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Friday, January 27
Most Offspring Died When Mother Rats Ate GM Soy Diet
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 27 Jan 2006 07:00 AM CST
 Most Offspring Died When Mother Rats Ate GM Soy Diet
By Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception
The Russian scientist planned a simple experiment to see if eating genetically modified (GM) soy might influence offspring. What she got, however, was an astounding result that may threaten a multi-billion dollar industry.
Irina Ermakova, a leading scientist at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), added GM soy flour (5-7 grams) to the diet of female rats. Other females were fed non-GM soy or no soy at all. The experimental diet began two weeks before the rats conceived and continued through pregnancy and nursing.
Ermakova's first surprise came when her pregnant rats started giving birth. Some pups from GM-fed mothers were quite a bit smaller. After 2 weeks, 36% of them weighed less than 20 grams compared to about 6% from the other groups.
But the real shock came when the rats started dying. Within three weeks, 25 of the 45 (55.6%) rats from the GM soy group died compared to only 3 of 33 (9%) from the non-GM soy group and 3 of 44 (6.8%) from the non-soy controls.
Ermakova preserved several major organs from the mother rats and offspring, drew up designs for a detailed organ analysis, created plans to repeat and expand the feeding trial, and promptly ran out of research money. The $70,000 needed was not expected to arrive for a year. Therefore, when she was invited to present her research at a symposium organized by the National Association for Genetic Security, Ermakova wrote 'PRELIMINARY STUDIES' on the top of her paper. She presented it on October 10, 2005 at a session devoted to the risks of GM food.
Her findings are hardly welcome by an industry already steeped in controversy.
GM Soy's Divisive Past
The soy she was testing was Monsanto's Roundup Ready variety. Its DNA has bacterial genes added that allow the soy plant to survive applications of Monsanto's 'Roundup' brand herbicide. About 85% of the soy grown in the US is Roundup Ready. Since soy derivatives, including oil, flour and lecithin, are found in the majority of processed foods sold in the US, many Americans eat ingredients derived from Roundup Ready soy everyday.
The FDA does not require any safety tests on genetically modified foods. If Monsanto or other biotech companies declare their foods safe, the agency has no further questions. The rationale for this hands-off position is a sentence in the FDA's 1992 policy that states, "The agency is not aware of any information showing that foods derived by these new methods differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way."[1] The statement, it turns out, was deceptive. Documents made public from a lawsuit years later revealed that the FDA's own experts agreed that GM foods are different and might lead to hard-to-detect allergens, toxins, new diseases or nutritional problems. They had urged their superiors to require long-term safety studies, but were ignored. The person in charge of FDA policy was, conveniently, Monsanto's former attorney (and later their vice president). One FDA microbiologist described the GM food policy as "just a political document" without scientific basis, and warned that industry would "not do the tests that they would normally do" since the FDA didn't require any.[2] He was correct.
There have been less than 20 published, peer-reviewed animal feeding safety studies and no human clinical trials' in spite of the fact that millions of people eat GM soy, corn, cotton, or canola daily. There are no adequate tests on "biochemistry, immunology, tissue pathology, gut function, liver function and kidney function,"[3] and animal feeding studies are too short to adequately test for cancer, reproductive problems, or effects in the next generation. This makes Ermakova's research particularly significant. It's the first of its kind.
Past Studies Show Significant Effects
Other studies on Roundup Ready soy also raise serious questions. Research on the liver, the body's major de-toxifier, showed that rats fed GM soy developed misshapen nuclei and other cellular anomalies.[4] This indicates increased metabolic activity, probably resulting from a major insult to that organ. Rats also showed changes in the pancreas, including a huge drop in the production of a major enzyme (alpha-amylase),[5] which could inhibit digestion. Cooked GM soy contains about twice the amount of soy lectin, which can also block nutrient assimilation.[6] And one study showed that GM soy has 12-14% less isoflavones, which are touted as cancer fighting.[7]
more »
Wednesday, January 25
The Congressman and Abramoff (as told by Dr Seuss)
by
Caroline Vernon
on Wed 25 Jan 2006 04:40 PM CST
 The Congressman and Abramoff (As Told by Dr. Seuss)
Thanks to Jim Nickel for sharing this.
That Abramoff!
That Abramoff!
I do not like that Abramoff!
"Would you like to play some golf?"
I do not want to play some golf.
I do not want to, Abramoff.
"We could fly you there for free.
Off to Scotland, by the sea."
I do not want to fly for free.
I don't like Scotland by the sea.
I do not want to play some golf.
I do not want to, Abramoff.
"Would you, could you, take this bribe?
Could you, would you, for the tribe?"
I would not, could not, take this bribe.
I could not, would not, for the tribe.
"If we strong armed the corporations
Into giving you donations?
They'd be funneled to your PAC.
Would you then cut us some slack?"
I would not, could not, cut you slack.
I do not care about my PAC.
I do not want to play some golf.
I do not want to, Abramoff.
"A plane! A plane! A plane! A plane!
Would you, could you, for a plane?"
I could not, would not, for a plane.
Not for a bribe, not for the tribe.
Not for your corporate donations.
Not for my PAC, not for some slack.
Not from ANY schmoe named Jack.
"Would you help us buy some ships
Perfect for quick gambling trips?
Talk to people in the know
For a little quid pro quo?
Oh come now, don't be such a snob.
Let us give your wife a job."
I will not help you buy some ships.
I do not wish for gambling trips.
My wife she does not need a job
Even if she is a snob.
I do not like bribes, can't you see?
Why won't you please just let me be?
"You do not like bribes, so you say.
Try them, try them, and you may.
Try them and you may, I say."
Jack, if you will just let me be
I will try them, then you'll see.
Say.... I do like playing golf!
I like it, I do, Abramoff!
I do like Scotland by the sea.
It's such a thrilling place to be!
And so I will take this large bribe.
And I will help the indian tribe.
And I will take your large donations
From all your big corporations.
And I will help you buy some ships.
And I will take quick gambling trips.
Say, I'll give anyone the shaft
As long as it involves some graft!
I do so like playing golf!
Thank you! Thank you,
Abramoff!
Legislation to Deregulate Cable TV, Reduce Consumer Rights, and Eliminate Free Access
by
Trish Nelson
on Wed 25 Jan 2006 08:54 AM CST
 Action Alert: Stop Legislation to Deregulate Cable TV, Reduce Consumer Rights, and Eliminate Free Access
Contributed by Drew Shaffer, Cable TV Administrator
There are lobbying efforts in many state legislatures and in Congress right now that intend to completely deregulate cable TV and phone companies. Several bills have already been introduced in Congress and one is on it's way to the Iowa State legislature.
If successful, these bills would effectively:
eliminate any operational support for all public access cable tv channels in the US;
eliminate local franchising authority;
eliminate the ability of cities to regulate any rates of cable tv or phone companies and
eliminate the ability of cities to protect their citizens, by
eliminating
the ability of cities to deal with citizen complaints about their cable
tv/phone companies, and to the largest extent possible,
eliminate franchise fees.
These
lobbying efforts are largely being carried out by Verizon and Southern
Bell (which will shortly become AT&T through a merger/buyout),
although some cable companies are assisting their efforts. The phone
companies argument is that local franchising is a barrier to entry -
they will not be able to roll out their tv offerings fast enough to
compete with cable tv. The cable companies are arguing they should not
have to supply all the offerings they now make to cities (including
such things as operational funding for access channels, franchise fees,
pass through funds, etc.).
The
Congressional representatives that have been approached by cities over
the last six months indicate that there will be a bill passed this year
and that it will NOT be public access channel/city/citizen friendly (although
they might not put it quite like that - that will be the effect).
If you
are concerned about these developments, please contact your
Congressional and state reps and let them know you do not want this to
happen - that phone companies and cable companies should not be de-regulated. In fact, there should be further regulation to protect citizens, cities and public access channels.
Click here to find and contact your state legislators
Click here to find and contact your Congressman and US Senators
E-mail,
fax and phone are the best ways to contact our Washington reps.
If you send a snail-mail, send it to their district office rather than
DC. (All congressional mail sent to DC is screened for anthrax
and therefore it will take much longer to get there).
Drew
Shaffer, is the Cable TV Administrator in Iowa City. This issue
was discussed with Nick Johnson on Ch.
18, Iowa City’s Public Access Channel on the "Live & Local”
program. For more information, IC residents can watch for this
program to be rebroadcast - check the PATV schedule here.
If you would like to be part of organized media reform efforts in Iowa, please consider joining Iowans for Better Local TV.
To find out more, click here
Thursday, January 19
A 'True Revolution of Values'
by
Caroline Vernon
on Thu 19 Jan 2006 04:35 PM CST
A 'True Revolution of Values'
By Michael Eric Dyson
www.beliefnet.com
Martin Luther King, Jr., warned America about the danger of unquestioning national pride. How far have we come?
Michael Eric Dyson, best-selling author, ordained Baptist minister, and professor of religion at the University of Pennsylvania, says it was Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life inspired him to "embrace social redemption through the written word." In his latest book, "Pride," excerpted below, Dyson explores King's role as an American prophet.
The voice of the dissenter is often the conscience of the nation. Christian theologian Reinhold Niebuhr’s prophetic voice rang forth in the first half of the twentieth century; Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice was a clarion call for freedom and democracy in the century’s closing half.
"God didn’t call America to do what she’s doing in the world now," King thundered from his Atlanta pulpit exactly two months before his death at the hands of a cowardly racial terrorist. "God didn’t call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war." Here, of course, King referred to the Vietnam War, and he took a lashing in public for his dissenting views. He was accused of being unpatriotic. He was charged with moral treason. Other black leaders like Roy Wilkins and Whitney Young lambasted him (though they later came to acknowledge, as did the nation, that King’s views were courageous and correct). And yet, King was one of the greatest patriots this nation has produced. He proved it by giving his life in a fight to defend this country’s best side against its worst. As we struggle for ethical guidance in the shadow of terrorism and war, it is good to remember that dissent helps national flourishing and aids in clarifying our political vision. If King’s actions against war prove anything, it’s that there’s a huge difference between patriotism and nationalism. Patriotism is the critical affirmation of one’s country in light of its best values, including the attempt to correct it when it’s in error. Nationalism is the uncritical support of one’s nation regardless of its moral or political bearing.
Patriotism "often takes the form of beliefs in the social system and values of one’s country. Expressions of nationalism, on the other hand, are often appeals to advance the national interests in the international order." This latter version of an insular and narrowly conceived national pride is expressed in the slogan, “my country, right or wrong.” Too often nationalism has prevailed over patriotism in expressions of national pride. The confusion between the two has blurred the difference between love and worship of country, a distinction King never failed to make.
In a commencement address at Lincoln University in 1961, King praised the American dream and the Declaration of Independence, saying that “seldom if ever in the history of the world has a sociopolitical document expressed in such profoundly eloquent and unequivocal language the dignity and the worth of human personality.” And when he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech before the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, King reaffirmed that his dream was “deeply rooted in the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ ”
But King understood the contradictions at the heart of American society. In his Lincoln University commencement address, King said “since the founding fathers of our nation dreamed this noble dream, America has been something of a schizophrenic personality, tragically divided against herself.” America, King understood, preaches democracy but practices its selective application. Moreover, King understood the perils of an isolationist nationalism that celebrates one’s country at the expense of recognizing one’s global citizenship. In such a case, loyalty to nation might turn vicious, demanding that one subordinate moral principle to narrow national self-interest. In his church sermon, King said that in Vietnam, America had “committed more war
crimes almost than any nation in the world.” And we wouldn’t stop it “because of
our pride and our arrogance as a nation.”
To read the rest of this article, click here:
Monday, January 9
This Week in Media
by
Arron Wings
on Mon 09 Jan 2006 11:00 AM CST
 The Iowa Caucuses Are Here
Caucuses
of the Democratic and Republican Parties will be held Monday January
16th. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of media
issues that affect all of us. The National Black Caucus of State
Legislators has passed four resolutions that are model planks for Party
platforms. These resolutions were proposed by Iowa State
Representative Wayne Ford.
1. A Resolution In Support Of Increased Funding And Federal Support For Public Broadcasting
2. A Resolution Supporting Municipal Provision Of Community Broadband
3. A Resolution To Encourage Competition And Speed The Deployment Of Advance Communications Networks On A Non-Discriminatory Basis
4. A Resolution In Support Of Diversity In Media Ownership
Resolutions can be found here (pages 85-93) and article from Free Press is here.
The Resolution in Support of Diversity in Media Ownership reads:
"WHEREAS, freedom of the press and public access to diverse media are prerequisites for a functioning democracy; and
WHEREAS, the broadcast airwaves are owned commonly by the public and should be managed to serve the public interest; and
WHEREAS, adherence to the highest journalistic principles is a public trust; and
WHEREAS, the public interest is best served by the availability of a broadly diverse range of viewpoints; and
WHEREAS,
media diversity is seriously threatened by further consolidation of
media ownership in an already highly concentrated market; and
WHEREAS,
increased consolidation has made it more difficult to expand minority
ownership of broadcast media outlets, a key driver of diversity in news
and cultural programming; and
WHEREAS,
deregulation of radio ownership rules under the 1996 Telecommunications
Act caused unprecedented consolidation, dramatically decreasing
competition, reducing local accountability and content diversity; and
limiting access to the airwaves for local artists, community groups and
public officials; and
WHEREAS,
the Federal Communications Commission approved an unprecedented
loosening of public interest limits on media ownership in June 2003
only to see it overturned by the Courts after millions of people across
America from every political orientation voiced opposition; and
WHEREAS,
despite the fact the courts rejected these rules, the Federal
Communications Commission will soon reconsider an unprecedented
rollback of media ownership regulations which protect competition,
content diversity and local accountability in our media; and
WHEREAS,
the elimination and weakening of these regulations are likely to reduce
competition, the quality of local media coverage, local accountability,
diversity of content, diversity of voices, and the amount
and quality of news coverage in broadcast and print media across the
country, while providing windfall profits for a small handful of
corporate media owners; and
WHEREAS,
we recognize that as citizens in a democracy, we require public access
to a diverse range of media voices and messages in order to participate
fully in our community's shared social, cultural and political life;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE 29TH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS, ASSEMBLED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 7 - 11, 2005, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators supports the following measures:
-We urge the Federal Communications Commission
to resist attempts to loosen public interest limits on media ownership
and further urge the Congress and the Federal Communications Commission
to protect content diversity and press freedom by retaining and
strengthening existing media ownership regulations, including
regulations that limit the number of broadcast stations one owner may
hold; and
-We urge the Federal Communications Commission
to hold public hearings scheduled by the Localism Task Force to truly
understand how media consolidation has adversely impacted communities
across the country; and
-We urge the Federal Communications Commission and the Congress to take necessary steps to encourage and facilitate increased minority ownership of media outlets."
Media
Ownership rules are also at issue in Springfield Missouri where a
small cable company, Cable America, challenged the broadcast licenses
of stations that it says are functional duopolies. Story is here.
Media Minutes from Free Press are here.
Tuesday, January 3
IN IOWA, LIGHTENING IN THE SKY, CONFUSION ON THE GROUND
by
Molly Regan
on Tue 03 Jan 2006 01:00 PM CST
 IN IOWA, LIGHTENING IN THE SKY, CONFUSION ON THE GROUND
Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again; the beginning of a new January
with unusual phenomena happening. On Monday morning, January 2nd
at 6AM in Scott County, there was lightening but no thunder. For nearly
20 minutes this went on, then, the thunder could be heard. It was
very bizarre. At first I thought there was a barge going down
river, but they quit running over a month ago.
This type of weather has happened before, and in the winter it usually
is followed by a large amount of snow. We lucked out this time,
though. No snow, just rain and about 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
So what other odd events could be going on? Let’s see what’s happening in the Eastern IOWA/Western Illinois areas.
HOGS, HOGS, HOGS...Sound familiar? The East Moline, IL, City
Council decided on Monday, December 19th to unanimously approve Triumph
Corporation proceeding with the process that would allow them to build
a slaughterhouse ON A WETLAND. There’s no accounting for bad
judgement, is there?
The meeting was once again held at United Township High School and
attended by over 200 people. These concerned citizens took to the
podium to voice their opinions regarding this proposed industry.
One teenager was nearly in tears as she explained what happens to pigs
as they are raised for slaughter and how inhumanely they are treated at
the slaughterhouse itself.
Speaker Art Norris wondered whether the council would be filing
Department of Natural Resource permits. He was told all the
proper procedures ‘would be followed’ by East Moline Mayor John
Thodos. But, the mayor did admit a DNR permit had NOT been
done. Art’s concern is for White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons,
Eagles, Ospreys and other birds that use this wetland area as well as
endangered mussels there. He and his wife are avid outdoor people
and photographers.
Just that same afternoon, Terry Spence had sent me some startling
information. He is with GRACE (Global Resource Action Center For the
Environment) who spoke in Moline & Eldridge on December 3rd about
the terrible reality of slaughterhouses and what they do to communities.
He informed me that Triumph is being sued. They are not even open
for business and they already had a gas leak, fire and explosion that
killed one worker and injured 14 others in October. Eleven of
those injured are suing Triumph and 5 other companies, including the
local gas company for 66 counts of negligence. A valve had been
opened and there had been, according to the lawsuit, no chemical added to
the gas to give it an odor. So the gas ended up being ignited
somehow and an explosion and fire followed. I asked the council and
mayor if this was the type of company, one with no track record and
already getting ready to go to court, to be doing business in this
area. Apparently those attributes are good to go because of the
vote. The mayor asked me if there were any circumstances that
would make this slaughterhouse ok with me to build. I said “NO.”
That was the end of my statement. Until next time. We are
keeping track of what is going to happen next, so stay tuned.
According to the Rock Island, IL, ARGUS newspaper on Wednesday,
December 21st, their headline read “PORK PLANT NOT A DONE DEAL
YET.” According to reporter Jenny Lee, “If certain steps don’t
fall into place, Triumph Foods LLC still could pull out of its deal
with East Moline and build a pork plant somewhere else….(Let’s make it
so!)
“The redevelopment agreement between the city and Triumph requires
aldermen to approve and create a tax-increment finance district,
encompassing the proposed plant site on Barstow Road, on or before Jan.
1, 2007. (That’s one year from now!)
“If aldermen don’t authorize the creation of a TIF district, the
project will not happen, Mayor Thodos said…In a TIF district, taxing
bodies continue to collect existing tax revenue, but any new revenue
created by the development goes into a fund to be used for public
infrastructure or rebates to developers. The project also would
depend on the proposed site’s inclusion in an enterprise zone.
Moline, East Moline, Silvis, Milan and Rock Island County – members of
the zone – each will need to approve including the site in order for
developers to receive benefits.”
The RI Board of Supervisors would also need to vote on whether or not
to pay for widening Barstow Road for the project. The State of
Illinois also would need to offer a package incentive to Triumph, and
if that is not acceptable the deal could be off.
It was also noted in the article that Alderman Carol Doose “…believed opponents exaggerated possible impacts.”
For the entire article go to www.QCOnline.com
Well, we shall see what you think, Ms. Doose, after we make available to
you the book “SLAUGHTERHOUSE’ by GAIL EISNITZ. The truth
about what goes on in slaughterhouses is told here. The inside
cover of the book says in part, “…Along the way we encounter example
after example of mistreated animals…intolerable working conditions…lax
standards…the slow, painful DEATHS OF CHILDREN KILLED AS A RESULT OF
EATING CONTAMINATED MEAT…the author’s battle with the major television
networks…and a dangerously corrupt federal agency that chooses to do
nothing rather than risk the wrath of agribusiness…”
On the back cover of the book is this critique by Peter Singer, author
of “In Defense Of Animals & Animal Liberation”: “ I have just
read “SLAUGHTERHOUSE” at one sitting. It is a
stomach-churning, damning indictment of the meat industry. Gail
Eisnitz has penetrated the veil that hangs over meat production, and
what she has found will shock every reader. Eisnitz is a
brilliant investigator, writes superbly, and has the courage and
persistence of someone who knows that she is right. No longer can
anyone believe that in the United States there is adequate inspection
and control of slaughterhouses. As Eisnitz convincingly shows,
the meat industry is indifferent to animal suffering, exploitative of
its workers, and liable to produce a product that is riddled with
dangerous bacteria.
“Whether you eat meat or not – if you care about humans or animals – this book is a must read.”
Try to order the book, or maybe your local library has it. Or you can visit www.prometheusbooks.com
Don’t forget, it is always a good year to CPR: CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE
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