Organic Bytes
Newsletter #846: Don’t Give Up Control Over Public Health to the WHO!

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Tell Your State Legislators: Don’t Give Up Control Over Public Health to the World Health Organization

By Alexis Baden-Mayer, Political Director at OCA:

Who should decide when there’s a pandemic and what to do about it?

That’s what’s at stake as the World Health Organization debates amendments to the International Health Regulations and considers a new pandemic treaty.

Currently, national governments have sovereignty over these decisions, and while they may look to the World Health Organization for guidance, ultimately, they must answer to the people of their countries and they can be held accountable under their countries’ legal frameworks.

The new agreements countries are considering at the World Health Organization is an attempt to subordinate nation states to an unelected, undemocratic, unaccountable international authority.

We need states to stand up and resist this now, before the World Health Organization declares another global pandemic.

In May 2023, Florida passed a law that state health officials “may not adopt, implement, or enforce an international health organization’s public health policies or guidelines unless authorized to do so under state law, rule, or executive order issued by the Governor.”

In March, the Louisiana state senate unanimously approved a bill stating that “the World Health Organization, United Nations, and the World Economic Forum shall have no jurisdiction or power within the state of Louisiana.” That bill has to be approved by the state House of Representatives to become law.

TAKE ACTION: Tell your state legislators to stop the World Health Organization’s power grab!

HEALTHY LIVING

Cut Down on Plastic in the Kitchen: 30+ DIY Condiments to Stop Buying

Kris Bordessa writes for Sustainable Attainable:

“Can I make you think for a moment? If you pondered your family’s eating habits and figured out the one prepared item, one of the pantry essentials that is used the most in your household, what would it be?

I asked a similar question of my readers a while back and got a variety of answers: ketchup, salsa, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, bread, spicy mustard…

Now, think about the trash and plastic you could eliminate from the waste stream.
The chemicals (in many cases) you could remove from your family’s diet.
And the trips to the store you could avoid if you made that one item at home.

Why Switch to Homemade Condiments?

Less packaging
Avoid unpronounceable ingredients and GMOs
Tastes better
You’re not at the mercy of big food producers. Run out of mayo? Simple enough to whip up a quick batch!
You can choose ingredients you love.
Below you’ll find a collection of some of the homemade condiments we love, along with links to even more great recipes.”

30+ DIY Condiments to Stop Buying & Make at Home

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Our Forgotten Sacred Relationship with Food

Kaare Melby, OCA’s Organizing Coordinator, writes:

“I don’t think it’s a controversial statement to say that we have lost our relationship with food. But what does that mean? It means that our food has become divorced from the plants, animals, and traditions that it came from. The American diet is filled with highly processed junk foods, and the average person would be justified in not knowing what ingredients were used to create the foods they eat.

Over the past several decades, Americans have begun to realize that our food is making us sick. In a quest to understand why, we discovered that our food is filled with synthetic chemicals, preservatives, highly processed ingredients, and now even ingredients derived from synthetic biology! As a part of that realization, people began to notice that there were a few common commodity foods that seem to define junk food.

As the food movement grew, people also began to find that the commodity ingredients in junk food were produced using chemical-intensive industrial agriculture. And, as if that was not enough, these same commodity ingredients are the most common GMOs, making them even more toxic, and making the need to avoid them even greater.

At some point along the line, many commodity crops became synonymous with chemicals, GMOs, and junk food. Over time people began to simply avoid the most common commodity ingredients entirely. People decided that corn, soy, wheat, and even meat (and animal products) were bad for you.

I’d like to propose an alternative perspective: it’s not the plants and animals that are bad for us, it’s that we have lost the traditions and agreements that built our mutually-beneficial relationships with these plants and animals.”

Continue reading ‘Our Forgotten Sacred Relationship with Food’

Real Farms, Not Fake Food

SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS

Grocery & Produce Brand Policies on Apeel

My Health Forward reports:

“The following list accurately reflects the disclosures and policies of growers and grocery retailers on selling produce treated with Apeel’s Edipeel (used on conventional produce) and Organipeel (used on organic produce) food coatings. To date, Apeel’s coatings have only been commercially applied on apples, cucumbers, avocados, asparagus, limes, lemons, grapefruits, mandarins, mangoes, and oranges. The coating is odorless, tasteless, and clear, so there is no way to tell when it is used. The vast majority of grocery store produce is not treated with Apeel. To remove as much Apeel as possible, use vinegar or baking soda (not both) and a produce brush or cotton/hemp towel to scrub the produce.”

Support those companies that protect their customer’s health by saying ‘NO’ to Apeel

BAN PFAS

EPA’s New Rules Require Utilities To Reduce Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water

Michael Phillis reports for Associated Press:

“The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized strict limits on certain so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured. Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers.

The rule is the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are widespread and long lasting in the environment.

Health advocates praised the Environmental Protection Agency for not backing away from tough limits the agency proposed last year. But water utilities took issue with the rule, saying treatment systems are expensive to install and that customers will end up paying more for water.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the rule is the most important action the EPA has ever taken on PFAS.

‘The result is a comprehensive and life-changing rule, one that will improve the health and vitality of so many communities across our country,’ said Regan.”

Learn more

Maine and Minnesota have passed broad bans on products containing PFAS. Every state in the nation should do the same! Tell Your State Legislators to Ban Toxic PFAS!

BOOK CORNER

Barefoot Biodynamics

Jeff Poppen, Chelsea Green Publishing:

“With decades of knowledge and proven, common-sense methods from and practices will appeal to growers of every scale and experience level.

In Barefoot Biodynamics, organic grower Jeff Poppen—“The Barefoot Farmer”—combines tales from his personal history in rural Tennessee with the practical applications of biodynamic principles and the deep aspects of the biodynamic methods that continue to make his farm a success today.

Jeff’s friendly, direct, and humorous writing will appeal not only to the biodynamic-curious, but also to farmers and gardeners who have experimented with the biodynamic approach and are looking for a deeper understanding of the practice.”

Reviews and Praise

“I love Jeff Poppen’s barefoot humor, playful intelligence, and elegant intellectual prowess. His inspiring and uplifting writing reflects a deep, personal experience in farming and gardening, as well as an informative and articulate, yet simple, interpretation of Rudolf Steiner’s agriculture lectures. A must read for adventurous agriculturalists and gardeners who are willing to enthusiastically explore their inner landscapes and the natural and supernatural sciences. An agricultural love story, this book is fun!” —Luke Frey, Frey Vineyards

Order “Barefoot Biodynamics” here

SUPPORT OCA & RI

Imagining A Greater Organic Reset

Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association:

OCA often talks about our long-term goal with Regeneration International and our allies: making organic and regenerative food, farming, and land use (and natural health) the norm, rather than just the alternative.

As our longtime ally Vandana Shiva points out, this would be “the solution to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the climate crisis, and the crisis of democracy.”

OCA and our partners worldwide, including Mercola.com, are dedicated to addressing critical issues of environmental contamination, nutrition, junk foods, deteriorating public health, climate change, soil health, biodiversity, water pollution and scarcity, forced migration, economic justice, and rural economic development. But what do we need to do to make this goal a practical reality? What would an “Organic Greater Reset” look like?

Degenerate or Regenerative Subsidies?

We need to stop corrupt politicians, the Big Ag lobby, and the global elite from subsidizing degenerative chemical and fossil fuel-intensive agriculture, GMOs, lab food, and factory farms. Current global subsidies, propping up business as usual for degenerative agriculture, amount to $700 billion annually. Shifting priorities, we can pay organic farmers and ranchers, not only a fair price for the food and products they produce, but also pay them for sequestering excess atmospheric carbon in soils and above ground plants and trees, as well as providing other key environmental services such as preserving clean water, improving soil fertility, protecting biodiversity, wetlands, and wildlife habitat, and rehydrating and reforesting parched landscapes.

Read this last piece Ronnie wrote before he passed last year, and help us keep his vision moving forward.

Please support OCA, and our sister organizations, Regeneration International and Via Organica.

We have strategies in place and remain united and committed as always to carrying on this vital work!

Make a tax-deductible donation to Organic Consumers Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Make a tax-deductible donation to Regeneration International, our international sister organization

Click here for more ways to support our work

DR. JOSEPH MERCOLA

The Science of Bone Broth and Collagen

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola:

“STORY AT-A-GLANCE:

Homemade beef bone broth is a budget-friendly and nutritious dietary cornerstone, rich in collagen, healthy fats, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, trace minerals, chondroitin and glucosamine
Bone broth helps “heal and seal” the gut lining, which is important for optimal health and disease prevention
Abundant in collagen, bone broth supports tissue integrity, muscle repair and overall longevity, surpassing costly supplements
Harnessing the convenience of a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot streamlines bone broth preparation, ensuring safety and efficiency
From sipping it warm for comfort to enhancing soups, stews and sauces to reviving leftovers, bone broth elevates dishes with rich flavor and nutritional value”

Learn more

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Every Light Impacts the Night

DarkSky writes:

“This international Dark Sky Week you can celebrate the night by doing your part to protect it.

Too often, outdoor electric lighting installations at night are over lit, left on when not needed, and harmful to the environment. As a result, light pollution is a growing global issue that can negatively affect our environment and impact our quality of life. DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society jointly published the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to prevent and reduce light pollution through the proper application of quality outdoor electric lighting.

By applying these principles, properly designed electric lighting at night can be beautiful, healthy, and functional. Projects that incorporate these principles will save energy and money, reduce light pollution, and minimize wildlife disruption.”

Check out these Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to prevent and reduce light pollution around your home and community

Read: Bright Outdoor Light at Night May Increase Stroke Risk

NUTRITIOUS & DELICIOUS

Make Dandelion Lemonade

By Kimberly Gallagher, Learning Herbs:

“We have been having some hot spring days here in Washington this past week or so, and luckily there have still been some dandelions in full bloom. This has allowed us to enjoy a wonderful hot weather treat… dandelion lemonade. We love this dandelion recipe.

One of the best parts about making this dandelion recipe is that you get to spend a few minutes outside in the sunshine in your favorite dandelion path gathering fresh dandelion flowers. Dandelion flowers have a lovely mild taste with a hint of bitter that’s much less intense than the bitter flavors of dandelion root or dandelion leaves. In addition to dandelion lemonade, I also love making dandelion fritters with the dandelion flowers.

Making dandelion lemonade is a wonderful way to enjoy the health benefits of dandelion and to cool down on a hot spring or summer day.”

Learn how to make Dandelion Lemonade