Guest guest Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 ORGANIC BYTES #90 Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge! 9/15/2006 Subscribe to this Bi-weekly Email Newsletter: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins IN THIS ISSUE PUT FOOD, FARMING, & CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE TABLE IN THE 2006 ELECTIONS USDA SAYS SHUT UP AND EAT YOUR FRANKENRICE BOOKS OF THE WEEK: THE WAR IN IRAQ & THE WAR ON U.S.FAMILY FARMERS UNTESTED, UNLABELED & TOXIC NANO-PARTICLES INVADING OUR HOMES & BODIES HEALTH NEWS OF THE WEEK: BROWN SEAWEED BURNS FAT 9/11--FIVE YEARS AFTER--PRESS FOR TRUTH _ PUT FOOD, FARMING, & CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE TABLE IN THE 2006 ELECTIONS The Organic Consumers 2006 Political Candidate Survey and Voter Guide are spreading across the country. If you haven't already done so, please visit the Organic Consumers Fund web page to see how candidates from your area have responded and to how get involved. http://www.organicconsumersfund.org Join OCA and our allies for the International Day of Climate Action on November 4, 2006. OCA will be hosting house parties, film screenings and demonstrations in conjunction with worldwide actions prior to the United Nations Climate Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where delegates from more than 175 countries will be meeting from November 6-November 17. For more information, please visit: http://www.organicconsumers.org/climateaction.cfm USDA SAYS SHUT UP AND EAT YOUR FRANKENRICE The USDA has finally reacted to the contamination of the U.S. rice supply by an unapproved, genetically engineered variety of rice created by the Bayer Corporation. Three weeks ago, it was discovered that Bayer's mutant rice, gene-spliced to survive heavy doses of a powerful herbicide called glufosinate, had contaminated U.S. long grain rice stocks. The USDA admitted it had " no idea " how extensive the contamination was. Meanwhile Japan has banned all U.S. rice imports, while the EU is rejecting U.S. imports that test positive for contamination. The rice industry has been in a state of upheaval, with rumors of a massive market recall spreading across the country. This week, the USDA announced its plan of action: instead of recalling this illegal, and potentially unsafe rice, it is working with Bayer to fast-track the approval process. " Illegal, potentially hazardous rice in grain bins, on supermarket shelves, in cereal, beer, baby foods, and all rice products. It should be a no-brainer. Recall this stuff to make sure no one eats it, " said Joseph Mendelson, Legal of the Center for Food Safety. " Instead, USDA plans to rush through 'market approval' of a genetically engineered rice that Bayer itself decided was unfit for commerce. Why? To free Bayer from liability. " Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_2159.cfm BOOKS OF THE WEEK: THE WAR IN IRAQ & THE WAR ON U.S.FAMILY FARMERS " The Best War Ever, " by best-selling authors John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton, is a vital and timely account of why the Bush administration is losing the bloody and hugely unpopular war in Iraq. We have met the enemy-and it's our own PR machine. Ignoring international law, public opinion and its own Iraq experts, the Bush team has chosen instead to churn out reams of lies and propaganda through conservative media outlets and PR campaigns. And as the book reveals, they're still doing it...the people who sold us the war in Iraq are now trying to sell us a dangerous and deadly expansion of the war into Syria and Iran. Watch the flash video trailer of the book here: http://www.TheBestWarEver.com " Mad Sheep " is a riveting new book, designed to shake the USDA to its foundations. " Mad Sheep " is the true story of an organic sheep farm in Vermont destroyed by the USDA in an effort to mislead the American public about the real hazards of Mad Cow disease and safeguard the profits of factory farms and the beef industry. Linda Faillace, scientist, farmer, wife, and mother of three tells the harrowing story of corruption, gun-toting federal agents, and heart- breaking loss with amazing clarity and skill. Learn more and read the fiery Foreword to the book by Ronnie Cummins, National Director of the Organic Consumers Association: http://www.chelseagreen.com/2006/items/madsheep UNTESTED, UNLABELED & TOXIC NANO-PARTICLES INVADING OUR HOMES & BODIES A recent survey shows that the majority of consumers have little or no knowledge of how pervasive nanotechnology has already become in everyday products. The relatively new science makes use of extremely small particles, on the scale of one-billionth of a meter in size; larger than atoms, but much smaller than a cell. Nanoparticles are now used in a wide variety of consumer products, including high- capacity computer drives, food packaging, shampoos, sunscreens, and cosmetics. Nanoparticles' unique behavior offers great promise to their future use, but some experts are concerned the products are being released on the market too soon and without adequate safety testing. Early research has found that nanoparticles easily pass through body tissues from one area of the body to another. Laboratory studies already warn that nanoparticles can cause inflammation, damage brain cells, and cause pre-cancerous lesions. The fall issue of the journal " Sustainable Development Law & Policy " takes a good look at the new technology and the current lack of federal oversight of this promising yet unpredictable consumer productline. Read more here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_2152.cfm http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_2145.cfm We rely on your donations to continue our work on these important issues! http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm _ HEALTH NEWS OF THE WEEK: BROWN SEAWEED BURNS FAT At the 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco, new research was released that indicates brown seaweed, the type used in many Asian dishes, contains an anti-obesity compound. Dr. Kazuo Miyashita from Hokkaido University reported seeing significant reductions in fat tissue in rats and obese mice fed the edible seaweed carotenoid fucoxanthin. " The mechanism for this effect is a new one, " Dr. Miyashita points out in a statement, explaining the seaweed induces _expression of the fat-burning protein UCP1. Prior studies by Miyashita's group have shown that fucoxanthin also helps promote the death of human prostate cancer cells in culture. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_2168.cfm 9/11--FIVE YEARS AFTER--PRESS FOR TRUTH Marking the fifth anniversary of 9/11, the media has provided extensive, though unfortunately superficial, coverage of this turning point in modern history. Among the consequences of that fateful day have been a bloody and highly unpopular war in Iraq, as well as a wasteful, unsustainable explosion of military spending to over $500 billion a year--leaving little or no funds to clean up the environment, stabilize the climate, green and re-localize the economy, maintain public health and education, and move the nation's food and farming system in an organic and healthy direction. Although the mainstream media has been predictably reluctant to delve into some of the glaring inconsistencies and gaps in the " official story " about what really happened on that tragic day, polls show that 40% of Americans have been doing their homework on the internet, and now understand that the Bush Administration's version of what happened on 9/11 is a big lie. An eye-opening, heart- breaking 90-minute documentary called " 9/11 Press for Truth " was released on the internet this week, featuring expert analysts and family members of 9/11 victims who are angry and appalled at the continuing government and media cover-up. You can download this feature-length movie from the internet: WATCH THIS WEB VIDEO: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=- 1016720641536424083 & q=press+for+truth http://www.911truth.org http://www.st911.org _ We rely on your donations to continue our work on these important issues! http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm ******** messages from our supporters********** Citizens of the nation: We are cows from Organic Valley, a farmer- owned cooperative of independent family farms. We live on the land, grazing abundant pastures, free from the influence of synthetic hormones, pesticides and corporate overlords. Our movement is strong. Our cause is just. And our milk is undeniably delicious. Visit www.organicvalley.coop to learn about our farmers in your region. Join Farm Friends to support our movement and receive an inspirational kit with coupons. Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on websites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power! _________________________________ ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of: ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION 6771 South Silver Hill Drive Finland, MN 55603 Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652 Subscribe: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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