TIP TALKS

 

The e-Newsletter of the

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

 

February, 2014

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  IN THIS ISSUE
**TIP ACTIVITIES:  GMO Labeling Bills, Antibiotics,
Cutting Costs Web Page.
**ACTIONS TO TAKE: Butterflies, Organic Farm
Contamination, Antibiotics in Agriculture
**NEWS – BAD:  Male Infertility & Chemical Exposure
(If This Doesn’t Get the Guys to Care…What Will?)
**NEWS –GOOD Progress re: Flame Retardants
(Ironically, from the same source – Physicians for
Social Responsibility)
** “CUTTING COSTS” TIPS
**RESOURCES: EWG Shoppers’ Guide to Avoiding
GE Food, Women’s Voices for the Earth
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                          TIP ACTIVITIES:
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**GMO LABELING BILLS:  Action builds – a bill is under consideration
in the RI Senate, and had a hearing this week.  Expectations are that
needed amendments will be made, the House and Senate bills reconciled,
and a strong bill will reach both chambers this session.  Stay tuned!
More and more people are joining us in this effort.

**ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE:  Liberty G has been attending events
and giving support to some actions on this front recently.  She was
present when a resolution against the overuse of antibiotics in
agriculture was passed by the Providence City Council this month
– first in the nation!  People in New York have contacted the RI
proponents, thinking to follow our example!  This week, we helped
publicize the showing of an excellent Front Line segment on the
medical consequences of antibiotics that no longer work. 
The main activist here in RI these days is Gus Fuegitt, of
Food & Water Watch RI.  If you share this concern, contact him:
608-354-2036  or gfuguitt@fwwlocal.org

**CUTTING COSTS PROJECT:  We are still in preparation for
making an interactive page available on our website, with tips
on affordable healthy eating and living the first topic.  You’ll
hear as soon as it is up.
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                            ACTIONS TO TAKE
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**LAST MONTH, BEES – NOW, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
On the heels of recent bee declines, another iconic pollinator,
the monarch butterfly, is in serious trouble. Last month, the
New York Times reported that the number of monarchs arriving
at their ancient overwintering grounds in Mexico has reached
the lowest level on record!

Monarchs, like bees, are a "canary in the coal mine." This iconic
species is only the tip of the iceberg -- a wide variety of pollinators
& other insects, including many that benefit farmers, are also rapidly
disappearing, along with the birds, mammals & other predators that
feed on them.

The monarch butterfly's sharp decline has been linked to massive
increases in the planting of GMO crops engineered to tolerate
huge doses of Monsanto's Roundup™ herbicide. These herbicide-tolerant
"Roundup Ready" crops have encouraged farmers to use ever-increasing
amounts of this weed killer -- virtually wiping out milkweed, the only
food young monarchs eat. 

*Tell the EPA and USDA to stop approving pesticide-resistant
genetically engineered crops and to instead promote non-toxic
pest and weed management to the benefit of farmers, our health,
our ecosystems and the precious monarch butterfly.
http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15177

                            STOP MONSANTO FROM
                      CONTAMINATING ORGANIC FARMS!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/i_am_steve_marsh/?akid=1169.94384.C90ef-&rd=1&t=4
Please stand with organic farmer Steve Marsh to protect the rights of
organic farmers everywhere! Every voice counts!  Right now an important
case is being heard halfway around the world in Western Australia about
organic farmer Steve Marsh, whose organic field was contaminated by his
neighbor’s genetically engineered canola. As a result, Steve lost his
organic certification and as much as 70% of his Steve’s farm has been
contaminated with Monsanto’s patented genes.

With clever fine print in their seed contracts, Monsanto is not legally
liable for their patented genes contaminating an organic farmer’s field
due to their "no liability" agreement farmers are forced to sign when
they plant Monsanto's GMO seeds.  As a result, Steve’s family’s
livelihood has been put at risk. He could literally lose everything. 
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/i_am_steve_marsh/?akid=1169.94384.C90ef-&rd=1&t=4

                KEEP ANTIBIOTICS OFF YOUR PLATE!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/1216?t=8&akid=1171.94384.0bTimg
Next time you bite into a pork chop or enjoy chicken salad
next summer, you might want to thank Uncle Sam & the
pharmaceutical industry for that special ingredient in your
meat — antibiotics.  That's right! Up to 80% of all antibiotics
sold in the U.S. are used in industrial animal confinements
for chicken, beef and hogs at sub-therapeutic levels, not
to treat disease, but to make the animals grow faster. 
While this practice has slightly increased profit for livestock
producers, doctors have found that overuse of antibiotics
in livestock feed is putting human health at serious risk.

According to the landmark "Antibiotic Resistance Threat Report"
published by the Centers for Disease Control last year, 2 million
American adults and children become infected with antibiotic-resistant
bacteria each year, and at least 23,000 die as a direct result of
infections. Tragically, even more die from complications. This is
alarming and it has to stop.

Tell the FDA it’s time to close major loopholes and support the
mandatory ban on sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock.
Don’t let the factory farm industry get away with destroying the
effectiveness of antibiotics. Every voice counts!
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/1216?t=8&akid=1171.94384.0bTimg
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                          THE BAD NEWS
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MALE INFERTILITY AND CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/male-infertility.html
From:  Physicians for Social Responsibility

Did you know that exposure to chemicals in everyday products
like plastics can lead to low sperm counts and male infertility? 
Society often views infertility as a women's issue -- despite the fact
that 50 percent of infertility cases result from the male partner's
condition.  This month's Environmental Health Policy reviews the
research on how the environment, particularly toxic chemicals,
can wreak havoc on a male's reproductive system.

For example, did you know that some pesticides can damage
sperm and disrupt endocrine function?  Or that exposure to
chemicals in everyday products like plastics can reduce semen
quality and lead to low sperm counts, male infertility, hormonal
changes, and testicular and prostate cancer?

Read more about environmental causes of male infertility –
and the need for real reform of our chemicals policy -- in
our latest Environmental Health Policy Institute.
http://action.psr.org/site/R?i=9GsKgHEtEaLplOxamTHtFQ
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                            THE GOOD NEWS
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  FLAME RETARDANTS: IS CALIFORNIA'S VICTORY
                THE END OF THIS STORY?
www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/flame-retardants.html
From:  Physicians for Social Responsibility
Posted by Kathy Attar  December, 2013. 

Babies born in the U.S. have in their bodies the highest average
concentrations of flame retardant chemicals of any infants in the world.
How did this come to be?  For decades, manufacturers have treated
furniture cushions and upholstery with toxic chemicals to comply with a
flammability standard set by a lone state, California.

Our latest Environmental Health Policy Institute looks at how this
standard -- and the tons of toxic flame retardant chemicals it brought
into our homes and lives -- affect our health and the health of our
children.  Exposure to flame-retardant chemicals has been linked to
reproductive and developmental toxicity, hormonal disruption,
immunotoxicity, lowered IQ and cancer.  Many of these chemicals persist
in the environment and can move up the food chain to reside in humans.

Fortunately, the flammability standard was recently rejected by
California Governor Jerry Brown, due primarily to the advocacy
activities of a group of scientists and public health advocates.
California’s victory will most likely have national implications as
manufacturers no longer have to meet this outdated standard.

Read on to learn more about the campaign’s successes, as well
as the current and future health implications of exposure to toxic
flame retardants.
www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/flame-retardants.html

                      AND MORE GOOD NEWS
  New Study Finds That Banned PBDE Flame Retardants
          Have Declined In California Pregnant Women
www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/responses/new-study-finds-that-banned.html
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                            “CUTTING COSTS” TIPS:
                            Three Basic Strategies
1.      KNOW WHAT TO BUY:  Know the healthy options that are
available in each category:  Organic, non-GMO, non-chlorinated,
glass instead of plastic, frozen or fresh, not canned, whole grain,
not refined flour. (Read labels)
2.      KNOW YOUR STORES, and the brands & base prices for
your favored purchases in each.  Watch for sales!  (East Side
Marketplace in Providence had organic broccoli crowns on sale
for a week at 99 cents per pound!  (Usual price, around $2.49)
3.      Remember – it isn’t just the price you pay – it is the number
of portions you are getting.  For produce, often a larger quantity
is cheaper per unit – organic carrots, potatoes, onions, fruits are
all better buys in big bags.  “Expensive” organic nut butter in a jar
can provide many servings for a hungry family.
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                                    RESOURCES
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          EWG'S SHOPPER'S GUIDE TO AVOIDING GE FOOD
It's estimated that more than 75 percent of the food in supermarkets
is genetically engineered or contains GE ingredients.  And with no
federal requirement that foods with genetically engineered ingredients
be labeled, how are you supposed to know what you are eating?

EWG wants to make sure you have the information you need to
make informed choices at the store, so their researchers created
the brand-new EWG Shopper's Guide to Avoiding GE Food. 
This new guide will help you navigate store shelves.  It will
show you the "Factory Four" - the most common GE ingredients
in processed foods. And it will help you break down food labels
so you can shop smart.
www.ewg.org/research/shoppers-guide-to-avoiding-ge-food?inlist=Y&utm_source=201402geshoppers&utm_medium=email&utm_content=second-link&utm_campaign=food
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                    NEWLY DISCOVERED RESOURCE:
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                    WOMEN’S VOICES FOR THE EARTH
                      Our Health, Our Future, Toxic Free
                              www.womensvoices.org
Issues, Avoiding Toxic Chemicals, Actions Feminine Care
Products, Fragrance, Healthy Salons, Cosmetics, Cleaning
Products, Detox Your Home & more.
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              CONTACT US WITH YOUR THOUGHTS,
                      COMMENTS, QUESTIONS!

 

 

**************************************************************     
Liberty Goodwin, Director
Toxics Information Project   
P.O. Box 40572,
Providence, RI 02940
Tel. 401-351-9193
Website: www.toxicsinfo.org
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