Visit this link to make your mark - each of us can make a small contribution to the growing swell of environmental concern!

http://www11.earthhourus.org/

When I first came across this phrase, I thought it was a joke:  after all, only in the States could such a pseudo-scientific phrase be invented to describe the fact that kids don't spend enough time outdoors! 

Certainly I don't mean to imply that it is not a problem:  even in my small rural town, far too many children spend far too much time exercising their thumbs instead of their minds and bodies.

This article recognizes and defines the problem, but more interesting perhaps, it discusses the fact that now the condition (!) has a name, developers will be coming up with solutions. The cynic in me says that their motives may not be altogether pure, if this "diagnosis" catches on, they will after all be the first ones with the appropriate selling point ... but even so, what could be better than more ways to get more kids outdoors?

Fortunately in this case, the solution to the disorder involves neither a vaccine nor a pill!

Leave no child inside

The situation brings new meaning to the term "guinea pig".  All these chemicals which were received with such fanfare, and promoted as making our lives easier, may actually be putting the health of future generations at risk.

"Most Americans haven't heard of body burden testing, but it's a hot  topic among environmentalists and public health experts who warn that  the industrial chemicals we come into contact with every day are  accumulating in our bodies and endangering our health in ways we have  yet to understand. "

Regular detoxing doesn't seem like such a bad idea after reading an article like the one below!

Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids' bodies

The Vitamin Lady writes about Detoxing the Body - Health through Cleansing

Selection of products for Cleansing and Detoxification.

I consider opposing this irresponsible genetic experimentation so important that not only did I post about it on March 9th, I am now alerting you again. Please send this info to any friends like yourselves, who are concerned about this kind of experimentation.

I am linking you to a blog called HSI on the Spot, which says as follows towards the end of the article - I don't want you to miss this part! 

DO THIS TODAY - TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY FOR COMMENTS

"We still have a chance to stop this dangerous experiment. The USDA is still accepting public comments, and will be through March 30, but they don’t make it easy. (In fact, they make it impossible to include a direct link!) But posting your opinion is worth the 60 seconds it takes to jump through the hoops:
1. Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
2. From the drop-down list next to “Agency*,” select ‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,’’ then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ 3. In the Docket ID column, scroll down and select APHIS–2007–0006.  Click on the left-hand link. Then you can submit your own comment, view other public comments, and view all the supporting and related materials available electronically.

Please go to their website TODAY and post your comment before it’s too late. In fact, send this information to everyone you know – if we can get more people to post comments, there’s a better chance that someone at the USDA will actually pay attention!

Convenience - or the future of the human race?  Where would we be without those handy plastics to wrap our foods in - but previous scientific studies on humans have found that phthalates, found in such materials,  are associated with poor semen quality in men and subtle changes in the reproductive organs in baby boys. 

These changes are brought about by interfering with testosterone levels.  In this new study, Doctors theorized that since low testosterone is also implicated in obesity and syndrome X, there might be a connection with phthalates there, also.

And indeed - there is!

Packaging chemical linked to male fat and insulin resistance

It would be harder to imagine anything weirder and more unsettling than this.

Scientists at a company called  Ventria Bioscience have bio-engineered a strain of rice containing human genes found in  breast milk.  They present this as a disinterested (but profitable) way to control diarrhea in infants ...

However, the risks for our food chain and our health are incalculable.  What boggles the mind is that NOBODY KNOWS the exact consequences of this kind of manipulation, yet Government seems to be in accord before the ink is dry on the proposals.

Human Genes in Rice spark new GM row

I must have said it a thousand times, and been proven right about that often.  Take a natural brand of food out of the hands of those who developed it with care and honesty, sell it to a big corporation  - and trust goes out of the window.

Once money becomes the main preoccupation, once greed rules, any available short cut will be taken, and we, the consumers, will be taken in. Read my recent post about Walmart and Organics as a case in point.

Walmart and other big names are on the spot again here:  think you are buying organic milk from happy cows?  Not so! Read the details of the scam here.

Protect yourself - let them know you are disgusted. 
Sign a petition here.

For many years I owned a beautiful scarlet Macaw.  My husband and I originally met when he was on tour in Panama, and this was his first gift to me.  We  have no idea how old Ambrose was when we got him (and actually, we don't really know it was a "he", since Macaws can only be sexed through a rather complicated process).  However, he lived with us for over 26 years.

I discovered on moving to the States, that bird owners generally knew NOT to use Teflon pans around these birds, since the fumes can kill them.  This gave me furiously to think, and I was not surprised when information began to came to light about the toxicity of these kinds of pans.  I had already eliminated mine from the kitchen just in case, and I urge you to consider doing the same.

I have written about this before, but was inspired to do so again when, to my surprise, I came across a recipe in Vegetarian Times which began: coat a non stick pan with oil ...

The convenience isn't worth it, believe me.  A thin coating of some healthy oil on a normal saucepan will fulfill much the same purpose without the dangers.

Teflon and C8

DuPont to pay millions in fines

Many links on the Teflon subject

My article on Detoxification

If any further proof were needed to tell us that anything positive McDonalds does for health or the environment is prompted by PR and not conviction - their latest choice of a toy give away provides it.

Imagine!  Having trained entire generations of children to supersize their waistlines, they are now training them to choose a vehicle that not only has no justification for its existence,  but is an environmental disasted to boot.

Here is a scathing critique of the Hummer give-away, and a letter you can send to McDonald's president to tell him you are not "transported with delight"!

http://www.ronaldmchummer.com/

Cell phones tend to bring out the curmudgeon in me.  I consider driving an art form, and I just KNOW for a fact that one cannot drive intelligently and talk on a phone at the same time.  It doesn't matter whether a head set is being used:  the human mind cannot concentrate on two things at the same time.

Conclusion:  cell phones are dangerous to drivers.

But they are also potentially deadly if there is an electric storm in the area.  If there is lightning about, do not, I repeat DO NOT hold a cell phone to your head.

This is why.

My daughter went through a brief period when she loved to find things to criticize about her Mother.  I can remember when she fastened on the fact that my housekeeping is less than brilliant - I won't go  into details. Suffice it to say I could never get enthusiastic about something I had to do all over again the next day!

In order to lessen the outcry, I swamped her in research that showed a connection between immaculate houses with heavy antispetic and chemical residue, and allergies, eczema and asthma.

I don't know how convinced she was - but now she has a daughter of her own I hope it's comforting her when things get left undone.

Here comes another study connecting the lack of a little healthy dirt with our health.

Read my article on Healthy Children here.

Organic has been much in the news recently:  Walmart has announced it intends to become a significant player.  Organic dairy is popping up everywhere.  Certainly in some ways this could be good, if it signals a shift towards greater care of our planet and the animals we tend.

True organic, though - authentic organic, you might say - certainly does.  It is connected to health, and to husbandry*.

I like to think that most of the people reading this blog are savvy enough to see further than the smiley face label on the "organic " Rice Krispies; they will want to know what principles have been compromised to get the low price point.

So here is the first example. Scroll to the bottom to find how you can influence the sequence of events.

ACTION ALERT: ORGANIC DAIRY REGULATION COMMENTS

WESTON A. PRICE FOUNDATION
ACTION ALERT
May 22, 2006

Organic Cattle Should Be Pasture Fed- Not Raised in Intensive Feedlots

Two of the largest organic dairy companies in the nation, Horizon Organic (a subsidiary of Dean Foods), a supplier to Wal-Mart and many health food stores; and Aurora Organic, a supplier of private brand name organic milk to Costco, Safeway, Giant, Wild Oats and others, are purchasing the majority of their milk from feedlot dairies where the cows have little or no access to pasture. Together, these corporations control up to 65% of the organic dairy market. A routine practice on these giant dairy feedlots, many with thousands of cows, is to continuously import calves from conventional farms, where animals have been weaned on blood, fed slaughterhouse waste and genetically engineered grains, and injected or dosed with antibiotics. Certifiers endorsing these factory farm organic products include QAI and the Colorado state department of agriculture.

Here's How Organic Consumers Can Help Put a Stop to This

The USDA has posted revisions to the National Organic Program and is seeking public comment until June 12, 2006. A portion of the revisions relate to the issue of dairy produced on factory farms being labeled as "organic." The National Organic Standards Board, which is made up of representatives of the organics industry, has proposed that organic dairy cows be required to spend at least 120 days each year on grass and that at least 30 percent of the cows' feed must come from pasture during the grazing season.

For many organic dairy farmers, having grazing standards that can be enforced are essential to protect the industry from the large corporate players in the West with large herds that offer their cows only token access to grass. The organic dairy farmers warn that by leveraging economy of scale, these large dairies can lowball prices, thus putting the livelihood of the smaller family dairies along with the more modest-sized companies and cooperatives that market their milk at risk.

Please send a message to the National Organic Program of the USDA to stop the labeling of factory farm milk as "organic." To do so, please click on the following link:http://tinyurl.com/mqvup

* Husbandry: Careful management or conservation of resources; economy.

Here is the SECOND example. This article is about a lady who moved to what she thought was "healthier food" and still did not lose weight.

Why?  Because she was buying "fake" healthy foods.

Once again, in chorus: when the big manufacturers make a change in their lines, they are following the money. They are doing it not to make you healthier, not to make cows or chickens happier,  not to be better stewards of the earth, but to MAKE MORE PROFIT.

As some of you may be aware, my recent diagnosis of cancer caused me to implement the Budwig Diet, which is pretty much a vegetarian regimen. (I will add that 9 months post diagnosis, I am still doing fine.)

Her diet does allow fish - but after reading this depressingly accurate analysis of the state of our planet, I am considering eliminating even that.

Sometimes it is difficult to make choices:  one would think that farmed fish might be the answer... then one reads horror stories about how toxic they are, what they are fed, how they are colored, how much lower their nutrient content is  .

Consider, too, that this state of affairs has come about when most of the world has not reached our level of consumerism.  What will happen to our planet when all others join us at the table?

Going vegetarian - the Vegetarian Society

Be careful - not all vegetarian is vegetarian! Another excellent example of my theory that when big companies try to exploit a health trend, believe me, they are NOT doing it for your benefit.  Stick to the companies who are authentically vegetarian on principle, and you will be safe.

Vegetarianism's 20 questions

Best and worst fish to eat

About 5 years ago, I became aware of the growing problem of drug residues in the water:  you can find my summary here.

The problem has certainly got no better in the interim, and a 2 year recent Canadian study raises the alarm again. Called There is No ‘Away’, the 94-page document is a detailed discussion and action plan for emerging environmental contaminants — trace levels of active ingredients from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) that end up in surface and ground water. PPCPs pose hazards not only because they are persistent. Even at low levels, these substances may contribute to antibiotic resistance and play a role as hormone mimics.

>The EPA maintains a website ,an over view of environmental issues connected to personal care products, not updated since last year, 2005 - but still a source of interesting information.

Between the drugs we take personally, the ones we give to our pets, the massive amounts of drugs given to agricultural animals, and the unregulated ingredients in cosmetic products, our planet is in  trouble.

While the toxic  substances are currently detected at extremely low levels, they do not break down, which means they have the potential to bioaccumulate. For those that have been identified as endocrine disruptors, it may not take much to have an effect (www.ourstolenfuture.org).

>The feminization of wild fish has become a real concern since the 1990s.

The most troubling findings in the growing body of PPCP research is that some of these drugs are making it into fresh water systems, and are detectable at the tap. In a study by Glen Boyd at Tulane University, several PPCPs were detected in local tap water samples including the pain killer naproxen, the sex hormone estrone, and a breakdown product of anti-cholesterol drugs (Potera, 2000). Though the chemicals were found at very low levels -- they were barely detectable -- scientists consider them of concern because, by design, pharmaceuticals are intended to exert their effects at very low concentrations.

>A scientist discusses the problem rather cold-bloodedly.

Some simple things you can do immediately to help:

Don't flush left-over drugs down the toilet, or put them in the trash.  try instead returning them to the pharmacy.  Explain why you are doing it, and raise their consciousness too!

Do consider changing over to beauty products from environmentally responsible manufacturers.

Do consider exchanging the chemicals in your household for cleaners that do not harm our world.

Do begin the switch to organic lawns and gardens.

>What else you can do