Noticias
y campañas de la OCA en españolORGANIC BYTES #105
Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!
3/22/2007 - Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins
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IN THIS ISSUE
- ALERT OF THE WEEK: USDA & LEADING ORGANIC DAIRIES CONSPIRING TO DEGRADE ORGANIC DAIRY STANDARDS BY NOT REQUIRING PASTURE FEEDING
- USDA TO APPROVE RICE ENGINEERED WITH HUMAN GENES
- PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: ANTIBACTERIAL HAND CLEANSERS
- GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK:
FEDERAL COURT BANS MONSANTO'S GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA - MARK YOUR CALENDARS: STEP IT UP! NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
- PAPER OR PLASTIC?
SAN FRANCISCO MAY BE FIRST IN NATION TO REGULATE GROCERY BAGS - TIP OF THE WEEK: WITH SPRING'S ARRIVAL COMES ORGANIC GARDEN PLANNING:
300 ORGANIC GARDEN TIPS - MIND-BENDING SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF THE WEEK
- ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK
ALERT OF THE WEEK:
USDA & LEADING ORGANIC DAIRIES CONSPIRING TO DEGRADE ORGANIC DAIRY STANDARDS
BY NOT REQUIRING PASTURE FEEDING
As Organic Bytes has reported, the most serious
threat to U.S. organic standards since 1998 is in the dairy sector. Two
rapidly growing and profit-obsessed corporations, Horizon and Aurora Organic,
are sourcing much of their milk from intensive confinement dairy feedlots,
where the cows have little or no access to pasture. Now, in a secret letter
obtained by the Cornucopia Institute, OCA has learned that three other major
organic dairies, Stonyfield Farm, Organic Valley, and Humboldt Creamery have
joined forces with Horizon and Aurora to lobby the USDA to keep dairy standards
vague and unenforceable, by not requiring any specific percentage of the cow's
feed to come from pasture. The National Organic Standards Board and the overwhelming
majority of the nation's dairy farmers have repeatedly stated that at least
30% of an organic cow's feed during the growing season should be coming from
pasture. Scientific studies have shown that milk and meat from pastured animals
are qualitatively healthier than milk and meat derived from animals kept in
unhealthy and inhumane concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4549.cfm
To make your voice heard, learn more and take action at OCA's "Safeguard Organic Standards website: www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm
USDA TO APPROVE RICE ENGINEERED WITH HUMAN GENES
The USDA public comment deadline of March 30th regarding rice engineered
with human genes is quickly approaching. The rice, developed by Ventria
Bioscience has been given pre-approval by the USDA for planting and harvesting
in California. The plants have been engineered to synthesize a human protein
that would be used as a drug to treat diarrhea. When planted in an open environment,
these biotech rice fields have the potential to contaminate conventional rice
fields where the crops are being grown for consumer food products. According
to Jane Rissler of the Union of Concerned Scientists, "This is not a product that everyone would want to consume. It is unwise to produce drugs in plants outdoors."
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4472.cfm
PRODUCT PLUNDER OF THE WEEK: ANTIBACTERIAL HAND CLEANSERS
A
new study published on the Environmental Science & Technology research website found that triclosan, a widely used ingredient in antibacterial hand sterilization products, combines with chlorine in tap water to make the toxin chloroform. The researchers found that people using these products would be exposed to chloroform levels 40 percent higher than that found in tap water. Chloroform is a toxic chemical and a probable carcinogen. Previous studies have shown that the overuse of antibacterial soaps produces "super bacteria" that are able to survive exposure to antibacterial products. It is recommended that such products be used on limited and minimal levels.
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4535.cfm
We
rely on your donations to continue our work on these important issues!
www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm
GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: FEDERAL COURT BANS MONSANTO'S GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA
For the first time in history, a Federal Court has ruled that the USDA has
illegally approved a genetically engineered crop. A California judge has
ruled that the USDA, which approved the sale of genetically engineered alfalfa
for 2007, did not conduct adequate environmental impact studies. The judge
said approval of this new biotech crop has a high potential of destroying
conventional and organic alfalfa farms. "We applaud the decision of the Court," said Bill Wenzel of the National Family Farm Coalition. "It's unfortunate that we have to turn to judges to do what's right for farmers while the USDA carries water for the biotech companies." Pat Trask, a South Dakota alfalfa grower and plaintiff in the case stated, "It's a great day for God's own alfalfa."
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4492.cfm
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
STEP IT UP! NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
This April 14th, tens of thousands of Americans will gather all across the
country at meaningful, iconic places to call for action on climate change.
We will hike, bike, climb, walk, swim, kayak, canoe, or simply sit or stand
with banners of our call to action: "Step It Up Congress! Cut carbon 80% by 2050." This is an invitation to help start a movement‹to take one spring day and use it to reshape the future.
Learn more: www.stepitup2007.org/
PAPER OR PLASTIC? SAN FRANCISCO MAY BE FIRST IN NATION TO REGULATE GROCERY BAGS
The
San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering a measure that would require
grocery stores with annual sales of at least $2 million to provide customers
with grocery bags made of recyclable paper, plastic that can be turned into
compost, or sturdy cloth or plastic that can be reused. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi,
who wrote the measure says, "By doing so, we will save millions of dollars for city coffers and for our refuse rate payers." Supervisors also note the reduction of fossil fuels needed to make plastic bags, litter in the streets, and refuse that chokes wildlife. If the measure passes, it will be implemented in as short as six months and will likely create a domino effect for other municipalities around the U.S.
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4467.cfm
TIP OF THE WEEK:
WITH SPRING'S ARRIVAL COMES ORGANIC GARDEN PLANNING:
300 ORGANIC GARDEN TIPS
- 23. When planning for the coming year's garden, think "biodiversity". Using many different kinds of plants will encourage many different kinds of beneficial insects to take up residence in your yard.
- 36. When buying annuals or perennials, select plants that are budded but not yet in bloom, so their energy the first two or three weeks in your garden will be directed toward making larger and stronger plants with better-developed root systems.
- 104. To take advantage of a bat's contribution to the environment, make your yard bat-friendly by providing food, water, and shelter. Insects, a bird bath, and a purchased bat house are all that's needed.
- 152. The average household produces more than 200 pounds of kitchen waste every year. You can successfully compost all forms of kitchen waste, with the exception of meat, meat products, dairy products, and high-fat foods.
Learn more: www.organicgardentips.com/
MIND-BENDING SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF THE WEEK:
LABELING FOODS TRUTHFULLY IS ACTUALLY PRETTY AFFORDABLE:
A new study from Canada has found that the food industry has heavily exaggerated
the potential costs of labeling foods that contain genetically engineered
(GE) ingredients. The study, commissioned by Quebec's Department of Agriculture
Fisheries and Food, shows the actual cost is 99% less than what the biotech
and food industries claim. Along with other similar studies, this report may
help snuff out the argument that it's too expensive to implement labeling
practices that allow consumers to identify foods with GE ingredients.
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4554.cfm
STARVING BY CHOICE:
More than two-thirds of Americans are starving themselves
of necessary nutrients says a new study published this week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The study, conducted by Johns Hopkins University on 8,900 U.S. citizens over
the course of four years, found that less than a third of the study participants
eat daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, even when foods like
french fries are considered a "vegetable".
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4558.cfm
SUGAR AND OBESITY HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON?:
The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) has confessed to printing a bogus study that denies the links between
soft drinks and obesity. The current issue of AJCN reveals
the study was funded by the American Beverage Association, an industry
trade group comprised of soda pop manufacturers. In addition, the lead author
owns major stock in several beverage companies, and the co-author sits
on the advisory board for McDonald's.
Learn more: www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4504.cfm
ORGANIC BYTES READERS TALK BACK
SOME OF THE 100 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR PEAK OIL:
Responding to one of the bullet points in our piece on BPA (Issue #104),
Daniel writes: "Your answer to point 6 is exactly the opposite. Banks foreclose first on loans they can break even or profit from. The more you have paid off the more equity the bank will get. So to avoid fore-closer in hard times, it is actually better to be upside down in your loan, owning the bank more money than your property is worth. They will work with you and do everything they can to prevent the loss. The "pay off loan" thinking stems from depression era laws that gave banks more power to foreclose. The laws have changed, and the business models." www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/ob104.cfm
HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK: HOW TO AVOID BPA:
In Issue #104, we ran a piece with quick tips on how to avoid toxic BPA. One of our bullet points mentioned avoiding SIGG water bottles (among other brands). We acquired that information from the Environmental Working Group. Unfortunately, the data was slightly dated. SIGG has since gone BPA-free, so it is now safe to purchase SIGG water bottles. www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/ob104.cfm
Disclaimer! At the time this newsletter was published this information was incorrect. OCA was misled by Sigg. Read more here.
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rely on your donations to continue our work on these important issues!
www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm
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