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Local Vegetarian Group Invites You to Dinner! |
Newsletter Summer 2011 |
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BIOTECH Giant Monsanto Biotech Giant Monsanto has been sitting pretty on their patent for herbicide-resistant seeds for more than 15 years now, but that may all come to an end soon. On behalf of 270,000 plaintiffs, including thousands of certified organic family farmers, seed-saving organizations and farmer advocacy groups, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed a lawsuit in a federal district court in Manhattan yesterday. Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto is groundbreaking. It challenges the very "usefulness" of the GM seed product (a requirement for patents) and calls for protection for organic farmers from "being accused of patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto's genetically modified seed," states the PUBPAT foundation. It's sadistic but true: Monsanto has aggressively sued farmers whose organic crop fields became contaminated with their product simply by way of the wind. In Monsanto's mind, that equals patent infringement. Organic farmers want nothing to do with GM seed, but Monsanto admittedly has no control over where their crops pollinate. This includes widely-planted canola, corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa. So if cross-pollination occurs, which it often does, farmers not only lose organic certification, they're forced to defend themselves for something Monsanto caused. They also couldn't save those GM seeds even if they wanted to because patented products must be purchased -- an entirely new concept for agriculture. Furthermore, the case questions Monsanto's right to a patent in the first place. The company produced the world's first genetically engineered plant cell in 1982 but its products have since proved economically and environmentally taxing on American farmers, claims the plaintiffs. "None of Monsanto's original promises regarding genetically modified seeds have come true after 15 years of wide adoption by commodity farmers," states David Murphy, founder and executive director of plaintiff Food Democracy Now!, a sustainable farming advocacy group. "Rather than increased yields or less chemical usage, farmers are facing more crop diseases, an onslaught of herbicide-resistant superweeds, and increased costs from additional herbicide application." Not to mention less diversity at the farm stand.
The Surprising Benefits of Lemon This is the latest in medicine, effective for cancer! (Read carefully and you be the judge) Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy. Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge profits. You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy. How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large corporations? As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes. You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc... It is credited with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on cysts and tumors. This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types. Some say it is very useful in all variants of cancer. It is considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure which is too high and an antidepressant, combats stress and nervous disorders. The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that: It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas .... The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells. And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells. Institute of Health Sciences 819 N. L.L.C. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Poultry Illnesses By the Numbers: 600,000 – Number of Americans who get sick each year from eating poultry contaminated with the Campylobacter bacteria. It’s one of the top causes of foodborne illness in the U.S. Source: University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute
The Not-So-Sweet Truth about Sweeteners Dr. David Friedman was featured in the March edition of Healthy Living Magazine on the “Bitter- Sweet Truth about Artificial Sweeteners.” What about artificial sweeteners? Friedman says commonly found restaurants packets of yellow, blue and pink, artificial sweeteners are formulated with an array of toxic chemicals that lead to imbalances in the body and can cause ailments like depression, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer! Sucralose, in the yellow packet, is commonly sold as Splenda. Sucralose got its origins as an insecticide repellant and is formulated by taking real sugar and chemically modifying it with chlorine to make it calorie-free. Acetone (used in nail polish remover), benzene (a toxic carcinogen found in gasoline), toluene (used in glues and paints), and methanol are added to the mix. If that’s not bad enough, the formulation also includes formaldehyde! Aspartame, in the blue packets sold as NutraSweet and Equal, is the most contested product in FDA history—more complaints are received on aspartame’s adverse reactions as a food additive than anything else in existence. Aspartame’s main ingredient, phenylalanine, can interfere with proper mental function and wreak havoc on the nervous system. Saccharine, in the pink packets commonly sold as Sweet‘N’Low, was linked to cancer in animals in the 1960s and 70s. Saccharine is a coal tar derivative and has no food value whatsoever. Many chemicals are used to formulate Saccharine, one of them being ammonia. You may want to reach for a healthy alternative like xylitol. Xylitol is a natural, low-calorie, diabetic-friendly sugar alternative extracted from the birch tree. Xylitol also helps reduce cavities and has received official endorsements from several national dental associations, making it the ideal sugar alternative for chewing gums and candy. In conclusion, look to nature, not chemists, for sweeter and far safer choices. Dr. Friedman is a “Health Expert” for Lifetime Network’s morning show. Senior Connection – May 2011 (Page 28)
Tidbits
By the Numbers: 600,000 – Number of Americans who get sick each year from eating poultry contaminated with the Campylobacter bacteria. It’s one of the top causes of foodborne illness in the U.S. Source: University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute "Nothing will benefit health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." Albert Einstein
UPCOMING EVENTS Board Meeting The next meeting will be held at noon, Saturday, October 8, 2011, at Panera Bread, corner of Starkey and Bryan Dairy, in the Bardmoor Shopping Plaza, Seminole. All TBV members are encouraged to attend. Join us for lunch. Click here for more information. For more information, please call Bettylou at 727/785-3041 or Michael at 813/269-4665, or check out our web site at www.tampabayvegetarians.org.
About Tampa Bay Vegetarians Our social group meets monthly, 4th Tuesday, at 7:00 PM at vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants. Click here for more information. Please submit other ideas and information for future newsletters to Dorothy Rolfe, Temporary Editor; phone: 813/932-1253, 813/928-5253 or send e-mail to: dorothy07rolfe at yahoo dotcom. Why and how did you become a vegetarian or vegan? Submit your story to be featured in a future newsletter. |
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