Re:

[Guest guest]

Two more recipes to choose from:

http://www.vegan-food.net/index.cgi?72

http://www.vegan-food.net/index.cgi?1316

 

--- Shawna Marie Schwalenberg <shawnam

wrote: >

> YES! Good question...does anyone know??

>

>

> > How would I make vegan cream of mushroom soup to

> use in my green bean

> > casserole?

>

>

>

>

 

______________________

Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE

Messenger http://mail.messenger..co.uk

[Guest guest]

Tanya Barnard is the co-author of How it all Vegan and The Garden of Vegan. Fun

books with some great recipes!

 

Richelle Rakestraw <fiona25 wrote: Two great cookbooks are How it

all Vegan! and In the garden of Vegan. There are two authors, but I only

remember one of their names- Sarah Kramer. Good luck!

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ralph,

 

Welcome to the list. I hope you'll like it here. We're fairly informal, asking for little more than common courtesy and that you have some fun!

 

I'm in your part of the world, just south a bit in the Tulsa (OK) area. How are things up there? Looked like you were getting some weather yesterday.

 

Best,

 

Paula Johnson

off to pack more boxes ...

 

 

-

Ralph

Tuesday, March 02, 2004 10:36 PM

 

Completed questionnaire is on its way.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the welcome, Paula. I know this list is going to be very enjoyable. Paula, our March winds arrived right on schedule, it was very windy on the 1st. Ralph

 

-

Paula Joseph Johnson

Wednesday, March 03, 2004 7:52 AM

Re:

 

Ralph,

 

Welcome to the list. I hope you'll like it here. We're fairly informal, asking for little more than common courtesy and that you have some fun!

 

I'm in your part of the world, just south a bit in the Tulsa (OK) area. How are things up there? Looked like you were getting some weather yesterday.

 

Best,

 

Paula Johnson

off to pack more boxes ...

 

 

-

Ralph

Tuesday, March 02, 2004 10:36 PM

 

Completed questionnaire is on its way.

[Guest guest]

> off to pack more boxes ...

 

Aren't you moving next week or close to it, Paula??? My heart goes out

to you - and my muscles too. Out, I mean, not on loan *lol* I ache just

to think of it!

 

Total sympathy - and lots and lots of luck with your move. I always

think that moving to new places (or old places again) is seriously

invigorating and a total buzz!

 

Best love,

Pat ;=)

Who has more than four weeks to go yet :=(

--

SANTBROWN

townhounds/

vegetarianslimming/

HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

----------

* " There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I have

the burden of proving it. " (Franz Fanon)

* " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " (Albert Schweitzer)

[Guest guest]

Yep, this weekend. Although the fence for the dog can't go in because we had nearly 3" of rain today, with more expected through tomorrow night. So that will be a slight problem, but I'm sure we'll get through it. In-laws are expected in tonight, DH returns from Chicago tomorrow night (he's been gone since Monday), the house is chaos.

 

Other than that, we're doing well.

 

Oh, yes, I fell off the "wagon" last night. Coke was the only thing to break the migraine headache cycle, so I imbibed heavily!

 

pj

 

-

Sant & Brown

Wednesday, March 03, 2004 4:45 PM

Re:

> off to pack more boxes ...Aren't you moving next week or close to it, Paula??? My heart goes outto you - and my muscles too. Out, I mean, not on loan *lol* I ache justto think of it!Total sympathy - and lots and lots of luck with your move. I alwaysthink that moving to new places (or old places again) is seriouslyinvigorating and a total buzz!Best love,Pat ;=)Who has more than four weeks to go yet :=(-- SANTBROWNtownhounds/vegetarianslimming/HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/----------* "There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I havethe burden of proving it." (Franz Fanon)* "Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, manwill not himself find peace." (Albert Schweitzer)

[Guest guest]

Hi again, Paula ;=)

 

Chaos reigns, eh? Lotsaluck with the move. Remember to take time out

from it all to celebrate the new home - soooo important!

 

Much love,

 

Pat ;=)

--

SANTBROWN

townhounds/

vegetarianslimming/

HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

----------

* " There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I have

the burden of proving it. " (Franz Fanon)

* " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " (Albert Schweitzer)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply Priscilla. I never liked cows milk, the taste always

bothered me so I never drank it much. Not a huge fan of the non-dairy milks

either, luckily, as a macrobiotic milk is not on the plan. I get calcium from

the veggies I eat.

 

I appreciate the resources and will check them out, simply to educate myself a

bit better.

 

Yes, I too have found that Alice Walker quote to provoke some interesting

conversation. Her words certainly have a way with people.

 

Good luck with the raw milk endeavor, I hope your health continues to improve.

 

Kimberly

 

 

Message: 6

Tue, 23 Mar 2004 16:22:33 -0800 (PST)

reptile grrl

Re: Re: 8TH Continent Soymilk

 

Although I do not have a soy allergy, I began to suspect that soy was

contributing to my ill health when a change in test results happened to coincide

with a month when I ate almost no soy (I have a blood draw every six weeks). The

test results before and after that particular draw were similar to one another

(and not good) and I had returned to eating a lot of soy.

 

So, I cut way down on soy. Now, I only eat it every once in awhile, when there's

a particular food that I really want. It's effectively out of my diet, and that

has made a huge difference in my appearance, my energy level, and in my test

results. I feel better, have more energy, more stable blood pressure,

 

Although I tried many brands of soy milk, I never found a brand that had a

really good taste. I loved Odwalla Milk, which was a blend of soy milk, rice

milk, and oat milk, but I am apparently the only person who liked it- it was

discontinued. Sales on it were very limited, largely due to pressure from the

dairy industry; the dairy industry limits how grocery stores can display soy

milks. Anyway, because I never found another good-tasting soy milk, I wasn't

drinking as much milk as I had before. So, I wasn't getting as much calcium as I

had before I gave up dairy. I saw a big difference there also- the increase in

calcium, when I returned ot dairy, improved my menstrual symptoms.

 

As to why I think that drinking cow's milk is healthy, I've been doing a lot of

research on raw milk. Before pasteurization, cow's milk is very similar to human

breast milk. Pasteurization and homogenization destroy enzymes and nutrients

which make cow's milk a healthy food. It's these processes which reduce the

healthiness of milk.

 

Baby calves fed on pasteurized milk sicken and die, because it doesn't have the

nutrients and enzymes that they need to survive.

 

I used to think that cow's milk was fundamentally unhealthy for humans to drink,

but now I have learned a lot more. It's not cow's milk that's unhealthy- it's

what humans do to it. (And isn't that the case with most foods?) You can learn

more about raw milk at http://realmilk.com or at the Weston A. Price Foundation

website: http://www.westonaprice.org/ .

 

It's hard to know what is true and what isn't. Some food faddists make a lot of

outrageous claims- I've seen such claims from vegetarians and from Atkins

dieters, and from peope of various other dietetic persuasions. So, I urge you

not to rely on only one source, but on many sources and on common sense.

 

We know that foods lose vitamins & enzymes as they cook. Look what happens to

vegetables when they are boiled to death or canned. (tomatoes and lycopene seem

to be an exception- the lycopene in tomatoes is more available when the tomatoes

are cooked.)

 

So, I would like to get a few cows of my own (probably miniature Jerseys) so

that I can have raw, fresh certified milk (certified milk is milk from cow's

that have been certified healthy by a veterinarian) and know that the cows in

question are being well-treated. I want to have my own chickens for the same

reason.

 

Before I purchase cattle, of course, I will try drinking certified raw milk and

see how it works for me. It's not available in my city, but it can be had in

other cities that I occasionally visit.

 

Btw, I love your Alice Walker sig quote. I'm a big fan of hers. I posted that

quote in my journal and it definitely inspired discussion.

 

- priscilla

 

 

 

 

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for

humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.

- Alice Walker

The questions is not; Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?

- Jeremey Bentham

 

 

Messenger - Communicate instantly... " Ping " your friends today! Download

Messenger Now

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your respectful reply. I'm curious- what is the philosophy behind

macrobiotics that forbids milks? Is it because they are somewhat processed?

I'm really not familiar with macrobiotic diets.

 

At least one person got very defensive when I posted that quotein my journal.

It was sort of sad to watch.

 

Thank you for your good wishes!

 

Kimberly <qterthanu23 wrote:

Thanks for the reply Priscilla. I never liked cows milk, the taste always

bothered me so I never drank it much. Not a huge fan of the non-dairy milks

either, luckily, as a macrobiotic milk is not on the plan. I get calcium from

the veggies I eat.

 

I appreciate the resources and will check them out, simply to educate myself a

bit better.

 

Yes, I too have found that Alice Walker quote to provoke some interesting

conversation. Her words certainly have a way with people.

 

Good luck with the raw milk endeavor, I hope your health continues to improve.

 

Kimberly

 

 

Message: 6

Tue, 23 Mar 2004 16:22:33 -0800 (PST)

reptile grrl

Re: Re: 8TH Continent Soymilk

 

Although I do not have a soy allergy, I began to suspect that soy was

contributing to my ill health when a change in test results happened to coincide

with a month when I ate almost no soy (I have a blood draw every six weeks). The

test results before and after that particular draw were similar to one another

(and not good) and I had returned to eating a lot of soy.

 

So, I cut way down on soy. Now, I only eat it every once in awhile, when there's

a particular food that I really want. It's effectively out of my diet, and that

has made a huge difference in my appearance, my energy level, and in my test

results. I feel better, have more energy, more stable blood pressure,

 

Although I tried many brands of soy milk, I never found a brand that had a

really good taste. I loved Odwalla Milk, which was a blend of soy milk, rice

milk, and oat milk, but I am apparently the only person who liked it- it was

discontinued. Sales on it were very limited, largely due to pressure from the

dairy industry; the dairy industry limits how grocery stores can display soy

milks. Anyway, because I never found another good-tasting soy milk, I wasn't

drinking as much milk as I had before. So, I wasn't getting as much calcium as I

had before I gave up dairy. I saw a big difference there also- the increase in

calcium, when I returned ot dairy, improved my menstrual symptoms.

 

As to why I think that drinking cow's milk is healthy, I've been doing a lot of

research on raw milk. Before pasteurization, cow's milk is very similar to human

breast milk. Pasteurization and homogenization destroy enzymes and nutrients

which make cow's milk a healthy food. It's these processes which reduce the

healthiness of milk.

 

Baby calves fed on pasteurized milk sicken and die, because it doesn't have the

nutrients and enzymes that they need to survive.

 

I used to think that cow's milk was fundamentally unhealthy for humans to drink,

but now I have learned a lot more. It's not cow's milk that's unhealthy- it's

what humans do to it. (And isn't that the case with most foods?) You can learn

more about raw milk at http://realmilk.com or at the Weston A. Price Foundation

website: http://www.westonaprice.org/ .

 

It's hard to know what is true and what isn't. Some food faddists make a lot of

outrageous claims- I've seen such claims from vegetarians and from Atkins

dieters, and from peope of various other dietetic persuasions. So, I urge you

not to rely on only one source, but on many sources and on common sense.

 

We know that foods lose vitamins & enzymes as they cook. Look what happens to

vegetables when they are boiled to death or canned. (tomatoes and lycopene seem

to be an exception- the lycopene in tomatoes is more available when the tomatoes

are cooked.)

 

So, I would like to get a few cows of my own (probably miniature Jerseys) so

that I can have raw, fresh certified milk (certified milk is milk from cow's

that have been certified healthy by a veterinarian) and know that the cows in

question are being well-treated. I want to have my own chickens for the same

reason.

 

Before I purchase cattle, of course, I will try drinking certified raw milk and

see how it works for me. It's not available in my city, but it can be had in

other cities that I occasionally visit.

 

Btw, I love your Alice Walker sig quote. I'm a big fan of hers. I posted that

quote in my journal and it definitely inspired discussion.

 

- priscilla

 

 

 

 

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for

humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.

- Alice Walker

The questions is not; Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?

- Jeremey Bentham

 

 

Messenger - Communicate instantly... " Ping " your friends today! Download

Messenger Now

 

 

[Guest guest]

foto3

[Guest guest]

>fotoinfo

[Guest guest]

Hi Craig,

Yep I saw this on the telly the other night, and I thought then, there are none so blind that will not see! How many warning will they need to sit up and listen?

You can take a horse to water...............well maybe not for much longer you can`t!

The Valley Vegan......Craig Dearth <cd39 wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hungry world 'must eat less meat'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent

 

 

 

 

Livestock needs a lot of water World water supplies will not be enough for our descendants to enjoy the sort of diet the West eats now, experts say.

The World Water Week in Stockholm will be told the growth in demand for meat and dairy products is unsustainable. Animals need much more water than grain to produce the same amount of food, and ending malnutrition and feeding even more mouths will take still more water. Scientists say the world will have to change its consumption patterns to have any realistic hope of feeding itself. Losing the race The World Water Week conference is held annually in the Swedish capital, and is organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute, Siwi. This year's runs from 15 to 21 August.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's going to be almost impossible to feed future generations the kind of diet we have now in western Europe and North America

 

Anders Berntell, Stockholm International Water Institute Siwi says: "With about 840 million people undernourished or lacking a secure food supply today, and another two billion or more people... by 2025, feeding the world's growing population - and finding the water to grow the food - continues to be a basic and sizeable challenge." A paper to be delivered during the conference, entitled Water: More Nutrition Per Drop, says: "For several decades, the increase in food production has outpaced population growth. Now much of the world is simply running out of water for more production... " The World Health Organization calls malnutrition "the silent emergency", and says it is a factor in at least half the 10.4 million child deaths which occur every year.

 

 

 

 

Grain goes far to feed the worldAnders Berntell, Siwi's executive director, told BBC News Online: "The basic problem is that food is the main global consumer of water, with irrigation taking 70% or more of all the water we use, apart from huge volumes of rainwater. "The bottom line is that we've got to do something to reduce the amount of water we devote to growing food today. Upturn in demand "Animals fed on grain, and also those which rely on grazing, need far more water than grain crops.

 

 

 

 

 

WATER AND FOOD

 

A kilogram of grain-fed beef needs at least 15 cubic metres of water

A kilo of lamb from a sheep fed on grass needs 10 cubic metres

A kilo of cereals needs from 0.4 to 3 cubic metres "But in the developed world, and in parts of some developing countries, consumers are demanding more meat. "Of course people should have healthier diets and a higher intake of nutrients: we don't want to stop that. Slow to dawn "But it's going to be almost impossible to feed future generations the kind of diet we have now in western Europe and North America.

 

 

 

 

Meat is a treat for the rich"Most of us don't appreciate, either politically or personally, the challenge of finding enough water to grow enough food, though in some countries it's a problem of everyday living. "I think the world's future water supply is a problem that's an entire order of magnitude greater than we've begun to realise." Mr Berntell said the rich would be able to buy their way out of trouble by importing "virtual water" - the water needed to grow the food they bought from abroad. He said: "The transport of virtual water is huge. Australians were astonished to find that although their country is short of water, they're net exporters of water in the form of meatTo send an email to - > ATTACHMENT part 2 image/gif name=999999.gif> ATTACHMENT part 3 image/jpeg name=_39951862_cattle_bbc_203.jpg> ATTACHMENT part 4 image/gif name=o.gif> ATTACHMENT part 5 image/gif name=start_quote_rb.gif> ATTACHMENT part 6 image/gif name=end_quote_rb.gif> ATTACHMENT part 7 image/jpeg name=_39951864_addis_kirby_203.jpg> ATTACHMENT part 8 image/jpeg name=_39951866_bun_bbc_203.jpgPeter H

 

ALL-NEW Messenger - all new features - even more fun!

[Guest guest]

glad everything is ok!

earthlink is just funky sometimes..

it won't let me send to some of my , unless i send it as a mass

message..

go figure

anyways..glad its all good

cheers

fraggle

 

 

Craig Dearth <cd39

Oct 12, 2004 6:26 AM

001 vegan chat

 

 

 

 

Hiya Fraggle,

 

just not to leave anything to chance I ran a deep deep deep virus scan today

with 2 different virus programs, Norton and McAfee no virus here

thanx for the heads up cause ya never know sometimes

all the best

Craig

 

 

 

 

To send an email to -

 

[Guest guest]

R & ML~HMB " <rensslin@b...>

Date:  Tue Oct 30, 2001  12:15 pm

Subject:  PUMPKIN-STUFFED SHELLS

 

* Exported from MasterCook *

 

PUMPKIN-STUFFED SHELLS WITH JALAPENO-ROSEMARY SAUCE

 

Recipe By : Susann Geiskopf-Hadler and Mindy Toomay

Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00

Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

-------- ------------ --------------------------------

1 For the filling:

2 tablespoons dry sherry (opt: apple cider or water

w/sherry extract)

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves garlic -- minced

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves -- minced

1 bunch fresh spinach leaves -- chopped

16 oz pumpkin purée (or homemade equivalent) -- 1 can

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Pinch fresh ground black pepper

1 the sauce:

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic -- minced

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves -- minced

3 tablespoons unbleached white flour

1 1/2 cups plain rice or soy milk

1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno peppers -- minced

1 shells:

12 ounces dried jumbo pasta shells

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

6 lemon wedges

 

To make the filling, heat the sherry, oil, garlic and

rosemary over a low

flame in a large sauté pan for about 30 seconds. Add

the spinach and cover

the pan.

Cook for about 3 minutes or until the spinach wilts.

Stir occasionally. Add

the pumpkin, salt and pepper, and stir to combine.

Remove from the heat and

set aside.

To make the sauce, heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed

skillet over a medium

flame. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook for 1

minute. Sprinkle in the

flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Whisk in the milk 1/2 cup at a time, then bring to a

simmer and cook for

about 6 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Stir in

the jalape–os and set

aside.

Meanwhile, bring several quarts of water to a boil in

a large stockpot. Add

the pasta shells and cook until al dente, tender but

still slightly chewy,

about 6 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold

water.

Preheat the oven and use the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of

olive oil to lightly

coat the bottom of an 8-by-12-inch baking dish.

To stuff the shells, hold one at a time in your hand

and stuff with 1

mounded teaspoon of the pumpkin filling and place in

the baking dish. Pour

the sauce over the shells, cover and bake for 20

minutes. Makes 6 servings.

Pumpkin-stuffed Shells With Jalapeno-Rosemary Sauce is

taken from Susann

Geiskopf-Hadler and Mindy Toomay's " The Complete Vegan

Kitchen, " Prima

Health, 2001, Deseret News 10/30/01

 

 

 

 

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

NOTES : Preparation time 45 minutes

ntact List Owner: " Veg-Recipes-owner "

Subscribe or Un through site:

/

OR Un via e-mail:

Veg-Recipes-

Calendar:

Veg-Recipes/calendar

Bookmarks:

Veg-Recipes/links

Photos:

http://photos.Veg-Recipes/lst

Read or search old messages:

Veg-Recipes/messages

****************************************************************************

To purchase cookbooks via Amazon.com,

<A

HREF= " http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=vegrecipes-20 & path=subst/ho\

me/home.html " ><img

src=gngrey120x60.gif border=0></A>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Just view the message on the screen, copy the text, and paste it into

Mastercook's Import Assistant.

 

Barbara

 

At 01:53 PM 10/26/2004, you wrote:

 

 

 

>Hi everyone!

>

>I need help!

>

>there is a recipe listed in the archives that I need asap- but my server is

>blocking me from getting it!!! can someone email it to me?

>

>the recipe is for pumpkin stuffed shells with jalepeno rapsemary cream

>sauce.. and here's the link to it even!!

>

>Veg-Recipes/message/17794

>

>I would apprecaite anyone emailing this to me as soon as possible...!

>

>thanks to anyone who can help!

>

>Jamie

>jamie_orozco

 

Barbara Zanzig Kirkland, WA

hertz http://www.isomedia.com/homes/hertz/

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,

[Guest guest]

They just forget to say that it does not destroy rain forest as much as

beefeating. Any research that shows soya is bad for you is old hat and has

been proved to be faulty research. Admittedly there will be some who are

allergic to it, but for those who aren't it is an excellent food and very

good for you - helps prevent breast and prostate cancer.

 

Jo

[Guest guest]

Jo,

I have read something like this before too

I just feel we should all write this idiot a letter and tell him what we think

it is a clear case of misinformation

Craig

 

 

 

 

They just forget to say that it does not destroy rain forest as much as

beefeating. Any research that shows soya is bad for you is old hat and has

been proved to be faulty research. Admittedly there will be some who are

allergic to it, but for those who aren't it is an excellent food and very

good for you - helps prevent breast and prostate cancer.

 

Jo

[Guest guest]

Hi Craig

 

> Soya not only destroys forests and small farmers

 

Well, at least that bit is technically correct... it's just a shame they

didn't point out that the reason it is grown in such quantity is to feed

dairy and meat animals... if it were to feed humans, they could get rid of

about 80% of the soya growing areas and still have plenty for all!!!

 

BB

Peter

[Guest guest]

I strongly suggest that you and everyone else in the UK that belong to this group, write a letter to the editor pointing out the many flaws in this article. The letters might be published so the readers will see that what this guy is saying is bull crap.

 

VanessaCraig Dearth <cd39 wrote:

this is an article in the Observer in the UKI feel like strangling the man who wrote itit is so flawed I think he got his info from the milk advisory boardthe endanger species hunters club, and the baby seal clubbing club...ugghhhhave a read you'll see what I meanall the bestCraigThey hailed it as a wonderfood. Soya not only destroys forests and small farmers - it can also be bad for your health Anthony BarnettSunday November 7, 2004The Observer On a crisp winter morning in Belfast, Dr Lorraine Anderson was nearing the end of her doctorate research project. She had spent weeks hunched over a microscope looking at samples of sperm. Anderson was trying to figure out what made some sperm move slower than others. As a specialist in reproductive medicine at Belfast's Royal Maternity Hospital she was

particularly interested in why some samples moved so sluggishly that they would have trouble reaching and fertilising an egg. Anderson knew that a sperm's 'motility' was one of the critical factors in fertility. 'It doesn't matter how many sperm a man's got; if they can't get from A to B then there's little chance of reproduction,' she says. Anderson's 'eureka' moment arrived when a complex analysis of the samples she was working on revealed that the seminal liquid surrounding the slower-moving sperm contained chemicals called isoflavones. These compounds are also known as phyto-oestrogens or plant-oestrogens because they mimic oestrogen, the powerful female hormone. These highly active compounds are found in large concentrations in soya. Indeed such are the doses of these chemicals, a woman drinking two glasses of soya milk a day over the course of a month will see the timing of her menstrual cycle alter. It has been estimated that infants who are fed soya formula

exclusively receive an amount of oestrogen equivalent to five birth control pills every day. For a growing number of scientists the question is this: if such a strong biologically active compound is found in soya, what is its effect on humans regularly eating or drinking products made from the bean? Advertiser links Bargain DVD Recorders on eBay.co.ukYou'll find a fabulous range of new and used DVD recorders...ebay.co.ukWhich? Online Latest DVD Recorder ReportUp-to-date DVD recorder guide. Expert assessment, test...trial.which.co.ukSave on DVD Recorder at ShopgenieSave on DVD recorders at ShopGenie, the shopping search...shopgenie.co.ukIn recent years the food industry has wasted no time in extolling soya's alleged health benefits, claiming it can lower cholesterol, help with menopausal systems, ward off osteoporosis and even reduce the risks of some cancers. However, aside from research linking soya to

reduced male fertility, studies now link the phyto-oestrogens found in the plant to an increased risk of other types of cancer. It has also been claimed that it damages brain function in men and causes hidden developmental abnormalities in infants. Some even attribute the early onset of puberty in western women to the spread of soya in diets. Certainly, Dr Anderson has no doubt about the conclusions of her own research: the more soya a man eats, she believes, the more difficulty he will have in fertilising an egg. Anderson's head of department, Professor Neil McClure, is one of Britain's leading fertility experts and he is already acting on the results. 'If a couple were having trouble conceiving and the man's sperm was a borderline case, then I have seen enough evidence from these studies to advise a change in his diet to minimise soya.' But this is much easier said than done. Today, soya is no longer just the preserve of the vegetarian or the Asian food junkie but

is an invisible ingredient in nearly everything we eat, from pork pies and breakfast cereals to mayonnaise and margarines. Soya is used to 'bulk out' and bind many processed foods, such as sausages, lasagne, beefburgers and chicken nuggets and it allows food firms to claim a higher protein content on the label. Some research estimates that soya is present in more than 70 per cent of all supermarket products and widely used by most fast food chains. The reason for its rapid rise in popularity is that it is both a very cheap source of protein and - when crushed - a source of high-quality vegetable oil. No fragment of the bean is wasted. Even the husk is used as a source of fibre in breads, cereals and snacks. The oil extracted from soya is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world, and is used in margarines, salad dressings and cooking oils. Food labels will simply list soya oil as vegetable oil. During the oil extraction, the bean also produces a substance called

lecithin. This is a valuable emulsifier that helps fat mix with water. It is a critical ingredient of the baking and confectionery worlds, as it prevents ingredients in food from separating. So the food labels of many of our favourite chocolate bars, biscuits and cakes will list lecithin as an ingredient without linking it to soya. Of course, it is not just the 'invisible' market in soya that has enjoyed rapid growth. Soya milk is one of the success stories of the last few years. Sales have rocketed by 20 per cent per annum and it is now one of the fastest growing drinks in the country. Starbucks now offers frothed up soya milk with its cappuccinos and supermarkets have invested in their own brands. For those who suffer a strong allergic reaction to cow's milk or follow a vegan diet, soya milk has always been an important option. But others drink it as a less fattening alternative to cow's milk. What they don't realise is that it also gives them an injection of a

chemical that mimics oestrogen. One industry source admitted that the breakthrough for soya milk came when retailers were persuaded to put soya milk into the chilled cabinet, giving it the illusion of being a fresh product. Some soya milk adverts tell the reader to look for it in the fresh food section. In reality, soya milk is no more than bean juice with some added flavouring to make it more palatable. As well as the growth in popularity of soya products for direct human consumption, some 90 per cent of the 200 million tonnes of soya produced around the world each year is used to feed animals. Whether it's beef, lamb, bacon or processed chicken, it is highly likely that the meat comes from an animal reared on a diet based on soya meal. In some parts of the world, soya has long been a small part of animal diets, but after the BSE crisis revealed the problems of feeding cattle with animal parts, the soya alternative was taken up with gusto.So when you eat a piece of meat,

the chances are you are also consuming some soya as well. Towering proud like a church steeple, the 200ft-tall silver silo in the Argentinian town of Las Lajitas, shines in the South American sun. These huge storage silos, filled with dried soya beans have become the new temples of Argentina. Today's plantation owners listen to a gospel preached by US biotech corporation Monsanto. Located more than 1,000 miles north west of Buenos Aires and close to the Chilean and Bolivian borders, Las Lajitas is the agricultural capital of a region that has seen untrammelled expansion in soya production. Where only a few years ago thick native forests filled the landscape, now all that stands between Las Lajitas and the Andes shimmering on the horizon are green pastures sprouting soya. Satellite photos of the region show the dramatic change. Only 15 years ago the area appeared from space as a lush green carpet, now it resembles a threadbare rug covered with the spreading

stains of soya plantations. The figures speak for themselves: in 1971 soya was only farmed on 37,000 hectares; now the area covered is more than 14m hectares and rising. Soya now occupies more land in Argentina than all other crops added together, covering more than half the country's arable land. It is predicted that 10,000 hectares of forest is being lost every year - the equivalent of 20 football fields an hour. If this continues, in five years' time the country's native forests will disappear completely. It is a scenario that is troubling conservationists. 'This is a precious habitat that is home to many rare animals and plants. We are in danger of losing it all in a race to feed European and Chinese chickens.,' says Emiliano Ezcurra of Greenpeace. 'How many jaguars and toucans will have to be killed to feed Danish pigs?' But the campaigners are up against some of the world's most powerful corporations who now control the market in soya. In the mid-Nineties, with

Argentina facing an economic crisis, Monsanto stepped in with an offer of salvation. Its message: plant our genetically modified Roundup Ready soya beans that are much easier to grow than conventional soya and the money will flow in. And so it happened. For the lucky few it has indeed been a godsend. A handful of soya barons are making handsome profits and the government of Argentina is enjoying improved tax revenues from exporting their soya to Europe and China. But for many others, the drive to cover every spare hectare with soya comes at a high price. More than 200 miles north of Las Lajitas is the small rural Argentinian village of Pizarro. Carlo Odonez and his family run the main store. He was made redundant from the country's largest oil company a few years back and, with his payoff, brought his family to Pizarro with the dream of being an organic beekeeper. Yet all around the village, protected forest - where he hoped to keep his hives - is being destroyed to plant

soya. The community of peasant farmers that has lived off this land for generations rearing cattle, pigs and chickens as well as producing cheese will soon be forced from their homes with nowhere to go. 'Nobody can see a future in staying here,' says Odonez, as he explains how the loss of trees will lead to flooding and changes in the local climate. Local people are also afraid of the mists of chemicals they have heard are sprayed on the soya. 'We hear many stories from other communities who have lived near the soya plantations,' said Odonez. 'Some say they have become ill from breathing in the chemicals they spray. Also we hear some have skin diseases.' Worst hit by the land clearances are the indigenous tribes that have lived for thousands of years in the forests. The Wichi people are an aboriginal group who still rely on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They use their dogs to hunt wild boar in the forests and collect four different types of honey from hollows

in the trees. They make baskets and bags from local plants and use forest flora as a source of traditional medicine to cure their sick. Now they face extinction as their tribal lands are ripped apart. A mile from one of their encampments the latest deforestation is occurring. Giant bulldozers linked together with huge metal chains drive through the forests literally tearing up everything in their path. The felled timber and leaves are piled high in 1km rows as far as the eye can see, ready to be set alight. It is hard for these people to understand the destruction of a habitat they have lived in harmony with for so long. 'Why is the white man destroying our lands?' asks one of the tribal chiefs. It is difficult to explain that it's to be used to feed animals in Europe and China. If Argentina's soya revolution brought local economic benefits, perhaps there would be less hostility. But the genius of Monsanto's Roundup Ready soya is that it allows the crop to be farmed

intensively with minimal labour. Only one worker is needed for every 400 hectares compared to more than 70 on a traditional citrus farm. By inserting a special gene into the plant's DNA, Monsanto's scientists discovered they could make it immune to a very powerful herbicide called glyphosate. Farmers can then spray this over their crops once or twice a year and everything but the soya is exterminated leaving the soya to grow vigorously with highly profitable yields and little maintenance. So more than 300,000 farmworkers have lost their jobs. Most head towards the big cities like Buenos Aires or Salta to find work, but with few skills they end up unemployed and homeless. The story of the soya boom in South America, is not just limited to the GM revolution in Argentina. While other countries have not embraced Monsanto's beans with such gusto, such is the rush to cash in on the green gold that similar scenarios are being played out in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. The

marketing men have even dubbed the region the Republic of Soya. For Brazil the environmental consequences of non-GM soya have been as dramatic as in Argentina. Newly released satellite imaging data has revealed a 40 per cent jump in deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforests. The massive leap is the worst acceleration in the loss of tropical jungle since 1995, with much of the destruction being blamed on the illegal logging of land for soya production. Unlike Argentina, the majority of soya crops grown in Brazil are GM-free, although parts of southern Brazil are becoming contaminated with transgenic plants as farmers smuggle Monsanto seeds across the borders in the belief that they are more lucrative. In September, the World Wide Fund for Nature published a detailed report on the impact of soya expansion in South America. It makes depressing reading. The WWF calculates that nearly 22 million hectares of forests and savannah in South America - an area about

the size of Great Britain - will have been wiped out by 2020. It says the crop has triggered soil erosion, siltation of waterways, widespread use of toxic chemicals and pesticides and road building through some of the world's most delicate habitats. On the main road heading out of Las Lajitas, the slogan emblazoned on the giant advertising billboard reads ' mejor agriculture, mejor futuro ' which translates as 'better farming, better future'. For many of the people in South America, it is a promise that rings hollow. 'Inside the soya bean you'll find the power to feed a family and feed the world. You'll find the ability to improve health and combat diseases. You'll find a unique combination of properties that makes the soya bean as important to animal nutrition and industry as it is to human health. In short, you'd find the magic in the magic bean.' This is the world according to a brochure published by US multinational Archer Daniel Midlands, one of the

handful of corporations along with Monsanto that today controls the multi-billion dollar soya industry. Others include Cargill, Bunge and Louis Dreyfuss. Every weekday morning at 8.30am the bell rings at the Chicago Board of Trade to announce the beginning of the day's action. Dozens of brokers, wearing their famous bright-coloured jackets,wave their arms in a frenzy, trying to make big bucks for their investment clients on guessing what will be the future price of soya. Today soya is traded as an international commodity, just like oil or gold. Depending on estimates of weather patterns, demand for animal food or general geopolitical pressures the price will rise or fall. By the end of the day millions will have been made or lost on these minute fluctuations. With so many commercial interests dependent on the continued appetite for soya across the globe, those few telling a different story face an uphill struggle in getting their voice heard. Perhaps

the most graphic illustration of this was in the US three years ago. After a huge lobbying effort from the soya industry, the US Food and Drug Administration agreed to issue a health claim that eating 25g of soya protein a day can help lower cholesterol and thus reduce the risk of heart disease. This was a view later backed by Britain's Food Standards Agency. With heart disease one of the biggest killers in the West, this is clearly a major benefit for soya and has allowed many food companies to stamp labels on soya products claiming they help reduce cholesterol. In such a health and diet-obsessed culture this has been a big boost for the soya industry. However, it is very difficult for any individual to eat the necessary 25g a day of soya - this is equivalent to five soya yoghurts or three large glasses of soya milk. Yet for two senior food scientists who worked within the US Food and Drug Administration, the official backing of the health claim - which ignored the

impact of plant-oestrogens in soya - was potentially dangerous. In a highly unusual move Dr Daniel Sheehan and Dr Daniel Doerge wrote a letter of protest to the department of Health and Human Services at the FDA denouncing the claim, concerned that the problems of soya consumption were being ignored. An extract from their letter seen by Observer Food Monthly states: 'We oppose this health claim because there is abundant evidence that some of the isoflavones [phytoestrogens] found in soy demonstrate toxicity in oestrogen-sensitive tissues and in the thyroid. This is true for a number of species, including humans. Additionally, the adverse effects in humans occur in several tissues and, apparently, by several distinct mechanisms...Thus, during pregnancy in humans, isoflavones per se could be a risk factor for abnormal brain and reproductive tract development.' It added: 'There exists a significant body of animal data that demonstrates goitrogenic [effect on the thyroid

gland] and even carcinogenic effects of soy products.' Sheehan was particularly concerned about the increasing number of babies been weaned on soya infant formula. 'We are doing a large uncontrolled and unmonitored experiment on human infants,' he said. OFM contacted the scientists but was told they are not allowed to comment publicly on the health risks of soya. Doerge suggested speaking to another expert Dr Bill Helferich, a professor of food at the University of Illinois who has discovered a possible link between the growth of certain breast cancer tumours that require oestrogen and the chemicals found in soya. Helferich was unwilling to comment on whether a woman at risk of such a cancer should stop eating soya products. But, when asked what the health implications were of increasing amounts of soya in the Western diet, he told OFM : 'It's like roulette. We just don't know.' It is not just across the Atlantic that the increased consumption of soya has

concerned authorities. In Britain, the Food Standards Agency commissioned a report from its Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food to look at the issue. Published in May 2003, and titled Phytoestrogens and Health, the cover of this 400-page tome is illustrated with a soya plant. In its introduction the report states: 'In 1940 adverse effects on fertility were observed in animals that had been graz ing on phytoestrogen-rich plants. In the early 1980s it became clear that phytoestrogens could produce biological effects in humans.' What follows is a highly complex and comprehensive analysis of every scientific study ever carried out on the subject of plant oestrogens. The scope is immense: interaction with immune systems, central nervous systems, thyroid glands and cardiovascular systems. It analyses evidence for and against the impact of these soya chemicals on breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. The findings

are inconclusive. Some case studies find soya reduces the risk of one cancer, but possibly increases the risk of another. Professor Frank Woods was the chair man of the working group that produced this report. He is one of the country's leading toxologists and has been a key government adviser. If anybody can be called an expert on soya, it is him. Yet even he will not be drawn on whether the increase in soya in Western diets is good or bad. 'We still have a lot to learn,' he said. There is, however, one area where his mind is made up. 'If my daughter ever asked me advice on whether she should feed her baby on soya formula, I would say no, unless her doctor had specifically advised her to do so.' Even if the the baby had an allergy to dairy products, he believes that other options, such as hydrolysed cow's milk protein, are safer. === message truncated ===

Check out the new Front Page. www.

[Guest guest]

Sorry, can't agree on " it was so silken " - clue: where does silk come

from?

Don't like to be so negative so am thinking, thinking, thinking...

Ooh me brain hurts!

 

>

> Craig Dearth [cd39]

>

> Ok fellow Vegans and Veganettes,

>

> Here is our Mission to find and use new words to describe things

>

> like the old way is " it tasted creamy "

> new way " it was so silken "

>

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release 01/11/2004

[Guest guest]

Doesn't silk come from worms? aren't they killed in the process?

kinda like how we steal honey from bees?

 

 

, " Viv Carbines " <vc27@n...> wrote:

> Sorry, can't agree on " it was so silken " - clue: where does silk

come

> from?

> Don't like to be so negative so am thinking, thinking, thinking...

> Ooh me brain hurts!

>

> >

> > Craig Dearth [cd39@e...]

> >

> > Ok fellow Vegans and Veganettes,

> >

> > Here is our Mission to find and use new words to describe things

> >

> > like the old way is " it tasted creamy "

> > new way " it was so silken "

> >

>

> ---

> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

> Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release 01/11/2004

[Guest guest]

silk does come from silk worms...more of a caterpillar really...

you *can* get silk without killing the pupae..but..mostly they just dunk the whole coccoon, puape and all, and then untangle them... Anouk Sickler Nov 8, 2004 8:32 PM Re: Doesn't silk come from worms? aren't they killed in the process?kinda like how we steal honey from bees? , "Viv Carbines" <vc27@n...> wrote:> Sorry, can't agree on "it was so silken" - clue: where does silk come> from?> Don't like to be so negative so am thinking, thinking, thinking...> Ooh me brain hurts!> > > > > Craig Dearth [cd39@e...] > > > > Ok fellow Vegans and Veganettes,> > > > Here is our Mission to find and use new words to describe things> > > > like the old way is " it tasted creamy"> > new way "it was so silken"> > > > ---> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).> Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release 01/11/2004To send an email to -

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

ok everyone the point was to find new sayings

I was thinking silken tofu and like I said maybe I am not good at this

here are a few I got from another group

 

Instead of:Don't cry over spilled milkUse:Don't cry over burnt toast Instead of:Slippery as an eelUse:Slippery as oilInstead of:On a wild goose chaseUse:Out chasing rainbowsInstead of:Ants in your pantsUse:Pepper in your pants

 

 

silk does come from silk worms...more of a caterpillar really...

you *can* get silk without killing the pupae..but..mostly they just dunk the whole coccoon, puape and all, and then untangle them... Anouk Sickler Nov 8, 2004 8:32 PM Re: Doesn't silk come from worms? aren't they killed in the process?kinda like how we steal honey from bees? , "Viv Carbines" <vc27@n...> wrote:> Sorry, can't agree on "it was so silken" - clue: where does silk come> from?> Don't like to be so negative so am thinking, thinking, thinking...> Ooh me brain hurts!> > > > > Craig Dearth [cd39@e...] > > > > Ok fellow Vegans and Veganettes,> > > > Here is our Mission to find and use new words to describe things> > > > like the old way is " it tasted creamy"> > new way "it was so silken"> > > >

[Guest guest]

wow,

i never thought of myself as a veganette before..

Somepeople might think that probably we have too much time on our

hands or that we are too PC,

but I think there is a valid point to changing words around and

making them veganfriendly,

 

for instance, I was surprised when reading,

bedtime books to my 2 and 6 year old boys,

how many meat/carnivorous references there are in those simply

childrens books,and how every single baby in books are holding a

bottle of Non-human milk..(no breastfeeding in childrens books, no

no no, that would be tooo controversial!)

 

I was reading the nursery poem,

 

sing a song of sixpence,

four a twenty blackbirds

baked in a pie,

wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king... etc

 

 

you get the picture, ussuallly, I am reading a booking to them and

I substitute, say for instance, theres a hot dog, I say Johnny eats

a tofudog etc... but I cuouldnt think of one for that poem.

 

anouk

 

 

 

 

, " Craig Dearth " <cd39@e...> wrote:

> ok everyone the point was to find new sayings

> I was thinking silken tofu and like I said maybe I am not good at

this

> > >

>

>

>

> silk does come from silk worms...more of a caterpillar really...

> you *can* get silk without killing the pupae..but..mostly they just

dunk the

> whole coccoon, puape and all, and then untangle them...

>

>

>

> Anouk Sickler

> Nov 8, 2004 8:32 PM

>

> > > > Craig Dearth [cd39@e...]

> > >

> > > Ok fellow Vegans and Veganettes,

> > >

>

[Guest guest]

What a load of old tosh!, just what I would expect from the Observer!

The Valley Vegan........Craig Dearth <cd39 wrote:

this is an article in the Observer in the UKI feel like strangling the man who wrote itit is so flawed I think he got his info from the milk advisory boardthe endanger species hunters club, and the baby seal clubbing club...ugghhhhave a read you'll see what I meanall the bestCraigThey hailed it as a wonderfood. Soya not only destroys forests and small farmers - it can also be bad for your health Anthony BarnettSunday November 7, 2004The Observer On a crisp winter morning in Belfast, Dr Lorraine Anderson was nearing the end of her doctorate research project. She had spent weeks hunched over a microscope looking at samples of sperm. Anderson was trying to figure out what made some sperm move slower than others. As a specialist in reproductive medicine at Belfast's Royal Maternity Hospital she was

particularly interested in why some samples moved so sluggishly that they would have trouble reaching and fertilising an egg. Anderson knew that a sperm's 'motility' was one of the critical factors in fertility. 'It doesn't matter how many sperm a man's got; if they can't get from A to B then there's little chance of reproduction,' she says. Anderson's 'eureka' moment arrived when a complex analysis of the samples she was working on revealed that the seminal liquid surrounding the slower-moving sperm contained chemicals called isoflavones. These compounds are also known as phyto-oestrogens or plant-oestrogens because they mimic oestrogen, the powerful female hormone. These highly active compounds are found in large concentrations in soya. Indeed such are the doses of these chemicals, a woman drinking two glasses of soya milk a day over the course of a month will see the timing of her menstrual cycle alter. It has been estimated that infants who are fed soya formula

exclusively receive an amount of oestrogen equivalent to five birth control pills every day. For a growing number of scientists the question is this: if such a strong biologically active compound is found in soya, what is its effect on humans regularly eating or drinking products made from the bean? Advertiser links Bargain DVD Recorders on eBay.co.ukYou'll find a fabulous range of new and used DVD recorders...ebay.co.ukWhich? Online Latest DVD Recorder ReportUp-to-date DVD recorder guide. Expert assessment, test...trial.which.co.ukSave on DVD Recorder at ShopgenieSave on DVD recorders at ShopGenie, the shopping search...shopgenie.co.ukIn recent years the food industry has wasted no time in extolling soya's alleged health benefits, claiming it can lower cholesterol, help with menopausal systems, ward off osteoporosis and even reduce the risks of some cancers. However, aside from research linking soya to

reduced male fertility, studies now link the phyto-oestrogens found in the plant to an increased risk of other types of cancer. It has also been claimed that it damages brain function in men and causes hidden developmental abnormalities in infants. Some even attribute the early onset of puberty in western women to the spread of soya in diets. Certainly, Dr Anderson has no doubt about the conclusions of her own research: the more soya a man eats, she believes, the more difficulty he will have in fertilising an egg. Anderson's head of department, Professor Neil McClure, is one of Britain's leading fertility experts and he is already acting on the results. 'If a couple were having trouble conceiving and the man's sperm was a borderline case, then I have seen enough evidence from these studies to advise a change in his diet to minimise soya.' But this is much easier said than done. Today, soya is no longer just the preserve of the vegetarian or the Asian food junkie but

is an invisible ingredient in nearly everything we eat, from pork pies and breakfast cereals to mayonnaise and margarines. Soya is used to 'bulk out' and bind many processed foods, such as sausages, lasagne, beefburgers and chicken nuggets and it allows food firms to claim a higher protein content on the label. Some research estimates that soya is present in more than 70 per cent of all supermarket products and widely used by most fast food chains. The reason for its rapid rise in popularity is that it is both a very cheap source of protein and - when crushed - a source of high-quality vegetable oil. No fragment of the bean is wasted. Even the husk is used as a source of fibre in breads, cereals and snacks. The oil extracted from soya is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world, and is used in margarines, salad dressings and cooking oils. Food labels will simply list soya oil as vegetable oil. During the oil extraction, the bean also produces a substance called

lecithin. This is a valuable emulsifier that helps fat mix with water. It is a critical ingredient of the baking and confectionery worlds, as it prevents ingredients in food from separating. So the food labels of many of our favourite chocolate bars, biscuits and cakes will list lecithin as an ingredient without linking it to soya. Of course, it is not just the 'invisible' market in soya that has enjoyed rapid growth. Soya milk is one of the success stories of the last few years. Sales have rocketed by 20 per cent per annum and it is now one of the fastest growing drinks in the country. Starbucks now offers frothed up soya milk with its cappuccinos and supermarkets have invested in their own brands. For those who suffer a strong allergic reaction to cow's milk or follow a vegan diet, soya milk has always been an important option. But others drink it as a less fattening alternative to cow's milk. What they don't realise is that it also gives them an injection of a

chemical that mimics oestrogen. One industry source admitted that the breakthrough for soya milk came when retailers were persuaded to put soya milk into the chilled cabinet, giving it the illusion of being a fresh product. Some soya milk adverts tell the reader to look for it in the fresh food section. In reality, soya milk is no more than bean juice with some added flavouring to make it more palatable. As well as the growth in popularity of soya products for direct human consumption, some 90 per cent of the 200 million tonnes of soya produced around the world each year is used to feed animals. Whether it's beef, lamb, bacon or processed chicken, it is highly likely that the meat comes from an animal reared on a diet based on soya meal. In some parts of the world, soya has long been a small part of animal diets, but after the BSE crisis revealed the problems of feeding cattle with animal parts, the soya alternative was taken up with gusto.So when you eat a piece of meat,

the chances are you are also consuming some soya as well. Towering proud like a church steeple, the 200ft-tall silver silo in the Argentinian town of Las Lajitas, shines in the South American sun. These huge storage silos, filled with dried soya beans have become the new temples of Argentina. Today's plantation owners listen to a gospel preached by US biotech corporation Monsanto. Located more than 1,000 miles north west of Buenos Aires and close to the Chilean and Bolivian borders, Las Lajitas is the agricultural capital of a region that has seen untrammelled expansion in soya production. Where only a few years ago thick native forests filled the landscape, now all that stands between Las Lajitas and the Andes shimmering on the horizon are green pastures sprouting soya. Satellite photos of the region show the dramatic change. Only 15 years ago the area appeared from space as a lush green carpet, now it resembles a threadbare rug covered with the spreading

stains of soya plantations. The figures speak for themselves: in 1971 soya was only farmed on 37,000 hectares; now the area covered is more than 14m hectares and rising. Soya now occupies more land in Argentina than all other crops added together, covering more than half the country's arable land. It is predicted that 10,000 hectares of forest is being lost every year - the equivalent of 20 football fields an hour. If this continues, in five years' time the country's native forests will disappear completely. It is a scenario that is troubling conservationists. 'This is a precious habitat that is home to many rare animals and plants. We are in danger of losing it all in a race to feed European and Chinese chickens.,' says Emiliano Ezcurra of Greenpeace. 'How many jaguars and toucans will have to be killed to feed Danish pigs?' But the campaigners are up against some of the world's most powerful corporations who now control the market in soya. In the mid-Nineties, with

Argentina facing an economic crisis, Monsanto stepped in with an offer of salvation. Its message: plant our genetically modified Roundup Ready soya beans that are much easier to grow than conventional soya and the money will flow in. And so it happened. For the lucky few it has indeed been a godsend. A handful of soya barons are making handsome profits and the government of Argentina is enjoying improved tax revenues from exporting their soya to Europe and China. But for many others, the drive to cover every spare hectare with soya comes at a high price. More than 200 miles north of Las Lajitas is the small rural Argentinian village of Pizarro. Carlo Odonez and his family run the main store. He was made redundant from the country's largest oil company a few years back and, with his payoff, brought his family to Pizarro with the dream of being an organic beekeeper. Yet all around the village, protected forest - where he hoped to keep his hives - is being destroyed to plant

soya. The community of peasant farmers that has lived off this land for generations rearing cattle, pigs and chickens as well as producing cheese will soon be forced from their homes with nowhere to go. 'Nobody can see a future in staying here,' says Odonez, as he explains how the loss of trees will lead to flooding and changes in the local climate. Local people are also afraid of the mists of chemicals they have heard are sprayed on the soya. 'We hear many stories from other communities who have lived near the soya plantations,' said Odonez. 'Some say they have become ill from breathing in the chemicals they spray. Also we hear some have skin diseases.' Worst hit by the land clearances are the indigenous tribes that have lived for thousands of years in the forests. The Wichi people are an aboriginal group who still rely on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They use their dogs to hunt wild boar in the forests and collect four different types of honey from hollows

in the trees. They make baskets and bags from local plants and use forest flora as a source of traditional medicine to cure their sick. Now they face extinction as their tribal lands are ripped apart. A mile from one of their encampments the latest deforestation is occurring. Giant bulldozers linked together with huge metal chains drive through the forests literally tearing up everything in their path. The felled timber and leaves are piled high in 1km rows as far as the eye can see, ready to be set alight. It is hard for these people to understand the destruction of a habitat they have lived in harmony with for so long. 'Why is the white man destroying our lands?' asks one of the tribal chiefs. It is difficult to explain that it's to be used to feed animals in Europe and China. If Argentina's soya revolution brought local economic benefits, perhaps there would be less hostility. But the genius of Monsanto's Roundup Ready soya is that it allows the crop to be farmed

intensively with minimal labour. Only one worker is needed for every 400 hectares compared to more than 70 on a traditional citrus farm. By inserting a special gene into the plant's DNA, Monsanto's scientists discovered they could make it immune to a very powerful herbicide called glyphosate. Farmers can then spray this over their crops once or twice a year and everything but the soya is exterminated leaving the soya to grow vigorously with highly profitable yields and little maintenance. So more than 300,000 farmworkers have lost their jobs. Most head towards the big cities like Buenos Aires or Salta to find work, but with few skills they end up unemployed and homeless. The story of the soya boom in South America, is not just limited to the GM revolution in Argentina. While other countries have not embraced Monsanto's beans with such gusto, such is the rush to cash in on the green gold that similar scenarios are being played out in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. The

marketing men have even dubbed the region the Republic of Soya. For Brazil the environmental consequences of non-GM soya have been as dramatic as in Argentina. Newly released satellite imaging data has revealed a 40 per cent jump in deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforests. The massive leap is the worst acceleration in the loss of tropical jungle since 1995, with much of the destruction being blamed on the illegal logging of land for soya production. Unlike Argentina, the majority of soya crops grown in Brazil are GM-free, although parts of southern Brazil are becoming contaminated with transgenic plants as farmers smuggle Monsanto seeds across the borders in the belief that they are more lucrative. In September, the World Wide Fund for Nature published a detailed report on the impact of soya expansion in South America. It makes depressing reading. The WWF calculates that nearly 22 million hectares of forests and savannah in South America - an area about

the size of Great Britain - will have been wiped out by 2020. It says the crop has triggered soil erosion, siltation of waterways, widespread use of toxic chemicals and pesticides and road building through some of the world's most delicate habitats. On the main road heading out of Las Lajitas, the slogan emblazoned on the giant advertising billboard reads ' mejor agriculture, mejor futuro ' which translates as 'better farming, better future'. For many of the people in South America, it is a promise that rings hollow. 'Inside the soya bean you'll find the power to feed a family and feed the world. You'll find the ability to improve health and combat diseases. You'll find a unique combination of properties that makes the soya bean as important to animal nutrition and industry as it is to human health. In short, you'd find the magic in the magic bean.' This is the world according to a brochure published by US multinational Archer Daniel Midlands, one of the

handful of corporations along with Monsanto that today controls the multi-billion dollar soya industry. Others include Cargill, Bunge and Louis Dreyfuss. Every weekday morning at 8.30am the bell rings at the Chicago Board of Trade to announce the beginning of the day's action. Dozens of brokers, wearing their famous bright-coloured jackets,wave their arms in a frenzy, trying to make big bucks for their investment clients on guessing what will be the future price of soya. Today soya is traded as an international commodity, just like oil or gold. Depending on estimates of weather patterns, demand for animal food or general geopolitical pressures the price will rise or fall. By the end of the day millions will have been made or lost on these minute fluctuations. With so many commercial interests dependent on the continued appetite for soya across the globe, those few telling a different story face an uphill struggle in getting their voice heard. Perhaps

the most graphic illustration of this was in the US three years ago. After a huge lobbying effort from the soya industry, the US Food and Drug Administration agreed to issue a health claim that eating 25g of soya protein a day can help lower cholesterol and thus reduce the risk of heart disease. This was a view later backed by Britain's Food Standards Agency. With heart disease one of the biggest killers in the West, this is clearly a major benefit for soya and has allowed many food companies to stamp labels on soya products claiming they help reduce cholesterol. In such a health and diet-obsessed culture this has been a big boost for the soya industry. However, it is very difficult for any individual to eat the necessary 25g a day of soya - this is equivalent to five soya yoghurts or three large glasses of soya milk. Yet for two senior food scientists who worked within the US Food and Drug Administration, the official backing of the health claim - which ignored the

impact of plant-oestrogens in soya - was potentially dangerous. In a highly unusual move Dr Daniel Sheehan and Dr Daniel Doerge wrote a letter of protest to the department of Health and Human Services at the FDA denouncing the claim, concerned that the problems of soya consumption were being ignored. An extract from their letter seen by Observer Food Monthly states: 'We oppose this health claim because there is abundant evidence that some of the isoflavones [phytoestrogens] found in soy demonstrate toxicity in oestrogen-sensitive tissues and in the thyroid. This is true for a number of species, including humans. Additionally, the adverse effects in humans occur in several tissues and, apparently, by several distinct mechanisms...Thus, during pregnancy in humans, isoflavones per se could be a risk factor for abnormal brain and reproductive tract development.' It added: 'There exists a significant body of animal data that demonstrates goitrogenic [effect on the thyroid

gland] and even carcinogenic effects of soy products.' Sheehan was particularly concerned about the increasing number of babies been weaned on soya infant formula. 'We are doing a large uncontrolled and unmonitored experiment on human infants,' he said. OFM contacted the scientists but was told they are not allowed to comment publicly on the health risks of soya. Doerge suggested speaking to another expert Dr Bill Helferich, a professor of food at the University of Illinois who has discovered a possible link between the growth of certain breast cancer tumours that require oestrogen and the chemicals found in soya. Helferich was unwilling to comment on whether a woman at risk of such a cancer should stop eating soya products. But, when asked what the health implications were of increasing amounts of soya in the Western diet, he told OFM : 'It's like roulette. We just don't know.' It is not just across the Atlantic that the increased consumption of soya has

concerned authorities. In Britain, the Food Standards Agency commissioned a report from its Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food to look at the issue. Published in May 2003, and titled Phytoestrogens and Health, the cover of this 400-page tome is illustrated with a soya plant. In its introduction the report states: 'In 1940 adverse effects on fertility were observed in animals that had been graz ing on phytoestrogen-rich plants. In the early 1980s it became clear that phytoestrogens could produce biological effects in humans.' What follows is a highly complex and comprehensive analysis of every scientific study ever carried out on the subject of plant oestrogens. The scope is immense: interaction with immune systems, central nervous systems, thyroid glands and cardiovascular systems. It analyses evidence for and against the impact of these soya chemicals on breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. The findings

are inconclusive. Some case studies find soya reduces the risk of one cancer, but possibly increases the risk of another. Professor Frank Woods was the chair man of the working group that produced this report. He is one of the country's leading toxologists and has been a key government adviser. If anybody can be called an expert on soya, it is him. Yet even he will not be drawn on whether the increase in soya in Western diets is good or bad. 'We still have a lot to learn,' he said. There is, however, one area where his mind is made up. 'If my daughter ever asked me advice on whether she should feed her baby on soya formula, I would say no, unless her doctor had specifically advised her to do so.' Even if the the baby had an allergy to dairy products, he believes that other options, such as hydrolysed cow's milk protein, are safer. === message truncated ===Peter H

 

ALL-NEW Messenger - all new features - even more fun!