May 2008
News For Life
This newsletter, in its 6th year, is designed to keep you aware of the many effects our food
choices have on our lives; from personal health to a sustainable planet and respecting
other species. I hope you enjoy it and share it with others!
General News Index:
THE NEW MEAT: A VEG RESPONSE
GO VEGAN ON THE CHEAP
THE TRUTH BEHIND HUMANE SLAUGHTER LAW
CELL CULTURE BEATS ANIMAL TESTS FOR IRRITANCY ACCURACY
WHAT WE REALLY EAT
BILL CLINTON’S MADNESS: HEART-BYPASS SURGERY BRAIN DAMAGE
HOW TO PROD PICKY EATERS
VEGFAMILY VEGAN WEIGHT LOSS CLUB
VIDEO: FAMOUS VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS
FACTORY FARM FIRES CLAIM 10,000 PIGS IN THREE WEEKS
FARM SANCTUARY
ANIMAL LOVE
PETA’S LATEST TACTIC: $1 MILLION FOR FAKE MEAT
DON’T MISS NAVS VEGETARIAN SUMMERFEST!
Health News Index:
GETTING FORGETFUL? THEN BLUEBERRIES MAY HOLD THE KEY
EATING SOY FOODS IN PUBERTY PROTECTS AGAINST BREAST CANCER
CRUCIFEROUS VEG AGAIN LINKED TO BLADDER CANCER PROTECTION
ORGANIC VEGGIES HAVE MORE NUTRIENTS
INCREASED EGG CONSUMPTION LINKED TO MORTALITY
EATING JUST ONE SAUSAGE A DAY RAISES YOUR CANCER RISK
Environmental News Index:
RECIPE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
MCCARTNEY URGES VEGETARIANISM TO FIGHT CLIMATE ILLS
VIDEO: EATING MEAT CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING
MEAT EATING AND GLOBAL WARMING
SEAFOOD NOT SO HEALTHY AFTER ALL - FOR US OR THE PLANET
Animal Sentience Index:
TRUE STORY (COPIED FROM NEW YORK TIMES 9-19-01)
SCHOOLBOY EXPLODES GOLDFISH MEMORY MYTH
Take Action Index:
MEET YOUR MEAT: END FACTORY FARMING TODAY!
VIDEO CAMERAS IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES
CRACK DOWN ON PUPPY MILLS
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General News:
“If you don’t stay informed, then who will tell the others the truth?” Anonymous
THE NEW MEAT: A VEG RESPONSE
ONE of my favorite movie lines comes from My Cousin Vinny. Joe Pesci's character is
fretting over what to wear on a hunting trip. Marisa Tomei's character paints a picture of
a deer in the forest, stopping to quench its little deer thirst at a little babbling brook, when
out of nowhere it's shot in the head by a hunter. As Tormei puts it: "Now I ask ya, would
you give a f**k what kind of pants the son-of-a-bitch who shot you was wearing?"
This scene leapt to mind when reading Michael Pollan's conclusion to his tome, The
Omnivore's Dilemma. After handily making a case for veg*nism based on ethical,
environmental and health reasons, he decides he likes bacon too much to give it up. So he
comes up with a pseudo-spiritual, show-gratitude-to-the-pig, circle-of-life way to justify
continuing to eat meat, but he doesn't follow the logical conclusion of his own arguments.
Now I ask ya: does the pig in the slaughterhouse give a f**k if you're grateful to it?
Let's be clear: "Organic" doesn't mean "humane." "Free-range" isn't a regulated term.
Chickens are excluded entirely from the Humane Slaughter Act. The existence of a few
bucolic locations which might provide a nearly-guilt-free meat-eating existence to a
privileged few doesn't mitigate the fact that it's the products of factory farms that are
accessible to the vast majority of nonveg*ns in this country. Most of all: Slaughter is
slaughter whether 10 or 10,000 are killed per day. And it's so unnecessary...
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/03.19.08/veggie-0812.html
GO VEGAN ON THE CHEAP
The potato became famous in seventeenth century Europe because it was recognized as a
food source that could save people in times of famine... The good old potato, however, is
a healthy staple that costs pennies, can be bought in bulk, fills you up, and delivers
nutrients that every body needs.
A 5 lb. bag of potatoes costs, on average, five dollars or less. Each potato delivers
potassium, iron, calcium, Vitamin C and folic acid. While the potato often gets a bad rap
for being too starchy, eating them won't make you fat, unless they're smothered in butter
and sour cream or a cheesy sauce. Like every other food, deep frying them isn't the best
health option either...
http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-cooking-tips/go-vegan-on-the-cheap.htm
THE TRUTH BEHIND HUMANE SLAUGHTER LAW
"The hog was lying in the cradle and all four feet had been removed. The hog was
observed to be kicking and shaking its head. It exhibited skin twitching and irregular but
rhythmic breathing with deep abdominal and thoracic movement. It appeared to be
gasping for breath," a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector wrote about a
still-conscious hog at a slaughter plant in Frankenmuth, Mo.
With meat recalls due to bacterial contamination and the horrific handling and
slaughtering of downer cows making headlines in recent months, consumers are
increasingly aware of some of the problems occurring behind slaughterhouse doors. But
new documentation reveals how dire the situation really is. The Animal Welfare Institute
(AWI) has released the first report of its kind to
analyze humane slaughter enforcement at state, federal and foreign slaughterhouses...
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS226056+25-Mar-2008+PRN20080325
Beef recall case: Cattle abuse wasn't a rare occurrence
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-03-24-meat-recall-slaughterban_N.htm
CELL CULTURE BEATS ANIMAL TESTS FOR IRRITANCY ACCURACY
A test method derived from cultured human skin cells is more accurate than animal tests
at identifying skin irritants, according to a new report from MatTek, Inc., a Massachusetts
company that develops alternatives to animal tests. While tests in rabbits misclassified 10
out of the 25 test chemicals, the company’s EpiDerm™ method detected all irritating
chemicals correctly.
Another study found that EpiDerm™ and another MatTek cell model, EpiAirway™,
contain the enzymes necessary to metabolize toxic chemicals in the same way that these
tissues would in an intact human. EpiAirway™ is a model constructed from cells that line
the human airway passages, and can be used to test chemicals for potential toxicity to the
respiratory system.
The reports were presented at the annual Society of Toxicology meeting in Seattle, held
March 16-20, 2008 (http://www.mattek.com/pages/news/wn049).
WHAT WE REALLY EAT
... a report done by Information Resources, that appeared in The Wall Street Journal
Almanac. The report listed the 50 top largest product categories in food stores by sales
dollars. So, in other words, which products do we spend the most money on... Vegetables
didn't show up to # 22, frozen vegetables were #33, and canned fruit was #39. This is a
very sad state. The numbers don't lie...
http://www.healthscience.org/content/view/367/198/
BILL CLINTON’S MADNESS: HEART-BYPASS SURGERY BRAIN DAMAGE
One of the savviest politicians of our generation, known for his wit, charm, and calm
under extreme pressure, Bill Clinton appears out of character in the speeches and
interviews televised since his bypass surgery September 6, 2004—and his mental
deterioration may be accelerating... During my 40 years of medical practice I have never
heard a doctor warn a patient before bypass surgery that an expected complication is
memory loss... A study published this year (2008) in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery
using MRI testing just after bypass surgery found brain damage in 51% of patients...
I am saddened to see our former president suffer from public humiliation, but I am
disgraced that my profession has thus far failed to come forward with a long over-due
explanation and an apology to the Clintons and our nation for the harm they have done
and the secrets they have kept. John McDougall, MD
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2008other/080412clinton.htm
JC Note: Several medical doctors have document REVERSAL of heart disease with a
healthy plant-based diet, avoiding by-pass surgery altogether!
HOW TO PROD PICKY EATERS
New thinking about what determines a child's likes and dislikes when it comes to eating
should help parents in their never-ending food wars with the kids... babies ate more
veggies after about eight days of tasting them, even though they acted like they didn't like
them... The same study found that mothers who breast-feed can influence their infants'
acceptance of fruits and veggies when moms regularly eat those foods themselves...
What else can parents do?
TRY, TRY AGAIN. Offer small amounts of a new food several times so your child gets
used to the taste.
MODEL GOOD EATING HABITS. Your kids are watching you. Parents who eat their
spinach greatly increase the likelihood that their children will gobble their greens, too.
MAKE SURE BABY EATS HEALTHFULLY FROM THE START. Breast milk can
breed veggie-lovin' little ones.
http://www.usaweekend.com/thinksmart/index.html
VEGFAMILY VEGAN WEIGHT LOSS CLUB
Are you trying to lose weight but need support, motivation, and a program to follow?
Want diet plans, worksheets, journaling, success stories, and other weight loss support?
Sign up to receive pre-launch information about VegFamily's Vegan Weightloss Club.
http://www.vegfamily.com/health/vegan-weightloss-club.htm
VIDEO: FAMOUS VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS
Music by John Mayor - Waiting on A World to Change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkhNN-SSlgs
FACTORY FARM FIRES CLAIM 10,000 PIGS IN THREE WEEKS
One of the worst parts of incarceration, many say, is knowing if a fire breaks out the
guards aren't going to save you. They're not going to rush back into the prison building
and risk their lives. Why would they? If your life had any value, you wouldn't be locked
up in the first place. That's exactly what happened to 10,000 pigs who perished in factory
farm fires in Canada and Indiana in the past month...
http://newsblaze.com/story/20080406142442rose.nb/newsblaze/OPINIONS/O
FARM SANCTUARY
It's hard out there for a vegan. And not because vegans or even vegetarians secretly crave
the Wendy's Baconater, but because their values clash with the established status quo...
Gene Baur has become one of America's most effective animal-rights proponents over
the past 20 years. He co-founded the nonprofit organization Farm Sanctuary in 1986 as a
refuge for abused and diseased animals ("downers") trapped in the food-supply chain.
Baur and his team's mission extends far beyond thinking animals are cute and furry and
have feelings, too. The mistreatment of animals is also a significant public health issue.
In an ongoing battle with the USDA that he chronicles in Farm Sanctuary, Baur writes
that livestock "with abscesses, gangrene, hepatitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, and malignant
lymphoma were approved for human food, and all of them were entering the food
supply."
"There are a lot of problems with disease and diseased animals entering the food supply,
and one of the reasons we may not be aware of these diseases is because quite literally,
we're eating the evidence," Baur says.
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=463123
ANIMAL LOVE
Mention the word “vegan” and people might conjure the hippie image — tiered paisley
skirts, thrift-store T-shirts, weird granola sandals... Surely, these people can’t be
fashionable, can they? Of course they can. In an age of increasing awareness in the
benefits of conservation and organic manufacturing (whether at grocery stores or trendy
boutiques), stylish options for those who’ve decided to ditch leather, fur, wool and silk
are increasing...
http://www.thereader.com/lifestyle.php?subaction=showfull&id=1208380727&archive=
&start_from=&ucat=13&
PETA’S LATEST TACTIC: $1 MILLION FOR FAKE MEAT
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to pay a million dollars for fake
meat... The organization said it would announce plans on Monday for a $1 million prize
to the “first person to come up with a method to produce commercially viable quantities
of in vitro meat at competitive prices by 2012.”...
New Harvest, a nonprofit organization formed to promote the field, says on its Web site,
“Because meat substitutes are produced under controlled conditions impossible to
maintain in traditional animal farms, they can be safer, more nutritious, less polluting and
more humane than conventional meat.”...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/us/21meat.html?hp\
DON’T MISS NAVS VEGETARIAN SUMMERFEST!
The North American Vegetarian Societies’ 34rd annual conference is set for June 18-22,
2008 at the Conference Center at Pitt-Johnstown on the University of Pittsburgh campus
at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Cutting-edge Educational Sessions: Health and nutrition, lifestyle issues, cooking,
recipes, exercise and fitness, animal rights, compassionate living, Earth stewardship, and
even more!
Meet Others of Like Mind: Hundreds of attendees, from beginners to seasoned
vegetarians – all ages. Social gatherings for everyone – singles, couples and families.
Great Natural-food Vegan Meals: Prepared under the direction of an "International Gold
Medal-Winning" chef, Ken Bergeron. Many organic ingredients.
http://vegetariansummerfest.org/
Health News:
"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates, the
father of medicine.
GETTING FORGETFUL? THEN BLUEBERRIES MAY HOLD THE KEY
If you are getting forgetful as you get older, then a research team from the University of
Reading and the Peninsula Medical School in the Southwest of England may have good
news for you. They have found that phytochemical-rich foods, such as blueberries, are
effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory... and found that improvements in
spatial working memory tasks emerged within three weeks and continued throughout the
period of the study...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410115405.htm
EATING SOY FOODS IN PUBERTY PROTECTS AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Evidence is growing from animal and human studies that genistein, a potent chemical
found in soy, protects against development of breast cancer - but only if consumed during
puberty, says a Georgetown University Medical Center researcher in the British Journal
of Cancer. The challenge now, she says, is for scientists to understand precisely why soy
appears to provide a shield against the most common cancer in women...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409091727.htm
CRUCIFEROUS VEG AGAIN LINKED TO BLADDER CANCER PROTECTION
An increased intake of cruciferous vegetables may slash the risk of bladder cancer by 36
per cent, says new research that attributes the benefits to the isothiocyanate content...
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=84558-cruciferous-vegetablesisothiocyanates-bladder-cancer
ORGANIC VEGGIES HAVE MORE NUTRIENTS
A review of nearly 100 scientific studies has concluded that, on average, organic fruits
and vegetables have more vitamins, minerals, and beneficial antioxidants than their
conventionally grown counterparts. In the new report, scientists from The Organic Center
(a nonprofit that promotes organic farming), examined carefully matched measurements
of selected nutrients in specific organic and conventionally grown foods. The scientists
found that the organic produce had higher levels of tested nutrients in 61 percent of the
cases. Furthermore, the organic foods tended to have higher levels of antioxidants and
polyphenols, nutrients that are often in short supply in U.S. diets...
http://www.organic-center.org/science.nutri.php?action=view&report_id=126
INCREASED EGG CONSUMPTION LINKED TO MORTALITY
In the Physicians’ Health Study I, which included 21,327 participants with an average 20
year follow-up, researchers found that those who consumed seven or more eggs per week
had an almost 25 percent increased risk of death than those with the lowest egg
consumption. For participants with diabetes, the risk of death was twofold compared to
those who consumed the least amount of eggs.
Cholesterol intake is positively correlated to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
One large egg contains approximately 215 mg of cholesterol. The American Heart
Association advises eating less than 300 mg per day, and less than 200 mg for those with
heart disease. There is no biological requirement for dietary cholesterol.
Djoussé L, Gaziano JM. Egg consumption in relation to cardiovascular disease and
mortality: the Physicians’ Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr.2008;87:964-969.
EATING JUST ONE SAUSAGE A DAY RAISES YOUR CANCER RISK
One sausage a day can significantly raise the risk of bowel cancer, one of the deadliest
forms of the disease, experts have warned. Eating 1.8oz (50g) of processed meat a day the equivalent of one sausage or three rashers of bacon - raises the likelihood of the
cancer by a fifth, research shows...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=550
729&in_page_id=1774&ICO=HEALTH&ICL=TOPART
Environmental News:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as
much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." Albert Einstein
RECIPE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
... Given the breadth and urgency of climate change and its impact, what actions can we
as individuals take to mitigate this crisis? Just as consumers have switched to compact
fluorescent light bulbs and are driving and flying less, each of us can, and must, take a
closer look at the amount of meat, egg and dairy products we consume and how they
were produced...
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2008/03/26/72166296
MCCARTNEY URGES VEGETARIANISM TO FIGHT CLIMATE ILLS
Former Beatle Paul McCartney is urging the world to go vegetarian in a bid to fight
global warming and is surprised more green groups don't promote it... A 2006 United
Nations report found that cattle-rearing generated more greenhouse gases than
transportation.
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/48066/story.htm
VIDEO: EATING MEAT CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING
Bruce Friedrich interview on Glenn Beck's Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1GGccivmTU&feature=related
MEAT EATING AND GLOBAL WARMING
According to the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, livestock
contribute more to global warming than transport...
Some great links to further information...
http://www.ivu.org/members/globalwarming.html
SEAFOOD NOT SO HEALTHY AFTER ALL - FOR US OR THE PLANET
Several decades ago a fish-centric diet was considered to be not only healthy but also
environmentally friendly. But today those of us who eat a lot of fish may not be doing
ourselves or the environment any favor. The two major concerns are overfishing and
pollution...
For those looking to cut down on or eliminate seafood from their diets but still gain the
health benefits of eating fish, plenty of alternatives exist. As most vegetarians know,
beans, tofu and many nuts can be significant alternative sources of protein. And walnuts,
flaxseed and hemp oil/seeds are all rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids common in many fish
and thought to help ward off heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration (age-related
blindness), arthritis and inflammatory disorders.
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4155
Animal Sentience:
"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans
any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men." Alice
Walker, author and activist.
TRUE STORY (COPIED FROM NEW YORK TIMES 9-19-01)
James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. He is
blind so he has a golden retriever named Daisy. After the plane hit 20 stories below,
James knew that he was doomed, so he let Daisy go out of an act of love. She darted
away into the darkened hallway. Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke he
was just waiting to die...About 30 minutes later, Daisy comes back along with James'
boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112. On her first run of the building,
she leads James, James' boss and about 300 more people out of the doomed building.
But she wasn't through yet, she knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly
against James' wishes she ran back in the building. On her second run, she saved 392
lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapses. James hears about
this and falls on his knees into tears. Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive,
but this time she is carried by a firefighter. "She lead us right to the people, before she got
injured" the fireman explained. Her final run saved other 273 lives. She suffered acute
smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967
lives.
The next week, Mayor Guilaini rewarded Daisy with the Canine medal of Honor of New
York. Daisy is the first civilian Canine to win such an honor.
SCHOOLBOY EXPLODES GOLDFISH MEMORY MYTH
A 15-year-old South Australian school student has busted the myth that goldfish have a
three second memory... "My results strongly showed that goldfish can retain knowledge
for at least six days," Rory said. "They can retain that knowledge indefinitely if they use
it regularly."...
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/18/1203190696599.html
Take Action:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, anthropologist
MEET YOUR MEAT: END FACTORY FARMING TODAY!
In factory farms, pigs (who are considered smarter than 3-year-old children) are forcibly
impregnated and confined to tiny metal crates where they can't even turn around. Is this
humane? No way.
Cows - gentle giants who are visibly distressed when separated from their calves - are
subjected to castration, branding and de-horning, all without anesthesia.
I won't even go into the horrors that chickens and other animals face in factory farms.
This suffering is cruel and the meat that results is unhealthy for humans.
It's time for this to end. Speak out for these animals today! Sign the petition to the House
of Representatives to express your outrage at these horrible conditions for animals!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/250249376?z00m=14652645
VIDEO CAMERAS IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES
In the wake of the HSUS Chino slaughterhouse investigation, several members of
Congress are now calling for video cameras to be installed at slaughterhouses. Please
urge your representatives that you support this legislation for the benefit of the animals
and food safety.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/video-cameras-in-slaughterhouses
CRACK DOWN ON PUPPY MILLS
Puppy mills are cruel, factory-style breeding businesses that produce puppies in large
numbers and sell them to unsuspecting consumers. They are designed to maximize
profits, and commonly disregard the physical, social, and emotional health of the dogs in
their facilities.
Dogs kept for breeding have almost no hope of ever being part of a family. They are kept
caged and bred constantly. They get no love, or the chance to be clean or walk on solid
ground.
We should no longer permit dogs to be treated and regulated like an agricultural "crop,"
and we need tougher laws and strong enforcement of those laws to protect dogs.
TAKE ACTION...
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/puppymills_oprah?rk=J11TbvMqH4jQW
You've Seen Oprah's Show: Now What You Can Do to Keep Up the Fight Against the
Pet Trade
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/companion-animal-breeding/article/475
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News For Life is compiled and edited by JC Corcoran. If you received this national
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