Industrial Food Re: # 17

Lol:). Try camomile tea or yoga...boycott the pharmaceutical industry.

Industrial Food Re: # 16

What can I say but heck, I am bored with the celebrities of the airwaves.

Industrial Food Re: # 6

American Cancer Society statistics are as follows:

Based on cancer deaths during 1999-2001, the probability of people developing any kind of cancer during their lifetimes is:
Male: 45.59%(1 in 2)
Female:38.18%(1 in 3)

This data is from published stats on American Cancer Society, Surveillance Research and available on their pages.

Industrial Food Cancer is a political issue between the environmentalists, chemical/pharma industry. The American cancer association is funded by the chemical and pharma industries. Back in the 1970s when studies linking chemicals to cancer appeared (US makes 2000 to 3000 new chemicals in a year, and there are 75000 known chemicals -stats from Organic Housekeeping). In the US, chemicals are innocent until proven guilty.

Cancer rates are calculated in various ways and they too are a sensitive issue. The chances of someone getting cancer in a lifetime are for men 44%, and women 38%. Mortality rates are 1 out of 4 from cancer. These stats are from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society (funded by donations from ordinary people).

The American Cancer society approaches statistics in a different way (people say it is funded by the very agencies who churn out chemicals). The American cancer agency draws a strong case between obesity, lack of exercise, age and cancer, whereas the Canadian society does not. Obesity is a far smaller problem in Canada and Cancer research does not focus on obesity as a cause for cancer because cancer is still highly prevalent. Cancer rates in children is also rising. I personally find the links between excercise, weight and cancer spurious causes. The underlying problems include processed foods and chemicals in the environment.

Industrial Food Here is a useful link on Monsanto:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

GMO`s are not proven to be without consequences. It is irrational to start using them without due process of testing. GMO`s lead to resistant bugs and weeds and impact the environment wherever they are used.

Industrial Food Reply to responses:

This article emphasized North American regulations over any other country. Japan and Europe have stronger legislations on chemical usage than US. US food supply relies on 60% GMO grains--the highest compared to anywhere else in the world. In fact last week, the media reported that some unapproved GMO strains of long rice grains have become mixed up with the regular rice supply. Many countries have returned the grain delivery. Mad cow is an on-going problem, cows with the disease keep surfacing in Alberta, Canada. It doesn`t make sense that none have been found in USA.

The irony is profound, that the developed went to the less developed to teach them how to grow food, yet, it turned out that the less developed were doing the right thing all along.

The Food and Drug Administration permits the use of more than 300 synthetic food additives in conventional foods. (People Do NOT need these additives). U. S. certified organic foods contain none of these additives. Children especially are more vulnerable because their systems cannot deal with pesticides.

Life expectancy has increased, but other super diseases are emerging. E.g., the over reliance on antibiotics is spawning a generation of super microbes, so this happy state of affairs cannot continue, in fact we see super diseases already. Cancer is a bigger threat every year--to think that perceptions of higher cancer prevelance are because of it being under-reported before is wrong, because cancer rates have been steadily increasing over the last few decades.

Some scientists are very concerned about the interaction and accumulation of toxins in the environment and the body. Personal care and household cleaning products are another side to the persistence of chemicals in the environment. For this article, the personal care products were not dealt with.

The EPA only tests 25% of products for environmental effects. Getting a chemical banned in the US is a nightmarish and lengthy process lasting decades despite repeated studies confirming the impact. The US does NOT adopt a cautionary approach to phasing out potentially harmful chemicals. It is belligerent and uses delaying tactics when it comes to ratifying international agreements on the environment. This tendency is severe when it comes to the current government.

Below is an extract from: http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3492 to give you an idea of what people in US are up against:

The United States has failed to adopt two key treaties: the Stockholm Convention on eliminating chemicals the international community has agreed are extremely dangerous to human health and the environment, and the Rotterdam Convention, which controls the international trade of highly toxic chemicals.

• Washington`s inability to adopt these treaties—now ratified by 127 and 110 countries, respectively—constitutes a failure not only of U.S. leadership but of responsible participation in global efforts to protect human health.

• Between 2001 and 2003, the United States exported 28 million pounds of pesticides that are banned domestically.

Musharraf Spilling the Beans—Why Now?

This analysis is far too complex and out of touch with some ground realities. The world is changing. More leaders on the other side of the Empire will come out of the woodworks and speak up about the Empire. According to a now famous NYT article--there are two global powers, one America and the other global world opinion.--inspired by the tremendous amount of criticism that intellectuals are making all over the world. Things are so bad that everywhere one goes people start off venting against the US President. Musharraf`s entire tactic seems to be based on capitalizing on world opinion. The fact that socialist parties and ideas are making a comeback, the fact that the world has been deemed flat, the fact that the economic center of gravity is no longer the US, means that leaders who listened to America, copied America are now questioning America.

So far the Musharraf way has worked. India is more friend than foe. Kashmir has been neutralized. Yes, Musharraf has a huge ego, but fortunately it isnt fragile, so he will survive his mistakes.

About all your holier than thou ideas that Musharaff should have said `ok bomb us, as did Tariq Aziz, (btw what good did to Iraq?) but we won`t give up the Taliban, if that happened, you`d probably be one of the first to denounce Musharraf`s ego and hubris and toss around words like, `Islamo fascism` etc. I can just see what you`d say even while booking your tickets out of Pakistan. Your article would be along the lines of: `o look at Musharraf, does he think that having the bomb means that he can take on America over the animalish Taliban?` The fact is that most of the resistance to the empire is coming from the Muslim world. Any Muslim country can be bombed whenever America decides at any time. The only justice, if you can call it that, remaining is world public opinion. So, quite possibly, Pakistan could be bombed too, inspire of Musharraf rolling over backwards to catch the resistance and turn it over to FBI. Musharaff walks a very thin line.

Let`s also remember the time when this threat was made. At that time USA had earned a lot of goodwill and genuine sympathy for what happened on 9/11. The world`s economic centre was America--the idea of China being a threat to American power was a guesstimate. At the time, Pakistan was desperately trying to be a liberal and modern state. The Taliban`s schizo tendencies over women and the Bamyan Budhas were already being critically watched. In other words the Taliban had lower approval ratings than America. Can you honestly say that in his place you would not have done exactly the same?

Maybe what happened now is that Musharraf is sick of toeing the line, yet being made to look like an enemy regardless, just because the current US administration needs an enemy.

There would be others, many others who will start to speak up against America. The fact that Noam Chomsky is in the best seller list--these are signs of a wide swing in opinions from 1999--in just 5 years. Nobody expected the Empire to show its clay feet this fast. Chomsky`s ideas appeared extreme, now they look mild. What happened is unprecedented. Students go to China now for management degrees--they used to go to America. Things are changing, dramatically. America has very little time to prove that there is something more to her than just military might. Ultimately this fight is about ideas. The vision America gave to the world is seriously being questioned. To lead the world, it has to reinvent itself, instead it is taking the cowards path. Alas, Bush is the worst thing to happen to America, but the greatest opportunity for the rest of the world. I`d pity him if he wasn`t a sadistic bugger who has probably enjoyed the sight of poor people running under American bombs. The torture accounts show a very nasty side to this administration.

Basically--the field is wide open right now for alternative ideas to the American idea. Is any country, leader, intellectual up for the challenge?

If Musharraf is selling books, more power to him. Pakistanis in the West should be happy that it is an attempt to show the human side of Pakistan, it is an attempt to explain rather than to let American media demonize Pakistan and Pakistanis.

Darakhat Bachao, Lahore Bachao The tree lined canal road is the most beautiful thing about Lahore, felling them is not only a loss of culture but a health hazard. Trees are virtually the lungs of any place. Surely public transport options and a safer pedestrian environment can solve traffic congestion problems.

Thanks for the article.

‘Our Liberals’ and Minority Psyche Thanks for bringing up the smouldering resentment that I caught back in Pakistan a few months ago. Remember one thing; liberals never become revolutionaries. A true liberal is seen by his sense of being outside the conventional wisdom and his ability to question popular truisms. In that way, the greatest nations of the world have remained great through questioning and improving the ideas that govern their political life.

I am thrilled to hear that the sacred cows are being examined. An ideology is good only if it stands scrutiny and the test of time. If indeed your national `ideology` and `heroes` loosely unfortunately translated in Pakistan over the last few decades to mean Muslims can`t live with anyone else or that Muslims know best, has compelling truth in it, it will stand the scrutiny of your liberals. Otherwise, all nations who cannot defend their ideas will perish. And defending ideas is not about saying `o my hero said that` it means bringing something of value to the world. What value has Pakistan so far brought to the world? What value will it bring? Why is that world important? These are not sarcastic questions, these are profound questions that we have to ask every nation, every human. There is great competition for this planet, surely your kind has to prepare for it, just like everyone else does. It cannot take for granted that it will survive. It has to ensure its survival through the compelling nature of its culture.

What are you truly afraid of? That your culture will die? But then, what are you doing to preserve it? Here are some hometruths. Other than setting up mosques for the religion of Islam, Pakistanis have to become better ambassodors of their culture. Yes, inspite of all that narrow minded political reason has done to Pakistan, Pakistan has a distinct and beautiful culture--quite different from even India. But who sees it? who knows about it? Pakistani TV, Food, Clothes, Art, Dance, Music, Activism, has no institutions. Perhaps the Horrible Liberals might do something for your country that the heroes and national ideology as it stands could not. Ever thought of that?



Rgds

Saima

The Globe Is Warm http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/17/60minutes/main1415985.shtml

James Hansen on 60 minutes

The Globe Is Warm bjk

WHY? Because of one simple fact: US CO2 emissions are higher than any other country in the world. The combined emissions of the European Union are 40% less than USA. The rest of the world models itself on USA coz it is the single biggest buyer of the world`s products. It also funds multiple UN agencies.

Aur aisa kabhi naheen tha, ab iss daur mein aisa ho raha hai.

The Globe Is Warm Re: # 6

Musa

Even though I feel quite disgruntled by the shortcomings of the present system, I differ visavis what ordinary people can do in their lives. It is possible to live a 0 emission lifestyle. What it means is plant a tree, use public transit, if you must do so, use hybrids, use energy efficient furnaces (saves a lot of money on gas) and energy efficient bulbs. Here are the things that really make a difference if we all practice them. The power of the `consumer` is still more than the power of the corporate, if they act in large numbers.

http://www.theweathermakers.com/globalwarming/

Some great tips are listed above and below is a list of actions that I stand by. I have no trouble practicing this list in my life on this planet. They are easily done, they work very well. And hey, one day it may be hip to be poor in lifestyle but rich in imagination.

1. 70-80% of furniture that I purchase is used. If you purchase from charities, your money goes towards rehabilitating drug addicts, teen mothers and others. Especially when it comes to wood furniture, dont buy new wood, buy second hand wood. Save the planet and your money.
2. Recycle all plastic bags, take your own bags to the grocery store. Use re-usable bags.
3. Buy bulk food from organic stores, try to not buy packaged cartons of food. The extra money you spend will save you pounds and the planet too.
4. Do not use bottled water, instead get a filter and re-use plastic bottles.
5. Recycle all cartons of food such as milk, juice etc and recycle paper.
6. Try to set up a circle of friends and community with whom you can share furniture/things. It is incredible how this simple deed will come back. Buy consumables from local charity stores
7. Try to live in a community situation--don`t buy a single house instead get a condo and share it.
8. Keep the heating down, instead wear more clothes
9. Cook from scratch, amazing how much packaging you can avoid.
10. Try to buy from local farms, again save packaging and your health at the same time.
11. Donate, donate, donate. Don`t junk, donate.
12. Use public transit for journeys as much as possible. Even if you park for the last 10 miles, Mother Earth will thank you. Get out from the prison of the car, and engage in the world. Share a car with a neighbour if you can. Reduce the family`s cars to one highly efficient Honda or Toyota. Get a hybrid if you can, if you can`t afford it, buy the smallest car possible. e.g., Smart Car, Honda, Toyata. Trust me, you wont waste time, instead you will gain it.
13. Walk to local stores, get your kids to bike to school. If you must drive, try to live close to work and school, even if it means a smaller house.
14. Try to eliminate plastic containers, instead, get ceramic or glass that you can re-use.
15. Get a clothes rack and dry your laundry in the sun--especially in summer. Save on electricity and get the sun`s anti bacterial treatment.
16. Buy from local business--transporting goods from China uses a lot of energy. Find businesses that donate 1% to environmental causes and use local craftsmen. You`d be amazed how hard it is to do that. Whatever the West consumes today is mostly sourced from elsewhere, yet you can find alternative markets. Do you really think China is better off producing consumable junk for the West? Shouldnt they be producing to better their own life?
17. If you are an impulse shopper, shop in the most expensive stores. No need to buy things because they are just 5dollars--especially in food stores. You don`t really need them and human greed is killing this planet.

Imagine if even 60% of people here did this. It would mean:

1. Negligible pollution
2. No obesity
3. Cut down garbage by 80%
4. Sustainable economy, dramatically lower consumer spending.

The Globe Is Warm Re Zeemax and bjkumar

The article refers to 906 peer-reviewed articles i.e., 100% of academic articles over the last few years that concur that global warming is not only happening but that it is due to people who have cut down trees while at the same time increased CO2 emissions. In fact scientists have gone on record signing statements calling an emergency. NASA scientist James Hansen is case in point. The spike in temperature is not part of the climate age that we are in. It is an anomoly. Even though in the early 90s it was thought that global warming would be a threat 50 to 100 years later, its impact is being felt right now.
1. The polar ice caps have receded. Glaciers in North America have melted.
2. Droughts in Africa are thought to be worsened because of global warming
3. Because of higher global temperatures pollen matures sooner leading to incredible amounts of pollen this year.
4. Hurricanes are more intense causing incredible damage, recall 2005.
5. Forest fires are more common in North America now than even 10 yrs ago
6. Extinction of thousands of species because of loss of habitat and the increase in insects e.g, the pine beetle in forests.

For more of such data please refer to the following books:
1. David Suzuki`s series of books and DVDs
2. http://www.theweathermakers.com/
3. An Inconvenient Truth

The chart that really got me was one that plotted global temperatures on a graph over the last 100 000 years. The spikes on the warm side over the last 5/6 years were so scary since they are completely out of the normal ups and down over 100,000 years. This graph is in `The Inconvenient Truth` which is full of the evidence.

You will ask, how come it isn`t headline news? Well, this book has made the cover of many magazines this year, but it vies with other more exciting news such as who murdered whom, how many millions Bill Gates donated to what, what colour a star wore or what your neighbours did last Saturday. In a world saturated with the petty, the profound becames trivia.

The Globe Is Warm Re: # 11

Thanks!

Al Gore`s demeanour doesn`t strike me as someone with the political ambition to go after the Presidency. Also, he doesn`t seem to be ready to compromise on environmental issues which is what any self-respecting President would have to do. Perhaps his approach may do more for the environment than political manouvering in the corridors of power.

Lol on the Redwood Tree. But, alas, can you imagine a nation fed on Fox, Fear and War, having the sense to elect him?

Blowing Up People and Property is Not Islam Re: # 75

Dear HP,

Even if we do not group religion with ideology, you will see that religion has been invoked to resist imperialism or colonization prior to the current resistance. Independence of Pakistan from India was ideologically premised on religious identity/control of resources. So was the Afghanistan resistance to Soviet occupation. Palestine and Israel is also a religion/land based conflict. And if we group religion with ideology, there are many conflicts, such as USSR and US. I am of the opinion that religious ideology and/or cultural ideology aren`t that different and if so, it would mean that the war on terrorism is a war between Christainity/Judaism and Islam (Ann Coulter the brashly unapologetic conservative writer would agree). However, this time around the crusades are between people highly dependent on each other economically which add many dimensions to the conflict e.g., resistance of imperialism, resource war etc. But religious ideology is how Republican US sees it and this is how fundamentalist Muslims see it. The rest of us including the more neutral countries are relegated to a backseat where we watch as these people fight, unable to do much other than wring our hands over how racist we are or how racist they are. As time passes and North America`s dependencies increase on China and India, similar conflicts might arise between them and USA which would be surpressed in the same way. Islamic fundamentalism can`t really go very far. Without a rational debate or charismatic ideas it is a fire in the bottom of a well, which will die a sad and painful death. The annals of history will notice the resistance as a two paragraph entry in the beginning of the millineum.

The Globe Is Warm HP

:) The devil is in the details.

The article here examines in detail some of the skeptics who are in positions of power:

http://thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2006/05/02/PaidtoDenyGlobalWarming/
Other interesting sites you may want to check are:

http://www.heatisonline.org/main.cfm

and www.climatecrisis.net

About fear. It all depends on what scares us. For some it is fear of other people and their values, for others it is global catastrophe. I find the stance on terrorism irrational and paranoid, others may think the concern for climate change overdone. Isnt it all about the change we are afraid will happen? Global warming is quite conclusively because of deforestation and carbon emissions. Other environmental catastrophes are brewing that I haven`t even touched on. Not so far back, people were denying the problem with the ozone layer. And yet, sure enough it was CFCs, that created a huge hole in the Earths atmosphere. Finally reduction in CFC has decreased the rate of growth in the ozone hole. What really helped the Ozone crisis was widespread media interest. Global warming is also expected to increase the rate of ozone depletion.

As you know scientists always debate, but this is one issue on which 99% of scientists are in agreement. The 1% who are skeptical are being paid well to argue. Makes one wonder, doesn`t it?