Organic Bytes: Greening America, Yoplait Dumps Monsanto, Organic Valenti...

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Organic Bytes

Health, Justice and Sustainability News 

February 11, 2009 -  Issue #161

In This Issue

Alert of the Week: Stop NAIS - Protect Your Right to Farm and to Eat Local Food

OCF Alert of the Week: Good Jobs, Green Jobs

Consumer Victory of the Week: Yoplait Goes rBGH-Free

Valentines Tips of the Week: Turn Your Heart Green

Web Video of the Week:The OCA Presents " Slammed " - A Valentines Video

Headlines and Articles of the Week Hello Shan,

 

 

You are receiving this because you signed one of OCA's petitions or d

to Organic Bytes. Please enjoy this sample copy. Your email will be kept

private. Since Organic Bytes has one of the largest base of rs of any

email newsletter of its kind (quarter million), we have a feeling you'll catch

the organic fever and stick with us. Enjoy!

 

* Subscribe

* Un

* Donate

* Read Past Issues

Alert of the Week:

Stop NAIS - Protect Your Right to Farm and to Eat Local Food

 

The USDA has proposed a rule to require all farms and ranches where animals are

raised to be registered in a federal database under the National Animal

Identification System (NAIS) for existing disease control programs. The draft

rule covers programs for cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. It also sets the stage

for the entire NAIS program to be mandated for everyone, including anyone who

owns even one livestock animal, for example, a single chicken or a horse.

 

It is critical that the USDA and Congress hear from the hundreds of thousands of

people who will be adversely affected by the NAIS program. This includes not

only animal owners, but also consumers who care about local and sustainable

foods, taxpayers who object to wasteful government programs, and advocates for a

safer food system.

 

Take action today!

 

 

 

Organic Consumers Fund Alert of the Week:

Good Jobs, Green Jobs

 

 

The U.S. system of petroleum-based, biotech, and chemical-intensive agriculture

produces an enormous amount of relatively inexpensive food. Of course, that's

ignoring the huge hidden costs to taxpayers and damage to public health, the

environment, and climate stability (not to mention the routine exploitation of

farmers and laborers).  Our leaders in Washington are currently looking at

making some major policy changes, so there's no better time to let our elected

public officials to create jobs in the food and farming sector that help, rather

than undermine public health; that conserve and rejuvenate the environment; and

that guarantee workers living wages, safe working conditions, and the right to

organize. Energy-efficient, carbon-sequestering organic agriculture is the only

system with the potential to turn back global warming, create millions of green

jobs, and produce healthy, affordable food.

  Related Alerts:

 

* Demand an economic recovery that creates good, green jobs in the organic food

and farming sector.

* Tell Congress to approve Hilda Solis for Labor Secretary & to pass the

pro-worker Employee Free Choice Act.

* Support farm workers battling labor exploitation in the Florida fields.

* On February 5, 2009, Alexis Baden-Mayer, the Organic Consumers Fund's (OCF)

Political Director, participated as a panelist in the national Green Jobs, Good

Jobs conference in Washington, DC, a joint effort of the labor, consumer,and

environmental movements. Read her talk and donate to OCF.

Consumer Victory of the Week:

Yoplait Goes rBGH-Free

 

Yoplait, a leading brand of yoghurt, and the 19th largest dairy producer in the

U.S., has announced, that as of August 2009, it will no longer purchase milk

from dairies injecting their cows with Monsanto's controversial genetically

engineered synthetic hormone, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH).

Yoplait's rejection of rBGH-tainted milk comes in the wake of a consumer

campaign organized by the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, the OCA,

and dozens of allied public interest organizations. Yoplait's action is

amplified by a growing number of mainstream companies who have recently turned

their backs on rBGH, including Starbucks, Caribou, Cabot cheese, and Subway. For

over ten years, OCA and our allies have led the charge against rBGH and other

genetically engineered foods and food ingredients. Although rBGH is not allowed

on organic farms and is banned in most of the industrialized world because of

its threats to both animal and human

health, this cruel and dangerous drug is still injected into approximately 10%

of U.S. dairy cows--to force them to produce more milk. With your help, OCA and

its allies will continue our campaign until Monsanto's rBGH is driven completely

off the market.

 

Learn more

 

 

 

Valentines Tips of the Week:

Turn Your Heart Green

 

1) Instead of buying cut roses, give your loved one a living indoor plant. They

clean the air and last a lot longer. Or plant a rose bush in the yard.

 

2) Nothing strums the strings of your sweetie's heart like a homemade gift. Take

the time to put your thoughts into a hand-made card. Offer coupons for free

kisses, house chores or back rubs. Make a home-cooked organic meal.

 

3) If you are planning to purchase your gift, buy organic and Fair Trade

chocolate, organic or natural candles and recycled gift cards.

 

Use OCA's Buying Guide here

Web Video of the Week:

The OCA Presents " Slammed " - A Valentines Video

 

The Organic Consumers Association put together this fun animated web video a few

years ago, but most of the information is still relevant, other than the dude in

the White House. Learn how to avoid getting " slammed " this Valentines with Fair

Trade and organic chocolate and flowers.

 

Watch

 

 

Mark Your Calendars:

Join Wendell Berry & Take a Stand Against Coal at the Nation's Capitol On March

2, 2009

 

Join Wendell Berry, poet laureate and intellectual leader of the organic

movement, and thousands of others in a multi-generational act of civil

disobedience at the Capitol Power Plant, the utility that powers Congress with

dirty energy and symbolizes a past that threatens our future. Let's use this as

a rallying cry for a clean energy economy that will protect the health of our

families, our climate, and our future.

 

* Listen to Wendell Berry speak

* Join the March 2 action

 

 

Donate Online Now

 

 

 

The work of the Organic Consumer's Association, including the Organic Bytes

email you are reading, is all due to the generous contributions of our

supporters.  If you enjoy our work, please donate today!

 

Donate Here

 

 

Headlines of the Week:

1) Organic Sales Triple

 

2) At least 14 Studies Have Exposed the High Cost of Ethanol and Biofuels

 

3) Environmentalists Try Greening Cane Sugar

 

4) Local Organic Food & Farming Can Help Revitalize the Economy

 

5) Did Child Labor Make Your Shirt? The Story Behind Most Cotton Clothing

 

 

Let OCA sift through the media smog and bring you the top new and analysis of

the day. The OCA website has 10 or more news articles posted each day, and a

library of over 40,000 articles covering issues including health, justice, food

and farming, politics, and the environment. Bookmark OrganicConsumers.org

 

 

Organic Geek News of the Week:

Do You Twitter?

 

 

 

The OCA is now on Twitter! We will be posting from our news feed, as well as new

campaigns, alerts, and anything else we think you'll like! Get OCA news anywhere

and everywhere you go.

 

Sign up: http://twitter.com/organicconsumer

 

Get Involved With OCA In ON

 

*Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in ON here.

 

*Join ON discussion groups in our forum.

 

*Post events in ON on our community calendar.

Message From OCA Sponsor:

Freedom Butter

 

Our almond butter is created in Berkeley, a wellspring of the human spirit. It

has a rich tradition of Americans who dared to speak their truth. That's why we

call it Freedom Butter.

 

We invite you to open a jar and spread our almond butter on a slice of apple.

Experience its texture and savor its aroma.

 

Taste the ethos of Berkeley, 20 Nobel Price winners have taught here.

We've been making almond butter from almonds grown by family farmers for over 25

years. Living Tree Community Foods

 

1-800-260-5534

 

 

 

 

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

print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

 

ORGANIC BYTES is written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

and is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

6771 South Silver Hill Drive

Finland, Minnesota 55603

Phone: (218)- 226-4164

Fax: (218) 353-7652

 

 

 

 

* Read past issues of Organic Bytes

* OCA Homepage

* Manage your profile

* Subscribe

* Un

 

Organic Bytes

Health, Justice and Sustainability News 

February 11, 2009 -  Issue #161

In This Issue

Alert of the Week: Stop NAIS - Protect Your Right to Farm and to Eat Local Food

OCF Alert of the Week: Good Jobs, Green Jobs

Consumer Victory of the Week: Yoplait Goes rBGH-Free

Valentines Tips of the Week: Turn Your Heart Green

Web Video of the Week:The OCA Presents " Slammed " - A Valentines Video

Headlines and Articles of the Week Hello Shan,

 

 

You are receiving this because you signed one of OCA's petitions or d

to Organic Bytes. Please enjoy this sample copy. Your email will be kept

private. Since Organic Bytes has one of the largest base of rs of any

email newsletter of its kind (quarter million), we have a feeling you'll catch

the organic fever and stick with us. Enjoy!

 

* Subscribe

* Un

* Donate

* Read Past Issues

Alert of the Week:

Stop NAIS - Protect Your Right to Farm and to Eat Local Food

 

The USDA has proposed a rule to require all farms and ranches where animals are

raised to be registered in a federal database under the National Animal

Identification System (NAIS) for existing disease control programs. The draft

rule covers programs for cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. It also sets the stage

for the entire NAIS program to be mandated for everyone, including anyone who

owns even one livestock animal, for example, a single chicken or a horse.

 

It is critical that the USDA and Congress hear from the hundreds of thousands of

people who will be adversely affected by the NAIS program. This includes not

only animal owners, but also consumers who care about local and sustainable

foods, taxpayers who object to wasteful government programs, and advocates for a

safer food system.

 

Take action today!

 

 

 

Organic Consumers Fund Alert of the Week:

Good Jobs, Green Jobs

 

 

The U.S. system of petroleum-based, biotech, and chemical-intensive agriculture

produces an enormous amount of relatively inexpensive food. Of course, that's

ignoring the huge hidden costs to taxpayers and damage to public health, the

environment, and climate stability (not to mention the routine exploitation of

farmers and laborers).  Our leaders in Washington are currently looking at

making some major policy changes, so there's no better time to let our elected

public officials to create jobs in the food and farming sector that help, rather

than undermine public health; that conserve and rejuvenate the environment; and

that guarantee workers living wages, safe working conditions, and the right to

organize. Energy-efficient, carbon-sequestering organic agriculture is the only

system with the potential to turn back global warming, create millions of green

jobs, and produce healthy, affordable food.

  Related Alerts:

 

* Demand an economic recovery that creates good, green jobs in the organic food

and farming sector.

* Tell Congress to approve Hilda Solis for Labor Secretary & to pass the

pro-worker Employee Free Choice Act.

* Support farm workers battling labor exploitation in the Florida fields.

* On February 5, 2009, Alexis Baden-Mayer, the Organic Consumers Fund's (OCF)

Political Director, participated as a panelist in the national Green Jobs, Good

Jobs conference in Washington, DC, a joint effort of the labor, consumer,and

environmental movements. Read her talk and donate to OCF.

Consumer Victory of the Week:

Yoplait Goes rBGH-Free

 

Yoplait, a leading brand of yoghurt, and the 19th largest dairy producer in the

U.S., has announced, that as of August 2009, it will no longer purchase milk

from dairies injecting their cows with Monsanto's controversial genetically

engineered synthetic hormone, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH).

Yoplait's rejection of rBGH-tainted milk comes in the wake of a consumer

campaign organized by the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, the OCA,

and dozens of allied public interest organizations. Yoplait's action is

amplified by a growing number of mainstream companies who have recently turned

their backs on rBGH, including Starbucks, Caribou, Cabot cheese, and Subway. For

over ten years, OCA and our allies have led the charge against rBGH and other

genetically engineered foods and food ingredients. Although rBGH is not allowed

on organic farms and is banned in most of the industrialized world because of

its threats to both animal and human

health, this cruel and dangerous drug is still injected into approximately 10%

of U.S. dairy cows--to force them to produce more milk. With your help, OCA and

its allies will continue our campaign until Monsanto's rBGH is driven completely

off the market.

 

Learn more

 

 

 

Valentines Tips of the Week:

Turn Your Heart Green

 

1) Instead of buying cut roses, give your loved one a living indoor plant. They

clean the air and last a lot longer. Or plant a rose bush in the yard.

 

2) Nothing strums the strings of your sweetie's heart like a homemade gift. Take

the time to put your thoughts into a hand-made card. Offer coupons for free

kisses, house chores or back rubs. Make a home-cooked organic meal.

 

3) If you are planning to purchase your gift, buy organic and Fair Trade

chocolate, organic or natural candles and recycled gift cards.

 

Use OCA's Buying Guide here

Web Video of the Week:

The OCA Presents " Slammed " - A Valentines Video

 

The Organic Consumers Association put together this fun animated web video a few

years ago, but most of the information is still relevant, other than the dude in

the White House. Learn how to avoid getting " slammed " this Valentines with Fair

Trade and organic chocolate and flowers.

 

Watch

 

 

Mark Your Calendars:

Join Wendell Berry & Take a Stand Against Coal at the Nation's Capitol On March

2, 2009

 

Join Wendell Berry, poet laureate and intellectual leader of the organic

movement, and thousands of others in a multi-generational act of civil

disobedience at the Capitol Power Plant, the utility that powers Congress with

dirty energy and symbolizes a past that threatens our future. Let's use this as

a rallying cry for a clean energy economy that will protect the health of our

families, our climate, and our future.

 

* Listen to Wendell Berry speak

* Join the March 2 action

 

 

Donate Online Now

 

 

 

The work of the Organic Consumer's Association, including the Organic Bytes

email you are reading, is all due to the generous contributions of our

supporters.  If you enjoy our work, please donate today!

 

Donate Here

 

 

Headlines of the Week:

1) Organic Sales Triple

 

2) At least 14 Studies Have Exposed the High Cost of Ethanol and Biofuels

 

3) Environmentalists Try Greening Cane Sugar

 

4) Local Organic Food & Farming Can Help Revitalize the Economy

 

5) Did Child Labor Make Your Shirt? The Story Behind Most Cotton Clothing

 

 

Let OCA sift through the media smog and bring you the top new and analysis of

the day. The OCA website has 10 or more news articles posted each day, and a

library of over 40,000 articles covering issues including health, justice, food

and farming, politics, and the environment. Bookmark OrganicConsumers.org

 

 

Organic Geek News of the Week:

Do You Twitter?

 

 

 

The OCA is now on Twitter! We will be posting from our news feed, as well as new

campaigns, alerts, and anything else we think you'll like! Get OCA news anywhere

and everywhere you go.

 

Sign up: http://twitter.com/organicconsumer

 

Get Involved With OCA In ON

 

*Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in ON here.

 

*Join ON discussion groups in our forum.

 

*Post events in ON on our community calendar.

Message From OCA Sponsor:

Freedom Butter

 

Our almond butter is created in Berkeley, a wellspring of the human spirit. It

has a rich tradition of Americans who dared to speak their truth. That's why we

call it Freedom Butter.

 

We invite you to open a jar and spread our almond butter on a slice of apple.

Experience its texture and savor its aroma.

 

Taste the ethos of Berkeley, 20 Nobel Price winners have taught here.

We've been making almond butter from almonds grown by family farmers for over 25

years. Living Tree Community Foods

 

1-800-260-5534

 

 

 

 

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

print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

 

ORGANIC BYTES is written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

and is a publication of:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

6771 South Silver Hill Drive

Finland, Minnesota 55603

Phone: (218)- 226-4164

Fax: (218) 353-7652

 

 

 

* Read past issues of Organic Bytes

* OCA Homepage

* Manage your profile

* Subscribe

* Un