Organic Bytes
Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge!
November 13, 2008 - Issue 151
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Welcome to another exciting issue of Organic Bytes from the Organic Consumers Association.
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Campaign Success Story of the Week:
Justice for Beef Northwest Workers and Fair Food! |
After months of organizing efforts, including a picket line and leafleting by OCA, UFW, and Teamsters outside Whole Foods Markets on October 4-5 in 35 states, the United Farm Workers (UFW) and Beef Northwest, the company that fattens cattle for Country Natural Beef, have reached a tentative agreement to settle their ongoing labor dispute. The Organic Consumers Association, in conjunction with UFW and the Teamsters, has supported the workers' efforts at Beef Northwest through ongoing consumer education and marketplace pressure campaigns. This victory marks a historic milestone in OCA's campaign to eliminate labor exploitation and support workers' rights in the $60 billion organic and natural foods sector.
Learn more |
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Alert of the Week:
President-Elect Obama: Please Support Organic Food & Farming |
A likely turning point in history took place on November 4th with the election of Barack Obama, a politician who has consistently voiced his support for family farms and organic agriculture, among other progressive positions. Organic consumers and farmers now have an incredible opportunity to shape the future of federal farm and food policy. President-Elect Obama is in the process of formulating policy, assembling his transition team, and considering nominees for Secretary of Agriculture, among other important positions. The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its $90 billion annual budget, including the National Organic Program, food stamp and nutrition programs, and agriculture subsidies. Obama throughout his campaign, and since his election, has stressed that he wants to hear from the public in order to formulate his policies. Let's all take him up on his invitation. Please sign the Organic Consumer Association's petition letter to President-Elect Barack Obama today and urge him to take a stand in support of organic food and farming. After you sign this petition, please forward it to everyone you know. We need to raise our common organic voice on a massive scale, if we are to move the new Administration and the nation in a healthy, just, sustainable, and organic direction.
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| An Overview at Obama's Agriculture Policies |
 1) Support for hunger and conservation programs in the Farm Bill.
2) Expand Country of Origin Labeling requirements on food products.
3) Support for organic farmers and transition to organic programs.
4) Increase farm extension service programs to attract more youth to farming as a career.
5) Encourage the use of technologies to produce power from animal wastes, and farming practices that reduce energy use and maintain soil health.
6) Increase incentives for farmers to plant trees, restore grasslands and manage the land in a way that better absorbs CO2.
7) Campaign pledge to support mandatory labeling for genetically engineered foods.
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Study of the Week:
United Nations Says Africa Could Grow More Food With Organic Farming
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 A new study released by the United Nations indicates that the best way to increase food production in Africa is to shift to organic farming practices.
According to the study, African farmers who have already transitioned to organic production are seeing yield increases, on average, of 128% percent. Organic farming practices build healthier top soil, allowing plants to develop deeper root systems, thus providing greater resilience in extreme drought conditions.
Learn more
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OCA Needs Your Support:
Our Work Depends On You
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 We know times are tough for everyone right now. That's why the OCA continues to work for consumers, family farmers, our environment, and our most precious assets, our children. We want to continue fighting the good fight, as well as bring you Organic Bytes, but we need your donations to survive these financially difficult times. If you enjoy Organic Bytes and believe the world is a better place with OCA's nonprofit work, please consider donating today. Any size of donation is helpful and appreciated.
Donate Now!
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Organic Consumers: Speak Out at the National Organic Standards Board Meeting
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 Next week, the members of the National Organic Standards Board will meet in Washington, DC, to take action on several hot topics for the organic community. These include grower-group certification; biodiversity conservation; the use of handling materials, processing aids and packaging aids (sanitizers, diatomaceous earth, nitrogen, ozone, and carbon dioxide) on foods labeled 100% organic; the commercial availability of organic seed; organic aquaculture standards (fish feed, net pens, and oysters, clams mussels and scallops), and organic pet food standards. OCA's Washington, DC, representative, Alexis Baden-Mayer, will be presenting testimony on behalf of OCA on these topics. She'd like to quote OCA members in her testimony. Please send your thoughts on NOSB recommendations and discussion items to alexis@organicconsumers.org.
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Quote of the Week
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"We are alarmed by the growing number of people who have been taken to jail for simply possessing organic products."
Ronnie Cummins, OCA's National Director, quoted in a USA Today article about problems surfacing with law enforcement drug testing kits. The kits are showing false positives in the field, causing innocent people to be arrested. According to USA Today, "Legal products and plants are testing positive: chocolate for hashish; rosemary for marijuana; and natural soaps for the "date-rape drug" GHB."
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Web Video of the Week:
Richard Heinberg: Why Are Things Falling Apart
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 Explore the past, present and future of the energy crisis with Richard Heinberg, the author of several Peak Oil books.
Watch this video on OCA's new "Organic Transitions" campaign website!
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| Headlines of the Week: |
Let OCA sift through the media smog and bring you the top new and analysis of the day. The OCA website has 20 or more news articles posted each day, and a library of over 4,000 articles covering issues including health, justice, food and farming, politics, and the environment. Bookmark OrganicConsumers.org |
| Get Involved With OCA In [[State]] |
*Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in [[State]] here.
*Join [[State]] discussion groups in our forum.
*Post events in [[State]] on our community calendar |
Message From OCA Sponsor:
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint & Help Local Communities
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With NativeEnergy carbon offsets, you can help build new renewable & energy efficiency projects that reduce greenhouse gases on your behalf, making up for the CO2 emissions you can't avoid. Our projects also benefit Native Americans, local communities, and family farmers. Join us and get a one-year subscription to National Geographic Magazine for free - learn more now!
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Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on web sites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!
ORGANIC BYTES is written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins
and is a publication of:
ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION
6771 South Silver Hill Drive
Finland, Minnesota 55603
Phone: (218)- 226-4164
Fax: (218) 353-7652
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