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  • From: lbsaltzman@aol.com
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] Disturbing news from Organic Consumer Association
  • Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:19:12 -0400


ALERT:
USDA IGNORES PUBLIC REJECTION OF PROPOOSAL TO ALLOW 38 NON-ORGANIC
INGREDIENTS & TOXIC FISH OIL IN FOODS LABELED AS "USDA ORGANIC"
Basically ignoring more than ten thousand emails and letters from consumers
and farmers opposing the latest industry-sponsored attack on organic
standards, the USDA has approved a proposal allowing 38 new non-organic
ingredients to be allowed in products bearing the "USDA Organic" seal. But
the agency says this may just be interim approval, and has offered to extend
the public comment period another 60 days (the original public comment period
was only 7 days). The USDA's controversial proposal will result in the
following:


Anheuser Busch will be allowed to sell its "Organic Wild Hops Beer" without
using any organic hops at all.

Sausages, brats, and breakfast links labeled as "USDA Organic" will be
allowed to contain intestines from factory farmed animals raised on
chemically grown feed, synthetic hormones, slaughterhouse waste, and
antibiotics.

Products labeled as "USDA Organic" and containing fish oil may contain toxins
such as PCBs and mercury.



Learn more and take action:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5225.cfm




QUICK FACTS OF THE WEEK:
CORN-BASED ETHANOL ADDS TO GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS


In the past 12 months, the global corn price has doubled.

Because corn is the most common animal feed, this affects the price of milk,
cheese, eggs, meat, as well as corn-based sweeteners and cereals.

In the U.S., milk prices have nearly doubled.

Butter prices in Europe have spiked by 40%.

Pork prices in China are up 20%.

In Mexico there have been riots in response to a 60% rise in the cost of
tortillas.

In six of the past seven years, global grain consumption has exceeded
production. As a result world grain reserves have dwindled to 57 days. This
is the lowest level of grain reserves in 34 years.

While the UN lists 34 countries as needing food aid, 30% of next year's grain
harvest in the U.S. will be converted to ethanol to fuel cars.



QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"The stage is now set for direct competition for grain between the 800
million people who own automobiles, and the world's 2 billion poorest people."

Lester Brown from the Earth Policy Institute speaking at a briefing to the US
Senate two weeks ago.


SOLUTION OF THE WEEK:
FEED THE HUNGRY AT THE GAS PUMP


Automakers roughly doubled the fuel economy of cars between the 1970s and the
late 1980s. In other words, the "know-how" has been here for a long time.

Over the past 20 years, automakers have used advancements in technology to
add more than 800 pounds to the average vehicle and nearly double horsepower,
while fuel economy has declined. Be smart about what you drive.

The grain required to fill a 25 gallon gas tank with ethanol would feed one
person for a year. Every time you fill your tank, think about biking,
walking, mass transit or just relaxing at home. Live simply so that others
may live.

Next year, 30% of U.S. corn will be used for ethanol. Instead, the same
amount of fuel could be saved by increasing average fuel efficiency by just
three miles per gallon. Let your Representatives and Senators know that you
support strong fuel efficiency standards and a wholesale conversion of U.S.
transportation, utilities, and agriculture to renewable sources of
energy..Take part in OCA's Farm Bill alert below.



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