health4earth

October 2014, Superior Views

Bright gold colors radiate everywhere.The aspen, birch and maple trees are stunning.

Migrating yellow rump warblers climb over our house looking for bugs, white-throated sparrows dig in the falling leaves. Groups of cedar wax-wing and robins take a rest from their migration to look for food.

Our presence surprises the fox and coyotes. It is unusual to never see deer.

A few bee balm, asters, and hyssop are still blooming, but the colorful trees absorb the eyes attention. The beautiful days are sunny and cool and you wish for them to last forever.

Protect monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act

This is from Friends of the Earth foe.org/monarchs

Tell the Fish and Wildlife Service: Protect monarchs under the Endangered Species Act.

Across the Midwest, millions of acres of “Roundup® Ready” GMO crops engineered to withstand massive amounts Monsanto’s Roundup® have been planted along the monarch’s migration route — virtually wiping out milkweed, the only food young monarchs eat.

The use of Roundup® has skyrocketed in the last decade. More Roundup® = less milkweed = fewer monarchs.

Monarchs need our help before it’s too late! Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect monarchs under the Endangered Species Act.

The numbers are startling: in the last 20 years, the number of monarchs has declined by 90 percent. They’ve dropped from a recorded high of 1 billion butterflies in the mid-1990s to less than 35 million last winter. For this year, early reports suggest a 50 percent decline in their numbers from last year.

But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the power to help. It could restore essential monarch habitat nationwide — by giving the monarch butterfly protection under the Endangered Species Act. But we need your help to protect this essential pollinator for future generations.

Tell the Fish and Wildlife Service: Protect monarchs under the Endangered Species Act.

Monarchs, like bees, are a “canary in the coal mine” telling us that the chemical-intensive, GMO, corporate-controlled agricultural system is wiping out the very species our food system and ecosystems depend on.

We must take swift action to shift our food system to one that not only protects these iconic creatures, but also people and the environment.

Urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the iconic monarch butterfly before it’s too late.

Friends of the Earth

We have the Right To Know: What is in the Food we Consume?

Are you frightened by the incredible power in the United States of big business? They are the only ones with money, and spend millions to keep their power over the consumer. In this November Oregon referendum, like they have done in other states, big business is spending millions of dollars to keep us from knowing what is in our food.

We should as consumers, know what harmful ingredients our foods could contain. I want the products I purchase labelled if they have GMOs, and if they have been sprayed with harmful chemicals!

According to surveys, 90% of us think our food should be labeled for GMOs, and it is frustrating that large corporations control the message with lies about we eat. We still have some choices. and as consumers can try to stay away from GMO products. Our power is in wise consumer choices!

What can you do?

Reduce the amount of processed foods you purchase, and eat REAL food.
Always read labels. soy and corn syrup are GMO products.
Eat organic and local as much as you can afford. Shop food-coops and farmers markets.
Never use neonicotinoids or pesticides on your lawn or garden
Do NOT believe what Monsanto, Bayer, General Mills, Cargill, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and others …..are telling you about chemicals and GMOs. Big business thinks about profit and not what is healthy for you, or our bees, birds and butterflies!
Support the Right to Know Amendment on the Oregon Ballot on Election Day, November http://oregonrighttoknow.org/ Support them financially if you can: https://oregonrighttoknow.ngpvanhost.com/form/31251809577535232?ms=E.FR-O-LFW1.ND.NAT.MAIN_CONTRIBUTE-DONATE&AM=35
Watch this Bill Nye video and learn about GMOs, http://ecowatch.com/2014/10/15/bill-nye-science-guy-gmo-foods/

More Information:

“All-natural” and “heart-healthy” don’t qualify as labels. They’re just food industry hype. Kellogg can claim that its energy bar will make you as strong as Hercules, but only the “Nutritional information” box tells you what’s actually inside the package — and herbicides, pesticides and GMOs aren’t listed.

The certified-organic label, on the other hand, lets you know beyond a reasonable doubt where your food comes from and how it’s made. Plus, you can feel good about supporting a food system that spends a fraction of its capital (human and otherwise) on marketing, packaging, branding, advertising and so on. Your dollar will go to people who put in 12-hour days, seven days a week to improve your health and that of the planet.” Bonnie Blodgett http://strib.mn/1xdzUc5

What are Genetically Engineered Foods / GMOs?

“Plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs.”
From the glossary on the Monsanto website.

“Organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.”
World Health Organization

Find more information:

GMO crops are creating a mono culture and wiping out the habitat of our bees, butterflies and birds. More information: Friends of the Earth foe.org/monarchs

http://ecowatch.com/2014/09/29/gmo-crops-accelerate-herbicide-insecticide/

http://ecowatch.com/2014/09/29/gmo-crops-accelerate-herbicide-insecticide/?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=80f6754f39-Top_News_10_5_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-80f6754f39-85912169

http://ecowatch.com/2014/09/29/gmo-crops-accelerate-herbicide-insecticide/

California Bans the Plastic Bag!

This is FABULOUS news:
Today as I shopped at a Jewel Osco grocery store in Chicago, I was sick to see every item loaded into a plastic bag. I found the same situation as I traveled through New York and Michigan last week. In Minnesota I see more reusable bags and brown paper bags. This was not the case in either the state of New York or City of Chicago, plastic bags dominate!

Please read the link below:

http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/2014/09/the-state-of-california-bans-the-plastic-bag/

The chemicals from these bags leach out into our waterways from the land fills where they will sit for hundreds of years. Also they litter our landscape and are harmful to wildlife.
What can you do?
1. Bring reusable bags shopping. I would use washable bags that will last. Contact me and I can tell you where to purchase them. I can sell you my health4earth bags, but they are expensive
2. Wash, dry and recycle any plastic bags at most grocery stores.
3. Refuse, refuse, refuse plastic!
4. Never litter!

https://health4earth.com/?s=refuse+plastic

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/277549051.html

*Remember your washable, reusable shopping bags*

Pictures from The Great Climate March

http://ecowatch.com/2014/09/25/video-peoples-climate-march/?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=00cb25b357-Top_News_9_25_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-00cb25b357-85912169

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/1489ed00ee64b56d

Views of a Warming World

Below are two excellent articles from Audubon

I too am worried about the future of our birds, butterflies bees, and all of us! I have noticed a big decline in the hummingbirds and butterflies in the last 4 years.

http://climate.audubon.org/article/12-views-warming-world

http://climate.audubon.org/article/face-new-climate-movement

Lake Superior has only one outlet

An ore boat on the St. Marys River

Over 300 rivers and streams run into Lake Superior, but the big lake has only one outlet, the St. Marys River. This river between Ontario and Michigan carries 42 billion gallons of water each day out of Lake Superior.

Lake Superior

Carbon is costing us big time!

….And why are we marching on Sunday?

From Bill Moyers:

http://billmoyers.com/2014/09/10/carbon-is-costing-us-big-time/

Climate March in NYC on Sunday, September 21

Hope I see you in New York City on Sunday!

This month, something amazing is happening. While the UN meets to discuss the climate, people from all over the world are coming together with a single message:

“It’s time to take action on climate change.”

In one week, on Sunday September 21, we’ll be joining the People’s Climate March on the streets of New York City to demand world leaders turn talk into action when they meet at the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

Together, we can make a difference!!

http://watchdisruption.com/ A film on climate change.

Can’t make it to NYC, here are some easy things you can do:

https://health4earth.com/easy-things-you-can-do-to-help-stop-climate-change/

http://ecowatch.com/2014/09/14/peoples-climate-march-future/ We are marching for the future.