MARCH 2016 TIP TALKS NEWSLETTER

Possible Positive Actions Re: Pesticide  & GMO Concerns.

Launches Regenerative Ag Farm, County Committee

Opposes Adding Artificial Turf Fields

**OTHER NEWS: Common Decking And Insulation

(& Healthy Schools Day, April 5), New EWG Report

**REQUEST FOR ABCS OF PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING:

We’ve decided that the “ABCS” are too many to fit in a brief flyer.

Less Toxic Landscaping web page.  We continue to welcome yours!

We are thinking to seek better ways of handling local information

(Rhode Island, Massachusetts & Connecticut).  This would include

more such details in our flyers, which are only distributed in this

TIP TALKS, in a separate category.  (Although what's happening

here might be of interest to folks living elsewhere as well). 

                          website organization -stay tuned.

Broader content would still dominate newsletter and website. 

ANY IDEAS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOMED.

** POSSIBLE POSITIVE ACTIONS RE: PESTICIDES AND

GMO LABELING: This week, I submitted comments to two RI

is available for viewing  now on our TIP Legislative page at:

http://toxicsinfo.org/legislation.htm   Below are afterthoughts

I sent out after attending one of the hearings -  re: handling the

for humans):Perhaps they might be helpful to those in other states:

**One problem is that, whether or not Neonicotinoids are "safe" for

pesticides in general present with serious health concerns. (See the

story here about a widow suing Monsanto re: her husband's death f

http://foodrevolution.org/blog/monsanto-cancer-california/

for farmers to be able to combat bugs that can destroy their crops.

Roundup, as much as I am dismayed by their extensive use.  (I actually

had a nasty experience of my own - a brief exposure to Roundup at

My suggestion - it would be beneficial to farmers, to health and even

to economics if we could find more ways to educate and encourage

Two ideas on that might be:

and gardeners on this - probably working with NOFA-RI.  Possibly

even require attendance from the farmers, and/or give them a certificate

of completion.

**Farmers are starting to display signs at Farmers Markets saying

"No Pesticides Used".  What if, instead, there was a simple way they

organization that does this for GMOs -why not for just pesticides?

This could be done in  exchange for a small fee, by the state or by

an organization.

These two actions would provide significant reduction in pesticide use

and exposure in RI, without the need for Organic certification, which is

support it for anyone able to engage in and afford the process).  See

link below in the Good News section for some actions being taken

by a USDA whistleblower. 

Just my "two cents".  (I hope it's worth a bit more than that).  Note:

I hope that everyone reading TIP TALKS already understands that

**SUPPORT?  I know you are barraged with request for moola.

But I believe many of you would like to help us out – just busy or

are buying something there anyway – here’s a quick way to boost TIP:

Just go to our “Ten for TIP” page & click to donate $10 (or more!)

(Don’t be confused – we no longer to membership and you won’t

be “subscribing” – we need to change that wording). Just remember,

Blessings, Liberty G

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WHOLE FOODS MARKET TO START SELLING ‘IMPERFECT’

www.healthfreedoms.org/whole-foods-market-to-start-selling-imperfect-fruits-and-vegetables-at-reduced-prices/

look a little less than gorgeous, it’s probably not because a rush of

customerspicked over all the good stuff just before you arrived.

vegetables in a partnership with Imperfect Produce, in  a joint effort

to reduce the nation’s massive  food waste problem.  The test

partnership will place Imperfect’s fruits and vegetables in select

The move was reportedly spurred on by a Change.org petition

urging Whole Foods to embrace fruits and vegetables that would

A campaign in France in 2014 brought imperfect produce to the

prices. Consumers ate it up, literally. And Imperfect is confident U.S.

shoppers will also embrace lower-priced fruits & vegetables that don’t

value & taste profile.

                                              ******************

            TO TRAIN NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS

You have to love a censored USDA scientist who turns a negative event

    into positive environmental activism. Read the inspiring story at

Johnathon Lundgren is the real deal.  Although he probably has feet of

clay like I do, he appears to be a role model that other environmental

scientists and activists like those of us in QEW should emulate.  He

could have simply turned all his energies to pursuing lawsuits and

compensation.  This is a real example of hope and persistent activism

in the face of despair. People like Johnathon and others inspire me

restoring native habitats matter  I just received an email request for

information from someone who heard me speak Saturday requesting

advice about how to reconstruct prairie on 2 acres of his property.

Continue to follow your leadings regarding Earthcare issues.

                                          Your actions matter.

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RECOMMENDS AGAINST PLAN TO ADD ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS

www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/County-Council-Committee-Recommends-Against-School-Systems-Plan-for-Adding-Artificial-Turf-Fields/

MCPS said any new artificial turf fields would include alternatives

to the widely-used crumb rubber infill that has raised concerns

about possibly carcinogenic chemicals.  The council passed

a resolution last year calling for artificial turf fields filled only

with organic materials.  While Council member Marc Elrich

said Monday  he still has health concerns related to material

in the artificial turf fields, the council committee’s decision

primarily came down to money.

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                                                            OTHER NEWS

                COMMON DECKING AND INSULATION PESTICIDE

                                              IS A HONEYBEE KILLER

At very low concentrations, a chemical widely used to kill termites also

harms honeybees, according to a new US Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) study. [1] The use of this pesticide, imidacloprid, in

building materials has soared  in recent years. [2]  Manufacturers

incorporate imidacloprid into exterior products  like polystyrene

insulation, vinyl siding, adhesives, sealants, and pressure-treated

wood decking. Imidacloprid migrates from exterior building materials

into water and soil. Bees also use sawdust to help build their hives.

Beekeepers use treated wood for stands and treated insulation for

nucs. But EPA's bee research  on neonicotinoids like imidacloprid

has ignored the potential contribution of these materials. Instead,

the agency has approved an ever expanding list of building products

in which they may be used.

www.healthybuilding.net/news/2016/01/21/common-decking-and-insulation-pesticide-is-a-honeybee-killer

                                                      ACTIONS

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        TELL THE USDA TO TEST FOR ROUNDUP IN OUR FOOD!

The FDA and the USDA regularly test our food for residues of hundreds

of pesticides. But until recently, both agencies were not testing for

glyphosate.  Last month the FDA finally agreed to start testing certain

foods for glyphosate residues. This is the first time in the FDA’s

history that it will test for glyphosate in foods like milk, eggs,

soybeans & corn. Its decision comes after a public outcry and a

condemnation from the Government Accountability Office for failing

to conduct these tests and publicly disclose them. But the USDA

is still lagging behind.  Why is this testing important?  Because it

shines a light on the rampant overuse of pesticides in our food

out of our food for good!

              MY COMMENTS UPON SIGNING THIS PETITION:

"OMG - THIS IS EMBARRASSING!  THE MOST WIDELY USED

HERBICIDE,  JUST DECLARED A "PROBABLE  CARCINOGEN" -

              AND YOU DON'T TEST FOR IT IN OUR FOOD?   

    PLEASE ACT NOW TO RESTORE  USDA CREDIBILITY!

                                Sign the petition! Tell USDA to test

                                for  this toxic pesticide in our food. 

http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19418  

                                  ************************************

                                                  RESOURCES

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**HEALTHY SCHOOLS NETWORK Info & Actions for keeping schools

& kids healthy: http://healthyschools.org/index.html and 

on NATIONAL HEALTHY SCHOOLS DAY, TUESDAY, APRIL 5)

www.nationalhealthyschoolsday.org/ 

** MERCURY IN SEAFOOD: U.S. FISH ADVICE MAY

    EXPOSE BABIES TO TOO MUCH MERCURY 

In 2014, federal agencies issued draft recommendations that women

who are pregnant, breastfeeding or might become pregnant and young

children eat more fish that is lower in mercury. Their advice is based

on the fact that seafood consumption is an excellent source of omega-3

fatty acids and other nutrients. The Environmental Working Group (EWG)

felt the advice didn’t go far enough.  It would be ineffective, even

dangerous, for women who ate too much mercury or fish species

low in omega-3 fatty acids.  Now EWG concerns have been confirmed

by a new study.

How many times a week do you eat seafood? What kind?  Depending on

your answer, you could be consuming too much mercury.  EWG just released

the findings of a study of mercury exposures in women who roughly follow

the federal government’s guidelines and eat at least two meals of

seafood, fish or shellfish every week.  We found that almost 30 percent

of our participants had too much mercury exposure according to U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for pregnant women. 

Click here to learn more about EWG's  findings and how to protect

yourself in theirr latest report: Mercury in Seafood. 

www.ewg.org/research/us-fish-advice-may-expose-babies-too-much-mercury?inlist=Y

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                CONTACT US WITH YOUR THOUGHTS,

                          COMMENTS, QUESTIONS!

AND BY THE WAY – WE’RE SMALL, WE’RE ACTIVE, WE DON’T

BOTHER YOU WITH LOTS OF PITCHES FOR MOOLA – BUT WE

REALLY DO NEED SOME HELP!

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            **EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK:

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          BENEFIT TIP WHILE SURFING THE WEB at:

                    (Uses the Yahoo search engine)

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Just go to: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/14-1862385 and the

link will take you to the site with TIP already selected as your

charity. You then shop on smile.amazon.com the same way

you would have shopped on www.amazon.com., but the

donation will go to us (at no cost to you).

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Mail a check to TIP at the address above.

(We are a tax deductible organization)

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Liberty Goodwin, Director, Toxics Information Project (TIP)

P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940

Tel. 401-351-9193, E-Mail:  liberty@toxicsinfo.org

Website: www.toxicsinfo.org