ACTION ALERT: Act by Nov. 17 on Senate Food Safety Legislation | Cornucopia Institute

ACTION ALERT: Act by Nov. 17 on Senate Food Safety Legislation | Cornucopia Institute:

ACTION ALERT: Act by Nov. 17 on Senate Food Safety Legislation

November 13th, 2010

Call your Senators MONDAY or TUESDAY— Urge their support for the Tester Amendment
The Cornucopia Institute

It now appears that the Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) will be voted on in the Senate during the “lame-duck” session as early as Wednesday, Nov. 17.

This bill, as we have noted before, would impose extremely burdensome and unnecessary requirements on the thousands of small farmers and food processors who are producing safe, nutrient-dense foods for their local communities — in fact, it may force some of these producers out of business.

A key amendment sponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) would exempt small farmers who direct market more than 50% of their products.

These famers must have gross sales (direct and non-direct combined) of less than $500,000, and sell to consumers, stores, or restaurants that are in-state or within 400 miles. This amendment is especially important for off-farm retail locations such as farmers markets and CSAs.

Please call your Senators today (most offices have voice mail where you can leave a message) and ask them to support the Tester Amendment on the Food Safety bill.

If you are a farmer this is important to protect your livelihood. If you are a consumer, where will you buy your safe and nutritious food if your local farmers are forced out of business?

It’s easy to call. Go to Congress.org and type in your zip code in the box in the upper right hand corner. Click on your Senator’s name, and then on the contact tab for their phone number. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard and ask to be directly connected to your Senator’s office: 202-224-3121. Once connected ask to speak to the legislative staff person responsible for agriculture. If they are unavailable leave a voice mail message. Be sure to include your name and phone number.
The message is simple:

“I am a constituent of Senator___________. I ask that he/she support the Tester Amendment to the food safety bill. The Tester Amendment will exempt the safest, small, owner-operator farms and food facilities and farmers who direct market their products to consumers, stores or restaurants. Food safety legislation should not create inappropriate and costly regulatory barriers to family farms and the growing healthy food movement in the drive to crack down on corporate bad actors. Please support the Tester Amendment and market opportunities for small and mid-sized family farms, and small food processing facilities.”

Thank you for your help and support for those producing some of the nation’s safest and most nutritious food!

The 7 modern sins

"The 7 modern sins: politics without principles, pleasures without conscience, wealth without work, knowledge without character, industry without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice." -Canon Frederick Donaldson

How Monsanto Monopolizes Genetically Modified Seeds

How Monsanto Monopolizes Genetically Modified Seeds: "Organic Food May Become a Thing of the Past
Posted By Dr. Mercola | November 11 2010 | 30,563 views

Over the past 15 years or so, a collection of five giant biotech corporations -- Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow and DuPont -- have bought up more than 200 other companies, allowing them to dominate access to seeds.

The takeover has been so dramatic that it is becoming difficult for farmers to find alternatives. As a result, in the U.S., 90 percent of soybeans are genetically-modified, and many conventional farmers have trouble obtaining non-genetically modified seeds.

According to The Ecologist:

"... [O]ne solution to restricting their control would be through banning the practice of granting patents on seeds, plants and genes. A patent gives a company exclusive rights to sell and develop a new invention. In the case of patents on plants and genes it grants them temporary monopolies and bans farmers from saving seeds".

Sources:

The Ecologist October 7, 2010

Grist October 20, 2010

At this point, a mere FIVE companies – biotechnology companies at that -- own the vast majority of all worldwide seeds. The enormous ramifications of this should be fairly obvious.

Genetically modified (GM) seeds, particularly corn and soy, have already taken over in many areas of the world, effectively eliminating the use of conventional and "heirloom" seeds, and along with them, the ancient, sustainable farming practices that produces healthful food.

For example, in the US, as of 2009 genetically modified (GM) soybeans accounted for 91 percent of the soybean market. Eighty-five percent of all corn grown was GM, as well as 88 percent of all cotton.

Many pro-GM crop fanatics argue that genetically engineered (GM) crops are superior in a number of ways, but evidence to the contrary is all around us…

Five Biotech Giants Now Control the Global Seed Market

The illustration below, provided by The Ecologist, shows how five biotech giants have gobbled up seed companies, large and small alike, across the world, with Monsanto clearly leading the pack.

Since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic modification of seeds and has won at least 674 biotechnology patents, more than any other company.

This is not surprising, considering they invest over $2 million a day on research and development!

But Monsanto is not only patenting their own GMO seeds. They have also succeeded in slapping patents on a large number of common crop seeds, in essence patenting life forms for the first time -- without a single vote of the people or Congress.

By doing this, Monsanto has become the sole owner of many of the very seeds necessary to support the world's food supply … an incredibly powerful position that no for-profit company should ever hold.

The other heavyweights are Syngenta, Bayer, Dow, and DuPont.

Combined, they have acquired more than 200 seed companies in the past 15 years. And together, they not only threaten the continuation of sustainable, renewable farming practices, their monopoly over the food supply threatens the health of every single person on the planet.

The Impact of GM Seed Monopoly

Farmers are now increasingly forced to use GM seeds simply because there are so few alternative sources of seeds remaining. The effect of this is that we're losing renewable agriculture – the age-old practice of saving and replanting seeds from one harvest to the next.

As mentioned in The Ecologist, one solution to this growing problem would be to make patenting seeds, plants, and genes illegal. As it stands now, each GM seed is patented and sold under exclusive rights. Therefore, farmers must purchase the GM seeds anew each year, because saving seeds is considered to be patent infringement. Anyone who does save GM seeds must pay a license fee to actually re-sow them.

This, of course, results in higher prices and reduced product options.

Add in the increased need for pesticides and herbicides that GM crops require and the ever rising cost of these products, and what you end up with is a far more expensive crop that has the potential to not only fail more frequently than conventional crops, but that can also be extremely harmful to the animals and humans who eat them.

(For more information about the health hazards involved, please see What You Must Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods.)

Talk about a lose-lose-lose situation.

GM Crops = Higher Costs, Lower Yields, and Far More Dangerous Foods

Two years ago, 400 scientists from around the world created a report that shows how seed and plant patents are increasing, as opposed to reducing, costs as promised. For example, between 1996, when GE seeds were introduced to the market, and 2007, the price for soy and corn seeds doubled.

But the price farmers pay for using GM seeds do not end there.

Heartbreaking proof of the devastating effect of this agricultural change can be seen in the skyrocketing suicide rate in India, where rising debt combined with frequent GM crop failures bring farmers to the brink of despair on a daily basis.

Africa is another nation that has been negatively impacted by GM crops.

SeattleGlobalJustice.org recently reported that "in 2009, Monsanto's genetically modified maize failed to produce kernels and hundreds of farmers were devastated. According to Mariam Mayet, environmental attorney and director of the Africa Centre for Biosafety in Johannesburg, some farmers suffered up to an 80 percent crop failure."

GM crops were brought to market with the promise of higher yields, lower costs, and reduced pesticide use. None of them have turned out to be true…

On the contrary, GM soya has decreased yields by up to 20 percent compared with non-GM soya, for example, and up to 100 percent failures of Bt cotton have been recorded in India.

In the US, studies by scientists from the USDA and the University of Georgia has shown that growing GM cotton can result in a drop in income by up to 40 percent.

As for pesticide use, USDA data shows that GM crops has increased pesticide use by 50 million pounds from 1996 to 2003 in the U.S., and the use of glyphosate went up more than 15-fold between 1994 and 2005, along with increases in other herbicides to cope with rising glyphosate resistant superweeds.

These Roundup tolerant superweeds and Bt resistant pests render the two major GM crop traits completely useless...

Not only that, we now have confirmed transgene contamination in the wild.

Although Monsanto and others denied this possibility, this was long ago predicted and precisely what one would expect.

Scientists have recently confirmed that the genome (whether plant, animal or human) is NOT constant and static, which is the scientific base for genetic engineering of plants and animals. Instead, geneticists have discovered that the genome is remarkably dynamic and changeable, constantly 'conversing' and adapting to the environment.

In reality, GM crops are a scientific experiment based on flawed assumptions, and anything is possible – and I can strongly guarantee you, it isn't good, and it won't get any better.

The report, 'Future of seeds and food', published last year by the international coalition of No Patents on Seeds, calls out for an end to patenting seeds, plants, and animals, and the need to stop the food monopoly created by Big Biotech. And I agree, little could be more important at this point in time.

There are already clear indications that unless the GM seed monopoly is put to an end, our whole ENTIRE food supply will become contaminated, putting everyone's health at risk.

How?

Many conventional and organic livestock farmers alike are now being forced to use GM feed, simply because there are no other options available!

Situation is Actually Worse than We Knew

Not only do we have the problems that have been previously discussed over the years with GM crops but there are some new elements to the equation. For now even those that are convinced of the dangers of GMO crops and want to avoid using them simply are unable to in some cases.

I recently received a personal letter from one such farmer, who runs a small ecological farm in Ohio. Even though she is dedicated to organic farming, she is now finding herself in the unthinkable predicament of being forced to buy Monsanto GM corn feed for her pigs and chickens.

Here is her story:

Be Part of the Solution

In spite of what you have likely heard, a large shift to organic agriculture -- which by definition is non-GM -- could protect and improve both the environment and animal- and human health.

It could even be the solution to world hunger. According to a Danish study presented to the U.N. in 2007, recent models of an organically grown, global food supply shows that a more environmentally friendly approach to agriculture is in fact capable of producing enough food for the world's current population.

What prevents many farmers from making the move to organic is that crop yields could initially drop as much as 50 percent in the very beginning, before evening out over time. However, that problem may be mitigated somewhat, because farmers wouldn't need to dole out precious money for toxic pesticides, the price of which have risen as much as 75 percent already.

Unfortunately, while we're waiting for the leaders of the world to catch up and realize the dire straits we're in as a species, we're running out of time. As evidenced by Cappello's story above, our ability to produce organic foods is under constant attack.

So, please, do not wait for some unspecified time in the future.

Instead, do what you can NOW to promote local organic food producers no matter where you live by taking advantage of local sources of organic foods as often as you can.

In addition, please take every measure you can to avoid as many GM foods as you possibly can. Here's a list of tips to help you do just that:

• Reduce or eliminate processed foods. Some 75 percent of processed foods contain GM ingredients.
• Read produce and food labels. When looking at a product label, if any ingredients such as corn flour and meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce, margarine, and tofu (to name a few) are listed, there's a good chance it has come from GM corn or soy, unless it's listed as organic.
• Buy organic produce. Buying organic is currently the best way to ensure that your food has not been genetically modified.
• Download and use the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, and share it with your friends and family

Avoid purchasing Monsanto-made pesticides and herbicides for your home

Related Links:

Home Depot: Do the Right Thing and Dump Monsanto!

Can You Really Trust Monsanto? -- How They Corrupted Science

Monsanto Under Investigation by Seven U.S. States

First Legal Victory to Ban Mercury from Dental Amalgams

First Legal Victory to Ban Mercury from Dental Amalgams: "Costa Mesa, California is the first city in the United States to call for an immediate end to dental amalgam.

Dental amalgam is a filling material that is 50 percent mercury. The resolution calls on federal and state agencies to eliminate amalgam, and asks dentists in Costa Mesa to switch to non-toxic alternatives.

The resolution does not actually ban amalgam, but it is an important step toward ending a scourge of both health and the environment.

WellSphere reports:

'The watershed Monahan Resolution is the first success for Californians for Green Dentistry, a new project of Consumers for Dental Choice ... At the city council hearing ... dentists, health professionals, injured consumers, scientists, advocates, and even former Californian Dental Board member Dr. Chet Yokoyama... offered poignant testimony calling for a ban on dental mercury.'

Sources:

WellSphere October 27, 2010

I have great news!

Over the past year or so this newsletter has featured a number of articles to raise awareness about the devastating role dental mercury plays in your health, and the effort has paid off in spades.

Some of you responded and took action, and as a result, Costa Mesa, CA has set the precedent by becoming the first city in the United States to pass a resolution to immediately ban the use of mercury amalgams in dentistry.

Last year, I actively teamed up with Charlie G. Brown, who is the national counsel for Consumers for Dental Choice and the President of the new World Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry.

Charlie's work focuses on petitioning federal and state agencies to do their duties under the law, and he spearheads the national campaign to expose the deceptive practices of the American Dental Association.

We ran an article in early September, calling for volunteers to get involved to organize a grassroots project, and the result has been nothing short of sensational.

I hope this victory will serve to inspire you to get involved and participate as well. Costa Mesa was just the beginning – the rest of the United States still need to be brought onboard.

Costa Mesa, First US City to Ban Use of Dental Mercury

The two videos above are from the October 19, 2010 Costa Mesa City Council meeting, during which the Monahan Resolution banning the use of dental mercury was enacted.

The first one, created by Kelly Gallagher, poignantly captures both the testimony and the momentum of this watershed event, and one of the most compelling testimonies at this council meeting was in fact offered by a reader of this newsletter who took action and got involved.

This victory is reproducible, and below you'll find out exactly how.

Not only that; the success of this grassroots campaign against mercury amalgam is an excellent case study for others with similar goals for health care reform.

Effective change must start at the local level. Every leader made his or her mark in one community before moving to regional, national, and international leadership; they chose a real issue that directly impacted people's lives.

Historical examples include seamstress Rosa Parks who, joined by new clergyman Martin Luther King, led a bus strike in Montgomery, Alabama. Young lawyer Gandhi organized a strike over the British fingerprinting Indians in South Africa, and dockyard worker Lech Walesa led a strike at the shipyards of Gdansk, Poland.

Here, a trio of Orange County, California activists, led by Anita Vazquez Tibau, worked to find a community willing to fire the first shot across the bow at amalgam -- to eliminate its use entirely.

Anita's track record on this cause goes back to 2001, when she led the successful effort to disband the Dental Board of California for failing to prepare an honest fact sheet on mercury fillings, as required in the Watson law.

Now as director of Californians for Green Dentistry, a project of Consumers for Dental Choice, Anita is joined by dental hygienist Marisa Russo (www.simplyraisingawareness.com) and naturopath Kristy Mills (www.lagunanaturalhealth.com).

This team distributed flyers explaining the hazards of amalgam (unfortunately, most people are still not even aware that "silver fillings" contain mercury!). They allied with health professionals and green businesses for support.

They organized an extensive petition drive, collecting signatures from individuals asking city council to ban amalgam -- both by asking people directly to sign, and by enlisting friendly health professionals and businesspeople to keep the petitions in their front offices.

They surveyed all the city's dentists, and presented certificates to dentists who are mercury-free.

Then, they sought out Councilman Gary Monahan, a courageous Councilman from Costa Mesa who runs an Irish restaurant and understands the risks of mercury firsthand -- he has an autistic son. Councilman Monahan agreed to sponsor a resolution calling on the federal and state governments to "eliminate the use of mercury in dental practices ...immediately," and, at the local level, requesting that every dentist cease using this poisonous material.

On October 19, 2010, they were ready.

Dentists, a dental hygienist, chiropractors, victims of mercury toxicity, businesspeople, a scientist, a Navy veteran, and a lawyer descended on the City Council meeting to testify in favor of the Monahan resolution.

It passed unanimously, and Costa Mesa became the first locality in the United States to call for a ban on mercury fillings – all because of the passionate involvement of these courageous and industrious volunteers.

Join Us! Bring the Movement Against Mercury in Dentistry to Your City

Now it's your turn!

If you live in California, please join Anita, Kristy, Marisa, and the Californians for Green Dentistry team as they take this movement to other cities across the US.

The next step is to find other cities in California willing to follow suit in endorsing an immediate elimination of amalgam. Therefore, volunteers, especially in the L.A. and Orange County area, are being sought.

To volunteer, write announcements@toxicteeth.org, and give you home city and county along with your contact information.

As they say, all politics is local!

The Ball is Already Rolling… Let's Keep it Going!

For its national and international impact, the timing of the Monahan resolution could not be better.

In December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold hearings to reconsider its position on amalgam. The FDA's current stance is that mercury in dentistry is good for the public health. But even though they've long been the world's number one protector of mercury fillings, the FDA is finally starting to realize it has become a pariah in the world by covering up the massive harm being done.

Also, in January, the United Nations begins its second session on a treaty to address all sources of mercury.

And a new coalition called the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, led by Charlie Brown (charlie@toxicteeth.org), is leading the charge to phase out amalgam everywhere.

If consumers like you continue to organize and fight against the pro-mercury dental lobby, then the vote in Costa Mesa, CA could become the shot heard round the world!

Pro-mercury dentists, the FDA, and the world need to know that consumers will not tolerate dental mercury - a neurotoxin and a pollutant - any longer. Just like Costa Mesans have made it clear that the use of amalgam is no longer acceptable in their community.

To keep this momentum going, please sign the Californians for Green Dentistry's online petition to ban dental mercury in California, right NOW!

How to Organize a Grassroots Campaign at the Local Level – A First-Hand Account

The director of Californians for Green Dentistry, Anita Vazquez Tibau, recently told me her personal story of what got her started as a local activist in Orange County, CA, about ten years ago:

"In 2000 I discovered I was mercury poisoned by my 13 large mercury dental fillings. After burning the midnight oil, I realized the science and medical research clearly indicated that the mercury from my fillings was the cause of many of the health problems I was suffering from.

I decided almost immediately that this was a problem I could do something about, and that's where my journey started."

Anita graciously provided me with this helpful ten-point guide to organizing at the grassroots level. I hope her success will inspire you to follow in her footsteps, and become an advocate for safe dentistry in your local community. As Anita says:

"What I have learned over the past 10 years working with Consumers for Dental Choice about grassroots organizing can be accomplished by anyone!"

Organizing at the Grass Roots Level -- 10 points for Success

1. Be passionate!
   
   

   The first element for success is unbridled passion for your cause. People get involved with an issue because they or their loved ones have been affected. Do what you love and love what you do.

2. Become an expert.
   
   

   Whoever is chosen to become a spokesperson for the cause must absolutely become an expert on the topic. Anything less could become a detriment to the organization. Know your organization and never stop learning and growing.

3. Research – research – research!
   
   

   Research the cause of the problem; people who are most affected by the issue; and the experts who know and understand the cause. Beware that you must find legal experts as well. Use your contacts and create a database.

   Also know who is your opponent –you will not be successful unless you can defeat your opponent.

4. Think about who you should target for support on an issue, and how.
   
   

   Align yourself with other likeminded groups so that you can become a stronger organization. Also remember that people are more likely to support your cause if you present yourself professionally – believe it or not, doors will open faster if you solicit support in business attire.

5. Petition – Petition – Petition!
   
   

   If you are able to describe your cause in a sentence or two, people are more likely to help. You need a sales pitch! This becomes your mantra for the organization and builds brand recognition. For example Charlie Brown coined the term – "Say the "M" Word"…People would then be curious and ask "What is the "M" word?" and we would explain that it's about mercury…

   One of the problems your may encounter is where to find a location to gather signatures. Look for locations that may be open to your cause, then contact the manager at the store/location to see if you can set up an information table. Some businesses may not allow petitioning whereas others can be extremely helpful.

   Once they say yes, it helps to personally meet the manager and establish a positive working relationship. Again, professionalism is key, and so is appearance.

   Another great avenue for spreading the word is through social media such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Non-profits are constantly fund-raising and these avenues are free! Consumers for Dental Choice placed a petition online with tremendous success.

6. Plan events to raise awareness.
   
   

   Once you've built a solid base of support, start planning events to build awareness around your cause. Look to your sphere of influence – people that you have met that can support your cause.

   When it is press related – visuals are a must! Signs carry a message, and visuals are powerful.

7. Look for win-win situations.
   
   

   Look for local businesses that can benefit by the exposure of helping you. For example, businesses that will carry your message by letting their clients sign your petition, while getting recognition through your organization in return. In essence they become stakeholders in your cause. Use local platforms as educational tools about your issue.

8. Identify allies in city government.
   
   

   Once you have garnered enough support, research and identify allies in the city government who will be sensitive to your issue.

9. Remember common courtesies.
   
   

   Always thank those who help you, and be sincere. A heartfelt thanks goes a long way, and it is best to say thank you in writing.

10. Stay positive!
    
    

    Remember, when the going gets tough. the tough get going. Never give up hope -- that is all you have, so have faith in what you do. We will always win if we don't quit!

Sign the Petition to Ban Dental Mercury in California

Even if you're not ready to take an active part in this campaign, you can still help keep this momentum going.

Please take a moment right NOW to sign the Californians for Green Dentistry's online petition to ban dental mercury in California by visiting this page, and share it with everyone you know.

For more information and regular updates, please join the Californians for Green Dentistry's Facebook page.

Together, we can WIN, and protect the health of countless children and adults who are still being poisoned by this ancient form of dentistry, every single day in the US.

What's happening with Real Milk?--United States

What's happening with Real Milk?--United States:

United States

Click here to find out What's Happening with Real Milk in other countries

In an attempt to help consumers find locally produced Real Milk, we have compiled the following list describing the potential availability and legal situation on a state-by-state and country-by-country basis. We cannot vouch for the accuracy of the following list. If you have corrections or additions, please email them to info@westonaprice.org . See the "Where" section for a listing of dairies by state and country.

US Summary: As shown in the map from Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund at right (go to http://ftcldf.org/raw_milk_map.htm to see an interactive version and get an emailable PDF):

• Retail sales are legal in 10 states
• On-farm sales are legal in 15 states
• Herd shares are legal in 4 states
• There is no law on herd shares in 6 states
• Pet food sales are legal in 4 states (implying that human consumption is feasible)

Thus, it is possible to purchase raw milk or obtain it from your own animal/herd (herd shares) in 39 out of 50 states. Our goal: Raw milk available to consumers in all 50 states and throughout the world! Write to your government leaders and let your voice be heard. You can find your state representative's contact information here: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Fw: Think About This: A Chance Encounter with Teilhard de Chardin

"We need to have more specialists in spirit who will lead people into
self-discovery," he told me.

"What do you mean, Mr. Tayer?"
He said—and this is exactly what he said; I was taking notes because I knew I
was in the presence of greatness—"We are being called into metamorphosis, into a

far higher order, and yet we often act only from a tiny portion of ourselves. It

is necessary that we increase that portion. But do not think for one minute,
Jean, that we are alone in making that possible. We are part of a cosmic
evolutionary movement that inspires us to unite with God. This is the lightning
flash for all our potentialities. This is the great originating cause of all our

shifts and changes. Without it there is nothing but struggle and decline."

A Chance Encounter with Teilhard de Chardin

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin is one of the most influential Evolutionaries of the
twentieth century. His vision for humanity's role in the grand story of
evolution has inspired countless individuals, many of whom have appeared on the
pages of EnlightenNext magazine. One of the most interesting examples is human
potential pioneer Jean Houston, who befriended Teilhard after a chance encounter

in Central Park in 1951 when she was fourteen years old. In the following
excerpt from an EnlightenNext interview, Houston describes an exchange with
"Mr. Tayer," as she called him, in which he shares his spiritual interpretation
of evolution:

To read the full interview with Jean Houston and let us know what you think,
visit the EnlightenNext Editors' Blog.
Stay Connected: Subscribe to EnlightenNext magazine
Don't miss an issue of the publication that keeps you connected to the leading
edge of consciousness and culture in the twenty-first century. Subscribe
to EnlightenNext magazine today and receive a 17% discount off the cover price.
» Visit our subscription page.

Fw: Welcome your freshman class of climate deniers

 

----- Original Message -----

From: BSN O&E Journal

To: eric

Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 9:51 AM

Subject: FW: Welcome your freshman class of climate deniers

 

 

Eric R. Weaver

Editorial Assistant, Organization & Environment

College of Business, University of South Florida

Department of Management, BSN 3215

4202 East Fowler Avenue Tampa, Florida 33620

Telephone: 813-974-1757 Fax: 813-905-9964

www.coba.usf.edu/jermier/journal.htm

________________________________________

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead--

 

From: Union of Concerned Scientists [mailto:action@ucsusa.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 9:55 AM
To: BSN O&E Journal
Subject: Welcome your freshman class of climate deniers

 

		Dear Eric, Our New Freshman Class In Their Own Words "With the possible exception of Tiger Woods, nothing has had a worse year than global warming. We have discovered that a good portion of the science used to justify "climate change" was a hoax perpetrated by leftist ideologues with an agenda." —Todd Young, new congressperson from Indiana    "I absolutely do not believe that the science of man-caused climate change is proven. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I think it's far more likely that it's just sunspot activity or something just in the geologic eons of time where we have changes in the climate." —Ron Johnson, new senator from Wisconsin    "I think we ought to take a look at whatever the group is that measures all this, the IPCC, they don't even believe the crap." —Steve Pearce, new congressperson from New Mexico   "It's a bigger issue, we need to watch 'em. Not only because it may or may not be true, but they're making up their facts to fit their conclusions. They've already caught 'em doing this." —Rand Paul, new senator from Kentucky   "There isn't any real science to say we are altering the climate path of the earth." —Roy Blunt, new senator from  Missouri   Last night an unprecedented number of climate contrarians were swept into office. How did we get to such a place where attacking scientists and their work is not only acceptable, but helps win elections? And more importantly, what is UCS going to do about it? First, we must acknowledge that these people didn't get into office on their own. They are backed by big oil, the coal industry, and electric utilities—opponents who have deep pockets and a singular goal of protecting their own interests. UCS is going to continue to expose these polluting industries and their cronies who knowingly mislead the public about climate science. And we're going to challenge them to get their facts straight. Because when it comes right down to it, the public's confidence in science and scientists remains high. In fact, just last night in California we saw a tangible example of science trumping industry spin, when voters thwarted an aggressive attempt by out-of-state oil companies to kill the state's landmark Global Warming Solutions Act. It's examples like this that give me hope and remind me that we can—and will—still achieve concrete victories. The truth of the matter is that it's been difficult to move Congress for months. The people who are supposed to be representing our interests in the nation's capitol have been too busy carrying water for narrow corporate interests rather than coming together to make real, positive change. So we're moving forward, with them or without them. As the victory in California yesterday reminds us, there are plenty of other ways to effect change on the issues you and I care about. In the coming months, UCS will: Defend the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to reduce power plant, transportation, industrial, and agricultural global warming emissions; Push state utility commissions to shut down the oldest and dirtiest coal power plants; Pressure the administration to further boost fuel economy for cars and trucks and decrease tailpipe pollution, and cut our nation's oil use in half by 2030; Advocate for strong, science-based state and regional climate programs that can reduce heat-trapping emissions at the local level; Bring agricultural experts and scientists together with government officials to build support for scientifically sound, forward-thinking farming practices that can improve our air, water, and climate; and Reduce the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. security policy, further reduce their numbers, and prevent the development of new weapons. No matter what changes happen in Washington, D.C., UCS will continue to do what we do best: develop and advance science-based solutions to major environmental and security issues. I am deeply grateful for your support of our work and look forward to tackling the challenges we have ahead of us together! Sincerely, Kevin Knobloch President
	The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world.
	UCS is a 501(c)(3) organization. All gifts are tax deductible. You can be confident your donations to UCS are spent wisely. Union of Concerned Scientists 2 Brattle Square Cambridge, MA 02138-3780 phone: 800-666-8276 | Fax: 617-864-9405 ucsaction@ucsusa.org www.ucsusa.org
	About UCS | Take Action | Donate | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe | Add UCS to Your Address Book © Union of Concerned Scientists. All rights reserved.

nonprofit software

Profit Over Life | The Nuremberg Pharma Tribunal | www.pharma-over-life.org

Profit Over Life | The Nuremberg Pharma Tribunal | www.pharma-over-life.org:

President Obama, Wake Up America!

Full Page Open Letter As Published In The New York Times on Monday, November 1, 2010

They’ve Done It Before – They Try It Again Today!

The goal of the special corporate interests – namely the Oil and Drug Cartel – in the US today is to transform democratic society into a corporate dictatorship, thus enabling multi-trillion dollar corporate interests to exert direct control over the political executive and the country.

Towards this end they are instigating the radicalization of society and financing the election campaigns of their political stakeholders. This strategy is an exact copy of the Oil and Drug Cartel’s takeover of Germany in 1933 – a strategy executed with the help of the Cartel’s political and military stakeholders, the Nazis.

America at the Crossroads

Over the past two years, the social and political life in America has been radicalized and polarized in an unprecedented way. What appears as a’grass-root’ movement articulating anger towards the current government is, in fact, a strategically implemented campaign by special interests, namely the Oil and Drug Cartel, to regain control over the White House and the country.
Worse, fighting a battle for survival of its outdated technologies, these special interests can no longer survive in a democracy and must seek dictatorial powers. In this historic situation, the only way to protect democracy is to expose the historic record of the Cartel.
In Open Letters on July 16 and September 13, 2010, I have exposed in this newspaper the historical parallels between the political escalation in Germany in the 1930’s and that of the US today. Then and now, the Cartel financed the political destabilization of democracy, with the goal of replacing it with a corporate dictatorship.

Download this poster now (PDF,71 kB)

In Germany, then, the Cartel succeeded in seizing power and launching WWII because people and politicians around the world ignored the early warning signs. In the USA, today, the Cartel has launched an all-out psychological war. Organizations like the ‘Tea Party’ are radicalizing society. The only way to derail their plan of destroying democracy is to expose the criminal history and the motives of these special interests.

Global Dimension of this Threat

New technologies in the area of energy and health threaten the multi-trillion dollar global monopolies of the Oil and Drug Cartel. The Cartel’s giant markets of outdated technologies are no longer compatible with democracy and can only be maintained in a glo­bal dictatorship of corporate interests.
A first step in the direction of establishing such a global corporate dictatorship has already been taken. The recently founded so-called ‘European Union’ in Brussels (the ‘Brussels EU’) is not a democratically elected or legitimized body. The so-called ‘EU-Commission’ – 27 technocrats appointed by Cartel interests – preside over the lives and fates of 500 million people across Europe by means of dictatorial ‘directives’ and ‘regulations’.
Largely unbeknown to the rest of the world, the so-called ‘European Parliament’ has no independent right of legal initiative and serves merely as a fig-leaf for this ‘Cartel Commission’.
Even more appalling is the fact that the entire ‘Brussels EU’ structure is the implementation of plans conceived before and during WWII by the Oil and Drug Cartel and their Nazi stakeholders. The goal then and now was to cement their economic rule by means of a ‘Central Cartel Office’ that determines essentially every aspect of life in Europe and, eventually, the rest of the world.
The historical facts and documents are available online at http://www.nazi-roots-of-brussels-eu.org/.

The Strategic Role of the USA

The key country in the Cartel’s ‘survival strategy’ is the USA. Not only is the US the home base of most Oil and Drug corporations, it is also the strongest military power to defend these special interests.
A major setback for the Cartel was the fact that in 2008 the American people elected a President on a platform of ending the ‘tyranny of oil’ and of reforming health care, including a focus on prevention.
In order to reverse this vote, the Cartel must not only regain control of the US government but must try to fundamentally ‘reprogram’ the American people by financing the dissemination of doubt and deception. Towards this end, the Cartel has been mobilizing an army of stakeholders in the media and politics.

Lessons of History: From 1933 to 2010

The blueprint for this strategy of radicalizing society in preparation for war was pre-WWII Germany. The unobstructed implementation of this strategy in 1933 led to the overthrow of democracy, the installation of a dictatorship on behalf of the Oil and Drug Cartel and, eventually, to a military attempt to expand its global markets during WWII.
The records of the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal and of the US Congress unequivocally document that WWII was launched in the interest – and with the financial as well as technical support – of the German-based Oil and Drug Cartel (Bayer, BASF, Hoechst). Its goal was to seize control of the multi-trillion dollar global markets of oil, patented chemicals and drugs.
The psychological preparation of German society for this military conquest was the launch of a ‘racial war’ against Jewish and other non-Aryan people and the elimination of any political opposition. The key vehicle to execute this plan was the Nazi/Cartel-financed ‘grassroots’ movement – the ‘brownshirts’.
The systematic instigation of hatred, aggression, racism and other forms of psychological terror by the ‘brownshirts’ in pre-war Germany was the pre­condition for the next stage: the mass murder across the globe by the SS and German Wehrmacht in the Cartel’s attempt to control the world.
After WWII, the German Oil and Drug Cartel was dismantled and its shares transferred to US- and UK-based multinational oil and drug corporations. The Cartel’s criminal past was deliberately hidden from the public for one main reason: not to endanger its future attempts at world control.

1933 and Today:
The Cartel Manipulates Public Opinion

Germany 1933:

• In the 1930s, the radicalization of German society and growing physical violence against religious minorities and political opponents of the Nazi regime strategically prepared the sei­zure of power by the Coalition of the Oil and Drug Cartel with the Nazis.
• In WWII, the Cartel and their Nazi accomplices dressed millions of German soldiers in a uniform that carried the allegedly devine blessing for the Nazi/Cartel global conquest. Harnessed with a belt buckle showing the Swastika and the slogan ’God With Us’ (‘Gott mit uns’), the Nazi/Cartel Wehrmacht inflicted death on tens of millions of people.

USA Today:

• Today, the political climate in the USA is strategically poisoned by the stakeholders of the same special interests, namely the Oil and Drug Cartel. Physical violence against political opponents is increasingly replacing the political and social dialogue.
• Today, the stakeholders of the Oil and Drug Cartel in politics and media are trying to lure the American people with deceptive slogans like ‘restoring honor’ and under the pretext of acting in the name of God. In the course of history, no name has been more abused to mask the greed of special interests than the name of ‘God’.

President Obama, you have the responsibility to disseminate this historic parallel to the American people in order to enable them to actively defend freedom and democracy.

The Goals of this Publication

1. This information alerts the people of America that the radicalization of society and the polarization of political life is organized and financed by the Oil and Drug Cartel – with the goal to regain control over the White House and the country.
2. It exposes the ‘Tea Party’ and other so-called ‘grassroots’ movements as agents of the Oil and Drug Cartel.
3. It reveals the strategic aim of these groups: destabilization of the democratically elected government via the instigation of civil unrest – under the pretext of defending constitutional rights and carrying out the will of God.
4. It exposes the frenzied attacks against the Obama health care plan – that promotes preventive and community-based health – as a maneuver to protect the economic privileges of the Drug Cartel and its multi-trillion dollar health care monopoly based on patented pharmaceutical drugs.
5. It exposes all these tricks and maneuvers as blatant copies of the Oil and Drug Cartel’s take-over of Germany in the 1930s – with the help of their political stakeholders, the Nazis.
6. Sharing these historical parallels with the American people, will allow them to recognize the criminal historic record of the Oil and Drug Cartel, as well as the deceptive stragtegies it has used throughout history. The message: ‘They’ve done it before!’
7. With this knowledge, the American people have a clear choice for the coming elections.
8. It gives the Republican party a choice too: stay committed to democracy – or go into oblivion as political puppets of the Cartel’s corporate dictatorship plan.
9. It allows the people and governments of the world to focus their resources on the development and construction of a modern world, based on affordable renewable energy and science-based natural health.
10. The dissemination of this message is a precondition for protecting democracy in America and lasting peace!

The Healthcare Disaster: Alternative Health Newsletter

The Healthcare Disaster: Alternative Health Newsletter: "Natural Health Newsletter

Date: 01/25/2010 Posted By: Jon Barron
Subscribe to Newsletter ShareThis
The Healthcare Disaster

Okay, I'm about to make everyone reading this newsletter angry -- Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party members. And for those of you living in Europe, China, South Korea, and Japan, you might as well get upset too...

All healthcare plans, private or national, existing or proposed, are giant Ponzi schemes. They depend on ever larger numbers of new, young healthy people pumping money into the system with no need to pull money out in the near term so that the older sicker population can use that money to take care of themselves. Again, it doesn't matter whether the money is being given to private insurance companies or governments, the principle is the same -- an ever larger number of young, healthy citizens supports a smaller number of older sicker citizens. And like all Ponzi schemes, it works as long as no one upsets the apple cart. But the moment there are no longer enough "new," young, healthy people to keep priming the pump, or those "new" contributors need to pull their money out before their time, the system collapses.

And that's the situation we now face.

Outside the countries of Japan and South Korea, Europe is aging faster than any other part of the globe. In 2006, 21 percent of Europeans were older than 60 years of age. By 2050, nearly 34 percent will be above 60. Quite simply, you're talking about a dramatic reduction in the number of young, healthy people priming the pump and a dramatic increase in the number of senior citizens drawing from the well. The only solution is an equally dramatic increase in the amount of taxes that the young, healthy workforce will have to pay in order to sustain the system.

And that's if the younger, healthier population doesn't have to pull its money from the Ponzi scheme before its time. But in fact, they will. That's the self-inflicted disease demographic I mentioned, and that we'll explore in more detail in a minute. For now, just understand that an aging population means more people drawing on the system and fewer people paying into it. The only way to keep the books balanced is for those paying in to pay more…or to reduce the amount of care that senior citizens are getting.

That covers Europe. But as I said above, Japan and South Korea are actually aging even faster. As for China, it too is aging rapidly, largely as a result of government policy that mandated smaller families. In fact, in China, the current ratio of 16 elderly people per 100 workers is set to double by 2025, then double again to 61 by 2050, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. But it's not just established countries that are aging. Countries such as Mexico are projected to reach developed-world levels of old-age dependency by the middle of the century.

As for the United States, it too is aging, but more slowly than many countries in the developed world. But that "more slowly" is based on a couple of questionable premises. First, a significant factor in keeping the U.S. population "young" is teenage pregnancy. Despite the promotion of "morality" in the U.S., the U.S. actually leads much of the world in teenage pregnancy. Unfortunately, children born to teenage mothers are much more likely to become welfare babies and "draw" money from the system as children and young adults, rather than contribute to it. In other words, they exacerbate the problem, not make it better.

Immigration

If a country's population isn't replacing itself fast enough, there's one other way to keep the population young -- immigration. This has been one of the prime factors that has pumped new, young, healthy workers into the system thereby continually pumping up the pool of young taxpayers to support it. In this regard, the U.S. has in the past been far friendlier to immigrants than Europe, Japan, China, and South Korea, for example -- and thus delayed the aging of the country. However, that is changing. Thanks to 9/11 and changing attitudes in general, the current citizenry of the U.S. views immigrants less favorably than in the past. In addition, the economic disruption of the last year has made the U.S. a less attractive destination for many immigrants. The upshot is that immigration is down in the U.S., and the immigrants who are coming in are the older family members of immigrants who are already here -- rather than the young, healthy, opportunity seeking, "new" immigrants needed to support the Ponzi scheme. The bottom line is that in the coming years immigration will less and less be a factor in slowing down the aging of America.

Self-inflicted disease

And now we come to the big one, the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about -- self-inflicted catastrophic illness. Over the years, I've written many times about this issue -- always ending with the same conclusion:

No amount of tinkering and funding can stop the inevitable train wreck barreling towards us -- unless there's a major paradigm shift. No matter where you live or what healthcare system you function under, the demographics are undeniable. The American model is headed for disaster. But so is the French model. How can any healthcare system survive up to half its population living for 20-30 years with severe diabetes (as predicted by the CDC), let alone the other half suffering from cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and MS? There isn't enough money in the world to cover it.

And every time I return to the issue, the numbers have only gotten worse. Let's take a quick look at some of those numbers.

Diabetes

Literally just days ago, The Medical News published the latest analysis which showed that the cost of diabetes and pre-diabetes reached $218 billion in 2007, with the exploding number of cases of type 2 diabetes responsible for the majority of the costs. And those numbers are three years old! Update them for today -- and over the next ten years -- and you're looking at an average of a quarter of a trillion dollars a year over the next ten years in the United States alone. Do the math and that's $2.5 trillion dollars unnecessarily spent on a just one self-inflicted disease over the next ten years whether a healthcare bill passes or not. If people in the United States didn't give themselves diabetes through diet and lifestyle choices, the savings alone would 100% cover:

• All costs associated with any healthcare bill including covering all those currently uncovered.
• 100% of the cost of the bank bailout.
• 100% of the cost of the stimulus plan.

And that's with no new taxes, and that's just one disease.

As for heart disease, it's estimated that anywhere from 50-80% of heart disease is the result of dietary and lifestyle choices. (Personally, I put the number at 90%.) How much does that cost us? The cost of heart disease and stroke in the United States, including healthcare expenditures and lost productivity from deaths and disability, is projected to be more than $475 billion in 2009. As the U.S. population ages, the economic impact of cardiovascular diseases on our nation's healthcare system will become even greater. So again, using the conservative estimate of around 50% of that cost being self-inflicted, you're looking at another quarter of a trillion dollars a year in unnecessary costs per year.

And then there's cancer. Overall, environmental factors, defined broadly to include tobacco use, diet, infectious diseases, chemicals, and radiation, are believed to cause between 75 and 80 percent of all cancer cases in the United States. And that's not even considering the percentage of breast cancers caused by hormone replacement therapy (still commonly used) and yearly mammograms. And what are the costs associated with preventable cancer? The estimates are all over the map depending on how you look at the numbers. But at the low end, you're looking at close to a quarter of a trillion dollars a year (again) back in 2000 -- and at the high end, just under a trillion dollars a year in 2000.

So, let's add the numbers up.

At the low end, you're looking at $750 billion a year paid in the U.S. for the three major self-inflicted catastrophic diseases. Over the next 20 years, that's $15 trillion. Now you're talking about not just paying for healthcare, but literally paying off the entire national debt -- with no new taxes!!! On the other hand, if we continue to head down the road we're on, we're looking at ever higher taxes, ever greater debt, and a disintegrating healthcare system.

And every other country in the world can look forward to the same scenario.

Conclusion

Like a broken record, I keep repeating:

Pretending that any tinkering of the world's current healthcare systems can produce a viable solution to this problem of compounding demographics is the equivalent to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. At some point, our children will be left drowning in debt. The bottom line is that the only way that healthcare can survive -- the only way you can survive -- is if you take back control of your health and start doing those things that allow your body to stay healthy without the need for healthcare. Or to put it another way, the only way to save healthcare is to stop relying on it, use it only for the exceptional, and take care of yourself.

corporatism quotes

corporatism quotes (page 1 of 1): "'The major western democracies are moving towards corporatism. Democracy has become a business plan, with a bottom line for every human activity, every dream, every decency, every hope. The main parliamentary parties are now devoted to the same economic policies — socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor — and the same foreign policy of servility to endless war. This is not democracy. It is to politics what McDonalds is to food.'
— John Pilger

- Sent using Google Toolbar"

25 Free Lifelong Learning Resources | Free Online Learning

25 Free Lifelong Learning Resources | Free Online Learning:
by Jeff Cobb

25 Free Online Resources and Web Apps for Lifelong Learners

by Jeff Cobb

The Internet has made the lifelong pursuit of knowledge easier for nearly everyone in the world. There are tons of websites dedicated to providing free courses, reference books, education apps, and other learning materials. Here are 25 stand-out sites that would be useful to almost any lifelong learner.

Clusty – This unique search engine sorts results into clusters of related information so that it is easier to sort out the relevant from the irrelevant.

Schoolr – Schoolr is a fully-customizable search engine that can be used to search Google, Wikipedia, and other popular sites. It can also be used to translate text, convert units, and cite sources.

MyStickies – This site offers an alternative to bookmarking. Instead of saving URLs and page titles, MyStickies allows you to place digital sticky notes with annotations around the web so that you can retrieve previously viewed pages and understand immediately why they are important.

Diigo is a handy research tool that can be used to highlight and annotate pages on the web. Anything that is marked with Diigo can be accessed later on from any PC.

Hooey – Hooey is a unique tool for people who like to surf the web. It records browser history, measures productivity, and offers tips to help you better understand your browsing habits.

Internet Public Library – The IPL is a free public library for the Internet community. Resources include books, magazines, reference materials, subject collections, a physical library locator, and an “Ask the Librarian” section.

[ad]

RefDesk – This award-winning, family-friendly website is a great place to find reference materials online. RefDesk also offers one of the best fact checkers on the Internet.

SparkNotes – SparkNotes is an incredibly useful resource. In addition to an enormous literature section, the site also offers study guides and discussion forums for a wide range of academic subjects.

Schmoop – This free beta site makes it fun to study literature, poetry, and U.S. history. Schmoop features include easy-to-read study guides, homework helpers, and other educational materials.

History.com – The official History Channel website is one of the best places on the web to learn about a broad range of history topics. You can read articles, watch videos, and explore many other resources.

Wolfram MathWorld – This extensive math resource contains contributions from all over the world. Entries include information about algebra, geometry, calculus, applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, number theory, statistics, and other math topics.

OpenCourseWare (OCW) Consortium – The OCW Consortium is a collaboration of more than 200 higher education institutions. The Consortium’s website is an excellent place to find free courses and course materials from some of the world’s best colleges and universities.

Lecturefox – Lecturefox is an online directory of free audio, video, and text-based lectures from universities like MIT and Yale.

LearnOutLoud – This Internet catalog contains more than 20,000 free educational materials, including books, videos, audio lectures, and podcasts.

The Online Books Page – The University of Pennsylvania’s Online Books Page is one of the best places to find free unabridged books online. The site lists more than 35,000 books that can be downloaded or viewed at no cost.

The Free Library – Farlex’s Free Library contains more than five million books and articles that can be viewed online for free. The site also allows you to create your own home page with your favorite bookmarks and RSS feeds.

BookMooch – This book swapping site makes it easy to get rid of the books you don’t need and get books you want in exchange. Membership is free and books can be exchanged worldwide.

wePapers – This site is geared toward college students, but it is also an excellent resource for lifelong learners. At wePapers, you can find academic papers, study groups, and a venue to share your knowledge.

Livemocha – Livemocha is an international community of foreign language learners. You can use it to study almost any world language at your own pace.

VerbaLearn – VerbaLearn is a good place to practice English vocabulary. You can review words, make flashcards, and customize the way you learn.

Class Marker – At ClassMarker, you can create online quizzes that test your knowledge on any subject. No software or download required.

Mikogo – This free screen sharing tool makes it easy to share your computer screen with other people who are online. Mikogo works well for online meetings, presentations, and collaborative learning.

Bloglines – This web-based tool makes your home page look like a newspaper. It allows you to assemble all of your favorite sites and blogs amidst information like local weather, sports, and other items of your choosing.

ThinkFree – ThinkFree offers Internet-based file sharing and storage as well as a Microsoft Office compatible application suite that allows you to access documents without opening the necessary application.

This is a guest post from Karen Schweitzer, the About.com Guide to Business School. Karen also writes about online colleges for OnlineCollege.org.

P.S. If you enjoy what you read here on Mission to Learn, I encourage you to subscribe to the RSS feed or use the e-mail subscription form at the top right side of this page.

[ad]

Email this • Save to del.icio.us (51 saves, tagged: education web2.0 free) • Digg This!

ShareThis

Related posts:

1. 15 Free Online Collaboration Tools and Apps
2. 20 Social Networks for Lifelong Learners
3. Getting a First-Rate Business Education Online – Free
4. 15 Online Resources for Book Lovers
5. 15 Language Learning Tools for Lifelong Learners