Organic Bytes: Health, Justice and Sustainability News #161
Thursday, February 12th, 2009| Headlines of the Week: |
 1) Organic Sales Triple 2) At least 14 Studies Have Exposed the High Cost of Ethanol and Biofuels
3) Environmentalists Try Greening Cane Sugar 4) Local Organic Food & Farming Can Help Revitalize the Economy 5) Did Child Labor Make Your Shirt? The Story Behind Most Cotton Clothing Let OCA sift through the media smog and bring you the top new and analysis of the day. The OCA website has 10 or more news articles posted each day, and a library of over 40,000 articles covering issues including health, justice, food and farming, politics, and the environment. |
| NAIS Alert: Protect your right to farm and to eat local food! |
 The USDA has proposed a rule to require all farms and ranches where animals are raised to be registered in a federal database under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) for existing disease control programs. The draft rule covers programs for cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. It also sets the stage for the entire NAIS program to be mandated for everyone, including anyone who owns even one livestock animal, for example, a single chicken or a horse.It is critical that the USDA and Congress hear from the hundreds of thousands of people who will be adversely affected by the NAIS program. This includes not only animal owners, but also consumers who care about local and sustainable foods, taxpayers who object to wasteful government programs, and advocates for a safer food system.Take action today! |
| Organic Consumers Fund Alert of the Week: Good Jobs, Green Jobs |
 The U.S. system of petroleum-based, biotech, and chemical-intensive agriculture produces an enormous amount of relatively inexpensive food. Of course, that’s ignoring the huge hidden costs to taxpayers and damage to public health, the environment, and climate stability (not to mention the routine exploitation of farmers and laborers). Our leaders in Washington are currently looking at making some major policy changes, so there’s no better time to let our elected public officials to create jobs in the food and farming sector that help, rather than undermine public health; that conserve and rejuvenate the environment; and that guarantee workers living wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize. Energy-efficient, carbon-sequestering organic agriculture is the only system with the potential to turn back global warming, create millions of green jobs, and produce healthy, affordable food.Related Alerts:
|
| Consumer Victory of the Week: Yoplait Goes rBGH-Free |
 Yoplait, a leading brand of yoghurt, and the 19th largest dairy producer in the U.S., has announced, that as of August 2009, it will no longer purchase milk from dairies injecting their cows with Monsanto’s controversial genetically engineered synthetic hormone, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Yoplait’s rejection of rBGH-tainted milk comes in the wake of a consumer campaign organized by the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, the OCA, and dozens of allied public interest organizations. Yoplait’s action is amplified by a growing number of mainstream companies who have recently turned their backs on rBGH, including Starbucks, Caribou, Cabot cheese, and Subway. For over ten years, OCA and our allies have led the charge against rBGH and other genetically engineered foods and food ingredients. Although rBGH is not allowed on organic farms and is banned in most of the industrialized world because of its threats to both animal and human health, this cruel and dangerous drug is still injected into approximately 10% of U.S. dairy cows–to force them to produce more milk. With your help, OCA and its allies will continue our campaign until Monsanto’s rBGH is driven completely off the market.Learn more |
| Valentines Tips of the Week: Turn Your Heart Green |
 1) Instead of buying cut roses, give your loved one a living indoor plant. They clean the air and last a lot longer. Or plant a rose bush in the yard.2) Nothing strums the strings of your sweetie’s heart like a homemade gift. Take the time to put your thoughts into a hand-made card. Offer coupons for free kisses, house chores or back rubs. Make a home-cooked organic meal.
3) If you are planning to purchase your gift, buy organic and Fair Trade chocolate, organic or natural candles and recycled gift cards.
|
| Web Video of the Week: The OCA Presents “Slammed” – A Valentines Video |
 The Organic Consumers Association put together this fun animated web video a few years ago, but most of the information is still relevant, other than the dude in the White House. Learn how to avoid getting “slammed” this Valentines with Fair Trade and organic chocolate and flowers.Watch |
The Organic Consumers Association’s “
Learn
Learn
