Infinite Unknown

- Exposed: Pesticide Industry to Receive Pollution Privileges in Farm Bill H.R. 1947 (REALfarmacy, June 14, 2013):

One need only do a quick search on the website InfluenceExplorer.com to see the reality that is special interest influence over lawmakers. The literal millions of dollars given to lawmakers should shed light on the fact that Washington D.C. does not represent your interests.CropLife America is a lobbying group for the giant chemical producers like Monsanto and DuPont. From 2011-2012 CropLife America has spent $4,929,594.00 lobbying on behalf of companies that think it is just fine to spray pesticides over waterways. But what about the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts? Shouldn’t these acts of legislation prevent the discharge of pesticides over waterways? Well if you have enough money, you can write laws that exempt your company from the CA/CW Acts, and that is exactly what CropLife America has done in SEC. 10013. USE AND DISCHARGES OF AUTHORIZED PESTICIDES. Of H.R. 1947: Continue reading »

Tags: Agriculture, DuPont, Economy, Environment, Food, Global News, Health, Law, Monsanto, Pesticides, Politics, Pollution, U.S.

- Former Pro-GMO Scientist Speaks Out on the Real Dangers of Genetically Engineered Food (Mercola, May 28, 2013):

Who better to speak the truth about the risks posed by genetically modified (GM) foods than Thierry Vrain, a former research scientist for Agriculture Canada? It was Vrain’s job to address public groups and reassure them that GM crops and food were safe, a task he did with considerable knowledge and passion.

But Vrain, who once touted GM crops as a technological advancement indicative of sound science and progress, has since started to acknowledge the steady flow of research coming from prestigious labs and published in high-impact journals – research showing that there is significant reason for concern about GM crops – and he has now changed his position.

Former Pro-GMO Scientist Cites GM Food Safety Concerns

Vrain cites the concerning fact that it is studies done by Monsanto and other biotech companies that claim GM crops have no impact on the environment and are safe to eat. But federal departments in charge of food safety in the US and Canada have not conducted tests to affirm this alleged “safety.”

Vrain writes:¹

“There are no long-term feeding studies performed in these countries [US and Canada] to demonstrate the claims that engineered corn and soya are safe. All we have are scientific studies out of Europe and Russia, showing that rats fed engineered food die prematurely.

These studies show that proteins produced by engineered plants are different than what they should be. Inserting a gene in a genome using this technology can and does result in damaged proteins. The scientific literature is full of studies showing that engineered corn and soya contain toxic or allergenic proteins.

… I refute the claims of the biotechnology companies that their engineered crops yield more, that they require less pesticide applications, that they have no impact on the environment and of course that they are safe to eat.”

Continue reading »

Tags: Environment, Food, Genetically Modified Organisms, Global News, GMO, Health, Medicine, Monsanto, Pesticides, Science, Technology

- EU imposes 2-year ban on pesticides believed responsible for mass bee deaths (RT, May 24, 2013):

The European Commission has adopted a two-year-long moratorium on the use of three necotinoid pesticides believed to be one of the reasons behind a 30 percent annual decrease in bee populations since 2007.

EU member-states will now have to amend their existing legislation on the use of pesticides by September 30 to comply with the ban adopted by the EC on Friday.

Continue reading »

Tags: Bees, CCD, colony collapse disorder, Efsa, Environment, EU, Europe, Global News, Pesticides, Politics

What could possibly go wrong?

POLLINATION IN CHINA:

- Insanity: US Approves Bee Death Pesticide as EU Bans It (Natural Society, May 12, 2013):

Corporate politics is business as usual inside the United States, as I am once again shocked to report the EPA has sided with industry lobbyists over public health in approving a highly dangerous pesticide that the European Union recently decided to ban over fears of environmental devastation. Not only have neonicotinoid pesticides been linked repeatedly to mass bee deaths, also known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), but the continued use of such pesticides threatens other aspects of nature (and humans) as well.What’s even more amazing is that the decision not only comes after the EU publicly discussed the major dangers surrounding the use of the pesticides, but after the USDA released a report surrounding the continued honeybee deaths and the related effects — a report in which they detailed pesticides to be a contributing factor. Just the impact on the honeybees alone, and we now know that these pesticides are killing aquatic life and subsequently the birds that feed upon them, amounts to a potential $200 billion in global damages per year. We’re talking about the devastation of over 100 crops, from apples to avocados and plums.

And there’s countless scientists and a large number of environmental science groups speaking out on this. The EPA has no lack of information the subject. And sure, there are other contributing factors to bee deaths, there’s no question about that. We have an environment right now being hit with Monsanto’s Roundup even in residential areas, we have chemical rain, we have insane amounts of EMF — but it’s pretty clear that neonicotinoid pesticides are at least a major contributing factor. And beyond that, they have no place in the food supply to begin with.

The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) details the EU ban that came right before the EPA acceptance of the death-linked  pesticide: Continue reading »

Tags: Agriculture, Bees, CCD, colony collapse disorder, Environment, EU, Europe, Food, Global News, Government, Health, Law, Obama administration, Pesticides, Politics, U.S.

- Not even good enough for dog food: Imported food from China loaded with chemicals, dyes, pesticides and fake ingredients (Natural News, May 10, 2013):

Do you really know what’s in all the food you’re eating that’s imported from China? If you don’t, you’re actually in good company: The FDA only inspects 1% – 2% of all the food imported from China, so they don’t know either. Even when they inspect a shipment, they rarely test it for heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs or other toxic contaminants.

Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute, added emphasis to this point as he testified this week in The House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, saying, “We don’t trust, for good reason, the Chinese to supply ingredients for our dog and cat food. Why should we trust Chinese exporters for the food that we are feeding our children and families?”

It’s a good question. Especially when, as Kastel adds, Chinese food is being routinely found to contain “unapproved chemicals, dyes, pesticides and outright fraud (fake food).”

Heavily contaminated food from China

Continue reading »

Tags: animals, Chemicals, Contamination, Food, Global News, Government, Health, organic, Pesticides, Politics, Pollution, Society, U.S.

Honeybees are vital for pollinating crops

- Bee Deaths: EU To Ban Neonicotinoid Pesticides (BBC News, April 29, 2013):

The European Commission will restrict the use of pesticides linked to bee deaths by researchers, despite a split among EU states on the issue.

There is great concern across Europe about the collapse of bee populations.

Neonicotinoid chemicals in pesticides are believed to harm bees and the European Commission says they should be restricted to crops not attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Continue reading »

Tags: Bees, CCD, colony collapse disorder, Environment, EU, Europe, Global News, Pesticides, Politics

- Bhutan To Be First Country to Go 100% Organic (Natural Society, Feb 18, 2013):

If there was ever a nation that could see the purpose behind organic, sustainable farming, it would be a nation that is composed mostly of farmers. Such a place does exist, and it soon may be the first nation to go 100% organic, paving the way for others to do the same on a global scale.

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is known for a high level of citizen happiness, but it is doing something even more noteworthy in the near future. With Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley making a major announcement regarding the organic farming project at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development which took place last month, the move has made national headlines. It’s called the National Organic Policy, and it is fueled by the simple concept that working ‘in harmony with nature’ will yield the most powerful results — all without sacrificing human health or the environment.

What this comes down to is no GMO, no pesticides, no herbicides, no fluoride-based spray products, no Monsanto intrusion at all, and a whole lot of high quality food available for the 700,000 citizens of Bhutan. Food that, at one time, was simply called ‘food’. In the statement to other policy makers, Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley explained the move: Continue reading »

Tags: Agriculture, Bhutan, Environment, Farmers, Fluor, Fluoride, Food, Genetically Modified Organisms, Global News, GMO, Government, Health, Herbicides, Jigmi Thinley, organic, Pesticides, Politics

FULL PDF: Pesticide Exposure In Children

- Pesticide Exposure in Children (Pediatrics, Nov 26, 2012):

From the American Academy of Pediatrics

Policy Statement

Pesticide Exposure in Children

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

This statement presents the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics on pesticides. Pesticides are a collective term for chemicals intended to kill unwanted insects, plants, molds, and rodents. Children encounter pesticides daily and have unique susceptibilities to their potential toxicity. Acute poisoning risks are clear, and understanding of chronic health implications from both acute and chronic exposure are emerging. Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates associations between early life exposure to pesticides and pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function, and behavioral problems. Related animal toxicology studies provide supportive biological plausibility for these findings. Recognizing and reducing problematic exposures will require attention to current inadequacies in medical training, public health tracking, and regulatory action on pesticides. Ongoing research describing toxicologic vulnerabilities and exposure factors across the life span are needed to inform regulatory needs and appropriate interventions. Policies that promote integrated pest management, comprehensive pesticide labeling, and marketing practices that incorporate child health considerations will enhance safe use.

Introduction

Continue reading »

Tags: Children, Food, Global News, Health, organic, Pesticides, Science, Society, toxic, toxicity

- Mainstream Media Launches Another Phony War Against Organic (Natural Society, Oct 23, 2012):

The mainstream media is invoking déjà vu with their latest laughable attempt to frame yet another study that actually highlighted the benefits of organic into a hysterical anti-organic news frenzy. This time, however, some publications are actually publishing the truth on the matter. Why? Because last time that the mainstream media conglomerate decided to smear the last organic foods study’s findings and proclaim how great pesticides and GMOs are for you and your family, it ended in a major apology by the New York Times.And it was this piece, a response to the uproar from the public following the alternative news media’s response to the mainstream media spin (including my piece first released on the night of the study with a video breakdown), that signified the final nail in the coffin for the mainstream media’s previous assault on organic foods. In the apology piece, New York Times columnist Mark Bittman states:

“That was dumb of me… I’m sorry. This junk science deserves a response. Ignoring it isn’t enough. I apologize.”

But now, once again, some sources such as CBS have begun spinning the latest organic food study. In this study, just like the last one, it was found that organic food contained less brain-damaging pesticides, has higher concentrations of antioxidants, doesn’t contain GMOs, brain-tumor-linked artificial sweeteners, mercury-containing high-fructose corn syrup, and so on. However many sources don’t seem to care about the facts. Instead, they title something like ‘Organic Same as Conventional Say Docs’. Meanwhile, some are erring on the side of the truth to avoid backlash.

But don’t take my word for it, just look at the below image from Google News. Notice the difference in titles? You can clearly see instances of nutritional doublespeak, in which news agencies title an article something wildly incorrect and then go on to say the opposite inside the content of the story. Considering that many — if not most — news readers glance at the title and keep reading onward, this is highly effective.

Media Blackout on GMOs, Real Issues Surrounding Conventional Food

Titles such as ‘Organic food no better than conventional for kids’ ultimately lead to content explaining that organic food contains less pesticides and less antibiotic-resistant bacteria (that can result in resistant diseases like the white plague), but that it’s not ‘entirely conclusive’ whether or not this matters. Peer-reviewed research may argue otherwise, with pesticides linked to over 60 negative conditions including: Continue reading »

Tags: Antibiotics, Bacteria, Food, Genetically Modified Organisms, Global News, GMO, Health, Herbicides, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Mercury, organic, Pesticides, Science, U.S.

Pesticides and herbizides

- Marie-Monique Robin: ‘Unser täglich Gift’ – ‘Notre Poison Quotidien’ (Documentary – Full Length – In German And French)

Danger zone: sugar crop workers in Bajo Lempa, on the west coast of El Salvador. Photograph: Will Storr for the Observer

- What is killing sugar-cane workers across Central America? (Guardian, Oct 14, 2012):

Chronic kidney disease has killed tens of thousands of young men and is becoming more deadly. But nobody knows exactly what it is, or what to do about it

It is stage five they fear the most. Stage five is the mysterious sickness in its deadliest form. “I’m entering stage five,” Edilberto Mendez tells me as his wife looks on fretfully. I’m in their small home on the floodplains of Lempa River, in the dank sugar-lands of rural El Salvador, where they live in a community with about 150 other families. “How many others in the village have died of this?” I ask.

“Three close friends, just last year,” says Edilberto. His wife interrupts, counting out on her fingers. “And my nephew, my brother, and Ramon, Carlos, Pablo…” She pauses. “I know three Pablos who have died of this.”

Edilberto’s kidneys are beginning to fail. It means dialysis. “This is what they’ve told me,” he says with a defensive shrug. “But I’m still walking around. I’ve seen many people have dialysis. As soon as they try it, they die. I don’t want it.” Edilberto has his wife to support, his deaf-mute 27-year-old son, and his six-year-old granddaughter.

“If you don’t have dialysis you’ll die,” I say. “And then what will happen to your family?”

“They will be homeless.”

Continue reading »

Tags: Environment, Global News, Health, Herbicides, Pesticides