Consumer & Environment News Tidbits (Organic Bytes #55)

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Consumer & Environment News Tidbits (Organic Bytes #55)

 

 

Organic Consumers Association

 

Food, Consumer and Environment News Tidbits with an Edge!

Organic Bytes #55

4/12/2005

 

CHICAGO STREETS FILLING WITH DRUGS, GANGS AND... ORGANIC FOODS

Six years ago, in a working class African-American neighborhood on

Chicago's West Side, LaDonna Redmond was feeling frustrated about the

total absence of healthy and organic foods in her area. " Folks say

black people won't buy organic food--that all we want to eat is

Cheetos, " says Redmond. " You could buy $200 sneakers, semiautomatic

weapons and heroin, but you couldn't get an organic tomato. " In

response, Redmond volunteered her time to start a weekly organic

farmer's market at a local school playground, organized local

residents to transform vacant lots into neighborhood organic gardens,

and brought nutrition classes and salad bars into area schools.

LaDonna is not only teaching Chicago residents how to buy and grow

local and organic foods, she is also teaching all of us a valuable

lesson: Never underestimate the amount of positive change that one

person can inspire.

The Organic Consumers Association's new " Breaking the Chains " campaign

provides people like you with tools to start bringing about the same

kind of positive change in your area. Click here for more info:

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

 

 

 

JUNK FOOD DIETS PROMOTE YOUTH VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION

The American Journal of Psychiatry has published a new study

connecting nutrient deficiencies to aggressive behavior in children.

Children who suffered deficiencies of zinc, iron, B vitamins and

protein demonstrated a surprising 41% increase in aggression at age

eight, and by age 17, they demonstrated a 51% increase in violent and

antisocial behaviors. The study noted that 80% of the U.S. population

now has deficiencies in one or more of these nutrients, due in major

part to increasing consumption of junk foods and beverages.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/aggression040405.cfm

 

 

 

OBESITY EPIDEMIC COSTS U.S. SEVERAL HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR

Last week, the California Department of Health Services reported that

obesity related health problems are costing the state $21.7 billion

per year. " This is money out of California's economy, " said report

author David Chenoweth, who estimates that about 8 percent of the

state's health care dollars are now being spent on ailments stemming

from obesity and inactivity. Other states are likely staggering under

similar costs, since California's obesity rates are near the national

average. In the meantime, over the course of the next 75 days, the FDA

is seeking comments on how U.S. food labeling laws should be modified

to help consumers better understand total caloric quantity of the food

products they are eating. Learn more and submit your comments to the

FDA here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/toxic/obesity-ca.cfm

 

 

 

WIDELY USED PESTICIDE KILLING FROGS--WHAT'S IT DOING TO US?

Monsanto's Roundup, sprayed on millions of acres of crops and weeds

across the U.S. has been found to be " extremely toxic " to amphibians.

A new study in the journal Ecological Applications reveals that

applying the recommended manufacturer's dose of Roundup unexpectedly

caused an 86% decline in tadpoles. Researchers initially conducted the

experiment to test the effectiveness of Roundup, an herbicide, on

algae, but discovered that the chemical actually promoted the algae

growth by killing off the frogs. According to Rick Relyea, the study's

lead biologist, " The most shocking insight coming out of this was that

Roundup, something designed to kill plants, was extremely lethal to

amphibians. "

Learn more and take part in the Organic Consumers Association's

" Millions Against Monsanto Campaign "

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

 

 

 

EPA STUDY OF TOXIC CHEMICALS ON CHILDREN

The Organic Consumers Association blew the whistle on the

Environmental Protection Agency in late 2004 for taking money from

chemical corporations to launch a study of toxic chemical exposure on

children. OCA's alert stimulated massive public response and the study

was ultimately delayed " for further review. " Last week, under intense

pressure from Democratic senators, the study was finally terminated.

We'd like to thank and congratulate everyone who took part in this

action! http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL HEMP GAINS GROUND IN FOUR STATES

Industrial hemp was a cornerstone crop in early America. In fact, due

to its versatility, Americans were legally bound to grow it during the

Colonial Era and Early Republic. Often confused with marijuana,

industrial hemp is actually a very different plant and contains

insignificant levels of THC (tetrahyrdocannabinol), the chemical in

marijuana that results in psychotropic effects. Industrial hemp, which

can be grown easily without the use of pesticides or synthetic

fertilizers, can be used to make paper, textiles, bio-fuel, nutrition

supplements and fiberboards. Although the domestic hemp industry was

decimated by new government regulations after WWII, it may be on the

threshold of enjoying a new renaissance:

 

North Dakota: On March 9, Governor John Hoeven signed House Bill 1492

which directs the North Dakota State University to start storing

" feral hemp seed " in preparation for the day in which it becomes legal

to grow industrial hemp under federal law.

 

New Hampshire: On March 23, House Bill 55-FN-A passed, which would let

farmers apply for a state license to grow industrial hemp. The bill

now goes to the Senate for consideration.

 

Oregon: On April 6, a hearing was held for Senate Bill 294, which

permits production and possession of industrial hemp and trade in

industrial hemp commodities and products.

 

California: On April 27, a hearing for Assembly Bill 1147 will be

held. If passed, AB 1147 would give farmers the right to apply for

state licenses to grow industrial hemp.

 

http://www.organicconsumers.org/politics/hempgrowing32905.cfm

 

 

 

QUICK TIDBITS

 

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS: The Environmental Protection Agency has

announced new stricter regulations on a number of carcinogenic

chemicals. The adjusted standards finally take into account the fact

that children are far more vulnerable to toxic chemicals, such as

pesticides, than adults.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/epatoxic040605.cfm

 

FISH FARMS SPREAD LICE: Canadian researchers have discovered farmed

salmon are spreading sea lice to wild salmon. The scientists found

unusually high levels of lice in a 19 mile radius surrounding a salmon

farm. " Conservatively, this means that the parasite footprint of the

farm is 150 times larger than the farm itself, " said study co-author

John Volpe. http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/salmon33105.cfm

 

NEW YORK FIREMEN EAT MAD DEER: Mad Deer disease has now spread across

the country to New York, where scientists report that the state's

first confirmed infected white tail deer was donated to the Verona

(NY) Fire Department and eaten at a banquet. Although the Oneida

County Health Department claims it is " unlikely " a deer infected with

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) can transfer the fatal illness to

humans, they are recommending that everyone who attended the event

contact the New York State Health Department immediately.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/firemen040505.cfm

 

TRUTH IN LABELING: Thanks to consumer pressure, the Whole Foods Market

grocery chain has finally announced it will begin to label its private

label products in a manner that allows consumers to see which

ingredients may contain genetically modified organisms. CEO John

Mackey said of the policy, " If we don't do this, who will? " Noting the

possibility that labeling could invite legal actions, Mackey stated

that it would be a " lawsuit worth fighting. "

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/wholefoods040705.cfm

 

30 MILLION ORGANIC CONSUMERS IN USA: The organic market is exploding!

The Natural Marketing Institute has released a report indicating that

23% of U.S. shoppers are now organic consumers. In 2004, the organic

market grew by a full 18%, due to consumer concerns about their health

and the environment.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/23percent32905.cfm

 

 

 

 

TRAPPIST MONK OFFERS TIPS FOR BEGINNING ORGANIC GARDNERS

As the spring of 2005 warms sleepy soils and gardeners' spirits,

alike, Master Gardener Brother Placid of New Melleray Abbey offers

some quick tips from his 12 acre organic garden situated at a Buddhist

Monastery in Iowa.

 

*

Feed the soil, not the plants.

*

Vigilance is the best form of pest control.

*

Learn the secrets of companion planting.

*

Compost, both the noun and the verb.

*

Embrace balanced mulchiing.

*

Remember that gardening is hard work, but good work.

 

More organic gardening tips...

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ofgu/trappister32805.cfm

 

 

 

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Ode Magazine " Local is the New Organic... "

.... insist many foodies and green activists today.

Sustainably-produced food raised a thousand miles away is no longer

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goodies taste better, and you can meet the farmers that put food on

your table. Ode magazine reports on the fascinating possibilities of

eating close to home in our May issue. As you read Ode you will

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

 

 

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