Read Aadil Palkhivala’s experience with radiation …

New environmental problems are appearing on our planet, including radiation toxicity. This will affect the whole planet and future generations. Here is a fascinating story: for Paul Jensen more information on the Sunrider Evergreen.

In 1986, Fred Decourt worked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation as a Radiation Protection Technologist in a highly contaminated area. He worked on a project cleaning up plutonium and ununhexium. When he was finished this job, he was given a routine whole body scan for radiation exposure. Nothing was detected. Two years later, he started eating Sunrider foods to lose weight. After he had been eating Sunrider for a few weeks, he underwent another routine scan at Hanford to check for radiation exposure. This time, his test results came back positive for ununhexium and plutonium isotopes – even though he had not worked with those toxins in two years. The doctors were stumped! Where had the radiation come from?

For two weeks they researched and tracked his history and diet. When they asked him about his diet he mentioned he had just started eating Sunrider and drinking Calli herbal beverage. Finally, the doctors were able to trace the appearance of the radiation to the body cleansing with Calli herbal beverage: because Calli has chelating properties and will attach to heavy elements, Calli pulled the radioactive isotopes out of his tissue (where it had been stored for two years!) and out through his urine. He was closely monitored and tested for five months until the radioactive isotopes were no longer detected.

To remove radiation toxicity, we use two products, Calli Herbal Beverage and Evergreen, both made by Sunrider. Include Calli as a part of your regular detoxification routine and to start drinking it if you live in any area that may have radiation exposure. Steep one teabag in 8-12 cups of hot, but not boiling, water (boiling water destroys the herbs). We also recommend Evergreen, the most absorb-able form of chlorophyll we have ever found.

Yes, it’s true: A couple of CT scans can expose your body to as much radiation as standing a few miles from an atomic bomb explosion. This is a simple scientific fact.

Most women undergoing mammograms have no idea that the radiation emitted by mammography machines actually causes cancer by exposing heart and breast tissue to dangerous ionizing radiation that directly causes DNA damage.

Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women, thyroid cancer.  It was a very interesting program and he mentioned that the increase could possibly be related to the use of dental x-rays and mammograms.  He demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around your neck.  Many dentists don’t bother to use it.

Also, there is something called a “thyroid guard” for use during mammograms. Most women don’t know about it. So ask for your thyroid guard and thyroid protective flaps next time you are getting scans and x-rays!!  Protect your thyroid!

References

Morales A, Miranda M, Sánchez-Reyes A, Biete A, Fernández-Checa JC. Oxidative damage of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA induced by ionizing radiation in human hepatoblastoma cells. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1998 Aug 1;42(1):191-203.

Manu KA, Leyon PV, Kuttan G. Studies on the protective effects of Boerhaavia diffusa L. against gamma radiation induced damage in mice. Integr Cancer Ther. 2007 Dec;6(4):381-8.

Verma P, Sharma P, Parmar J, Sharma P, Agrawal A, Goyal PK. Amelioration of Radiation-Induced Hematological and Biochemical Alterations in Swiss Albino Mice  by Panax ginseng Extract. Integr Cancer Ther. 2010 Aug 11.

Lee TK, O’Brien KF, Wang W, Johnke RM, Sheng C, Benhabib SM, Wang T, Allison RR. Radioprotective effect of American ginseng on human lymphocytes at 90 minutes postirradiation: a study of 40 cases. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 May;16(5):561-7.

Park E, Hwang I, Song JY, Jee Y. Acidic polysaccharide of Panax ginseng as a defense against small intestinal damage by whole-body gamma irradiation of mice.  Acta Histochem. 2011 Jan;113(1):19-23.

Did you know that we need calcium for not only our bones, to maintain healthy and strong teeth, metabolize fat and even to maintain the correct pH in our body?

A calcium deficiency may result in the following symptoms:

•    Tooth decay
•    Aching joints
•    Eczema
•    Muscle cramps
•    Nervousness
•    Heart palpitations
•    Brittle nails
•    Hypertension
•    Increased cholesterol levels
•    Rheumatoid Arthritis
•    Insomnia
•    Rickets
•    Numbness in the arms
•    Numbness in the legs

One of the most important functions provided by calcium and other minerals is the balance of pH in the body.  The human body starts out in a slightly alkaline state and over time becomes more and more acidic.

Some people believe that by drinking alkaline water alone they will have the proper pH. Our body need much more than just alkaline water.

Calcium helps us maintain the correct pH! We lose weight easier with a proper pH and the correct amount of calcium. The recommended daily intake of calcium for adults is 1000 mg per day, but research shows the average North American adult is only getting 600 mg of calcium from their food!  If you avoid dairy it is virtually impossible to get adequate Calcium in your diet.

What else does calcium do? Check out this list:

•    Calcium is vital in the maintenance of regular heartbeat and the transmission of nerve impulses.
•    Adequate intake of calcium may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
•    It is needed for muscle growth and contraction and for the prevention of muscle cramps.
•    This important mineral is also essential in blood clotting and helps prevent colon cancer.
•    Helps to lower blood pressure and prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis as well.
•    Calcium provides energy and participates in the protein structuring of RNA and DNA.  It is also involved in the activation of several enzymes including lipase.  The amino acid lysine is needed for calcium absorption.
•    Calcium protects the bones and teeth from lead by inhibiting absorption of this toxic metal.  Wow! If there is a calcium deficiency, lead will be absorbed by the body and deposited in the teeth and bones.  This may account for the higher levels of lead in children who have a higher incidence of cavities. If we do not have enough calcium for these functions, the body will take it from the bones.

Calcium is more effective when taken in smaller doses spread throughout the day and before bedtime.  When taken at night, it also promotes sound sleep.  This mineral works less effectively when taken in a single mega dose.

Estrogen protects the skeletal system by promoting the deposit of calcium in bone.  Bella helps calcium absorption.

Sunrider’s Herb-Cal Tabs: The best Calcium on the market. Not only does it contain coral calcium but a special proprietary blend of Dandelion Root and Alfalfa. Both herbals are rich in minerals, magnesium and help neutralize acids in the blood. Plus Herb-Cal Tabs have papain and bromelain for better absorption of the calcium. As much as the coral calcium is good the healing power of this great formula is definitely in the proprietary blend!

How Much Should I take? Physician recommended is 1 tablet for every 10 years of age.  So a 60 year ‘young’ person would benefit from taking 6 a day!

Sunrider® Cal™ Tab

Using calcium mined from fossilized coral, chewable Sunrider® Cal™ Tab is a superior calcium supplement. It is formulated with concentrated herbal extracts, enzymes and Vitamin D2 to enhance absorption.

Calcium is necessary for building strong bones and teeth.*
A superior calcium supplement, Sunrider® Cal™ Tab contains calcium from a combination of carbonate, citrate and gluconate forms that is mined from fossilized coral for purity. Many other brands contain calcium from oyster shell, which may contain lead, mercury, arsenic or other heavy metals from industrial run-off. Each tab contains 250 mg of calcium, 25% of the recommended daily value.
Natural Product Number (NPN): 02241410
Disclaimer:
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Should you cleanse your liver?

In traditional Chinese five element theory, the liver and gallbladder are ruled by the wood element. The liver is seen as regulating the flow a chi (vital life force) and blood throughout the body, regulating normal digestion, and creating harmony of the emotions. Emotions of anger and frustration are often seen as “hot” or “stagnant” liver imbalances.

History of the Liver Cleanse

There are few time-honored traditions in existence today as important as the spring liver cleanse. The liver cleanse has been seen as a vital part of health by almost every culture for over a 1,000 years. People often wonder why cultures ranging from China to Egypt to South America valued the liver cleanse.

The answer is clear – it is the foundation of a healthy body and mind!

Traditionally, liver cleanses were most often used to help purge the body of excess toxins and alleviate digestive problems from the heavy meals eaten during the winter months. Then many started to use olive oil and lemon juice followed up by epson salts to cleanse gall stones and bile. Some old time cleanses may be too strong or even detrimental according to modern research.

However, it is easy to understand the importance of the liver in cleansing, because it serves as a filter for everything circulating in the blood.   Main functions of the liver are to:

•    break down hormones (testosterone, estrogen, etc.)
•    detoxify water
•    detoxify fat based soluble chemicals (drugs, medications, pesticides, etc.)
•    neutralize toxins

The liver even stores necessary vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, it also stores most toxins the body cannot breakdown.

Signs of liver imbalances that may indicate the need for cleansing:
o    PMS
o    Poor Digestion (Especially Fats)
o    Frustration & Anger
o    Chronic Stress
o    Chronic Allergies
o    Weakened Immunity
o    Hormonal Imbalance
o    Poor Eyesight
o    Fatigue, Lowered Energy
o    Skin Problems (Rashes, Eczema, Acne)
o    Elevated Liver Enzymes
o    Constipation
o    Leaky Gut Syndrome
o    Toxins in the Environment
o    Frequent Alcohol Consumption
o    Headaches & Migraines
o    Pains In the Upper Back & Neck

Table Foods for the Cleanse!
Eating the following whole foods diet while cleansing is very important:

• Organic fruit and vegetable juices
• Beets, carrots, artichokes, chicory root
• All cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, etc.)
• Bitter greens (collard, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens)
• Wild greens (nettles, watercress, purslane, lamb’s quarters, amaranth)
• Lemons, bitter melon, fresh parsley

A new study has found that the protective shield fluoride forms on teeth are up to 100 times thinner than previously believed. This raises questions about how this renowned cavity-fighter really works.

It has long been believed that fluoride changes the main mineral in tooth enamel,

hydroxyapatite, into a more-decay resistant material called fluorapatite. But the new research found that the fluorapatite layer formed in this way is only 6 nanometers thick — meaning it would take almost 10,000 such layers to span the width of a human hair.

According to Science Daily: “The scientists question whether a layer so thin, which is quickly worn away by ordinary chewing, really can shield teeth from decay”.

Another new study shows that exposure to fluoride may lower children’s intelligence.  In addition to toothpaste, fluoride is added to 70 percent of U.S. public drinking water supplies.

PR Newswire reports:

“About 28 percent of the children in the low-fluoride area scored as bright, normal or higher intelligence compared to only 8 percent in the ‘high’ fluoride area … in the high-fluoride city, 15 percent had scores indicating mental retardation and only 6 percent in the low-fluoride city.”

Hierarchy of Healing is about Energy Expenditure and is controlled by the innate intelligence of the body.

This following information will teach you:

• How the body prioritizes energy usage
• Your current position on the ‘ranking’
• Areas to look for indications of “improvement”.

This information also explains why a person will begin to develop more muscle, perhaps gaining weight before metabolizing fat. As the body receives more balanced energy the body begins to regenerate and we are able to go higher up on this ranking.

Special attention is placed on the production of offspring as the energy demands for such an occurrence are very high.

The intelligence of our body has priorities and is always programmed for our survival.

Physical Body’s Priorities:

1.    Crucial (Life sustaining: heart beating, lungs, functioning, etc.)

2.    Muscles (Muscle tissue is used every time we move …. this includes the heart.)

3.    Cleanse (Cleaning out of all poisons and toxins accumulated daily.)

4.    Fat Maintenance (Using fat efficiently, eliminating excess fat.)

5.    Immune (Building the immune system to protect from outside invaders.)

6.    Regeneration (Body can devote itself to creation of high quality cells.)

7.    Higher Mind (With above levels intact, awareness is raised and we are available to experience our Higher Mind in a natural way.)

1.  Crucial Functions:

When the body is operating at this level we are in emergency mode;

what keeps the body and fetus alive IMMEDIATELY is what gets first priority. The brain, the heart, breathing, circulation, survival is the only concern of the body at this level. If the body is operating at this level of energy management, serious care must be taken to bring the body into balance. Conception seldom takes place, if it does and the pregnancy results in birth – the baby might be born addicted, damaged or mutilated.

2.Muscular Functions:

At this level the individual has the ability to move away from danger, move blood, move food down, move wastes out and keeps lymph circulating, and moves the fertilized egg down the fallopian tube. When most of the energy is expended here, conception might take place but without a lot of bed rest, drugs or both, early miscarriages are common. A caesarean section may need to be performed. Weight management is an issue, foggy mental clarity and general energy is easily exhausted.

2.  Cleansing:

It is essential to keep the system operating at muscular function in order to bring about this third level, cleansing. If the first two stages aren’t maintained than cleansing, will never, COULD never take place! The body slowly, sometimes over decades, fills up with irritating “garbage”. When most of the energy is expended here, conception takes place but without constant medical interventions.

3.  Fat Maintenance:

If the body is enzymatically or energetically struggling to regulate fat then cleansing cannot take place fully and completely. Even though fat is essential for a number of different functions (nerve conduction, hormonal production, safety padding, the isolation of toxic residue, etc.) Without this area being well managed, the body cannot, will not devote much of its valuable resources to the levels below. In this stage birth might still be laborious and children either slightly mentally and/or physically compromised, and may take decades to be obvious, if at all.

4.  Defence System:

Energy is now devoted to keeping the body clear of unwanted energies, frequencies and vibrations that would otherwise be an open invitation to harshness, parasites and vermin. We need to feel safe in body, mind, spirit and place before we can move on to produce healthy, well-adjusted and creative children. Birth is usually uneventful and these children are born with the opportunity to be totally at peace, happy and co-creative –OR given the wrong messages or foods, may become angry, violent or even criminal.

5.  Regeneration:

When there is no need for nutritional, physiological or biochemical crisis intervention; when the muscles are intact and ready to respond; when the body is clean and trim and the defence system feels safe and powerful; then and only then does the body devote its left-over energy to creating cells that are of a higher quality, capable of vibrating at a level consistent with higher mind. When children are born from parents who (in this stage) can supply them with ample enzymatic and energetic reserves, the ability to remain elastic for the longest time and thus impart, not just genetic material, but wisdom and experience, it is a gift to those who come after them.

6.  Higher Mind and Well-Being:

When we begin regeneration, tensions within the body associated with old memories and held literally in old tissue begin to be released and replaced with higher quality tissue; our present level of spirit is challenged and we have the opportunity to raise our own awareness, re-evaluate old belief

patterns and look at and address bigger questions i.e. “what am I here to bring to humanity?” Children born from parents who have ample enzymatic and energetic reserve and who themselves are in “higher mind” have the potential to be the spiritual leaders of tomorrow.

We must work to improve the “state” of first ourselves, then tend to offspring, our “tribe” (family, friends…) and then humanity, in that order. For example, to be operating at a critical function level or even fat maintenance while attempting to save humanity or simply chasing our kids or helping friends is truly counter-productive. The mind and systems will not be working at levels of efficiency that can bring true and lasting meaning to the work. To truly bring wellness to others we must first bring wellness to ourselves. (but we already know that – reminders are always a helpful thing).

Thanks to Dr. Van Beveren, Ph.D.CNS. & Dr. Colleen Ceton and many others for their research.

Have you heard this news yet?  It’s kinda scary when you think about it.

Newborn babies were found to have over 200 chemicals, pesticides, and other toxins in their blood. That means we’re being poisoned before we even enter the world.

This is very concerning. I’ve been telling people for years about the importance of cleansing but this really hit home.

You can do something about it.  Detox/Cleansing is critical.  It is one of the cornerstones of health.

We all know our environment has changed. The last 100 years has wiped out millions of years of pure, clean food and water.

We weren’t designed to live in our current world of man-made chemicals, toxins, and pollutants.

As you go through life, a flood of new toxins enters your body through the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat every day, and even through your skin.

Getting rid of these toxins is imperative.  It will help you live a longer, healthier life.

Detoxifying your body can help support your immune system, clear your mind, balance your hormones, and much more.  Bottom line – daily, consistent cleansing will help you look and feel better.

Calli has been my key, go-to product to accomplish this.  It’s safe, delicious, effective and totally affordable at ‘10 cups for a buck’.  In fact most other herb teas/regular teas will cost you much more.

If you were assured that you would receive ten million dollars to follow instructions exactly, I have no doubt you would do it effortlessly and without thought. Why? Because you can see money in your mind quite clearly – you know what it is, you know what it can do for you and you know what money can buy.  Even without it in front of you, you can see it clearly and envision all the benefits. This vision is so clear you are motivated to get into action.

When it comes to our health, unfortunately, we do not clearly see the benefits and hence we are not motivated to get into action.

Unless you clearly see and understand in your mind what it means, your actions towards health seem pointless. We have to understand the thoughts, and then action will come naturally.

Can you visualizing what it will feel like to be at your optimal health? You probably have not given it much thought. Thoughts that lead to behavior are imprinted by repetitive thought and action. Continuing to use money as an example, what money can do is ingrained in your thoughts all day as you use it and work for it. You have perhaps spent time imagining what it does. You buy a lotto ticket and you can see in your mind what that winning money could do.

This repetitive thinking makes it so easy for money to act as a motivator to action.

I would suggest we now think seriously and realize that without health, money does not matter. Health, as Dr Carlos says, is worth more and is vital to everything else.  We may not feel unhealthy today or we can’t imagine the benefits of feeling better. The result is we don’t realize the importance of our daily, small health decisions.

A cigarette smoker could not smoke if they could see clearly in their mind how each puff contributes to dying a slow painful death of cancer. We don’t see it or feel it as we smoke and therefore it does not motivate us to stop. We do not see the food we eat as harmful, and we don’t think about or envision how it is affecting us. We seem to get by without exercise and many other unhealthy choices we make.

The truth is most of us have no idea what it feels like to live in a state of optimal health. If you knew, you would be incredibly motivated, because it feels better than anything. If you knew in each moment what the choices you make towards your health will do to you long term, you would be motivated to make better health choices.

How can you be motivated if you can’t see what your action will produce for you? Our behaviour is motivated by results that we see. We don’t see negative health behaviour as having immediate effect and so we are not motivated to change our behaviours.

Action step is to develop a vision of what your optimal health would be like.  See your energy level, your body, your skin, your smile, your attitude, graceful movements, strength, walk, shiny hair. See it today and see it as you grow older. Play a movie in your mind of you enjoying in optimal health throughout your life and really see what that looks like. Play it over and over again as many times as you can throughout the day. Get that picture in your mind, and it will lead to action. If you can see the actions you take every day as part of the bigger picture then it means something. Then you get motivated…

As you go through your day making health-related choices, incorporate your vision to influence your decisions. Ask yourself if your actions have a positive influence over your health.

SEE IT  *  BELIEVE IT  *  DO IT  * ACHIEVE IT – Your Optimal Health…

Quinoa is pronounced  KEEN-WA

QUINOA, AN ANCIENT GRAIN (SEED)

Quinoa is a “rediscovered” grain that has many health benefits.  This ancient food was once considered to be “the gold of the Incas” and is finding its way back into the modern diet.  People who want a grain that is less allergenic than wheat and as versatile as rice should consider quinoa. Quinoa is technically a seed, although it looks like a grain.  It is the seed of a green leafy plant. When you cook quinoa it becomes fluffy with a bit of a crunch.  It is truly a uniquely textured food that many people enjoy when they first encounter it.  When quinoa seeds are cooked, the shell of the grain (seed) separates from the center, creating the dual texture. It has a nutty flavor and is a perfect substitute for rice or pasta. Quinoa comes in several different varieties including yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and black. The most common variety is the yellow kind, which becomes semi transparent when cooked. The leaves of the quinoa plant are also edible and nutritious, although they are sometimes hard to find. Quinoa is a “super grain” because it has so many healthy benefits. It contains all of the essential amino acids in addition to lots of iron, potassium and B vitamins. It’s a great option for vegetarians because it offers nutrients that most people get from meat.

QUINOA IS A COMPLETE PROTEIN

The protein that quinoa provides is complete protein. It includes all nine essential amino acids, and has a high concentration of lysine.  Lysine is necessary for tissue growth and repair and is especially necessary if you lead an active lifestyle. Quinoa provides high concentrations of calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, tryptophan, copper and phosphorus. Since they are seeds instead of grains, they have a higher good fat content. The fats in quinoa are heart healthy and beneficial for brain functioning. QUINOA HELPS CURB CRAVINGS.

Unlike other grains, quinoa won’t spike your blood sugar and leave you craving more carbohydrates.  The fat and protein content in quinoa are balanced with the carbohydrates, so it will leave you full and satisfied.  It will fill you up and keep you fuller for longer than rice, pasta or breads.

HOW TO COOK QUINOA

Quinoa makes a quick meal and is easy to prepare. Rinse off the seeds to remove the coating, and then place the quinoa in a pot (2 parts quinoa to 1 part water).  The seeds cook in about fifteen minutes.  They can also be prepared in a rice cooker.  Adding broth instead of water or adding veggies is a great way to liven up the flavor of the dish.

Recently the unelected potentates of the EU Commission in Brussels have sought to override what has repeatedly been shown to be the overwhelming opposition of the European Union population to the spread of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in EU agriculture. EU Commission President now has a Maltese accountant as health and enviromnent Commissioner to rubber stamp the adoption of GMO. The former EU Environment Commissioner from Greece was a ferocious GMO opponent. As well, the Chinese government has indicated it may approve a variety of GMO rice. Before things get too far along, they would do well to take a closer look at the world GMO test lab, the USA. There GMO crops are anything but beneficial. Just the opposite.

What is carefully kept out of the Monsanto and other agribusiness propaganda in promoting genetically manipulated crops as an alternative to conventional is the fact that in the entire world until the present, all GMO crops have been manipulated and patented for only two things—to be resistant or “tolerant” to the patented highly toxic herbicide glyphosate chemicals that Monsanto and the others force farmers to buy as condition for buying their patented GMO seeds. The second trait is GMO seeds that have been engineered genetically to resist specific insects. Contrary to public relations myths promoted by the agribusiness giants in their own self-interest, there exists not oné single GMO seed that provides a greater harvest yield than conventional, nor one that requires less toxic chemical herbicides. That is for the simple reason there is no profit to be made in such.

Giant super-weeds plague

As prominent GMO opponent and biologist, Dr Mae-Wan Ho of the  Institute of Science in  London has noted, companies such as Monsanto build into their seeds herbicide-tolerance (HT) due to glyphosate-insensitive form of the gene coding for the enzyme targeted by the herbicide. The enzyme is derived from soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Insect-resistance is due to one or more toxin genes derived from the soil bacterium Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). The United States began large scale commercial planting of GMO plants, mainly soybeans and corn and cotton around 1997. By now, GM crops have taken over between 85 percent to 91 percent of the areas planted with the three major crops, soybean, corn and cotton in the US, on nearly 171 million acres.

The ecological time-bomb that came with the GMO according to Ho, is about to explode. Over several years of constant application of patented glyphosate herbicides such as Monsanto’s famous and highly Roundup, new herbicide-resistant “super-weeds” have evolved, nature’s response to man-made attempts to violate it. The super-weeds require significantly more not less herbicide to control.

ABC Television, a major US national network, made a recent documentary about the super-weeds under the rubric, “super weeds that can’t be killed.”

They interviewed farmers and scientists across Arkansas who described fields overrun with giant pigweed plants that can withstand as much glyphosate as farmers are able to spray. They interviewed one farmer who spent almost 400000 euro in only three months in a failed attempt to kill the new super-weeds.

The new super-weeds are so robust that harvester combines are unable to harvest the fields and hand tools break trying to cut them down. At least 400000 hectares of soybean and cotton in Arkansas alone have become invested with this new mutant biological plague. Detailed data on other agricultural regions is not available but believed similar. The pro-GMO and pro-agribusiness US Department of Agriculture has been reported lying about the true state of US crop harvest partly to hide the grim reality and to prevent an explosive revolt against GMO in the world’s largest GMO market.

One variety of super-weed, palmer pigweed can grow up to 2.4 meters high, withstands severe heat and prolonged droughts, and produces thousands of seeds with a root system that drains nutrients away from crops. If left unchecked, it takes over an entire field in a year. Some farmers have been forced to abandon their land. To date palmer pigweed infestation in GMO crop regions has been identified in addition to Arkansas, also in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Mexico, Mississippi and most recently, Alabama and Missouri.

Weed scientists at the University of Georgia estimate that just two palmer pigweed plants in every 6 meter length of cotton row can reduce yield by at least 23 percent. A single weed plant can produce 450 000 seeds.

Roundup toxic danger being covered-up

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the US and the world at large. Patented and sold by Monsanto since the 1970s under the trade name Roundup, it is a mandatory component of buying GMO seeds from Monsanto. Just go to your local garden store and ask for it and read the label carefully.

As I detail in my book, Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation, GMO crops and patented seeds were developed in the 1970’s with significant financial support from the pro-eugenics Rockefeller Foundation, by what were essentially chemical companies—Monsanto Chemicals, DuPont and Dow Chemicals. All three were involved in the scandal of the highly toxic Agent Orange used in Vietnam, as well as Dioxin in the 1970’s, and lied to cover up the true damage to its own employees as well as to civilian and military populations exposed.

Their patented GMO seeds were seen as a clever way to force increased purchase of their agricultural chemicals such as Roundup. Farmers must sign a legal contract with Monsanto in which it stipulates that only Monsanto Roundup pesticide may be used. Farmers are thus trapped both in buying new seeds from Monsanto each harvest and buying the toxic glyphosate.

France’s University of Caen, in a team led by molecular biologist, Gilles-Eric Seralini, did a study that showed Roundup contained one specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA. Seralini’s team demonstrated that POEA in Roundup was more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than even the glyphosate itself. Monsanto refuses to release details of the contents of its Roundup other than glyphosate, calling it “proprietary.”

The Seralini study found that Roundup’s inert ingredients amplified the toxic effect on human cells—even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns! The French team studied multiple concentrations of Roundup, from the typical agricultural or lawn dose down to concentrations 100,000 times more dilute than the products sold on shelves. The researchers saw cell damage at all concentrations.

Glyphosate and Roundup are advertised as “less toxic to us than table salt” in a pamphlet from the Biotechnology Institute promoting GMO crops as ‘Weed Warrior.’ Thirteen years of GMO crops in the USA has increased overall pesticide use by 318 million pounds, not decreased as promised by the Four Horsemen of the GMO Apocalypse. The extra disease burden on the nation from that alone is considerable.

Nonetheless after introduction of Monsanto GMO seeds commercially in the USA, use of glyphosate has risen more than 1500% between 1994 and 2005. In the USA some 100 million pounds of glyphosate are used on lawns and farms every year, and over the last 13 years, it has been applied to more than a billion acres. When questioned, Monsanto’s technical development manager, Rick Cole, reportedly said the problems were “manageable.” He advised farmers to alternate crops and use different makes of herbicides produced by Monsanto. Monsanto is encouraging farmers to mix glyphosate with its older herbicides such as 2,4-D, banned in Sweden, Denmark and Norway for links to cancer and reproductive and neurological damage. 2,4-D is a component of Agent Orange, produced by Monsanto for use in Vietnam in the 1960s.

US Farmers turn to organics

Farmers across the United States are reported to be going back to conventional non-GMO crops instead. According to a new report from the US Department of Agriculture, retail sales of organic food went up to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. The market is so active that organic farms have struggled at times to produce sufficient supply to keep up with the rapid growth in consumer demand, leading to periodic shortages of organic products.

The new UK Conservative-Liberal coalition government is strongly backing lifting a de facto ban on GMO in that country. UK Chief Scientific Adviser, Prof. John Beddington, recently wrote an article in which he misleadingly claimed “The next decade will see the development of combinations of desirable traits and the introduction of new traits such as drought tolerance. By mid-century much more radical options involving highly polygenic traits may be feasible.” He went on to promise “cloned animals with engineered innate immunity to diseases” and more. I think we can pass that one up, thank you.

A recent study by Iowa State University and the US Department of Agriculture assessing the performance of farms during the three-year transition it takes to switch from conventional to certified organic production showed notable advantages of organic farming over GMO or even conventional non-GMO crops. In an experiment lasting four years—three years transition and first year organic—the study showed that although yields dropped initially, they equalized in the third year, and by the fourth year, the organic yields were ahead of the conventional for both soybean and corn.

As well, the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) has recently been published, the result of three-year deliberation by 400 participating scientists and non-government representatives from 110 countries around the world. It came to the conclusion that small scale organic agriculture is the way ahead for coping with hunger, social inequities and environmental disasters. As Dr Ho argues, a fundamental shift in farming practice is needed urgently, before the agricultural catastrophe spreads further across Germany and the EU to the rest of the world.

Endnotes:

Super weed can’t be killed, abc news, 6 October 2009. See also,Jeff Hampton,  N.C. farmers battle herbicide-resistant weeds, The Virginian-Pilot, 19 July 2009, http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/nc-farmers-battle-herbicideresistant-weeds

Clea Caulcutt, ‘Superweed’ explosion threatens Monsanto heartlands, Clea Caulcutt, 19 April 2009, http://www.france24.com/en/20090418-superweed-explosion-threatens-monsanto-heartlands-genetically-modified-US-crops

N. Benachour and G-E. Seralini, Glyphosate Formulations Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Human Umbilical, Embryonic, and Placental Cells, Chem. Res. Toxicol., Article DOI: 10.1021/tx800218n