Editorial | WWIII Over MONSANTO?

Read this article about the possibility of war over the US corporation Monsanto.

The article that you just read is about the possibility of Russia declaring war on the US over the Monsanto corporation. 

War over Monsanto is something that has been in the back of my mind for a while now. 

I've seen a couple of articles about it, but nothing quite like the one I suggested you read. Something just clicked in me this morning. Millions of people around the world protested against Monsanto this past May, thereby showing how the world is not taking Monsanto's thread to our food supply lightly. Many millions more are set to protest at this next one in October. Hundreds of thousands of farmers are committing suicide in India over bT cotton.  People all over the world are dying or are becoming sterile due to the toxic chemicals that the US has introduced into the food supply. I do not hold Monsanto responsible for these catastrophes. I hold the US government in contempt for turning their backs on the common people of this nation. It's obvious that the US government's allies are corporations that put the needs of elitists above the needs of the common man. The US government has had a revolving door with Monsanto. It is policies like these that the world is noticing. 

I do feel like all animals and insects are in danger due to these pesticides and neonicotinoids (Neos), but I am especially concerned over the birds and the bees. 

Just a few weeks ago thousands of bees were found dead in Oregon. Last week the beekeeping industry brought a lawsuit against the EPA. Without bees our food supply will dwindle. I'm concerned that Neos can alter the gender of amphibians and what that could mean after more long term studies of GE foods are completed.  I'm also concerned about what potential affects these biochemicals are doing to our environment. I've been thinking about this since I viewed this video (see our collection of videos) about how the biochemicals are affecting the environment in Kauai.  As you may or may not know, all the Hawaiian islands are the Ground Zero of Biotech chemicals. The coral reefs are starting to become diseased and are dying.  Another good film to watch is Prophets of Doom. It discusses the imminent fall of America. In the movie they discuss water and energy as being possible downfalls, but I thoroughly believe that wars over food and water will be America's downfall.

While lots of people will be incredulous, I believe that war is a real danger. 

Russia has a lot of allies, the Middle East will find any excuse it can to fight us, and Europe is rationalizing the need to ban more and more biotech companies. These countries all have their fair share of nuclear bombs (<-- Click link to see what countries have bombs and how many they have) and they will not want to use bio warfare due to the very reason they will attack, but the US will not consider that a hinderance. In WWII the US used nerve gas, in Vietnam they used Agent Orange and in the Iraq war they used bio warfare. Because Monsanto will be backing the US, you know there will be something bigger and nastier that will be used for this war. That will mean the death of many more people around the world.

Don't get mad, GET ACTIVE!

*HOW YOU CAN HELP* in Austin

I invite you ALL to join us in the screening of "More Than Honey" that is showing on Aug. 18th. It will further enlighten us about how the extinction of bees will lead to a world wide food extinction. Tickets are $10 and it will be shown at Alamo Drafthouse Village that Sunday evening. MAMAustin plans on setting up a film festival to educate others about the importance and  immediacy of the dangers of Monsanto and other biotech companies. The highlight of our film festival will be "The World According to Monsanto" movie viewing and forum with an expert panel. We also invite you to be involved and join us at our next activist meeting on Friday, July 18th at 6:30pm at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin (Click to view all events).

How you can help elsewhere

Research all you can on these topics. Watch documentaries (start with our YouTube channel where you'll find many playlists). Share all the Monsanto material you can get your hands on! Tell everyone you know about what you know. 

I hope that MAMAustin can count on your support to help us fight the US government on this important issue.

In the meantime, remember to eat organic, local, grow your own and vote with your dollar!

News | Bill Gates Saving Seeds and The Supreme Court Ruled Generic Pharmaceutical Companies Above Being Sued

This is just the picture that goes with #5. No donation required to read! :)

Every week I'll try and provide you some relevant GMO news in case you missed it.

1. District of Columbia Council Members David Grosso (I-At Large) and Kenyan McDuffie (D-5 Ward) have proposed a bill that would end corporate run elections, in exchange for publicly financed elections. The bill, Fair Elections D.C., would seek to curb a culture of corruption by taking out corporate interest and lobbyists money. Click here for the article.
2. Bill Gates and biotech companies are saving GMO seed for future generations. See article here.
3. Roseanne Barr testified in a hearing in Hawaii, Ground Zero for GMOs, this past week.
4. The Supreme Court ruled that 80% of generic pharmaceutical companies can't be sued for wrongdoing. 
5. Exactly one week after Americans celebrated Independence Day and the 4^th of July, Monsanto and their pesticide and junk food allies at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) are once again declaring war on the GMO labeling movement in the U.S. Today, lobbyists from the same corporations that helped defeat Prop 37 last year in California are meeting behind closed doors in Washington DC to try to kill efforts to win GMO labeling in the U.S. for good. Last week, The Hill reported that the GMA is calling for the secret meeting because the growing success of the GMO labeling movement has created an “unprecedented period of turmoil” for the chemical, biotech and junk food companies that the GMA represents. The good news is that despite considerable efforts to stop GMO labeling this year in more than 20 state capitals, Monsanto and the GMA are reeling after the passage of back-to-back GMO labeling bills in Connecticut and Maine. Now, however, they’ve set their sights on killing Washington State’s ballot initiative Yes on I-522. We’ve come too far and we can’t let up now. The GMA represents 300 of the world’s most powerful and profitable companies – trusted brands like Coke, Pepsi, Kellogg’s, Kraft and General Mills, the same companies that killed labeling efforts in the past. Right now, they’re in a panic because in the past month grassroots efforts have succeeded in passing GMO labeling bills and we’re making real progress in other states across the country. Last year, the GMA claimed that defeating Prop 37, the ballot initiative in California, to label GMOs, was their “single-highest priority”. Monsanto and the GMA spent more than $46 million to run one of the most deceptive and dishonest political campaigns in recent history to defeat Prop 37 and succeeded. With a major ballot initiative fight looming this fall in Washington State, the chemical and junk food giants are once again meeting behind closed doors today to craft a plan to silence us for good. We're so close to victory - and they know it.

Organic Lifestyle | Frozen Produce = Toxicity You Can Avoid & What 'Organic' Means in Packaged Foods

My in-laws have decided to eat healthier, and, boy, am I excited! I had a million things to share with them! I started sharing some things about GMOs and my mother-in-law responded with what her idea of healthy food was...uh-oh...Houston, we have a problem!

"We're going to eat more frozen vegetables," my mother-in-law said.

My first thought was how great it was that she was opening up her mind to the possibility that a lot of foods were harmful, but, like myself when I remember when I started going the healthy route so I don't think that she has quite as much information as she needs to make an informed decision. I decided to research exactly why her comment had given me such pause.

Are frozen fruits and vegetables healthy?

Frozen produce is usually cheaper than buying it fresh at the grocery store. You can find varieties of produce that are out of season this way. Vegetables and fruits are generally frozen right after they're picked, so the produce is supposed to be good for you. Frozen foods have a longer shelf life than fresh.

The FDA says frozen produce is good for you.

According to the US FDA, "Frozen produce has the same benefits and nutrients as fresh." When I found the above statement I knew that I had to dig further. It's hard to trust the FDA since they have approved GMOs for the last twenty years.

Frozen produce is frozen at it's prime, but many non-organic companies, such as Green Giant, include additives like trans fat and non-organic vegetable oil. What about additives? How can we guarantee that all additives are organic?

My next thought was that frozen produce shouldn't be too bad as long as you buy organic..., but then I thought about all the warnings about buying organic items and that made me research the differences between 100% organic and ones that are only so-so organic.

What does 'Organic' mean in packaged foods?

According to the FDA, organic can be 100-75% organic.

Section 205.301 establishes the organic content requirements for different labeling provisions specified under this program. The type of labeling and market information that can be used and its placement on different panels of consumer packages and in market information is based on the percentage of organic ingredients in the product. The percentage must reflect the actual weight or fluid volume (excluding water and salt) of the organic ingredients in the product. Four categories of organic content are established: 100 percent organic; 95 percent or more organic; 70 to 95 percent organic; and less than 70 percent organic. (Organic Labeling Preamble)

If it's 100% organic, then all the contents of the packaged food are organic including the additives and the processing. If 95%, then it contains organic ingredients. In 90-75% organic, then everything else that is not organic could be ANYTHING else. 70% organic can contain GMOs, sewage, and pesticides. Those are the ones you have to watch out for!

Then I started thinking about what else do I need to be aware of to make an informed decision on frozen produce? If the bag says 100% organic, then is there anything else to think about? 

All frozen items come in plastic. 

They have to or the box would deteriorate. However, that plastic that wraps up that organic produce is not necessarily toxic free.

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the law that regulates industrial chemicals in the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required safety testing on only 200 of these chemicals, and of those, only five have been banned from manufacturing (including asbestos and dioxin).

BPA is only one toxic, synthetic plastic that can be found in canned food linings, beverage can linings, and other plastics. This toxic plastic interferes with human hormones including the endocrine system. BPA and other plasticizers leach into food when it comes into contact with oils or fatty food, when heated, or if the plastic is old.

Commercial frozen produce comes from the freezer section in the supermarket

A study by Environmental Investigation Agency – an international campaigning organization – claims that greenhouse gases used in large freezers and fridges by supermarkets are as harmful to the environment as plastic bags. 

In the 1990′s HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) were introduced to replace ozone depleting CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs hydrochlorofluorocarbons). However this switch to refrigerants that do not damage the ozone layer brought in a generation of chemicals with a greenhouse effect thousands of times stronger than CO2 (Guardian). 

The Guardian states that chemicals released by fridges account for 30 percent of supermarkets’ direct emissions, yet only 0.5 percent of stores have been fitted with greener equipment, according to the EIA’s report, called Chilling Facts.

If these items are causing environmental problems, then I cannot be assured that they will not do the same to the human body. According to the EPA, greenhouse gases are mainly carbon dioxide gases that are pollutants from fossil fuels.

My personal recommendation: DO NOT CONSUME COMMERCIALLY FROZEN FOOD!

After much thoughtful consideration, I cannot recommend eating anything that will be harmful to the human body and that includes commercially frozen food.  If I want to save my fresh produce, then I will personally freeze it myself in glass containers using this method by Eating Well. I also will remember that frozen food cannot be kept too long or it will lose it's nutritional value. When reheating frozen vegetables it is recommended to steam them when you cook so that you will retain all the nutritional value.


Until next time, remember to eat organic, local or make/grow your own!

Recipe | Homemade GMO Free Bread

The smell of this bread is AMAZEballs!!! Every single time I bake it my entire family goes crazy including my kitten, Charlie. ❤
The smell is so intoxicating we can't wait until it cools for a slice!

Homemade GMO Free Bread

Makes 2 Loaves

Ingredients

As always...buy local, organic, or grow your own!

7 c. Unbleached organic whole wheat bread flour (see below for other kinds of flour)

4 tsp Fine sea salt

2 c. Almond milk, warmed

2/3 c. Purified water, warmed

4 TB Butter, melted

3 TB Raw honey

2.5 tsp ActiveDry yeast

1 TB Olive oil

1 c. Boiling Water

Instructions

Place the racks in the bottom portion of your oven. Place a small cake pan on the bottom rack. Heat oven to 200 degrees.

Warm milk, purified water and melt butter. Pour into a small mixing bowl over honey and whisk. Sprinkle yeast on the top. Place a towel over bowl and set aside for five minutes.

Mix the flour and salt with a whisk.

Turn the oven off after it's been on for ten minutes.

Sprinkle .5 c. Flour on a big, flat surface.

Mix the dry and wet ingredients together with a spatula. Once they're together dump the dough onto the floured surface. Knead the dough by flattening it, folding it, and repeating until the dough does not feel sticky. Tuck the sides and then the ends under.

Pour oil into a large mixing bowl. Place dough into the oil. Turn over and lightly coat oil onto all the dough. Set the dough with tucked ends in the bottom of the bowl. Place into the oven and let the dough rise until it doubles, 40-50 min.

Take the dough out. Separate down the middle with a chef's knife. Fold the dough into thirds, flip upside down, and tuck the ends. Place into the loaf pans. Place the loaf pans into the oven for 30 minutes to rise.

Five minutes before the thirty minutes has ended, boil some water. When the water is boiling, turn on your oven to 350. Pour water to the top of the cake pan that you placed in the bottom rack of your oven (don't skip this part! It keeps your bread moist while baking!). 

Bake for 30 minutes. Let your bread cool completely for a couple of hours (if your family lets you!) before you cut it with a serrated knife. I like to use an electric knife to slice thinner, straighter slices.

NOTE: I recommend King Arthur's Organic Unbleached Bread Flour. This bread contains gluten. If you'd like a gluten free version, you could try using King Arthur's Glutenfree Bread Flour!

Enjoy!

Recipe | Homemade Organic Almond Milk

Unsweetened Almond Milk 

for Recipes and Cereal

Ingredients

As always...buy local, organic, or grow your own!

4 c. Purified water

1 c. Raw almonds

1 tsp. Raw honey

1 tsp. Vanilla

Instructions

Soak almonds for 48 hours in the refrigerator.

Put all ingredients in a blender and chop nuts, then blend until frothy. Strain through a cheesecloth to prevent gritty milk!!

Store in the refrigerator in glass mason jars. Makes 3 cups.

Sweet Almond Milk

for Drinking

Ingredients

2 tsp. Raw honey

.5 tsp. Vanilla

Instructions

Add to the Unsweetened Almond Milk ingredients and follow the same instructions.

Enjoy!

Organic Lifestyle | How To Save Ur Seeds!

Did you know that Bill Gates is storing GMO seed so future generations can enjoy GMOs? How can you stop such an atrocity and fight back? Save your seeds! Plant some NOW. Save your seeds every single time. A great way to get free seeds is to save the seeds from the organic produce that you are purchasing now. You can save your seeds for next year. It's super easy!

Instructions

Cut up your lemons. Notice seeds on your cutting block? Save them by putting them on a paper napkin in the shade for a week. They'll be dried out. 

Don't peel them off the paper, just save it and plant it!

Activist Notes | Dormant No Longer!!

The world is awakening. The world is beginning to view government as a tool of the people, not the people as tools. I, for one, am glad that Texas is gaining speed on this worldwide phenomenon. We need more voices to speak out against injustices!!

My cause is the food movement. We are demanding the right to know what's in our food without having to look it up in a dictionary. Food should be one right, whether you're conservative or liberal, that is universal.

As a March Against Monsanto organizer, my aim is to ban all biotech companies from taking over our food system. I'd rather my food be in the hands of the farmer, than a corporation who's only goal is to increase profits. All these corporations are banding together. The Food and Drug Administration is acting like the puppet master. They are moving around the puppets like Monsanto and Big Pharma. Their common goal is to make the American people sick so they can cure them. Let me repeat that again...their goal is to make the American people SICK...and that's sick!!

It costs a lot to eat organic, but it costs even more not to!


As always, keep watch on what you eat and vote with your dollar!