Chemical Tree Pruning. Is this practice going on in NYS? (Moms Across America quoted in this article)

Monsanto power in Texas may be harming people, wildlife, water and environment

January 13, 2015

Trees alongside the highway not far from the Llano River appeared to be dying with abnormal rotting on some branches

http://www.examiner.com/article/monsanto...cid=db_articles

Erin Brockovich - March 28, 2015

This Wednesday, Monsanto’s favorite congressman, Mike Pompeo of Kansas, introduced H.R. 1599 a.k.a. the DARK Act, a bill that would outlaw any federal or state law to require labels on genetically engineered food. Even states that have already passed labeling laws would be prohibited from enforcing them.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO: Grab your phone right now and dial 1-877-796-1949. You’ll hear more information about the DARK Act, and then you’ll be automatically connected to your Representative’s office.

We need phones on Capitol Hill to be ringing off the hook with the message that Americans OPPOSE the DARK Act (H.R. 1599) and SUPPORT the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act (H.R. 913).

This bill may as well be called the Monsanto Profit Protection Act, because it was written for one reason: To protect the corporate profits of big pesticide and junk food companies at the expense of our right to know what’s in our food.

If H.R. 1599 is passed, it could set the GMO labeling movement back decades. There has never been a more important time to stand up to Monsanto and their allies with a call your representative right now.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-Brockovich/75960805493?fref=nf

Thank you, Chipotle, for providing healthy non gmo fast food.

There are three locations in the Rochester area: Pittsford Plaza (Trader Joe's is in this plaza also), Henrietta and Greece. Both are also in Syracuse areas.

Have you seen Chipotle's "Scarecrow" video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUtnas5ScSE

WHO Glyphosate Report Ends Thirty Year Cancer Cover Up

Mar 26 2015

The question is who is to blame for this shocking lack of protection for public health? The answer is the U.S. government, who have pushed glyphosate around the World as part of their campaign to support the U.S. biotech industry in their attempt to dominate global agriculture.

http://sustainablepulse.com/2015/03/26/w...p/#.VRhdgY0tH3g

!!! The experts were selected on the basis of their expertise and most importantly, the absence of real or apparent conflicts of interest !!!

Glyphosate 'Probably Carcinogenic to Humans' Latest WHO Assessment

March 20, 2015

The world authority on cancer, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the herbicide glyphosate ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ in its latest expert assessment [1, 2]. A Working Group of 17 experts from 11 countries met at IARC headquarters 3-10 March 2015 in Lyon, France. The meeting followed almost a year of review and preparation, including a comprehensive review of the latest available scientific evidence. The experts were selected on the basis of their expertise and most importantly, the absence of real or apparent conflicts of interest. The Working Group considered “reports that have been published or accepted for publication in the openly available scientific literature” as well as “data from governmental reports that are publicly available”. They evaluated five organophosphate insecticides and herbicides including glyphosate. The results, announced 20 March were as follows. The herbicide glyphosate and the insecticides malathion and diazinon were classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). The insecticides tetrachlorvinphos and parathion were classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).

https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/glyphosate-probably-carcinogenic-humans-latest-who-assessment

Fyi...

Plan to save monarch butterflies backfires

By Lizzie Wade 13 January 2015

That’s because people have been planting the wrong species of milkweed, thereby increasing the odds of monarchs becoming infected with a crippling parasite.

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2015/01/plan-save-monarch-butterflies-backfires

“People are afraid of being blacklisted,” Dr. Shields of Cornell said.

Crop Scientists Say Biotechnology Seed Companies Are Thwarting Research

By ANDREW POLLACK February 19, 2009

The problem, the scientists say, is that farmers and other buyers of genetically engineered seeds have to sign an agreement meant to ensure that growers honor company patent rights and environmental regulations. But the agreements also prohibit growing the crops for research purposes.

So while university scientists can freely buy pesticides or conventional seeds for their research, they cannot do that with genetically engineered seeds. Instead, they must seek permission from the seed companies. And sometimes that permission is denied or the company insists on reviewing any findings before they can be published, they say.

Such agreements have long been a problem, the scientists said, but they are going public now because frustration has been building.

“People are afraid of being blacklisted,” Dr. Shields of Cornell said. “If your sole job is to work on corn insects and you need the latest corn varieties and the companies decide not to give it to you, you can’t do your job.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/business/20crop.html?_r=1

Rep. Doug LaMalfa

March 27, 2015

I am pleased to support the House passage of two common sense bills to increase transparency and accountability in federal regulatory decision making. HR 1030, the Secret Science Reform Act, requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use publicly available studies and data when proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulation. HR 1029, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015, restores the independence of the Science Advisory Board, which provides scientific advice to the EPA. The measure requires the Board to independently provide that advice, and increases public participation in the process.

The American people deserve to actually read, access, and analyze the studies and data that the EPA uses to justify the costly regulations it imposes. These scientific conclusions and data should not be kept in secret files behind closed doors. Let’s keep the EPA accountable.

https://www.facebook.com/RepLaMalfa?fref=photo

A thank you to a company that tells farmers they should not use antibiotics to save sick animals. Sad day that we have come to a place where cruelty to animals is accepted.

The scarecrow video, you mean ad, don't you, and you bought the corporate crap advertising hook line and sinker.


For those that really want to decide, and not listen to the corporate marketing machine.

http://findourcommonground.com/food-facts/antibiotics-in-meat/

Oh, come on, you know antibiotics are used to INCREASE the bottom line: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

"Another concern is “subtherapeutic” doses of antibiotics that are given to the animals to cause weight gain. Although it is not clear why small doses of antibiotics cause animals to gain weight and the practice has been banned in the European Union and Canada, it is legal in the United States.

All of this means that healthy cows are being given antibiotics when they don’t need them, which leads to another health risk.

Excessive antibiotics are a concern because they cause the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Because antibiotics will kill off most of the bacteria..."

http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalsusedforfood/f/AntibioticsrGBH.htm


Chipotle becomes first U.S. restaurant chain to try and rid menu of GMO foods

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/chipotle-labels-gmo-meu-items-article-1.1407988

GARDENERS BEWARE:

Many of the plants you buy at Home Depot and Lowe's may be treated with bee-killing neonictinoids. Because there's no clear labeling, many good-intentioned gardeners end up poisoning the very bees they are trying to help!

Home Depot has indicated it is working on safer alternatives, but Lowe's has not yet responded.

Country Max in Seneca Falls is carrying organic gardening items. Way to go Country Max!


The Perfect Crime: What's Killing All the Bees?

CCD has been attributed to a number of causes including mite infestation and pathogens, but for many beekeepers across the world, a primary suspect is a class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids. These chemicals came onto the market in the late-1990s and were approved in 2000 for application to corn, America’s #1 cash crop. It is now estimated that 90 percent of all corn seeds are coated with German agro-chemical manufacturer Bayer’s neonicotinoid pesticide. With the rise of the chemical’s use, there has been a steep drop off in honey production in the Corn Belt of the United States.

http://earthjustice.org/features/the-perfect-crime#

Being a farmer I know a lot of farmers. Not one uses antibiotics to increase the bottom line. They use antibiotics to save sick animals. I find it disgusting that Corporations like Chipolte tell farmers they can't save sick animals just so they can strengthen their bottom line.

Stop falling for the corporate lies.

Mar 31, 2015

EPA will require weed-resistance restrictions on glyphosate herbicide

By Carey Gillam

The EPA's action comes in the wake of a finding by the World Health Organization's cancer research unit this month that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic to humans," a conclusion the working group said was based on a review of years of scientific research. Testing has found residues of the herbicide in water, food, urine and breast milk.

The EPA’s weed management plan will not address human health concerns, but the agency is also analyzing health data as part of a required reevaluation of the herbicide.

The EPA’s preliminary risk assessment of glyphosate is expected to be released for public comment later this year, and the agency will publish its proposed weed management plan for public comment at the same time.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/31/us-monsanto-herbicide-weeds-idUSKBN0MR2JT20150331

Factory Farms Use 30 Million Pounds of Antibiotics a Year (and You're Eating Some of It)

December 21, 2010

For the first time ever, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compiled and released the amount of antibiotics used in animals raised for people to eat, and the amount is even higher than previous estimates from environmental advocacy groups.

The FDA concludes that in 2009 alone, farmers used nearly 30 million pounds of antibiotics.

A cocktail of drugs, often the same types people rely on, are routinely used to make animals grow faster and to help keep them alive in filthy, crowded conditions that stress them and compromise their immune systems. The concentration of animals and the speedier growth make meat cheaper at the grocery store, but also produce a health threat.

http://www.rodalenews.com/antibiotics

The Chicken Industry

A 2006 study by Consumer Reports found...they are fed large quantities of powerful antibiotics to keep them alive in conditions that would otherwise kill them.

Chickens are also genetically manipulated and regularly dosed with drugs to make them grow faster and larger.

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/chickens/chicken-industry/

Environmental group seeks greater protection for USDA scientists

By Carey Gillam Mar 27, 2015

An environmental activist group has filed a legal petition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking new rules that would enhance job protection for government scientists whose research questions the safety of farm chemicals.

The petition to the USDA presses the agency to adopt policies to prevent "political suppression or alteration of studies and to lay out clear procedures for investigating allegations of scientific misconduct."

According to the petition, some scientists working for the federal government are finding their research restricted or censored when it conflicts with agribusiness industry interests.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/28/us-usda-petition-idUSKBN0MN2RI20150328

Brainwashing 6th graders:

Monsanto seeks retraction for report linking herbicide to cancer

By Carey Gillam Mar 24, 2015

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/24/us-monsanto-herbicide-idUSKBN0MK2GF20150324


Monsanto’s “Discredit Bureau” Really Does Exist

Mar 27, 2015 by occupystephanie

Recently, I attended a talk by Monsanto’s Dr. William “Bill” Moar who presented the latest project in their product pipeline dealing with RNA. Most notably, he also spoke about Monsanto’s efforts to educate citizens about the scientific certainty of the safety of their genetically engineered products. The audience was mostly agricultural students many of whom were perhaps hoping for the only well-paid internships and jobs in their field.

One student asked what Monsanto was doing to counter the “bad science” around their work. Dr. Moar, perhaps forgetting that this was a public event, then revealed that Monsanto indeed had “an entire department” (waving his arm for emphasis) dedicated to “debunking” science which disagreed with theirs. As far as I know this is the first time that a Monsanto functionary has publically admitted that they have such an entity which brings their immense political and financial weight to bear on scientists who dare to publish against them. The Discredit Bureau will not be found on their official website.

http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/27/1373484/-Monsanto-s-Discredit-Bureau-Swings-into-Action