| Friday, July 8, 2005 |  |
| News Briefs from the Organic Consumers Association | 2 comments |
| 8 Jul 2005 @ 15:53 PR Watch: The Weekly Spin (July 6, 2005) --------------------------------------------------------------------- sponsored by the nonprofit Center for Media and Democracy [link] To support our work now online visit: https://www.egrants.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2344-0|1118-0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Weekly Spin features selected news summaries with links to further information about media, political spin and propaganda. It is emailed free each Wednesday to subscribers. SHARE US WITH A FRIEND (OR FIFTY FRIENDS) Who do you know who might want to receive Spin of the Week? Help us grow our subscriber list! Just forward this message to people you know, encouraging them to sign up at this link: [link] --------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS WEEK'S NEWS PR Watch: The Weekly Spin (July 6, 2005) Click on above link to read the articles listed below == BLOG POSTINGS == 1. America Supports You ... Kind Of: Bush's Support of Troops Misleading 2. Oprah Not "The Only Mad Cow In America," Thanks to Texas Governor Perry == SPIN OF THE DAY == 1. Queen or King of All You Survey 2. Ethics Adviser Dumps On Shell 3. Where's That Spoonful of Sugar? 4. Store Wars: Return of the GMO Lobby 5. Spinning the Atom, Worldwide 6. The Invisible Hand of DuPont 7. When Journalists Embrace 'Reform' 8. U.S. House Says No Government-Funded Fake News 9. Laboring in Obscurity 10. Perception of Success Determines Public Support for War 11. Big Media's Ties to Corporate America More > |
| Musician Willie Nelson Expands Biodisel Brand BioWillie | 1 comment |
 8 Jul 2005 @ 15:48 Musician Willie Nelson Expands Biodisel Brand BioWillie CARL'S CORNER, Texas, July 6, 2005 (ENS) - Musician Willie Nelson spent the Independence Day weekend expanding his chain of biodiesel fueling stations to the truck stop Carl's Corner along Interstate 35. Carl's Corner now offers ³BioWillie,² the singer¹s unique brand of B20, a fuel made of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent gasoline. It is supplied to filling stations by Willie Nelson Biodiesel, founded by the musician. In Texas, Carl¹s Corner is not only the name of the city, but also the truck stop of the July 3 biodiesel celebration, which included amusements such as a chili cook-off and concert by Nelson. ³The response from my trucker customers so far has been phenomenal,² said Carl Cornelius, co-owner Carl¹s Corner. ³Almost everybody who¹s used it has been totally satisfied. I¹m learning from truckers they find better mileage, smoother performance, more power. They¹re pretty excited. Everybody ought to get on this bandwagon.² During the Texas event, the National Biodiesel Board presented Cornelius with the Biodiesel Pioneer Award for his commitment to bringing biodiesel to truckers. Nelson intends to establish a chain of BioWillie stations throughout the southeastern United States. "Biodiesel is the future,² he said. Company representatives say future plans include truck stops carrying the B20 along the east coast from Miami, Florida up to Rochester, New York. Nelson and Peter Bell, of biodiesel supplier Distribution Drive formed Willie Nelson Biodiesel with three other partners in December 2004. To find out more about Willie Nelson Biodiesel, visit www.wnbiodiesel.com More > |
| Sprawl-Busters: Hitting Wal-Mart & the Brand Name Bullie Where it Hurts | 0 comments |
| 8 Jul 2005 @ 15:43 Sprawl-Busters: Hitting Wal-Mart & the Brand Name Bullie Where it Hurts Press Release JULY 5, 2005 Sprawl-Busters, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood Group Asks Pension Fund To Drop Wal-Mart, Coke Stocks BOSTON - July 5 - A coalition of activists in Massachusetts is asking the nation's largest pension fund, TIAA-CREF--a retirement fund with $300 billion in assets, mainly for educators--to divest its stock in Wal-Mart and Coke "for the greater good." The "Make TIAA-CREF Ethical" (MTCE) Coalition will be passing out $20 "Walton Bucks" in front of the pension fund's Boston office at 28 State Street on Tuesday, July 11th at noon, along with "Killer Coke" dollars. The Wal-Mart bucks feature the face on S. Robson Walton, the Chairman of Wal-Mart's Board of Directors, with a message on the back urging TIAA-CREF to drop its stock in the giant retailer. The Killer Coke dollars will describe how Coca-Cola's marketing practices have contributed to an epidemic of childhood obesity. The MTCE charges that a pension fund which prides itself on being responsive to shareholders and a "concerned investor" with regard to social responsibility, has no business investing in ethically-challenged companies like Wal-Mart and Coke. As of January 1, 2005, TIAA-CREF held 23,108,470 shares in Wal-Mart, which had a value at the time of roughly $1.22 billion. Yet Wal-Mart has been internationally criticized for its exploitation of sweatshop labor in Third World countries, its harmful environmental and land use practices in the United States, its abusive labor practices with its own workforce (forced work off the clock, sexual, racial and disability discrimination) and its war against small town quality of life. TIAA-CREF is also a major investor in Coke and even includes the company in its Social Choice accounts. The Coca-Cola Company has come under increasing fire for its human rights and environmental abuses overseas and for marketing nutritionally deficient products to children in the U.S. Despite their claims that they do not advertise to children under twelve, Coke designs toys for young children, markets their products extensively in schools to children of all ages, and its product placement is ubiquitous on programs like American Idol, one of the top-rated shows for children. Coca-Cola also lobbies extensively against policies - such as prohibitions on vending machines in schools - that would help combat childhood obesity. "Exploiting children's health for profit is not a social choice," said Josh Golin from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. "It's time for TIAA-CREF to use its considerable financial clout to pressure Coca-Cola to end all marketing to children." "We shouldn't have to teach the teacher's fund," added Al Norman of Sprawl-Busters. "Wal-Mart has no place in a socially responsible investment portfolio." Norman predicted that Wal-Mart stock will continue to take a hammering for its socially unacceptable behavior across the U.S., Mexico and other nations-and thus is a bad investment for the pension fund anyway. Make TIAA-CREF Ethical is a national coalition that urges the pension giant to divest of shares in corporations involved in human rights violations, and public health and environmental degradation, and instead invest in socially responsible ventures. In Massachusetts, Sprawl-Busters and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood are part of the national MTCE coalition. The Boston event is a run-up to TIAA-CREF's Annual Meeting in New York City on July 19th, at which the MTCE will be holding events inside and outside the TIAA-CREF headquarters in Manhattan. |
| Amber Waves of Grain | 0 comments |
| 8 Jul 2005 @ 15:36 US Army Exporting Industrial Ag to Iraq? Jul 1, 2005 9:15 AM By Jennifer Farish, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Editor’s Note: In January 2005, more than 3,500 members of the 155th Brigade Combat Team, a National Guard unit based in Tupelo, Miss., were deployed to Iraq. The brigade is stationed across five bases just south of Baghdad. Members of the 115th BCT have been tasked with both establishing peace and restoring the Iraqi economy through grassroots projects like building schools and assisting Iraqi farmers. In April, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo sent reporter Jennifer Farish and photographer Thomas Wells to Iraq to report on the lives and jobs of the 155th BCT. The following story by Farish was a result of that assignment. Despite the obvious cultural differences between life in the United States and here at Forward Operations Base Kalsu, Iraq, it seems some things are universal. Soldiers with the 155th Brigade Combat Team who work in civilian life as farmers are using those common bonds both to communicate with Iraqi tribes and to offer new ideas to improve the small farming community. "I try to show them that other than being soldiers, we are just like they are. We just speak a different language," said Sgt. Charles Smith of Holly Springs, Miss. Smith, who works in a guard tower just yards from one of those farms, has shared homemade tomato juice, pickled okra and other Southern delicacies with farmers who grow many of the same vegetables. "I like to show them that we grow the same things in America, we just use different spices," he said during a visit to a farm. As you survey the flat, lush fields surrounding the dry, rocky Army base, it is easy to see the similarities between this area and parts of northeast Mississippi. Rows of wheat, corn and vegetables are offset by fields in which the farmers watch over herds of goats, sheep and cows. The animals are herded much as they were in Biblical times, watched by children holding staffs. The Iraqi women play an important role in farm work, spending most of their days harvesting feed for the animals. The grass is harvested in blocks from one end to the other, so that by the time they reach the opposite side, they can start over. Sunup to sundown "I’ve watched the women work from the tower," Smith said, "and they will work in the field from sunup to sundown and then go home and take care of the house and their families." The 155th agriculture project, dubbed Amber Waves, is aimed at introducing new farming and animal care methods to the area, which relies heavily on their crops as a source of income. Two pounds of squash will yield a mere 15 cents at the market in Basrah, while male cattle will sell for more than $100. Growing season is just beginning here, explained Capt. Jesse Cornelius of Palmetto, Miss., head of the project. "What we would consider spring is still winter here," he said. "The temperatures have been in the 80s for weeks, and things are just now turning green." Speaking to farmers through a translator, Cornelius told a group of six men that the 155th BCT will help them replace aid provided by the former Iraqi government. "The farmers are going to have to organize and do some of these things themselves," he said. "We are going to try and help you do that." To which one of the Iraqi farmers responded, "Your ideas are much appreciated. It is very good for my animals and my tribe’s animals." The soldiers plan to help in other ways, such as building a bridge so farmers can herd their animals across the deep canal; offering a dip tank for the herds of animals to remove lice and insects; and clearing the banks of the canal to allow better water flow. But the American farmers might learn from the Iraqis as well. They recycle everything, using animal waste for compost and brush and trash for heating their outdoor ovens. "If it is something they can use, they are going to use it," said Sgt. Jacob Alexander of New Albany, Miss. "Nothing in this country goes to waste." How to help Editor’s Note: The following e-mail from Capt. Jesse J. Cornelius is a response to an inquiry about how American farmers and agribusinesses might help U.S. soldiers as they try to improve farming in Iraq, a part of their mission in establishing peace and getting the Iraqi economy back on its feet. Anyone interested in provided needed supplies and information can contact Cornelius by e-mail at corneliusjj@155bct.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil. Things have been really hectic here and I have been on the road a lot. I have been in contact with the (Iraqi) minister of agriculture office and they are excited about your offer to help. They are looking for seed corn for variety trials. They don’t start planting corn for another month or so here and plant through the middle of August. They have asked our assistance in securing 1 ton of seed for 10 to 20 varieties of hybrid corn. This seed will be used to plant test plots throughout the country. This would be a great opportunity for seed companies there to get a foothold into Iraqi agriculture. If the varieties do well they will be looking to buy seed in the future. Do you have any contacts in the seed industry who might be interested in helping in this area? I know that is a lot of seed but most planting is complete in the states and they may have some seed left over. We are also looking for companies who would like to provide vegetable seed for the same purpose. If we can prove they produce well here, it will open a very large market for American companies. We have the clearance to get seed shipped in here so that should not be a problem. Also any educational materials you might have on raising corn, soybeans, rice, wheat and barley. Vegetables are also big here. Do you have any contacts in the poultry industry? I recently met with a representative of the Iraqi poultry producers association. He is interested in talking with some American companies. The poultry industry has a lot of potential here in Iraq. Do you have any contacts in the vegetable processing business? I am looking for portable food processing units that can be moved by tractor trailer. Also anyone you know who works with cooperatives. We are trying to start up cooperatives and any info you could get us on how to operate them would be great. All of these areas need our help. JESSE J. CORNELIUS CPT, IN Commanding HHC 155 BCT Agriculture Officer, 155 BCT corneliusjj at 155bct.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil |
| May Peace Prevail | 0 comments |
| 8 Jul 2005 @ 15:32 Heartfelt blessings to those who are grieving in London and throughout the world. May Peace Prevail. |
| Pic of the Day | 0 comments |
 8 Jul 2005 @ 15:09 Yep, Jed, with this I'm sure they won't get away. How does this thing work again? |
| Sex Slaves Freed in Russia | 0 comments |
| 8 Jul 2005 @ 06:43 We must never give up the fight to end misogyny and the dreadful symptoms of patriarchy. This is why..... 72 female sex slaves were freed by the police during the special operation in Primorsky Area of Russian Far East. The criminals were going to sell the girls abroad for prostitution, said Head of Russian Interior Ministry Rashid Nurgaliev at the meeting of the Head of Interior Ministries of CIS countries in Chisinau. According to the Minister, the criminals supplied the sex-slaves - girls from Russia and the other countries of the former USSR - to North America, Asia and Africa. The girls prepared for being sold abroad, were placed in the special bunker, the criminals deprived them of their passports and forced them to be prostitutes. The annual profit from trading people, predominantly sex-slaves, is up to $7 billion, said experts during the panel discussion in Izvestia newspaper. Every year up to 700,000 women are trafficked for sex slavery. Trading people is the third business on revenues after trading drugs and weapons, said the experts. Source: Pravda |
| EXPLORER: SEARCH FOR ADAM | 6 comments |
| 8 Jul 2005 @ 00:51 EXPLORER: SEARCH FOR ADAM By Bijal Trivedi National Geographic Channel June 16, 2005 Analyzing DNA from the cheek cells of a group of Mongolians enabled geneticist Spenser Wells, an Explorer-In-Residence at the National Geographic Society, to figure out whether they were indeed descendants of the notorious warrior who lived 800 years ago and thousands of miles away. Such exotic historical enigmas are daily fodder for Wells who is in the midst of the Genographic Project (GP)‹a massive undertaking to sample human DNA from around the world to illuminate human genetic and migratory history. ³There is a history book in your DNA [that reveals] how people are related to each other all over the planet and how we have moved around,² says Wells. The last 10,000 years are of particular interest to Wells who, since childhood, wanted to be an historian. ³I was fascinated by Egypt and Greece and Rome and all of these great empires and I¹m very interested in the impact of these empires on the patterns of genetic variation‹for example, can we see traces of the Phoenicians in North Africa?² says Wells. His latest adventures have led him to discover that Thomas Jefferson¹s ethnic background is not quite as one would expect. He has hunted down possible descendents of Solomon, the third king of Israel. And, he has entered a world where science and religion converge‹the search for what he calls the ³scientific Adam,² the man who gave rise to all men today and the ³trunk² of the human family tree. Wells has used DNA to trace this common ancestor back to Africa and perhaps to the very plains where he may have hunted. He has even identified a living tribe with an ancient lineage that offers a window into the life of ³scientific Adam²‹and, the face of one of the tribe members served as a model to determine what he may have looked like. Unlike medical geneticists who study genetic changes that cause morphological differences or diseases, population geneticists like Wells study genetic changes that don¹t have any effect at all. These changes, called genetic markers, are created by random mutations in the DNA and are passed down through the generations. Each population accumulates its own distinctive set of markers. As these mutations are pretty rare, if two people share one of these markers that suggests they share an ancestor. By comparing DNA samples from many different populations, Wells hopes to reveal the shape of the human family tree, from twigs to trunk. Wells has traveled the world studying genetic patterns for about the past 15 years. He¹s completed fieldwork in central Asia, India, and the Middle East collecting samples from about 10,000 people. Analysis of these samples revealed a broad-brush view of how man originated in Africa and moved around planet to Australia and Central Asia. ³But,² says Wells, ³10,000 samples isn¹t enough to reveal details about how we are all related and moved around.² To figure out the details he proposed a project that required 100,000 samples‹the Genographic Project. As part of the GP, 10 centers scattered around the globe will each take blood samples from 100-200 indigenous populations (50 to 100 individuals per population) over the next five years. Together the project should yield data on at least 100,000 individuals. Everyone knows a little about their parents, grandparents, and maybe even their great grandparents‹but beyond that is a historical realm. ³People always ask Œit must be really tough to get samples from tribes in remote regions¹ but that¹s not true. When you explain to people that they are carrying this history book in there genome, in their blood, and that you can help them read it they are fascinated‹most people want to participate.² ³I¹ve sampled in Lebanon and Christians and Muslims alike want to know if they are related to the Phoenicians‹they are intrigued by the chance they could be a descendent of this great imperial power,² says Wells. Similarly on the island of Pate, off the coast of Kenya near the Somalia border, the people have an oral tradition that they are related to Chinese sailors who washed ashore on 400-foot ships and married local women. Wells discovered that the residents of Pate don¹t have any Chinese Y chromosomes but they have Y-chromosomes from everywhere else‹India, Pakistan, the Middle East, and Europe. However, the presence of 15th century Chinese pottery on the island suggests that there may be truth to the tales and more genetic sampling is needed. ³Genographic is not really a genetics project. It is using genetics as a tool to study history and anthropology. I¹m interested in the impact of the Inca empire on the genetic patterns in upper Amazonia, in Central Asia I want to look at the impact of Alexander the Great,² says Wells as he rattles of a hit list of historical mysteries that he hopes to solve. The GP has taken on a particular urgency because of massive migrations currently in progress. People are leaving their ancient homelands, moving to the cities, and becoming part of the melting pot. As people marry individuals from other cultures genetic patterns are quickly scrambled. If Wells can¹t identify the location where a particular genetic pattern arose, it becomes tricky to identify how different ethnic groups are related to one another. ³This makes the job of a population geneticist very difficult because though you carry your genes with you, you lose the context in which that genetic variation arose,² says Wells. A symptom of this mixing is the rapid decline in the number of spoken languages in the world. In the year 1500, linguists estimate 15,000 languages were spoken; today there are 6,000. By the end of the century about half to 90% of those are going to be extinct, says Wells. ³We are going through a period of cultural mass extinction. We have a narrowing window of opportunity to collect genetic samples from indigenous populations where people have stayed put for a very long period of time.² Wells hopes that by studying the DNA from these groups he can locate where particular genetic changes occurred and when, which will reveal how our ancestors migrated around the planet. To date, Wells has visited about 50 countries to sample different genetic lineages. Of all the indigenous tribes he has met, the Hazabe of Tanzania have had the greatest impact on Wells. ³I have hung out with other Bushmen and they are fascinating. But most of them don¹t actually live the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They can still mock it up for a film crew but none of them actually live in villages. The Hazabe live as hunter-gatherers. They are actually pulling up trees and carving bows and arrows and they make fire by rubbing sticks together, it is amazing and it really does give you an insight into the way people probably lived 50 or 60 thousand years ago.² More > |