Dead Birds, Bees & Fish Explained By EPA Document

Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But if Bayer stops selling one group of pesticides, we could save bees from extinction.

Four European countries have begun banning these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. But Bayer, the largest producer of neonicotinoids, has lobbied hard to keep them on the market. Now, massive global pressure from Avaaz and others has forced them to consider the facts — and in 24 hours, Bayer shareholders will vote on a motion that could stop these toxic chemicals. Let’s all act now and shame the shareholders to stop killing bees.

The pressure is working, and this is our best chance to save the bees. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone — let’s reach half a million signers and deliver it directly to shareholders tomorrow in Germany!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bayer_save_the_bees_db/?vl

Bees don’t just make honey, they are vital to life on earth, every year pollinating 90% of plants and crops — with an estimated $40bn value, over one-third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations — some bee species are already extinct and some US species are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But increasingly, independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world.

This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmed the scale of this problem. If we can get Bayer shareholders to act, we could shut down once and for all Bayer’s influence on policy-makers and scientists. The real experts — the beekeepers and farmers — want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let’s support them now. Sign the urgent petition to Bayer shareholders now, then forward this email:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bayer_save_the_bees_db/?vl

We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on.

With hope,

Alice, Antonia, Mia, Luis, Ricken, Stephanie, Pascal, Iain, Ari and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

Studies fault Bayer in bee die-off (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0406/Studies-fault-Bayer-in-bee-die-off

2 Studies Point to Common Pesticide as a Culprit in Declining Bee Colonies (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/science/neocotinoid-pesticides-play-a-role-in-bees-decline-2-studies-find.html?_r=1

Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide despite own scientists’ red flags (Grist)
http://grist.org/politics/food-2010-12-10-leaked-documents-show-epa-allowed-bee-toxic-pesticide/

Bayer’s Annual Stockholder’s Meeting (ASM website)
http://www.asm2012.bayer.com/en/counter-motions.aspx

Repeat:  Water Fluoridation Does Not Reduce Cavities

New Studies: Fluoridation Fails to Reduce Cavities in New York City and Nationally

NEW YORK, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — New research shows that fluoride chemicals added to U.S. public water supplies are not reducing tooth decay as promoted and promised by government agencies, reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF).

Using federal statistics, the West Virginia University Rural Health Research Center reports that urban U.S. children, with more exposure to fluoridated water and dental care, have just as many cavities as less fluoridation-exposed rural children. (1)

The researchers write: “For children’s dental health measures, it was found that fluoridation rates were not significantly related to the measures of either caries or overall condition of the teeth for urban or rural areas.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says fluoridation reduces tooth decay. But, this study and others shows it hasn’t. Tooth decay crises are occurring in all fluoridated cities, states and countries. And, the CDC reports the incidence and severity of children’s primary tooth decay recently increased.

“Fortunes are wasted on fluoridation schemes that fail to prevent cavities while unnecessarily exposing children to fluoride’s adverse drug effects,” says attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President.

New York City spends millions of dollars annually on fluoridation. Yet another study proves fluoridation fails in NYC also.

NYC’s Chinese-American 2-to-11-year-olds, living in the low-income area of Manhattan’s Chinatown have much more primary tooth decay when compared to white and other minority groups nationally (NYS Dental Journal June/July 2011).

Most of NYC’s Chinese-American children are U.S. born – 63% have primary tooth decay compared to only 38% of children in a national study.

The authors write, “This high prevalence of caries in the primary dentition is also similar to a national survey of children in mainland China, where three out of four children were found to be affected by caries in primary teeth,” averaging about 5 decayed teeth.

More evidence that fluoridation fails New York is here

Legislation (Int 0463-2011) is pending to stop fluoridation in New York City. Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Jr, the chief sponsor, says “There is a growing body of evidence that fluoride does more harm than good.”

“Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor required for healthy teeth. Fluoridation must end,” says Beeber.

Contact: Paul Beeber, JD, 516-433-8882 nyscof@aol.com

http://www.fluoridation.webs.com

http://www.FluorideAction.Net

SOURCE NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

FLUORIDE TRUTH hits the TV in AUSTRALIA

TV NEWS show exposes Fluoride for what it is – poison!

VIOLENCE & CRIMINALITY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT & FLUORIDE
Violent behaviour & silicofluorides linked…

http://dianabuckland.webs.com/fluorideaggression.htm

MONSANTO WINS AGAIN!

Monsanto has won Green America’s online contest to determine the biggest “Corporate Fool.” The agricultural and chemical giant came in first, followed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Chevron.

Monsanto won for its toxic legacy, which includes Agent Orange and DDT, massive aerial spraying of Round-Up as a drug war tactic, as well as unlabeled and untested genetically modified crops. Their practices enable factory farming and put small farmers out of business. They continue to push genetically modified crops in the developing world, which results in locking farmers into cycles of debt and dependence on chemical crop inputs.

With the rapidly growing awareness of the health and environmental effects of our corporate controlled industrialized food system, it is no surprise that Monsanto has been chosen as the top Corporate Fool. The fight against the Biotech Bully of St Louis embodies some of the most pressing issues of our time, including the current health and obesity crisis, climate change (to which industrial agriculture is a major contributor) and the fight against corporate rule.

To honor Monsanto as the nation’s biggest corporate fool, a donation was made in the name of Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant to Navdanya, an organization in India that has worked with 5,000,000 farmers to create seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped set up the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country.

If you’re in the D.C. area, please join Organic Consumers Association Political Director Alexis Baden-Mayer at the Corporate Fools awards ceremony, Friday March 30, 2012, from 10:30am to 12pm. We’ll meet at Green America’s offices at 1612 K Street, NW Suite 600, Washington, DC 2006 at 10:30am.

Posted By: ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION

Ten Ways Monsanto and Big Ag Are Trying to Kill You – And the Planet

Energy-intensive industrial farming practices that rely on toxic chemicals and genetically engineered crops are not just undermining public health, they’re destroying the planet.

Here’s how:

#1 Generating Massive Greenhouse Gas Pollution (CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide) and Global Warming, While Promoting False Solutions Such as Industrial Biofuels, So-Called Drought-Resistant Crops, and Genetically Engineered Trees

#2 Polluting the Environment and the Soil-Food Web with Pesticides, Chemical Fertilizers, and Persistent Toxins, Including Dioxin

#3 Draining and Polluting Wetlands and Aquifers, Turning Farmland into Desert

#4 Poisoning Wells and Municipal Drinking Water, Lakes, and Rivers

#5 Chopping Down the Rainforests for Monoculture GMO Crops, Biofuels and Cattle Grazing

#6 Increasing the Cost of Food, While Reducing Nutrition and Biodiversity

#7 Spawning Pesticide-Resistant Superbugs and Weeds, and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

#8 Generating New and More Virulent Plant, Animal and Human Diseases

#9 Utilizing Wasteful Fossil Fuel-Intensive Practices and Encouraging the Expansion of Natural Gas Fracking and Tar Sands Extraction (Which Destroy Forests, Aquifers, and Farmland)

#10 Stealing Money From the 99% to Give Huge Subsidies to the 1% Wealthiest, Most Chemical and Energy-Intensive Farms and Food Producers

It’s not enough to stop eating genetically engineered food. If we want a liveable planet we’ve got to boycott all factory farmed food and make the Great Transition from energy and chemical-intensive agriculture to a relocalized and organic system of food and farming. The World According to Monsanto is a recipe for disaster. Monsanto and Big Ag contaminate every link in the food chain, threatening the very foundation of life: living nutrient-rich soil, clean water, resilient crops, healthy animals, stable climates, and diverse food sources. The good news is that agro-ecological and organic methods can reverse this threat and sustain food production for future generations, but we don’t have much time to turn things around.

Take Action

Learn more:

“What About the State of Our Planet, Mr. President?” By Will Allen and Ronnie Cummins

The Farm Bill: Subsidizing Pollution, Junk Food, and the Richest 1%

Support the OCA and the OCF

In 2012, whether we’re talking about getting antibiotics out of animal feed or labeling GMOs, we’re fighting harder than ever. With the 2012 California Ballot Initiative, and GMO labeling legislation gaining momentum in Vermont, Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii and other states, we have a real chance to hit Monsanto with the skull and crossbones they fear so much – mandatory labels on genetically engineered food. We also plan to step up our efforts to strengthen organic standards and significantly expand the market for organic food and products, especially those produced locally and regionally.

Please be as generous as you can during our January and February fundraising drive.

Donate to the Organic Consumers Association (tax-deductible)

Donate to the Organic Consumers Fund (non-tax-deductible, but necessary for our efforts in California)

Little Bytes: Top Stories of the Week

Petition Tells Obama: ‘Cease FDA Ties to Monsanto’

Monsanto Named the “Worst Company of 2011″

Why Does Agriculture Keep Getting a Climate Pass?

Bee Colony Collapse Disorder May Affect Our Food Supply

Washington Wheat Farmers Throw Support Behind Required Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods