

-PESTICIDES FOUND INSIDE EVERYONE

-ORGANIC LAWNCARE TIPS

-JUNK FOOD DEALERS TURNING US INTO ADDICTS

-COFFEE THAT SUPPORTS INDIGENOUS COOPS AND THE OCA

-20 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR INTAKE OF BODY CARE CHEMICALS

 

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VICTORY! USDA BACKS OFF FROM DEGRADING ORGANIC STANDARDS

Stung by a nationwide backlash by Organic Consumers Association members and the

entire organic community, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

announced May 26 that it would rescind controversial policies issued last month

that would have undermined organic standards and violated federal law requiring

public input. In April, the USDA announced that it would no longer monitor

organic labels on non-food products, and added that pesticides, animal drugs,

growth hormones, antibiotics, and tainted fishmeal would be allowed on organic

farms. In response to this frontal assault on organic integrity, the OCA

immediately sent out an Action Alert and launched a media campaign to pressure

the USDA into reversing its controversial directives. Thanks to all of you in

our network, within two days, over 5,000 petition signatures were gathered and a

landslide of faxes, emails and phone calls hit the USDA and National Organic

Program offices. Amplifying OCA efforts, other public

interest groups such as the Consumers Union and the National Campaign for

Sustainable Agriculture joined the fray, while the Organic Trade Association

rallied industry support. Meanwhile a class action lawsuit against the USDA was

being prepared by Dr. Bronners (an organic soap and hemp bar company), the OCA,

and others. The USDA ultimately capitulated on May 26, when it became clear that

America's 30 million organic consumers were not going to accept the agency's

dictatorial practices.

 

Unfortunately, consumers are still being locked out of many important policy

discussions at the USDA, and of course Congress is still subsidizing--with our

tax dollars--genetically engineered crops, factory farms, and chemical-intensive

agriculture to the tune of $20-30 billion a year, while giving crumbs (less than

$5 million annually) to organic programs for research, promotion, and

monitoring. But the OCA, with your support, will continue to safeguard organic

standards and move organic agriculture from a $15 billion dollar industry to

becoming the dominant force in America's $800 billion food and fiber market.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

 

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THOUSANDS IN UK MAY HAVE HUMAN FORM OF MAD COW DISEASE

Scientists in the UK have discovered thousands of the nation's citizens may be

incubating the human form of Mad Cow Disease (vCJD) in their bodies. Researchers

at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital and the CJD Surveillance Unit tested 12,674

human tissue samples and found three that had vCJD. Applying those numbers to

the overall population of the UK resulted in an estimation that as many as 3,800

people may be carriers of the deadly disease.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/incubate052404.cfm

 

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CANADIAN SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST FAMILY FARMERS

The epic battle of Canadian family farmer Percy Schmeiser against biotech giant

Monsanto Corporation officially came to a close on May 21. A hairline 5-4

Canadian Supreme Court ruling sided with Monsanto, saying Schmeiser is guilty of

the " crime " of saving seeds from his canola plants-- seeds which Monsanto claims

they own. In the late 90s, Schmeiser's canola field was contaminated with

Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) seed, most likely from a neighboring farm

or from trucks passing in front of his Saskatchewan farm. Monsanto's patent

monopoly on GE crops, such as canola, mandate that farmers using the seed must

pay " royalty " fees to the gene giant. Since Schmeiser never purchased his seeds

from Monsanto or signed an agreement in the first place, he continued to save

his seeds and replant each year, so Monsanto sued. The court's decision has

angered family farmers across Canada, and emboldened organic farmers to continue

their class action lawsuit against Monsanto and Aventis

(Bayer) for contaminating organic crops with mutant GMOs. Join OCA's Millions

Against Monsanto Campaign http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html

 

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PESTICIDES FOUND INSIDE EVERYONE

The Ontario College of Family Physicians has released an international study,

conducted over a 13 year period, saying that there is no evidence that certain

pesticides are safer than others---rather, pesticides misconstrued as " safe " may

simply have delayed effects on health.. Meanwhile, the Pesticide Action Network

has compiled data from the Centers for Disease Control that shows that 100% of

blood and urine samples, collected from 9,000 random people, showed residues of

pesticides. http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/pesticides051704.cfm

 

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BRINGING THE ORGANIC REVOLUTION TO YOUR LAWN

The cumulative flow of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides applied to the 30

million acres of lawns in the U.S. has become a major environmental issue.

According to the National Gardening Association, each household spends an

average of $457/year on maintaining their lush green turf, and thankfully, a

growing portion of that is being invested in organic lawn maintenance

methodologies. Collective consumer choices can have a major impact on local

ecosystems.

 

Here are a few quick organic lawncare tips:

 

-78 million pounds of toxic lawn pesticides were sold in the U.S. last year. Use

a dandelion digging fork instead of purchasing dangerous pesticides.

 

-Synthetic fertilizers run off into streets and ultimately into local waterways,

choking aquatic life and polluting our water. Substitute organic fertilizers for

synthetics.

 

-The average lawn drinks 10,000 gallons of water each year (in addition to

rainfall). Don't be afraid to let your grass grow a little bit. This builds

deeper roots, which results in needing to water less.

 

-Use electric, rechargeable or push mowers. The EPA estimates that a mower emits

as much pollution in one hour as a car emits in driving 20 miles.

 

 

http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/lawn052104.cfm

 

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JUNK FOOD DEALERS TURNING US INTO ADDICTS

A recent study involving brain scans has found that when people smell foods like

pizza, fried chicken, ice cream, cake, and other junk foods, specific areas of

the brain react similarly to that of a cocaine addict. Dr. Gene-Jack Wang of the

Brookhaven National Laboratory said that this reaction, coupled with constant

junk food advertising, is fueling the obesity epidemic. The FDA is considering

mandating placement of warning labels on certain junk foods.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/addictive051804.cfm

 

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COFFEE THAT SUPPORTS INDIGENOUS COOPS AND THE OCA

Even though the White House and the Mexican government denounce them as

" Zapatistas, " autonomous Mayan cooperatives in Chiapas are making some of the

most eco-friendly and socially conscious coffee on the global market. The coffee

is bird and rainforest-friendly, fair trade, organic, and supports indigenous

farmers. Higher Grounds in Michigan is currently supporting these farmers by

purchasing their coffee and selling it to customers in the U.S. 15% of profits

from direct web sales off of the OCA website go to the Organic Consumers

Association. Click here to learn more and order your coffee today!

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

 

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TWENTY WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR INTAKE OF BODY CARE CHEMICALS

The UK Guardian has released a brief consumer guide with some great techniques

to maintain good hygiene while protecting your health.

 

Of the 20 tips, here are some of our favorites:

 

#5 Avoid unnecessary use of products with a high sun protection factor. At night

you don't need to use a moisturizer with an SPF.

 

#8 Become label savvy. Everyone reads food labels - get in the habit of doing

the same with your toiletries. They won 't tell you everything, but it will

help.

 

#16 The average make-up wearing woman will eat two pounds of lipstick in her

life-time. Most lipsticks contain petroleum derivatives. Try brands based on

beeswax, plant oils or vitamin E instead.

 

#20 Ask your granny for tips. Lemon juice, for example, has always been used as

a beauty aid - to make fair hair shine, to soften hard skin, and get rid of

blackheads. Cosmetics haven't always been all about products devised in

laboratories.

 

Read all of the tips here:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/reduce052104.cfm

 

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WE NEED TO TALK

Interested in sharing your thoughts and ideas with other like-minded folks

locally and around the world? Check out OCA's new online web forum and chat

center. http://www.organicconsumers.org/chat/index.php If you are interested in

being a moderator of one of these forums, please contact

Craig

 

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For a list of actions you can take right now to help build a strong economy,

based on sustainable agriculture, while protecting your health and the

environment! http://www.organicconsumers.org/action.htm

Please make a tax deductible online donation today:

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

 

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Help others learn about food safety, organics, and related topics. Place a link

on YOUR website to http://OrganicConsumers.org

Banners for your use - http://OrganicConsumers.org/logos.htm

 

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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.htm

 

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ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

6101 Cliff Estate Road

Little Marais, MN 55614

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

 

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For additional daily environmental and political news, visit:

http://www.ens-newswire.com

http://www.planetsave.com