Monthly Archives August 2016

How Insect Gardens May Become the Hottest New Trend in Gardening

How Insect Gardens May Become the Hottest New Trend in Gardening

by | August 10, 2016

  It’s no secret that the industrialized, chemical-laden, and oftentimes genetically altered food production system in the United States is having a seriously harmful effect on beneficial insect species. Recently it was revealed that beekeepers in the United States lost as much as 44% of all bees from April 2015 to the same month in 2016, and even Bill Nye recently admitted that we (read: Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies) have “accidentally decimated the monarch butterfly population.” But thanks in large part to social and alternative media, problems such as these are being taken on by concerned citizens who are offering up creative solutions. In the case of providing support for beneficial [...]
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If You Think Monsanto’s Roundup Is Harmless, Read This.

If You Think Monsanto’s Roundup Is Harmless, Read This.

by | August 10, 2016

It was recently announced that Monsanto and the Scott’s Miracle Gro Company have extended their partnership and have inked a $300 million dollar deal, with a goal of bringing Monsanto’s carcinogenic herbicide Roundup to new markets. The poison-loving duo have been working away on a Roundup Ready grass that will soon be found in neighborhoods, schools, and parks near you. Not that U.S. regulating agencies would do much in the way of preventing the toxic grass from making it to market, but Scott’s has found a way to avoid regulation completely by using a technology know as gene editing, where genes are inserted mechanically versus using a bacteria to do so. (Read more about CRISPR gene editing technology [...]
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Miami Spraying for Zika Virus with No End In Sight. What The Mainstream Media Isn’t Telling You

Miami Spraying for Zika Virus with No End In Sight. What The Mainstream Media Isn’t Telling You

by | August 9, 2016

While there is still much about the Zika virus that is being hidden from us, the media narrative remains the same: the virus is a serious and imminent threat, and executive action must be taken to combat it (to the tune of a $1.8 billion relief package President Obama has discussed that includes vaccine research). The media hysteria campaign has concealed a great deal of hidden knowledge about Zika, including research showing that an infamous chemical weedkiller may actually be responsible for birth defects in Brazil after all. Regardless, the Zika scare campaign rambles on, and now many people are concerned that the “cure” may be even more harmful than the disease. Case in point: a recent announcement [...]
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America’s Top Gardening Company Poised to Contaminate Neighborhoods with Roundup Ready GMO Grass

America’s Top Gardening Company Poised to Contaminate Neighborhoods with Roundup Ready GMO Grass

by | August 3, 2016

While the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company enjoys a relatively pristine reputation because of its prominent placement at home and garden centers across the country, few people realize that they are one of Monsanto’s biggest corporate partners. The company signed a $300 million extension to its partnership with Monsanto in 2015 to bring Monsanto’s controversial glyphosate-containing Roundup weedkiller to new sectors of the industry. Now, the company is hard at work with plans to unveil its latest project: “Roundup-Ready” GMO grass for use on lawns across the country. Trials are already underway for the new grass, which is genetically engineered to be resistant to Roundup (including the probable human carcinogen [...]
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“The Deception is Baked Into Their Brand:” Top Meat Company Sued Over False All-Natural Claims

“The Deception is Baked Into Their Brand:” Top Meat Company Sued Over False All-Natural Claims

by | August 2, 2016

  As far as meat companies go, there are few that represent the oft-criticized, environmentally destructive factory farming complex America is known for more than Hormel. The processed meat giant produces everything from ham and salami to turkey, chili and more. Recently, in respond to consumer buying trends, the company has begun putting marketing slogans like “Natural Choice” onto many of its meat products, leading consumers to believe that they may be buying antibiotic-free, hormone-free and/or responsibly raised meats. But a new lawsuit is alleging that those labels are misleading, calling for an end to Hormel’s advertising strategy claiming that it violates laws designed to protect the consumer, [...]
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Activist Group Working to Create Map of Toxic, Roundup Laden Parks and Playgrounds

Activist Group Working to Create Map of Toxic, Roundup Laden Parks and Playgrounds

by | August 1, 2016

While the World Health Organization has deemed glyphosate to be a probable human carcinogen, the vast majority of parks, golf courses, and neighborhoods still spray the chemical, and Monsanto’s Roundup which contains it, in large quantities and in an extremely consistent fashion. Despite the declaration, and countless reported cases of cancers, Parkinson’s and other diseases related to glyphosate and other pesticides, the sprayings have continued. Even as some places, most recently the country of Malta, decide enough is enough and announce plans to ban glyphosate, little has been done to shine a spotlight on the problem of glyphosate over-spraying in the United States. But now a noted activist group [...]
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Bill Nye Revisits Infamous Monsanto Flip-Flop: “We Accidentally Decimated the Monarch Butterfly Population”

Bill Nye Revisits Infamous Monsanto Flip-Flop: “We Accidentally Decimated the Monarch Butterfly Population”

by | August 1, 2016

Most people know Bill Nye for his role on his famous kids science show ‘Bill Nye the Science Guy,’ but lately he’s been receiving quite a bit of media attention for his views on topics such as space exploration, evolution, and more, including genetically engineered foods. When Nye’s thoughts on GMOs first hit the press, he expressed his fervent support for GMO labeling. Then, Nye took a personal visit to Monsanto headquarters, came back and suddenly began to change his tune and suddenly supported the crops.  Now, Nye has released a full episode of follow-up comments on his GMO stance as part of a radio show appearance with co-host Chuck Nice. And while he hasn’t changed his mind completely, [...]
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