NASA finds Water on the Moon

Mid November 2009 NASA finds Water on the Moon

http://video.ap.org/?f=KPTK&pid=DgKh1hSA9AcoNzTpPIriNotqCZkwKmn0

World Watch Meat and global warming greenhouse gases

You and...Al Gore, 

for years vegans and vegetarians have been trying to get none other than the famous global warming mascot to condemn the eating of meat for the reason that it releases so much methane, far worse than carbon dioxide, in addition to all the fuel and water that go into growing the grain and hauling it around for the cows to eventually eat it.

In several of his interviews to promote his most recent book on climate change, “Our Choice,” environmental campaigner, former US Vice President and Nobel Prize laureate Al Gore has spoken with US broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer and Australian Leigh Sales on the role of meat reduction in halting global warming. 

When Ms. Sales asked if he agreed with British climate expert Lord Nicholas Stern’s call for people to be vegetarian to reduce emissions, Mr. Gore replied, “It’s a legitimate point of view. 
Nick Stern is a very able advocate for whom I have enormous respect… I have cut back sharply on the meat that I eat and it’s absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global crisis. Not only because of the CO2 involved, but also because of the water consumed in the process.” 


Supreme Master TV




http://www.suprememastertv.com/save-our-planet/Al-Gore-recommends-reducing-meat-to-address-global-warming.html

Here is the link to the World Watch Report

http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf

Bob Linden World Watch Institute Want to stop global warming? Go Vegan

Bob Linden calls for the City of San Francisco to ban meat!

He says this not only to be humane to animals, and to be healthier for humans, but also for the environment. Below, find the first paragraph of this new World Watch.org findings reported in an article by them. Below that, entreat yourself to a podcast of Bob Linden's show aired on http://www.green960.com every Saturday morning at 9AM Pacific Time, or you will see podcasts at that station and on Bob's own site.

Whenever the causes of climate change are discussed, fossil
fuels top the list.Oil, natural gas, and especially coal are indeed
major sources of human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide
(CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). But we believe that
the life cycle and supply chain of domesticated animals raised
for food have been vastly underestimated as a source of GHGs,
and in fact account for at least half of all human-caused
GHGs. If this argument is right, it implies that replacing livestock
products with better alternatives would be the best strategy
for reversing climate change. In fact, this approach would
have far more rapid effects on GHG emissions and their
atmospheric concentrations—and thus on the rate the climate
is warming—than actions to replace fossil fuels with
renewable energy.


http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf

http://multimedia.play.it/m/audio/27046621/goveganradio-com-show-date-sat-24-oct-2009.htm#seek=196.979

Al Gore finally says what was long over due Vegans say

In several of his interviews to promote his most recent book on climate change, “Our Choice,” environmental campaigner, former US Vice President and Nobel Prize laureate Al Gore has spoken with US broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer and Australian Leigh Sales on the role of meat reduction in halting global warming.

When Ms. Sales asked if he agreed with British climate expert Lord Nicholas Stern’s call for people to be vegetarian to reduce emissions, Mr. Gore replied, “It’s a legitimate point of view.
Nick Stern is a very able advocate for whom I have enormous respect… I have cut back sharply on the meat that I eat and it’s absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global crisis. Not only because of the CO2 involved, but also because of the water consumed in the process.”


http://www.suprememastertv.com/save-our-planet/Al-Gore-recommends-reducing-meat-to-address-global-warming.html

Small Scale Farming Waxes and Wanes

Per Marty Nemko, Career specialist http://www.martynemko.com/- ranking ten on More's top 10 Jobs for Women Over 40 is small scale farming which are growing at the rate of 10,000 per year! Hear Marty Sunday evenings at http://www.kgoradio.com 7 -10 pm pacific time.

Small Scale Niche Farmer. This is for those with a passion for farming who want to start their own business. Earnings range from $26,800 to $76,230 with the top 10% earning over $97,000. Small farms are growing at the rate of 10,000 a year. 

Lita Epstein has written more than 25 books including "Surviving A Layoff: A Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Your Life Back Together" and "Working After Retirement for Dummies."

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/exclusive-more-magazines-10-best-jobs-for-women-over-40/?icid=sphere_wpcom_inline

Sacramento Tea Bagger Mark Williams on Anderson Cooper: Refers to President as Racist in Chief

And read this gem Quote: ...the Civil Rights Movement was about confiscating the fruits of the labor of the working people for "redistribution" among the parasitical class."

Per Stephanie Miller Show Twitter page - today, there was this link of Sacramento's Mark Williams on Anderson Cooper calling the President an Indonesian Muslim Turned Welfare Thug. Mark Williams is a teabagger, talk show host, and is a contributor to The Sacramento Union- obviously a steeped in deep Right Wing Partisan Publication.

Here is a copy of the Tweet. Do follow the link to see the interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper:

radioguychris RT @ericgrant #TeaParty Leader Melts Down On CNN: Obama Is An "Indonesian Muslim Turned Welfare Thug" #tcot #p2 http://ow.ly/pspp as featured on today's Huffington Post.

My first encounter with Mark Williams was just after having a wonderful accupuncture treatment downtown Folsom (yes, that town from which contained the prison Johnny Cash was in) to wander across the street looking for a newspaper to read. The paper was The Sacramento Union. If you try to go to the site at least today, you will see the site has been suspended. If it were not, I could get you the link to the very words I will quote of his from the paper I have retained a copy of, because I could not believe how racist this person is, and it seemed of something of importance to leave to a museum.

The date of the issue of the Sacramento Union is October 31, 2008. page 11.
The name of the article was Obama: The Missing Marx Brother? by Mark Williams Sacramento Union Columnist MarkW@SacUnion.com

Quote: ...the Civil Rights Movement was about confiscating the fruits of the labor of the working people for "redistribution" among the parasitical class."

Here are the antecedent sentences to the above:

Imagine my surprise when I heard the audio of a 2001 interview with Barack Obama on a Chicago public radio (translation: your tax dollars at work) station. Until that moment. I had never realized that the Civil Rights Movement was about confiscating the fruits of the labor of the working people for "redistribution" among the parasistical class.

This issue of the newspaper I saved, because as a new resident to Sacramento, I could not believe what I was reading......also contains articles such as 'Obama The Socialist' page 12 PRO PROP 8 advertising, a voter guide, and an ironic endorsement of our now Mayor, Kevin Johnson, who is black. page 4. Pictures of Sarah Palin with much support-

Last I heard Mark has a radio show and a web site here http://www.marktalk.com/

Most recently, I was pleased to see the cafe in my own neighborhood for which a news stand that used to carry The Sacramento Union owned by an Asian, has been removed- without me uttering a word. Who knows what other groups this publication or Mark Williams has written offending what other groups of civilized human beings. I think I will make it a point the next time I visit the cafe to learn the reason for why the stand was taken away.

Oh- that wonderful accupuncture treatment I was enjoying so much before I accidentally picked up the October 31st, 2008 issue of The Sacramento Union? It was from a Doctor versed in both Eastern and Western medicine and happened to be.... Black.

Update: Be sure to hear the Thom Hartmann podcast February 24, 2010. Thom confronts Williams rascism. You can get the podcast at the White Rose Society (name of group is the group of students that tried to stop the uprising of Hitler in Nazi Germany). See more info on other ways to get podcasts and listen daily at http://www.thomhartmann.com/ and or http://www.progessiveradio.blogspot.com/

What if We Simply had No Health Care Period!

Synopsis

Prism takes us to a slightly alternate universe in which medicine and health care do not exist, and in which sick people are allowed to die without any care. Set in New Mexico and California, the novel features three teens who fall through a cave at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico while on a field trip. They are plunged into a frightening parallel universe—seven weeks in the past, in which their "normal" worlds of family and high school remain the same…except for the fact that no medicine exists and when people die in the street they are picked up and disposed of

The Father of the Green Revolution Dies Norman Borlaug

"Norman E. Borlaug saved more lives than any man in human history," said Josette Sheeran, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program. "His heart was as big as his brilliant mind, but it was his passion and compassion that moved the world." per Huffington post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/13/norman-borlaug-dead_n_284886.html#comments

With all due respect, I say this man may have killed at least a billion more. The green revolution kicked the can of the obvious egalitarian ecovillage solution down the road to yet be even now more difficult to implement. The designs of cities and communication centers need to be self sustaining. Everyone should know how to grow food. See http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php to see how another country, abruptly taken off the hydrocarbon economy Borlaug's model Green Revolution requires. Our economic structure need not dictate the growing of food, the growing of food need dictate the structure of the economy via natural law. See http://thefutureoffood.com/

Above comment made, Blessings to his family and this man's soul.

TAX POT to Reduce the Debt in the State of California

Its ba-a-ack The Marijuana issue. This picture printed in the San Francisco Examiner Aug 2, 2009 says it all. Great article at this link.

Stay in touch with the one half a million citizens to this date signed up between various social networking sites dedicating themselves to saving the economy of California by allowing, regulating, and taxing marijuana for which proponents say will bring down both the price of pot, make it more accessible to those whom could use it for health, and bringing down crime by removing the incentives to bring it in from foreign countries and the crime cartel for whom spook and have killed for selling outside cartel pricing/ sales policies- so many life loving Californians!


http://www.examiner.com/x-17593-NORML-Examiner~y2009m8d2-And-theyre-off--The-race-to-legalize-in-CA-is-on

Executive Salaries of Health Care Companies

How will we pay for health care reform? We will be shaving 20% off the top with the Public Option see Mad As hell Drs http://www.madashelldoctors.com/


Let's face it, it is definitely in the best interest of insurance CEOs to have no public option. More competition means lower profits and lower profits might eat into their grossly bloated salaries. Here's a look at what some of the big insurance company executives make:

NAME, TITLE, COMPANY ANNUAL COMPENSATION
H. Edward Hanway, Chair/CEO, Cigna Corp., $30.16 million (Cigna is one of the financial backers of the Manhattan Institute that Betsy McCoughey was a part of.)
Ronald A. Williams, Chair/CEO, Aetna Inc., $23,045,834 (2007)
David B. Snow, Jr, Chair/CEO, Medco Health, $21.76 million
Dale B. Wolf, CEO, Coventry Health Care, $20.86 million
Michael B. MCallister, CEO, Humana Inc., $20.06 million
Jay M. Gellert, President/CEO, Health Net, $16.65 million
Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group, $13,164,529 (2007)
Raymond McCaskey, CEO, Health Care Service Corp., (Blue Cross Blue Shield), $10.3 million (in 2007; up 78% from 2006)
Angela F. Braly, President/CEO, Wellpoint, $9,094,771

Read full article at http://mountainsageblog.com/2009/08/19/democrats-will-go-it-alone-on-health-care-bill/

Senator Teddy Kennedy Acclaimed Health Care Insurance Reform Vigil

THX to @HalSparks (twitter) on the Stephanie Miller Show, a caller alerted us to MoveOn.org's Nationwide Candlelight Vigils to honor Senator Ted Kennedy and how we aim to carry forth the Sentor's life long passion to ensure every American has access to health care.

In less than 48 hours well over 100 absolute angels ascended onto 16th & Broadway each with a glowing candle featuring signs, stories, and speaker's segments of the Senator Ed Kennedy as well as the singing of Irish Eyes (Special thx to the gal- what was her name? that led us in that song and kept us on pitch!)

Also extreme thx to orator, Gary Fitzgerald, Attorney and talk show host of The Sherman Audieaux Show Public Affairs Programming on KYDS radio station 91.5 FM programmed in at 3pm on Saturdaythough can begin before or after 10 minutes the 3 o'clock hour. The genre of this show is Alternative radio, Counterspin, (Fair.org)and headlines from Democracy Now!.org who feels the 'radical' are in fact, the mainstream. Support this brave leader who became a powerful Master of Ceremonies. He also makes his presence known on an Access Sacramento Alternative Radio Show 2- 4 pm Wednesdays Comcast Cable [switch on Channel 17, second audio program.]

James Taylor,Channel 13 Sacramento came by to film and speak with us. Does the other side really want to with hold you from seeing a Doctor? Preposterous! James asks this excellent question of The Food Fascist, "What will it take to get the other side to come over -" to which I responded what I learned from mentor Thom Hartmann as I once poised this same question to him - "Just wait until it happens to them - and I don't want it to happen to them....but just wait until it happens to them." Note- the news media editors did not allow this onto televsion.

Channel 58 also covered the event and captured a rallier that the military budget could be cut in order to fund health care. We are still spending one billion a month that could fund a nationalized health care.

Thankfully, as more and more citizens learn the other side wants to take away your medicare, your social security, and all 'socialized' safety nets we will stand in sovereignty.

Much thx also to Jeanie Keltner to highlight another Sacramento Heavenly Angel amongst all the Angel Activists in this great city, capital of Beautiful State of CaliforniA. Lettuce [spelling made Food Fascist Fashion intended!] in turn , highlight and support her good works:

SOAPBOX! Access Sacramento Cable Channel 17, every Monday at 8pm. Call in comments on 2nd and 4th Mondays. Repeats Tuesday at noon, Wednesdays at 4am.

MEDIA EDGE Sacramento's own magazine format show, covering local progressive events and speakers, as well as internationally known commentators, with clips from some of the best independent political videos being made now. Where to watch: Access Sacramento

Senator Ed Kennedy was there in spirit and acclaimed as he would have it.

PEACE

ISSUES with Messaging Health Care Insurance Reform

Mr President,

As there are at least 9 individual issues under the umbrella of Health Care/ Insurance Reform, The Food Fascist challenges the Whitehouse to roll out the AL GORE Super Power Point to understand how INCONVENIENT sick people are to the Health Care Insurance Industry.

BANKRUPTCIES
Every year one million Americans
claim bankruptcy due to a major medical issue
Senator Bernie Sanders,
Thom Hartmann Show 8. 2009 Hal Sparks on Stephanie Miller Show 2nd week of September has said every 30 seconds an American claims bankruptcy due to a health care matter.

INSURANCE CAPS
Once your cap is used say in a major medical
you are virtually uninsurable afterwards.
Representative Slaughter, Ron Reagan
Show 9/1. 2009 Hear it at http://airamerica.com/ronreagan/blog/2009/sep/01/no-public-option-no-vote-audio

POST CLAIM UNDERWRITING
You pay your premiums faithfully but
when you have a major medical matter,
the company drops you from your policy.
Ex insuance broker, Stephanie Miller Show
8/17. 2009

CLAIM DENIAL
You pay your premiums faithfully, something major happens. Your claim was denied.
A bonus was paid to the employee for denying
your claim. Health care industry insider caller to Stephanie Miller Show8/17. 2009
Also, google 'Wendell Potter Fat Cat' per Anderson Cooper interview of ex Cigna Health Care Insurance Executive Communications Director or click here Now Potter is Senior Fellow here http://prwatch.org/

Also: LA TIMES HMOs Deny 1 in 5 claims, analysis shows: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/healthcare/la-fi-insure-denials3-2009sep03,0,1423324.story

LOSE YOUR JOB LOSE YOUR
COVERAGE / PORTABILITY
Then, if ill, this becomes a lapse in coverage
and a possible pre existing condition. See Real Scary health care stories http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare?source=actioncenter


PRE EXISTING CONDITION
There are disabled persons and others
for whom will never be insurable.
How could this happen in America?

WORKMANS COMP/ MALPRACTICE CASES could be virtually be eliminated. THE USA is the only developed country in the world who does not have some sort of single payer plan. See this documentary right on your computer now at pbs.org http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/

COST INCREASES TIES UP COMMERCE
The average business can spend as much
as 20% of their costs on health insurance making
them unable to compete with companies from
other countries that do have nationalized coverage.
USA 18-22% GDP is health care while other

THE COST OF NON INSURED
The average insured can pay as much as 1000 dollars per year more to compensate for those who are uninsured and relegated to using the emergency room as a source of primary care for which a tooth abscess can become a 250,000 surgery, a true story by the way.


- WASHINGTON - In a speech today on the Senate Floor, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) expressed his condolences and personal outrage about the death of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old boy from Prince George's County who died last week from a brain infection brought on by a tooth abscess. The Senator described Deamonte's death a national tragedy and called on Congress to make sure that dental coverage for children in included in this year's State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) reauthorization bill. http://cardin.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=270013

“Mad as Hell” Oregon physicians roll out health care reform tour

Furious with the health care ‘options’ coming out of Washington, D.C., seven “Mad as Hell” Oregon physicians are taking an unprecedented road trip across America in a used motor home to lobby Congress for a single-payer health care system. Their twenty-eight city tour kicks off in Seattle on September 8th and will culminate on the steps of Congress on September 30th.

Buy a t-shirt and have your name published on the site.

http://www.madashelldoctors.com/

Congressman Lungren: "Let Them Eat Cake"

This account per a constituent of Lungrens:

"Lungren's Rancho Cordova town hall went like his other 2: over 400 people arriving and less than 1/2 getting inside, rowdy Repubs yelling and Dems waving signs. Lungren was his usual unsympathetic self when an insured woman told him her plight. She has to pay $5000 upfront in copays before she can get a life-saving surgery. Lungren told her she should contact a charitable society to see if she could get them to help her find the money. Tight wad, and cold heart -- his usual self. But I think the Dems made a good showing that we're serious about health care reform, and we did it against a paid, national and extremely organized lobbyist-led organization. Made me proud to be a Democrat!"

To reply to this message, follow the link below:
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Senator Edward Kennedy Candlelight Vigil

Senator Edward Kennedy, 'The Health Care King' http://tedkennedy.org/

Candlelight Vigil Per Moveon.org

Tower Theatre Neighborhood

16th & Broadway
02 Sep , 07:30 - 8:30 PM
Senator Ted Kennedy said this "Every American should have the opportunity to receive a quality education, a job that respects their dignity and protects their safety, and health care that does not condemn those whose health is impaired to a lifetime of poverty and lost opportunity." We can show our respects for him and his family this evening.

Status: Public, open for RSVP, 25 Guests (Max 50)
Best way to contact host: Email
Event URL: http://pol.moveon.org/event/publicoptionnow/98358

China Passes Health Care Reform

I'll be darned- even China passes health care reform! http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/21/content_10698501.htm

Call it what you will; if it's food, if it's shelter, if it's humane.... these basics should be considered a basic safety net and a higher floor of civilization. Food Fascist calls on all best management practices just as any company operates by taking the best of the best and incorporates it into their operating manual.

Consider watching this and chipping in a few dollars: http://www.healthcarecantwait.com

Thom Hartmann: Let us buy into Medicare

I understand you’re thinking of dumping your “public option” because of all the demagoguery by Sarah Palin and Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich and their crowd on right-wing radio and Fox. Fine. Good idea, in fact.
Instead, let’s make it simple. Please let us buy into Medicare.

See the rest of Thom's article here with comments by readers:

http://www.thomhartmann.com/2009/08/16/dear-president-obama/#comments

Or here at Common Dreams http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/17

Bonuses to Deny Cancel Claims

Caller to Stephanie Miller 8:10AM August 17, 2009 reports Blue Cross Blue Shield pays bonuses to staff based on how many claims they could deny in a week.

Another caller 8:50 AM was an insurance broker called in from Milwaukee, WIS. He said that a major insurer gladly paid for a 1200 dollar an evening hotel room for him and a wonderful trip to Cancun for selling their insurance policies. They also paid for him to watch Milwaukee Base Ball Games with tickets right behind home plate, all the while his own body was becoming ill with diabetes. Well...when it was time for his own insurance policy with them to pay out for help with his own doctor. Guess what? Post Claim Underwriting, a legal term for 'we no longer insure you.'

Fortunately for this agent, he has other sources of income and walked away from the matter hoping we pass health care reform now.

Listen to Stephanie every morning on various progressive radio stations for example. http://www.am1090seattle.com

Extend Medicare to perhaps Age -55 45 35

TRUDY LIEBERMAN: We are having the same debate, almost, that we had in ‘93-’94. And it’s something I’ve written about for the Columbia Journalism Review. It’s actually the same debate we’ve had decades before. And it’s the unwillingness to look at what we could learn from other systems. Single payer, multiple payers, as they have in Germany and Japan. Or even in the Netherlands, where there are private payers. What’s really happening there?
So, I think there’s an unwillingness on the part of politicians– on the part of advocacy groups, some advocacy groups, to really educate Americans on what the possibilities are. And we at C.J.R. have been saying we really have not had a vibrant discussion about other possibilities.
MARCIA ANGELL: I think we have to start all over on this. I really do. I think we have to go for a single payer system. You could institute that gradually. You could do it state by state. You could do it decade by decade. You could improve Medicare. That is, make it nonprofit. But extend it down to age 55 and age 45 and age 35. It would give the private insurance industry a chance to go into hurricanes, earthquakes or something. To get out of the health business. It could be done gradually. I think that has to be done. And it’s the only thing that can be done.
BILL MOYERS: The story goes on and we’ll continue to talk about it in the months to come, alright? Marcia Angell, Trudy Lieberman, thanks for being with me on the Journal

See this Bill Moyers interview here:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07242009/watch.html

What I learned at Camp O

Saturday August 15, at Camp 'O' I expressed concern that Organizing for America, for which is now the name of Obama's grassroots organization, that we should put a visual Power Point together at a 5th grade level story book to help the rest of America understand what is going on. Not to insult anyone, however, this is what the average American reads at.

We Are Going to get Health Care Reform this year

1.) The response I received was a psssst and a 'we are going to get health care reform' this year. I asked...well what percentage of Americans are like those we are seeing on tv at the town hall meetings. The same fellow and now more of his colleagues looked at me ....'the percentage is almost negligable'....

I said, so it will be like the protest against Sonya Sotomeyer...when the same sort called her a racist and then at the end, were just made to feel like fools - and watched her be sworn in anyway?

Yes.

Just take over the definition of 'Co-operative'

2.) Another insider I heard speak but not at this event hinted that we were going to get health care reform, its just that we might change what it is called and we will get in no matter what, its just that we might take over the meaning of say the word...'Co-op.'

The deal has already been made

3.) We know that now the drug companies are on 'our side' because the deal has been made, just like Obama's presidency with Wall St in that Wall St backed the President...and so now the drug company.....

That deal of course, the drug companies will run 150 million dollars worth of advertizing to support the President's plan.

Barack had no choice but to deal with the Drug Companies who will agree to invest 150 million dollars into promoting health care reform: Even Thom Hartmann, critical but 100% supporting Barack says Barack has no other real choice:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/internal-memo-confirms-bi_n_258285.html

House passes The Food Safety Modernization Act

Yahoo News Reports The Food Safety Modernization Act did pass the House Today-Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro has said the bill is a solid first step but said she believes Congress needs to go even further and reorganize FDA to help it better focus on its "food" mission. She has introduced legislation that would divide the FDA in two, separating the agency's drug oversight and food safety duties.

The bill, which has support from the food industry as well as a wide range of consumer groups, would give the agency the authority to order recalls if a company fails to act on its own, and would increase the frequency of inspections to high-risk food processing facilities. It would charge food processors an annual $500 fee to help defray the cost of increased enforcement. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090730/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_food_safety

However, small farmers and organic food consumers are suspicious. Given the momentum of the grow your own food movement including community gardens and gleaning, let's see if the opponents fears come forth. Will this bill make us any safer or is it just a publicity play band aide on the entire food industry given all the new food documentaries coming out. Could the result be the forfeiture of smaller farms for whom meeting the already unnatural unhealthy standards, applied to the smaller farms make little sense and could become a way to, as we have seen before, support the corporations and knock out the competition on the free market as consumers would rather support smaller more diverse farms.

Gleaning and Foraging Groups in California

This piece about gleaning and foraging groups in California first appeared in the most recent e-newsletter from the Northern California chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign, a project of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. To sign up for the monthly e-newsletter, visit the Buy Fresh Buy Local website.
Got a cherry tree you just can’t keep up with? A neighbor that never harvests their lemons? What if we could turn all that fallen fruit into good food? That’s exactly what community groups, farmer associations, and activist foodies throughout California (and beyond) are doing, as reported by the New York Times recently. They’re the gleaners, and they’re feeding their communities and saving the world one perfectly good plum at a time.

The Lemon Lady of Contra Costa is Anna Chan of Clayton (left), who has embarked on a “one woman and toddler fruit harvesting campaign to feed the hungry.” She collects produce from backyard trees and farmers markets to donate to food pantries. The North Berkeley Harvest group coordinates regular pick-ups of excess backyard fruit and donates it to local meal programs, and Petaluma Bounty likewise collects surplus fresh produce from backyards, farms, and businesses. Village Harvest organizes fruit tree gleaning throughout the Bay Area, and offers information and resources on fruit tree care and preservation as well. In San Francisco, the Free Farm Stand gives out fresh local food free of charge every Sunday. “We want to make sure those on tight budgets and low incomes have access to good, local organic food as well,” says Tree, who started the project last summer.

http://www.ethicurean.com/2009/07/16/caff-gleaning/

The Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge

The Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge

In healthcare facilities across the continent there is a growing recognition that the food system - how our food is produced and distributed - is misaligned with dietary guidelines and that hidden behind these nutritional imbalances, is a food system largely reliant on methods of production and distribution that impact public and environmental health.

And far and wide, we are seeing a response. Hospitals that have removed their deep fryers, others that have established farmers markets, and other that are buying fresh, local sustainably grown produce and eliminating processed foods. Healthcare organizations are implementing policies and programs, in stepwise fashion, which demonstrate a commitment to “first, do no harm" and treating food and its production and distribution as preventive medicine that protects the health of patients, staff, and communities.

By supporting the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge facilities are demonstrating leadership by sending an important signal to the marketplace and policy makers about their interest in local, nutritious, sustainable food and importantly, beginning to model healthy food practices in a ongoing stepwise fashion.

To support the pledge simply download the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge (pdf) and follow the attached instructions. Pledged facilities will be regularly added to our website. To learn about the ongoing efforts of our current pledge facilities, read our 2008 report Menu of Change, Healthy Food in Health Care: A 2008 Survey of Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge Hospitals.


The Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge

We pledge to:

Work with local farmers, community-based organizations and food suppliers to increase the availability of locally-sourced food.

Encourage our vendors and/or food management companies to supply us with food that is, among other attributes, produced without synthetic pesticides and hormones or antibiotics given to animals in the absence of diagnosed disease and which supports farmer health and welfare, and ecologically protective and restorative agriculture.

Implement a stepwise program to identify and adopt sustainable food procurement. Begin where fewer barriers exist and immediate steps can be taken. For example, the adoption of rBGH free milk, fair trade coffee, or introduction of organic fresh fruit in the cafeteria

Communicate to our Group Purchasing Organizations our interest in foods that are identified as local and certified.

Educate and communicate within on our system and to our patients and community about our nutritious, socially just and ecological sustainable food healthy food practices and procedures.

Minimize or beneficially reuse food waste and support the use of food packaging and products which are ecologically protective.

Develop a program to promote and source from producers and processors which uphold the dignity of family, farmers, workers and their communities and support sustainable and humane agriculture systems.

Report annually on implementation of this Pledge.



Healthy Food in Health Care
Food Service Contractor Pledge
(Download pledge as a PDF)

As a responsible provider of food and nutrition services in the healthcare industry, we are committed to the health of patients, residents, visitors, staff and the local and global community. We are aware that food production and distribution methods can have tremendous adverse impacts on public environmental health. As a result, we recognize that for the consumers who eat it, the workers who produce it and the ecosystems that sustain us, healthy food must be defined not only by nutritional quality, but equally by a food system that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and supportive of human dignity and justice. We are committed to the goal of providing local, nutritious and sustainable food and food services.

Specifically, we are committed to supporting the following healthy food in healthcare
measures:

In our Client facilities that have taken the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge we will:

Support stepwise implementation of the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge.

Develop and provide an annual report to our client hospitals on progress towards their Pledge goals.

As a Food Service Organization we will:

Encourage our vendors to supply us with food that is locally sourced whenever possible and among other attributes, produced without genetic modification, synthetic pesticides or herbicides; meat and dairy products from animals that have not been given hormones (i.e. rBGH) or antibiotics in the absence of diagnosed disease, and produced and distributed in ways which support farmer health and welfare.

Communicate to our supply chain our interest in foods whose source and production practices (i.e. genetic modification, antibiotic and hormone use, pesticide use, etc) are identified, so that we may have informed consent and choice about the foods we purchase.

Inform our suppliers and our distributors of our need for product catalogues and programs which identify third party certified eco-labeled products (i.e. Certified Organic, Food Alliance Certified, Certified Humane, etc.), country, state or farm of origin, genetically modified foods, as well as trans fats and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) content and other indicators of nutrition and sustainability.

Train and educate our staff throughout our organization, on the relationship between food production and distribution and ecological and individual health.

Increase our offerings of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nutritionally dense and minimally processed, unrefined foods, and reduce our use of processed foods.

Support new and existing value chains that promote local ownership, environmental stewardship and economic sustainability for all members of the value chain.

Create seasonal menus to increase our use of fresh, locally produced food.

Establish systems to minimize food waste and to compost and otherwise beneficially reuse food waste.

Purchase for the environment through purchasing policies and practices that minimize the inherent toxicity of our equipment and supplies; which conserve water and energy; and reduce and eliminate waste.

Develop or adopt reporting tools and benchmarks to track and measure our use of third party certified eco-labeled foods, genetically engineered foods, and other preferred attributes as listed above.

Report annually to the public or shareholders on implementation of this
Pledge.

http://www.noharm.org/us/food/pledge

7 dolphins The Cove

Yes, I was just contacted to volunteer to help premiere a movie about called The Cove. Here is a link to the site. Scroll down and see the trailer- if you can - just keep telling yourself it is important to know the truth- and as a conscientious person, you can make a difference, even if it is to one single dolphin and even if it is to show it love -


http://www.savejapandolphins.org/

Robert Grant's Edible Schoolyard by Sonia Lucyga

"Food is about care, and the Edible Schoolyard has proven that when the children feel cared for, it keeps them coming back and eating," Waters wrote. "We find that when they grow food and cook it, they all eat it. They like this kind of experiential education. And they like and need to be cared for and nourished."

In 1995, The Edible Schoolyard was established at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School In Berkeley, Calif. by the Chez Panisse Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Waters. In an article in NRTA Live & Learn, an online educational journal, Waters described the benefit of using the cycle of food growth and consumption as a tool to enrich the lives of children.

See Sonia's entire article here at this link: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/11178/Sac_Filmmaker_Fights_Obesity

Swine Flu What has been tried in the past

Natural Anti Virals Some Basic Research
In studying planetary herbalism and other systems of natural medical care and wellness, consider researching these natural solutions and be sure to be working with someone schooled in this type of medicine whom can also do an intake on whomever you are concerned with:

Anti-viral:

Red algae- Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment that is a powerful biological antioxidant. Research on the mode of action of antioxidants and astaxanthin, as well as their possible role(s) in oxidative stress, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, eye health, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, immune response, exercise, and animal health, are summarized here at this site and you are always encouraged to do your own research: Note: google scholar will bring up many peer-reviewed studies

http://www.astaxanthin.org/

See the other 4 with a brief history of each here at this link http://naturalantiviral.blogspot.com/

Europe They take GMO very field trials seriously.

They take GMO very seriously.

Europe's top court has ruled that EU governments have no right to conceal the location of field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops.
The only EU-approved GM crop is a strain of corn developed by the US firm Monsanto. But GM trials for research are legal, under strict controls.

The court in Luxembourg ruled on Tuesday that "information relating to the location of the release can in no case be kept confidential". It said "considerations relating to the protection of public order and other secrets protected by law... cannot constitute reasons capable of restricting access to the information listed by the [EU] directive, including in particular those relating to the location of release".

On Monday, the European Commission failed in a bid to force the governments of France and Greece to allow Monsanto's GM corn to be grown in their countries.

........................
Daniella Russo
(831) 659-1189
Say NO on GMO!
Visit www.GmoFreeMontereyCounty.org and sign the petition.

World Health Organization USA Ranks 37

The World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html ^
Posted on Tue Mar 06 2007 03:49:19 GMT-0800 (Pacific Standard Time) by darkness78

1 France 2 Italy 3 San Marino 4 Andorra 5 Malta 6 Singapore 7 Spain 8 Oman 9 Austria 10 Japan 11 Norway 12 Portugal 13 Monaco 14 Greece 15 Iceland 16 Luxembourg 17 Netherlands 18 United Kingdom 19 Ireland 20 Switzerland 21 Belgium 22 Colombia 23 Sweden 24 Cyprus 25 Germany 26 Saudi Arabia 27 United Arab Emirates 28 Israel 29 Morocco 30 Canada 31 Finland 32 Australia 33 Chile 34 Denmark 35 Dominica 36 Costa Rica 37 United States of America 38 Slovenia 39 Cuba 40 Brunei

Who owns Colorado's rainwater?

Environmentalists and others like to gather it in containers for use in drier times. But state law says it belongs to those who bought the rights to waterways.

By Nicholas Riccardi
March 18, 2009

Reporting from Denver — Every time it rains here, Kris Holstrom knowingly breaks the law.

Holstrom's violation is the fancifully painted 55-gallon buckets underneath the gutters of her farmhouse on a mesa 15 miles from the resort town of Telluride. The barrels catch rain and snowmelt, which Holstrom uses to irrigate the small vegetable garden she and her husband maintain.

But according to the state of Colorado, the rain that falls on Holstrom's property is not hers to keep. It should be allowed to fall to the ground and flow unimpeded into surrounding creeks and streams, the law states, to become the property of farmers, ranchers, developers and water agencies that have bought the rights to those waterways.

What Holstrom does is called rainwater harvesting. It's a practice that dates back to the dawn of civilization, and is increasingly in vogue among environmentalists and others who pursue sustainable lifestyles. They collect varying amounts of water, depending on the rainfall and the vessels they collect it in. The only risk involved is losing it to evaporation. Or running afoul of Western states' water laws.




http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/18/nation/na-contested-rainwater18

Unquenchable America's Water Crisis and What to Do About It

Robert Glennon captures the irony—and tragedy—of America’s water crisis in a book that is both frightening and wickedly comical. From manufactured snow for tourists in Atlanta to trillions of gallons of water flushed down the toilet each year, Unquenchable reveals the heady extravagances and everyday inefficiencies that are sucking the nation dry.

The looming catastrophe remains hidden as government diverts supplies from one area to another to keep water flowing from the tap. But sooner rather than later, the shell game has to end. And when it does, shortages will threaten not only the environment, but every aspect of American life: we face shuttered power plants and jobless workers, decimated fi sheries and contaminated drinking water


http://www.islandpress.com/bookstore/details.php?prod_id=1891

Nourishing the Kids of Katrina - Alice Waters and First Lady Michelle Obama / Discussion with Filmmaker Robert Lee Grant

Better nutrition for America's kids is a vital part of the Obama’s agenda in dealing with the health care crisis. Initiatives in this area are planned by the White House in the coming months. Recently, Brahm Ahmadi, Executive Director of People’s Grocery spoke at Sacramento’s second annual Common Table event, “We don’t have a health crisis, we have a food crisis.”

In Robert Lee Grant’s documentary film, “Nourishing the Kids of Katrina” follows the compelling story of how renowned chef Alice Waters’ Berkeley “edible Schoolyard” is replicated in two poor black charter schools in Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans to erase the emotional scars on those kids while improving their eating habits.

The film features Alice Waters, and includes comments by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama around the development of the White House organic garden and issues concerning childhood obesity and good nutrition.

This film is intended to support the Obama’s efforts. This premier will also send proceeds to the Sacramento American Community Gardening Association. Robert Grant worked in the Obama Campaign in New Orleans, South Carolina and North Carolina, and is very proud to have been one of the first 10,000 supporters.

City of Sacramento Community Gardens Developer, Bill Maynard will be at the event with instructions regarding either how to obtain a plot within an existing community garden nearest you, or how to create a community garden in your own neighborhood.

Doors open 6:30PM. Film to begin 7:00PM – 7:30PM. Suggested donation $5 - $10.00. We will need volunteers for this event to help us set up chairs and basic AV as well as clean up. Please email karenhansen108@comcast.com if you would like to do this. We would surely appreciate your help.

Affordable Health Choice Act

Affordable Health Choice Act

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1687:health-care-reform&catid=156:reports&Itemid=55

Slow Food Sacramento Presents Common Table

Common Table: Promoting Urban Agriculture to Fight Hunger
Don’t miss Slow Food Sacramento’s "Common Table" on Saturday, July 11, a day of tours and workshops culminating in a sit-down gourmet dinner at the Fremont Community Garden. The event benefits the Sacramento Hunger Coalition, an organization that works to alleviate hunger and increase food security, and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, an organization dedicated to expanding urban locations for growing fruits and vegetables.

Dinner begins at 5:30 and includes a three-course dinner of fresh, seasonal faire catered by Magpie Caterers. Guest speaker Brahm Ahmadi of People's Grocery in Oakland will share his insights on Innovative Solutions for Food Justice. Cost for the dinner is $75 for Slow Food members and $100 for non-members. Tickets for the dinner are available at Brown Paper Tickets.

For more detailed information about this event and to purchase tickets, please visit the Slow Food Sacramento website here.

The Gestapo Food Act, H.R. 2749, Must Be Stopped

By The Pen activist.thepen@gmail.com

Here we have yet another phony food safety bill, which does NOTHING
but grant the FDA massive new police powers without actual policy
oversight. And it would do NOTHING to solve the actual problem, the
stinking cesspools which call themselves "modern" factory farms, the
SOLE source of whatever filth there is in our food supply. We don't
need burdensome new tracing regimes to drive small farmers out of
business, we already know exactly where the problem is.

H.R. 2749 would give some FDA administrator (read self-serving
corporate lobbyist) the power to dictate what farming practices must
and must not be used nationwide (read enforced GMOs, growth hormones,
and weird chemicals in our food). How can Congress make sane policy
without identifying the specific problem and its source before
empowering 10 year criminal sentences and $100,000 fines? It can't.
But only if we stop them from doing it, by speaking out now.

Stop HR 2749 Action Page: http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum996.php

This hideously ill-conceived bill (unless you are a chemical food
conglomerate) is so terminally vague about what its PURPOSE is, it
can only do massive harm and no good whatsoever. Aren't bills in
Congress supposed to start with some kind of preamble, something
like, "This is the problem we have identified, and this is what has
to be done to fix it and WHY." No such forethought in HR 2749, just
unlimited and unaccountable new police state powers, while President
Obama continues to appoint the WORST possible nominees for just about
every administrative position.

It's time to wake up folks. It's just one corporate power grab hand
over fist out there. Not ONE major bill has Congress passed yet since
the last election that did ANYTHING to confront the actual real
problem. Credit card so-called reform was some kind of sick joke on
the American people, rejecting the only provision that actually
mattered, constraining usurous interest rates. Has anybody seen any
BIG savings on their credit card bills yet? Did we have to ask?

And they TRYING to do the same thing with health care reform, to do
nothing to disturb the existing corporate medical industry gravy
train. It is ONLY because of the alerts we have done on this already
that single payer is actually getting a hearing. What kind of lunacy
is it when the plan supported by a majority of the American people is
not even allowed in the room? It's the lunacy that happens when more
of us do not speak out more often. And we'll have another alert on
that later in the week.

Stop HR 2749 Action Page: http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum996.php

But for today, please speak out against HR 2749. Tell Congress to
directly regulate factory farms and them ONLY. That's all that has to
be done. And anything else they do that does NOT do that by
definition will only make the problem worse, by punishing those who
are NOT huge, filthy, factory farms.

And when you submit the action page you will have an opportunity from
the return page to request a free gift with your donation of any
amount to help help support our progressive activist work. Not only
are the very popular "CONVICT DICK & W" caps available there, we are
making available AGAIN, both the Impeachment Play dvds from the
production in San Francisco last summer, and also the special Dennis
Kucinich pocket constitutions, commemorative of his heroic
presidential candidacy in 2008.

Or you can request any of those items directly from this page

Progressive Activist Gift Page:
http://www.peaceteam.net/all_gifts.php

And yes, you can also respond to this action through the new Twitter
gateway. Just send the following Twitter reply, and add any personal
comment you like.

@cxs #p996

And if you want a step by step explanation of how to set up the
Twitter thing here is the link for that.

Twitter Activism Step-By-Step: http://tcxs.net/step_by_step.php

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed
to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.

If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at
http://www.peaceteam.net/in.htm

Or if you want to cease receiving our messages, just use the function
at http://www.peaceteam.net/out.htm

usalone321b:179680

Organic Sacramento urges Action on Food Safey Enhancement Act of 2009

From: "Weston A Price Foundation" Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 3:45 PM
Subject: HR 2749 Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

Dear Members,

HR2749, the "Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009" has passed out of
committee and is now on the floor of the house. As you can see from the
FAQs below, this bill would be an absolute disaster for small farms and
artisan food production.

Defeating this bill is our most urgent priority at the moment. Please
take a moment to read the Frequently Asked Questions below and then
proceed with the Action items as best you are able. We will need the
concerted efforts of thousands to defeat this dismal piece of
legislation.

More HR 2749 information is posted through links at
http://tinyurl.com/mnm34s

Anyone with additional questions is encouraged to contact the
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund directly by calling 703-208-3276 or
emailing info@farmtoconsumer.org
Sincerely,
Sally Fallon Morell

ACTIONS TO TAKE

1. Call Your Representatives
Personal contact is an effective way to change hearts and minds. To find
your representatives, use the finder tool at www.Congress.org or call the

Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. When contacting your
representatives, use examples from the FAQs to explain your opposition to
HR 2749.

2. Sign the Petition
HR 2749 has been moving quickly through Congress. If you have not already

done so, please send a personal message to your legislators through the
online petition "Oppose HR 2749" at http://tinyurl.com/lwble7

3. Donate to the Fund
Help the Fund continue its valuable service - helping small farmers and
protecting your access to quality food. http://tinyurl.com/lja2vj

======
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
HR 2749 - Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

NOTE: Answers are based on the June 17 Waxman version that was accepted
by voice vote of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Page
references are noted per this version posted at http://tinyurl.com/na33dz


Q1: Does FDA have jurisdiction over INTRAstate commerce?

A1: As a federal agency, the FDA has jurisdiction over INTERstate
commerce. For example, the prohibited acts regarding adulteration and
misbranding in the current Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)
all refer to INTERstate commerce. However, the existing law states that
"in any action to enforce the requirements of [FFDCA] . . . the
connection with INTERstate commerce required for jurisdiction in such
action shall be presumed to exist." [1a] Combined with court decisions
addressing the connection between INTRAstate and INTERstate commerce, it
is unclear what ind of showing defendants would have to make to rebut the
presumption and avoid federal regulation. The agency's regulatory power is
limited to commerce, however, so non-commercial activities (such as
growing your own vegetables for personal consumption) are not regulated.

Under current law, a business qualifying as a "food facility" must
register with FDA, even if that business only engages in INTRAstate
commerce. [1b] In addition, the agency can inspect the records of a
business that engages solely in INTRAstate commerce if there is a
"reasonable belief that an article of food is adulterated and presents a
threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or
animals." [1c]

[1a] 21 USC 379(a)
[1b] 21 USC 350(d)
[1c] 21 USC 350(c)

Q2: Would HR 2749 expand the FDA's regulation of INTRAstate commerce?

A2: Yes. Under HR 2749, FDA's regulatory control over INTRAstate commerce

would grow considerably. The bill would allow for inspections of firms
whose business is strictly within a State. [2a] It would impose, among
other requirements, a mandate for all firms in the food business to
comply with national performance standards for various foods set by the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). [2b] It would also require

most firms in the food business to establish a traceback system for their

products, even if those products never cross State lines. [2c]

[2a] Section 105(a)-pp. 42-43
[2b] Section 103(b)-pp. 36-37
[2c] Section 107(c)-p. 54

Q3: I have a garden and sell produce at a road-side stand on my property.

Would HR 2749 apply to me?

A3: Yes, you would now have to follow federally-established standards for

growing produce. [3a] Produce not grown as required by these standards
would be considered as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). [3b] Further, you would be required to make your
business records available to FDA inspectors. [3c] The inspectors would
have the power to show up unannounced without a warrant to search your
records without any evidence whatsoever that you have committed a
violation of the law. If you refuse to let the inspector see your
records, you would be guilty of adulteration under FFDCA. [3d]

[3a] Section 104(b)-pp. 38-41
[3b] Section 104(a)-p. 38
[3c] Section 106(a)-p. 48
[3d] Section 207(a)-pp. 119-120

Q4: I sell produce from my garden at a local farmers market, under HR
2749 would I have to register as a "food facility" with FDA?

A4: Farms are exempt from the registration requirement under current
law. [4a] HR 2749 would not eliminate this exemption. "Farm" is narrowly
defined under current regulations [4b]; so, it is possible that many
farms that have not registered in the past, could be required to do so if
FDA has more resources at its disposal to enforce registration.

For example, a farm that sells vegetables straight from the garden (i.e.,

no processing) would not be a "food facility". If FDA strictly interprets

the definition of "farm", a farm that sells canned vegetables at the
market would be a "food facility" because canning is considered
"processing" under the law. [4c] Under federal regulation, a farm that
processes food would not be considered a "farm" for purposes of the
registration requirement unless ALL of the processed food is consumed ON
the farm. [4d]

Under HR 2749, those who sell vegetables from the garden at farmers
markets would be required to follow federal standards for growing produce

[4e]; and their business records would be subject to random warrantless
searches by FDA inspectors even if the agency has no evidence of any
violation of the law. [4f-see Q3/A3 above]

[4a] 21 USC 350d
[4b] 21 CFR 1.227(3)
[4c] 21 CFR 1.227(6)
[4d] 21 CFR 1.227(3)
[4e] Section 104(b)-pp. 38-41
[4f] Section 106(a)-p. 48

Q5: I own a bakery and sell my goods at a local farmers market, how would

HR 2749 apply to me?

A5: HR 2749 would apply to you in the following ways:

1 - Your bakery would qualify as a "food facility" and you would need to
register with FDA each year [5a] and pay an annual fee ($500 in 2010
[5b], and increasing in future years as indexed for inflation [5c]).
2 - You would have to register in electronic format. [5d]
3 - You would be required to have a unique facility identifier number. [5e]
4 - You would be required to conduct an analysis identifying potential
hazards at your food facility; and you must implement controls to prevent

those hazards from occurring as well as a plan for what to do in the
event that any do occur. [5f]
5 - If your products cross state lines, you must develop a FOOD SAFETY
PLAN. [5g-also see Q6/A6 below]
6 - You would also be required to establish and maintain a system for
tracing the food you produce. It is uncertain at this point what this
traceability system will require, but the requirements are likely to be
extensive.
[5h]

[5a] Section 101(b)-p. 6 [4b] Section 101(b)-p. 13
[5c] Section 101(c)-p. 14
[5d] Section 101(b)-p. 7
[5e] Section 206(a)-p. 118
[5f] Section 102(a)-p. 21
[5g] Section 102, sec 418A(a)-p. 28
[5h] Section 107(c)-p. 54-58

Q6: What will a FOOD SAFETY PLAN involve?

A6: Your FOOD SAFETY PLAN would have to include a hazard analysis that
identifies potential hazards in your operation. The plan must also
include descriptions of a variety of procedures you follow to prevent
hazards from occurring and corrective actions to take if any does occur.
In addition, you would need to describe your procedures for
recordkeeping, conducting recalls, and traceback. Further, the plan must
include how you ensure a "safe and secure food supply chain" for the items
and ingredients you use as well as how you implement any
science-based performance standards required by FDA. [6a]

[6a] Section 102, sec 418A(b)-pp. 29-30

Q7: I have read a summary of HR 2749 and am alarmed by the provision
giving the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the power to
quarantine any geographic area within the country. How broad is this
power?

A7: Under HR 2749, the HHS Secretary would have the power to prohibit ALL

MOVEMENT of ALL FOOD within a geographic area. No court order is needed
to exercise this power. The Secretary only has to notify the appropriate
official of the State(s) affected and issue a public announcement. [7a]

[7a] Section 133(b)-pp. 98-99

Q8: I am a raw milk consumer. Is it true that under HR 2749 would give
FDA the power to institute a complete ban on the sale of raw milk?

A8: Yes, HR 2749 requires the HHS Secretary to issue "science-based
performance standards . . . applicable to foods or food classes." The
Secretary is to "identify the most significant foodborne contaminants and

the most significant resulting hazards . . . and to minimize to an
acceptable level, prevent or eliminate the occurrence of such hazards."
[8a] FDA would have the power to make pasteurization of all raw milk a
performance standard. Based on both its public statements and its record
of taking enforcement actions against farmers, FDA is vehemently opposed
to the consumption of raw milk and would like to ban its distribution.

Even if FDA does not issue a performance standard requiring
pasteurization, the likelihood is that if HR 2749 passes into law, the
agency will be increasing its enforcement actions against raw milk
producers whose products cross state lines. FDA has indicated that raw
milk is a priority item with the agency; with the passage of HR 2749, it
would have much greater resources to go after raw milk than it did
before. FDA could take enforcement action directly or through state
agencies funded by FDA.

The way to stop this threat is to support HR 778, a bill that would, in
effect, end the ban on raw milk for human consumption in interstate
commerce. [8b] If you have not already done so, contact your
Representative and Senators asking them to co-sponsor and/or vote for HR
778. You may send a message to them through the petition service by
clicking on "Support HR 778 Now" at http://tinyurl.com/lwble7

[8a] Section 103(b)-p. 37
[8b] 21 CFR 1240.61

Q9: I purchase products from an Amish producer who has said he would not
register his facility because the electronic filing requirement violates
his religious beliefs. What are the criminal and civil penalties he could

be facing if he is charged with violating the law?

A9: Under HR 2749, failing to register a food facility would constitute
"misbranding." [9a] If any of the "misbranded" products are introduced or

"delivered for introduction into interstate commerce", the producer could

be sentenced to up to ten years and be assessed criminal fines. [9b]
Under HR 2749, anyone knowingly violating certain prohibitions contained
in the FFDCA such as the prohibition against introducing adulterated or
misbranded food in interstate commerce, could face these penalties.

In addition, the Amish producer could be facing substantial civil
penalties. Under HR 2749, any individual who knowingly violates a
provision of section 331 of FFDCA (prohibited acts) relating to food, can

be fined up to $100,000; a corporation can be fined up to $7.5 million.
[9c]

[9a] Section 101(a)-p. 6
[9b] Section 134-p. 100
[9c] Section 135(a)-p. 101

Q10: I'm a farmer who sells products direct to consumers. I want to
protect the privacy of those who purchase from me and do not want to turn

over to FDA any customer information I have in my records. What are the
potential penalties if I refuse?

A10: Under HR 2749, FDA would have access to all records relating to the
food producer's distribution of products. Failing to provide records to
FDA would constitute adulteration. [10a] The criminal penalty for
refusing access to records would be up to ten years imprisonment. [10b]
The civil fines could be up to $100,000 for an individual and $7.5
million for a corporation. [10c]

[10a] Section 207(a)-pp. 119-120
[10b] Section 134-p. 100
[10c] Section 135(a)-p. 101

More HR 2749 information is posted through links at
http://tinyurl.com/mnm34s

Anyone with additional questions is encouraged to contact the
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund directly by calling 703-208-3276 or
emailing info@farmtoconsumer.org

We update our email list at the end of each month, to be removed from our

member email list, email info@westonaprice.org

----------------------------------------

Our postal address is
PMB #106-380
4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20016
United States



--
Kim Glazzard
Organic Sacramento

Health Care Reform Stories

President Barack Obama is collecting stories! Click here: barackobama

The Organic Alternative: Recipe for Survival

If the existing heavily subsidized industrial farm system is allowed to continue, diet and environment related diseases - including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, influenza, and cancer - will likely bankrupt the entire health care system within a decade. While in 1970, US health care spending totaled $75 billion, or $356 per person, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services project that by 2016 health care spending will soar to over $4.1 trillion, or $12,782 per resident, representing a crushing 19.6% of GDP.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/newsletter/ov09spring.cfm

Public health plan should be an Option in Health Care Reform

Opinion Impact - The Oregonian - OregonLive.com

Posted by DR. DAVID V. EVANS May 25, 2009 06:00AM

As a family physician in Madras, I share The Oregonian's skepticism toward the recent promises that health insurers and "big pharma" made to President Barack Obama and the country. However, unlike The Oregonian and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., I strongly support a key component of Obama's health care reform campaign pledge: the choice of a public health insurance option.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and 22 of his Senate colleagues got it right when they recently wrote Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that a new public health insurance plan is a "core component" of national health care reform.
It is time for the private insurance industry to stop coming between me and my patients. With private plans, I see patients struggling to get the care they need because an insurance company representative with limited or no medical background says "no" to something I advise. Their decisions are based on profit margin and not on medical evidence. The time I spend calling insurance companies for permission could be much better spent with my patients.
A public health plan option means choice, and that's a good thing. Defenders of the status quo who stand to lose by this competition are trying to label it "a government takeover." Nonsense. If people are happy with their current plans, they can keep what they have.
The choice of a public health insurance plan will ensure that patients can see their regular doctor and go to their local hospital. All providers would continue to operate under the same ownership and leadership as they do now.
Opponents of reform try to scare patients into believing that a public health plan option would limit their choice of provider. But what do you have now? The notion that choice exists with private plans is just false. Recently, a privately insured patient came to me and complained that she could not see the urologist she wanted to see because her provider of choice was not "in network." If this patient were on Medicare she would have access to any urologist in central Oregon.
Like many of my colleagues here in Oregon and across the country, I know that the private, employer-based insurance system we have now is not the answer to our health insurance woes. Tens of thousands of doctors and millions of patients support a public health insurance option.
The choice of a public health insurance plan will level the health care playing field. Whether you live in a rural or urban area, work for a multinational company or a small business, are self-employed or have been recently laid off, your coverage will be there. Patients will have choice, control and peace of mind that their coverage will always be there at a price they can afford.
Dr. David V. Evans is president
of the National Physicians Alliance.
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