Organic Change, Organic Life, Eco-Friendly Water

The seed, the source of life, the embodiment of our biological and cultural diversity, the link between the past and the future of evolution, the common property of past, present and future generations of farming communities who have been seed breeders, is today being stolen from the farmers and being sold back to us as “propriety seed” owned by corporations like the US-headquartered Monsanto. Under pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office, various state governments are signing MoUs (memorandums of understanding) with seed corporations to privatise our rich and diverse genetic heritage. For example, the government of Rajasthan has signed seven MoUs with Monsanto, Advanta, DCM-Shriram, Kanchan Jyoti Agro Industries, PHI Seeds Pvt. Ltd, Krishidhan Seeds and J.K. Agri Genetics. The Rajasthan government’s MoU with Monsanto, for example, focuses on maize, cotton, and vegetables (hot pepper, tomato, cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower and water melon). Monsanto controls the cottonseed market in...

Chemicals and additives found in the food supply and other consumer products are making headlines regularly as more and more groups raise concern over the safety of these substances. In a  statement  released this week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked for reform to the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The group is particularly concerned about the effects these substances have on children and babies. Last month, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) held hearings on the safety of  food dyes  but failed to make a definitive ruling. The most recent  study  on Bisphenol-A (BPA) added to growing doubts about its safety; but the FDA's stance on it remains ambiguous . Meanwhile, in 2010, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported  [PDF] that the FDA is not ensuring the safety of many chemicals. Yet while the FDA stalls and hedges on the safety of these substances, Americans are exposed to untested combinations of food add...

I know, I already send this message many times, but truly, this is an amazing discovery for me and I need to share this with everyone who has a chance to stumble upon my blog.... If you read Hiromi Shynia's book, he does mention this water as well (only the Kangen water, no other fake ionized water), and bear in mind he is one of the top 10 gastroenterologist in the world! Revolutionize Your Lifestyle with Kangen Water®! The powerful Enagic® water ionizing machines produce up to 5 different types of water. You could spend a lifetime discovering all the useful ways to incorporate these waters into your eco-conscious lifestyle and household! It is fun and easy to learn the properties of each unique water and what they can all do. You will be amazed at the versatility of this one remarkable and cutting-edge Enagic® machine! Strong Kangen Water (pH 11.0) Strong Kangen Water preserves hygiene in your daily life due to its strong cleaning effect. It has dissolving and ...

According to the findings of an investigation by researchers at the  University of Illinois at Chicago , regular consumption of black raspberries may help prevent colorectal cancer. The study, which was recently featured in  Cancer Prevention Research , tested the effectiveness of supplementing the diets of cancer and colitis prone lab mice with freeze-dried black powder. The two types of mice, technically referred to as strains Apc1638 and Muc2, are engineered to lack specific genes which significantly reduce their chances of developing either  colorectal cancer  or Ulcerative colitis , respectively. Details of the Study The mice were randomly assigned to one of two groups, both of which were fed a high-fat, vitamin deficient Western-style diet. Members of the experimental group were also fed dried black raspberry powder in large quantities equal to about ten percent of of their total base diet. No additional changes were made to the diets of the control group mi...

GM-Free Ireland Means More GM-Free in the U.S. The U.S. imports large amounts of Irish diary products, including casein for cheese production, so the move will mean more Americans are getting GM-free foods. Ireland's move will also provide a significant source of GM-free agricultural products for North American food product manufacturers, says Megan Thompson, executive director of the  Non-GMO Project , a non-profit group that works to ensure GM-free foods are available to consumers who want them. Ireland has taken a truly inspiring step to ensuring consumers' right to choose non-GMO products... As more and more companies in the USA and Canada are looking for non-GMO ingredients, this is a very timely move and we look forward to developing sourcing opportunities with GM-free producers in Ireland. Bleak News for Monsanto So far, Monsanto has been mum on Ireland's move, but odds are they're going to have a corporate version of a hissy fit--they'll sue. It would...

High levels of pesticide exposure in pregnant women have been linked to lower IQs in their children, according to three separate US studies. Two studies were done in New York City and a third was in Salinas, a farming area of northern California. All spanned nearly a decade, tracking levels of pesticide in expectant mothers and testing nearly 1,000 children up to age nine. Researchers looked at exposure to a family of pesticides known as organophosphates, which are commonly used on fruit and vegetable crops. The reports are published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. In the California study involving 392 kids, "researchers found that every tenfold increase in measures of organophosphates detected during a mother's pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5 drop in overall IQ in the seven-year-olds." The differences held even after researchers accounted for factors such as education, family income, and exposure to other environmental contaminants, the study, released...

1.  Guaranteeing the Right to Food.  Guaranteeing the human right to adequate food—now and for future generations—requires that policymakers incorporate this right into food security laws and programs at the regional, national, and international level. Governments have a role in providing the public goods to support sustainable agriculture, including extension services, farmer-to-farmer transmission of knowledge, storage facilities, and infrastructure that links farmers to consumers. 2.  Harnessing the Nutritional and Economic Potential of Vegetables.  Micronutrient deficiencies, including lack of vitamin A, iodine, and iron, affect 1 billion people worldwide. Promoting indigenous vegetables that are rich in micronutrients could help reduce malnutrition. Locally adapted vegetable varieties are hardier and more dependable than staple crops, making them ideal for smallholder farmers. Research organizations like AVRDC/The World Vegetable Center are developing improved ...