Organic Bytes: Factory Farms, Science Fraud, Pig Disease, Oreo Cookies, and more

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ORGANIC BYTES #129

Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!

 

2/27/2008

 

Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

* ALERT OF THE WEEK: EPA GIVES FACTORY FARMS RIGHT TO IGNORE

POLLUTION LAWS

* POLITICAL PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: BUSH LEAGUE SCIENCE EXPOSED AS

FRAUDULENT

* SMELLY MEMO OF THE WEEK: GOVERNMENT MUTES SCIENTISTS

* QUICK UPDATE: MYSTERIOUS BRAIN DISEASE STRIKES FACTORIES IN TWO

MORE STATES

* WEB VIDEO OF THE WEEK: HOW IS THE FEDERAL BUDGET LIKE A PILE OF

OREO COOKIES?

* HEALTH NEWS OF THE WEEK: HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF FLUORIDE IN YOUR

DRINKING WATER

* CONSUMER TIP OF THE WEEK: CLONED MEAT NOW IN U.S. FOOD SUPPLY

* SUSTAINABILITY TIP OF THE WEEK: GROW ORGANIC FOOD IN YOUR HOME

YEAR-ROUND

* LESSON OF THE WEEK: BIODYNAMICS 101 (GOING A STEP BEYOND USDA

ORGANIC)

 

ALERT OF THE WEEK:

EPA GIVES FACTORY FARMS RIGHT TO IGNORE POLLUTION LAWS

The EPA is accepting public comments until March 27, 2008 on an

outrageous proposal to eliminate clean air standards for factory

farms. Federal laws currently require industry of any type to report

hazardous substances they are spewing into the atmosphere, but

according to the EPA, factory farms should be exempt so as to " to

reduce the burden on the regulated community. " It's time to tell the

EPA to stop allowing factory farms to poison the air in our rural

communities.

Learn more and take action:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10380.cfm

 

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We need your support today to continue to

our work fighting for health, justice and sustainability!

 

http://alerts.organicconsumers.org/trk/click?ref=zqtbkk3um_1-116x314x3276393 &

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

 

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POLITICAL PLUNDER OF THE WEEK:

BUSH LEAGUE SCIENCE EXPOSED AS FRAUDULENT

More than 15,000 government scientists have endorsed a report to

Congress protesting government cover-ups of scientific data. The

report cites multiple examples of government manipulation of science

for the sake of political gain, saying the current Administration has

censored, suppressed and falsified important environmental and health

research. " Although surely the worst, the Bush Administration is not

the first, nor will it be the last administration to mistreat and

misuse science and scientists, " said Anthony Robbins, the former

director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

The interference has been directed at climate change research, new

birth control drugs, species protection, consumer safety studies and

agricultural research, the scientists said.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10369.cfm

 

 

SMELLY MEMO OF THE WEEK:

GOVERNMENT MUTES SCIENTISTS

" Politically sensitive and controversial issues require discretion... "

 

Excerpt from a Bush Administration memo advising scientists to conceal

recent discoveries that antibiotic resistant bacteria are

contaminating the air in communities near factory farms.

_

 

QUICK UPDATE:

MYSTERIOUS BRAIN DISEASE STRIKES FACTORIES IN TWO MORE STATES

In the last issue of Organic Bytes, we reported on the outbreak of a

new serious neurological disease in an Austin, MN factory farm

slaughterhouse. Since then, two additional slaughterhouses have

reported workers contracting this mysterious disease: one in Indiana

and one in Nebraska. Investigators believe the spread of the disease

is due to tiny bits of pig brains in the factory air. Government

officials have not issued a recall on any of the pork products in

question and claim that local communities are not at risk.

_

 

WEB VIDEO OF THE WEEK:

HOW IS THE FEDERAL BUDGET LIKE A PILE OF OREO COOKIES?

Watch this short entertaining video by our allies at True Majority to

see how the federal government is spending our tax money. Tax policies

may seem abstract, but not when you visualize them in terms of

cookies: http://www.truemajorityaction.org/oreos/index_oca.php

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HEALTH NEWS OF THE WEEK:

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF FLUORIDE IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

This quick Fluoride Action Network video shows us some of the major

concerns of fluoride in drinking water. Check out the warning label on

your toothpaste tube. It notes that the amount of fluoride in a single

brushing (.25 mg) should not be swallowed, and if so, the label says

you should contact a Poison Control Center. Interestingly, that's the

same amount that's in an average glass of tap water. Learn more and

watch: http://www.fluoridealert.org/

_

 

CONSUMER TIP OF THE WEEK:

CLONED MEAT NOW IN U.S. FOOD SUPPLY

Although the USDA only recently removed a voluntary market sale

moratorium on foods from cloned animals, a Kansas cattleman claims

these products are already in the U.S. food supply. " I have sold

offspring of cloned animals into feedlots, and they are in the food

chain, " said Donald Coover, a cattleman and veterinarian. Coover says

he has sold semen from clones to many US meat producers in the past

few years, and that others have been doing the same. Despite strong

public opposition, the FDA has announced that these foods do not need

to be labeled as such, so consumers buying meat dairy and eggs don't

know if the product came from a cloned animal. Fortunately, the USDA

has clarified that foods labeled as " organic " cannot come from cloned

animals.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10496.cfm

_

 

SUSTAINABILITY TIP OF THE WEEK:

GROW ORGANIC FOOD IN YOUR HOME YEAR-ROUND

OCA recommends that we all buy organic, but also " buy local " .

Unfortunately buying local in the middle of the winter for many

Americans is quite a challenge. But you'd be surprised at the

diversity of foods you can grow in your own house or apartment. You

can't get any more local (or fresh) than food harvested from your own

windowsill. Foods that can be successfully grown indoors include salad

greens, tomatoes, green onions, garlic, alfalfa sprouts and even

avocado. Here are some tips and resources:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10529.cfm

_

 

LESSON OF THE WEEK:

BIODYNAMICS 101 (GOING A STEP BEYOND USDA ORGANIC)

As farmers and consumers go green, innovative ideas are constantly

being developed. Although biodynamic farming is hardly a new concept

(it's roots go back to 1924), organic foods grown with this method are

just now starting to enter the natural products mainstream. Surveys

show most consumers don't really understand what biodynamic farming is

all about. Here's a quick overview:

 

* Treating the farm as a living organism wherein where all aspects

of the farm (i.e. water, soil, pests, fertility, etc.) are managed

holistically.

* Intentional focus on biodiversity in plants, animals and soil

bacteria.

* All input comes from the farm itself (as opposed to importing

fertilizer or compost, for example).

* Utilizing observation of celestial activity to aid in aligning

the farming system. Learn more in the Biodynamics section of OCA's

website: http://www.organicconsumers.org/biodynamics.cfm

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FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR STATE

Only the OCA provides a nationwide network with health, justice and

sustainability news on global, national, and local levels. Check out

the new state pages on our website to find news and events near you.

We want your help in keeping the state pages as relevant and up to

date as possible. We are striving to organize or publicize 50 new

state campaigns each month, but we can't do that without your help.

You can help by becoming a writer for OCA. Please email us campaign

updates. You can also send us ideas for campaigns if you are not sure

how to write them up for the site, and we will work with you to

develop a campaign update. Email your ideas to

volunteer Please visit your local OCA webpage

today by choosing your state in the dropdown menu in the left-hand

navigation bar and clicking on the " Become a news scout " link on your

state page. http://www.organicconsumers.org

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FREE SAMPLE OF GOURMET GARLIC PRODUCTS & RECIPES

 

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Gain the various health benefits of garlic with your meals. Learn

more about Garlic Gold's special offer here.

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EDEN FOODS OFFERS OCA CUSTOMERS 15% DISCOUNT

 

Eden Foods is one of the few national organic food producers who goes

beyond the USDA Organic Standards. Although Eden Foods is USDA

certified, their products do not bear the USDA seal, because they say

the USDA standard really represents a " minimum standard " that Eden

Foods goes far beyond. As a r to Organic Bytes, you can enjoy

a discount rate on any Eden Foods products by clicking here

 

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

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

 

 

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