Organic Bytes
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OBJECTIVE SCIENCE DOES NOT EXIST HERE


Serving as a testament to Monsanto’s long-term deceptive practices, the
corporation is being accused of fraudulently ignoring and misinterpreting
research data, regarding their new genetically mutated soybeans. For example,
Monsanto has conveniently failed to mention that their own studies have
shown that GE soybeans have a lesser nutritional value than conventional
soybeans and actually inhibited growth in laboratory mice. In addition,
pesticide residue levels were so dangerously high in the Monsanto’s GE
soybeans, the corporation is requesting that food safety regulations be
weakened, so the experimental beans can legally enter the market.
/old_articles/ge/72803_ge_soybeans.cfm


RIPOFF OF THE WEEK


The US Patent and Trade Mark Office has given patent rights to a pharmaceutical
company in Virginia (Insmed Corp.) for its "novel invention of pigeon
pea extracts" for treatment of clogged arteries, diabetes and hypoglycemia.
Pigeon pea extract has been used for these ailments by indigenous tribes
in semi-arid regions throughout the world for hundreds, if not thousands
of years. US Patents are recognized globally by the WTO, so technically,
from henceforth, if any indigenous person uses that particular element
of their traditional medicine, they have to pay Insmed Corporation first.
/old_articles/Patent/pigeon_pea.cfm


NAKED LUNCH


Just as Kraft was kicking off its annual conference for the Institute
of Food Technologies, their food industry attendees were ambushed by over
a dozen naked activists with anti-GE slogans painted on their bodies.
THONG (Topless Humans Organized for Natural Genetics) hoped to demonstrate
their displeasure with Kraft’s continued use of GE ingredients in its
products. In late Oct, 2003, the OCA and a coalition of other food safety
groups will be holding a National Week of Action pressuring Kraft to go
GE-free.
Get involved: http://organicconsumers.org/campaigns.htm


COMPOST HAPPENS


Proving that smart environmental policies can actually save corporations
money, a large grocery chain in Virginia is now converting food waste
to compost. Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc is making a double profit, selling
the compost to customers, while saving $30 for each ton of food waste
that doesn’t go to the landfill. /old_articles/supermarket/ukrop_compost.cfm


GOOD NEWS: CONSUMER REVOLUTION


A late July New York Times article says that concerned consumers are now
supporting a specialized $230 billion/year market in the US. This includes
68 million Americans (growing by 30% per year) who regularly buy products
based on environmental and social ethics. The market includes everything
from solar panels to organic food to Yoga tapes to ecotourism. A survey
found that 90% of these consumers say they are willing to pay more for
products from companies that share their values of long-term sustainability
for society and the environment. /old_articles/organic/cultural_creatives.cfm


WHACKED GE PLANT OF THE WEEK


There are now dozens of genetically engineered tree test plots in the

U.S. This concerns ecologists, in regards to the possibility of these
experimental plants inadvertently spreading into the wild, thereby throwing
off the balance of species in forests across the nation. In related news,
the US Pentagon has awarded Colorado State researchers a half million
bucks to genetically engineer a tree that would change colors when exposed
to a germ or chemical attack. Taxpayers and government watchdog groups
are befuddled by this expenditure—as if the thousands of people keeling
over in the streets from a chemical attack wouldn’t be indicative enough
that there was something wrong. /old_articles/ge/080103_frankentrees.cfm


FIRST WORLD DIET PILLAGES PLANET WORSE THAN ICE AGE


The 3 million old Ohrid Lake in the Balkans is home to the last remaining
variety of an ancient trout on the planet. The massive fish, weighing
up to 40 lbs. is facing extinction from fisherman, who are literally blasting
the fish out of the lake with dynamite. Although they were able to survive
the extremes of the Ice Age, the fish are now on the verge of disappearing
from the planet, thanks to wealthy consumers who pay top dollar to fill
their bellies with the mystical Ohrid Trout. /old_articles/Toxic/ohrid_trout.cfm


FORCE FED


The US continued to crack the whip at WTO talks in Montreal last week.
For the sake of maintaining good international relations, the EU gave
in to abrasive pressure from the Bush administration to allow GE foods
to be sold in European grocery stores—as long as the food comes labeled
as such. US representatives at the talks said that just isn’t good enough,
demanding that the EU buy the genetically engineered food and don’t label
it. According to EU Agricultural Commissioner, Franz Fischler, more than
70% of EU consumers don’t want genetically engineered foods at all. So
at the very least, these imported foods need to be labeled. "If we
don’t make sure of that, then there is simply no social consensus in Europe
for accepting GM products," Fischler said. The Montreal talks were
a warm up to the main WTO meetings to be held in Cancun in early Sept,
2003. Attend the WTO teach-ins and protests in Cancun on an escorted delegation
with Ronnie Cummins and the OCA: /old_articles/wto_cancun.htm


PRINCE POO-POOS PUNDITS


Prince Charles announced this week that the UK will remain free of GE
food crops. "Apart from certain highly beneficial and specific medical
applications, do we have the right to experiment with, and commercialize,
the building blocks of life?" Prince Charles said. "We simply
do not know the long-term consequences for human health and the wider
environment, of releasing plants bred in this way." Critics claim
a GE-free UK is a pipe dream, now that the EU is giving in to pressures
to import U.S. grown GMOs. /old_articles/ge/ge_free_britain.cfm