Tweet | Pinterest   | OCA Homepage | Donate  TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK Puppet Show Yesterday’s hearing on H.R. 1599 (passed in July by the U.S. House of Representatives) pretty much resembled a puppet show: conducted by politicians, attended by GMO apologists, with Monsanto and Big Food pulling the strings. Seven out of eight of the witnesses allowed to testify at the hearing, held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry​, were nothing more than industry mouthpieces spouting corporate propaganda. Witnesses included a Vermont dairy farmer who falsely claimed that the genetically engineered crops she uses to feed her dairy herd have reduced the amount of pesticides poisoning Vermont’s soil and waterways. We know the reverse is true. Joanna Lidback, representing the Farm at Wheeler Mountain in Barton, Vt., also used the same old Cornell University study, funded by (and the intellectual property of) the biotech industry, to claim that labels on GMO foods will cost consumers $500 a year. Another claim we know to be false, based on numerous, independent studies. And then there was the panel’s “consensus” that GMO foods are safe. Of course, no such consensus exists in the real world. So far, thanks to all of you who have called your Senators, met with your Senators and written to your Senators, a Senate version of H.R. 1599 has yet to be introduced. But that doesn’t mean a Senate version isn’t coming. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) told PoliticoPro (a paywalled site) that she is “working with Republicans” on a Senate bill, because we “need a federal solution by the end of the year.” Sen. Stabenow said she doesn't support H.R. 1599 (the DARK-Deny Americans the Right to Know Act). But she isn't signed on to the S.511 (The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) either. So we're not sure what she has in mind. Will Stabenow's “federal solution” require GMO foods be labeled? Or will it just be another lukewarm, loophole-riddled, voluntary labeling scheme? Clearly, we still have our work cut out for us between now and December 31. And as always, we appreciate your support. Donate to the Organic Consumers Association (tax-deductible, helps support our work on behalf of organic standards, fair trade and public education) Donate to the Organic Consumers Fund (non-tax-deductible, but necessary for our GMO labeling legislative efforts) Read OCA’s press release on the Senate hearing Watch the Senate hearing BLOG POST OF THE WEEK Game On! There’s big money in celebrity endorsements of brand-name products. So what’s an anti-endorsement worth? Priceless, if you’re the parent (or grandparent) of an aspiring young athlete who prefers junk food over fresh veggies and green smoothies. Imagine this dialogue taking place in grocery store aisles across America: Kid: “Can we get the Frosted Flakes?” Mom: “If you want to grow up to be a star athlete, Tom Brady says you shouldn’t eat Frosted Flakes or drink Coca-Cola.” Disclaimer: I’m not endorsing the National Football League here. And I believe people like Tom Brady are highly skilled, more-than-well-compensated athletes, not “heroes.” I also live in New England, where the media hangs on Brady’s every word. I seldom pay much attention because, I’ve never been too interested in what the players have to say (no offense). Until last week. Read the blog post ACTION ALERT Nice Play! Star quarterback Tom Brady recently made headlines when he said Coke is “poison for kids” and that, thanks to the advertising world, “We believe that Frosted Flakes is a food.” Brady attacked Coke and (Kellogg’s) Frosted Flakes during an interview in which he defended his friend, advisor and trainer, Alex Guerrero, against an unflattering Boston magazine report. You may not be a sports fan in general, or a Tom Brady fan in particular, but you’ve got to love that when a celebrity athlete speaks out about a product, people listen. Better yet, kids—at least those who dream of becoming star athletes themselves— listen. Intently. TAKE ACTION: Tell Quarterback Tom Brady: Thank You for Taking on Junk Food! Or text the word "brady" to 97779 Post a "Thank You" on Brady's Facebook page ACTION ALERT Promises, Promises Up until yesterday, it appeared that Monsanto had struck out in its attempt to find a Senate Democrat willing to co-sponsor H.R. 1599, the Gene Giant’s dream bill. But that’s about to change. Yesterday, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) told the media she wants a “federal labeling solution” by year’s end. From the sound of things, she isn’t willing to rubber-stamp the DARK Act, at least as it’s written. But Sen. Stabenow very well could introduce a Senate bill that would preempt mandatory GMO labeling laws, at the state and federal level, by creating a federal voluntary labeling law. We need to ramp up the pressure on President Obama to pledge to veto any federal law that would preempt states, or the FDA, from requiring labels on GMO foods. After all, in 2007, then-candidate Obama promised to support labeling of GMOs. It’s time for President Obama to make good on that promise, by threatening right now to veto H.R. 1599, or any other federal bill that would preempt state or federal GMO labeling laws. Last weekend we staged a symbolic delivery of our petition, with over 101,000 signatures, to President Obama. Soon, we will make it more official. If you haven’t signed yet, please do. And please share with your friends. TAKE ACTION: Ask President Obama to Pledge to Veto the DARK Act! NEW REPORT No Small Matter We protect our kids from so many things. Moving traffic. Angry dogs. Strangers. But there are still a lot of parents out there who don’t realize that their kids need protection from this silent threat: toxins in their food. The Cornucopia Institute wants to change that. And make it easy for parents to understand why, and how, to protect their kids from toxic chemicals. The Institute's new report, “Protecting Children’s Health: Choosing Organic Food to Avoid GMOs and Agricultural Chemicals," cites scientific data from numerous peer-reviewed, published studies, all pointing to the importance of protecting children from pesticide exposure. How best to protect kids? By feeding them organic foods. In talking about the report, Dr. Victoria Maizes, executive director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, said: "Children are uniquely sensitive to environmental chemicals, including pesticides, for several reasons. Their neurological system is still developing. Their immune system is not fully developed, limiting its ability to protect itself. Their detoxification systems have not fully matured, so they are less able to metabolize and excrete chemicals.” Learn more Read the report VIDEO OF THE WEEK It All Comes Down to the Soil One bad decision—industrial agriculture—has affected countries all across the world. One good decision—regenerative agriculture—can turn everything around. Precious Phiri, a holistic management educator and trainer, grew up in rural Zimbabwe. As a child, she wondered why they had no food when there was so much land around them. Why did they have to depend on food from other countries? Speaking at the National Press Club on World Food Day, Phiri explains that it all comes down to the soil. Watch the video LITTLE BYTES Essential Reading for the Week Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies U.S. Lawsuits Build against Monsanto over Alleged Roundup Cancer Link FTC Declines to Probe Whether Ads for 'Diet' Products Are Deceptive Leader of USDA Organic Program Subject of Ethics Investigation 10 of the Most Common Ways World Hunger Is Misunderstood 3 Companies Say 'No' to GMO Arctic Apples

follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | OCA on Pinterest  Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on web sites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power! Organic Bytes is a publication of Organic Consumers Association 6771 South Silver Hill Drive - Finland, MN 55603 - Phone: 218-226-4164 - Fax: 218-353-7652

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

The Resources Agency needs to hear from you about why Governor Brown's tunnels are bad for California.

Dear Friend, A bad project by any other name is still a bad project. The "California WaterFix" is just the latest name for the giant twin tunnels that will lead to the collapse of the San Francisco Bay Delta. There is a comment period open now for environmental documents for the "California WaterFix." The Resources Agency needs to hear from you about why Governor Brown's tunnels are bad for California. Voters defeated the Peripheral Canal in 1982. The previous iteration of the tunnels, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, was supposed to help Delta habitat, but stalled when the Federal Government wouldn't provide the permits. The newest concoction to take Delta water away is the "California WaterFix," which abandons all habitat conservation. This plan is for two giant tunnels to suck water from the Sacramento River and send it South, bypassing the Delta where water is sorely needed for numerous species found only in California. The Tunnels will only succeed in destroying the Delta. They won't provide any new water, but will take funds away from worthy projects that do, such as conservation programs and helping people upgrade to more efficient appliances. Email the Resources Agency today to let them know you too oppose the Tunnels. Take Action Today! Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Kyle Jones Policy Advocate

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

THE 4 BIG LIES ABOUT IMMIGRANTS – AND THE TRUTH

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

THE 4 BIG LIES ABOUT IMMIGRANTS – AND THE TRUTH

Donald Trump has opened the floodgates to lies about immigration. Here are the myths, and the facts

MYTH:  Immigrants take away American jobs. 

Wrong. Immigrants add to economic demand, and thereby push firms to create more jobs. 

MYTH: We don’t need any more immigrants. 

Baloney. The U.S. population is aging. Twenty-five years ago, each retiree in America was matched by 5 workers. Now for each retiree there are only 3 workers. Without more immigration, in 15 years the ratio will fall to 2 workers for every retiree, not nearly enough to sustain our retiree population. 

MYTH: Immigrants are a drain on public budgets. 

Bull. Immigrants pay taxes! The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy released a report this year showing undocumented immigrants paid $11.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2012 and their combined nationwide state and local tax contributions would increase by $2.2 billion under comprehensive immigration reform. MYTH: Legal and illegal immigration is increasing. 

Wrong again. The net rate of illegal immigration into the U.S. is less than zero. The number of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. has declined from 12.2 million in 2007 to 11.3 million now, according to Pew Research Center.  

Don’t listen to the demagogues who want to blame the economic problems of the middle class and poor on new immigrants, whether here legally or illegally. The real problem is the economic game is rigged in favor of a handful at the top, who are doing the rigging.

We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, giving those who are undocumented a path to citizenship.

Scapegoating them and other immigrants is shameful.

And it’s just plain wrong.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Published on October 21st, 2015 | by The Maharlikan

24

President Aquino visits wake of Ombudsman Morales’ late son

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President Benigno Aquino III has paid his last respects at the wake of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales’ son on October 12 at the Heritage Park in Taguig.

A picture of the president visiting the wake of Morales’ youngest son, Umberto, was uploaded on the government website Official Gazette but there were no other details provided.

It was captioned: “Earlier this evening, President Benigno S. Aquino III paid his respects to the late Umberto Morales, son of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, at the Heritage Park in Taguig.”

Umberto worked as chief of staff to her mother at the Office of the Ombudsman. He was also the team manager of the Ombudsman Graft Busters, a basketball team participating on the UNTV Cup.

Ombudsman Morales seems to have chosen to keep her son’s death very private as there were no reports in the media except for the photo that was uploaded on Official Gazette.

This is despite the anti-graft body chief being in the news recently over the Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and slapped him with ‘perpetual disqualification’ from holding public office and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

On Monday, she also announced Vice president Jejomar Binay, son Junjun and 22 other respondents will be indicted in criminal charges over the alleged overpriced Makati parking building.

A professional to the hilt, Morales managed to keep her private life away from public eye.

Apparently now, she is putting up a brave face in front of the media and her critics while, as a mother, is secretly grieving in sorrow over her son’s untimely demise.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Congress Adds Insult to 9/11 Injuries

Congress Adds Insult to 9/11 Injuries Congress lets funding for 9/11 medical assistance for first responders expire, which is just the latest in a series of poor government actions around health and safety issues surrounding the 9/11 attacks. Read more

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Bringing Back Retired Military Voices Supporters of real military reform recently gathered to celebrate two new efforts by the Project On Government Oversight’s Center for Defense Information (CDI). Read more Watch the video FDA Approves Antidote for Pradaxa, Calls It “Necessary” Five years after approving the blood thinner Pradaxa without an antidote, the FDA approved an antidote and said it was “medically necessary” when bleeding “can’t be controlled.” Read more The 100-Hour Workday Is the New $435 Hammer Why have there been so many federal contractor labor fraud cases in the news lately? Read more Lt. Gen. Bogdan Hedges on Operational Testing Air Force officials are reluctant to subject the F-35 to realistic close air support testing because they admit it will not perform as well as the A-10. Read more Congress Adds Insult to 9/11 Injuries Congress lets funding for 9/11 medical assistance for first responders expire, which is just the latest in a series of poor government actions around health and safety issues surrounding the 9/11 attacks. Read more United Nations: Whistleblowers Need Protection The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression has weighed in on whistleblower protections, highlighting especially the need to provide protections to employees in the national security field. Read more From the World of POGO President Obama Vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)! In his veto statement, the President rejected the use of budget gimmicks and the lack of reform measures in the bill. Thank you to everyone who participated in our action to the President!

POGO :: 1100 G Street, NW, Suite 500 :: Washington, DC 20005 :: (202) 347-1122

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‘Pay Their Own Way’ Initiative Exposes Downtown Rifts

‘Pay Their Own Way’ Initiative Exposes Downtown Rifts Posted: 23 Oct 2015 12:06 PM PDT By Doug Porter  You don’t have to know anything about Attorney Cory Briggs’ “Pay Their Own Way” proposal allowing voters a say in tourism taxes to understand how it much it upsets the established order downtown. Simply put, it exposes the ugly reality underlying San Diego politics by going after both the money and political mechanisms used by the tourism industry and its affiliated real estate interests to direct government institutions to do their bidding. The ultimate reaction came from San Diego Charger’s counsel Mark Fabiani, who is still reviewing the 28 page initiative: “As a general matter, anything that reduces the iron grip of the hotel lobby on our Mayor and some of our City Council is good for San Diego’s future, and Mr. Briggs’ initiative would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.” Bingo.   [Read more...] shared from San Diego Free Press

The Tijuana River Valley: An Interview with SD County Supervisor Greg Cox Posted: 23 Oct 2015 08:58 AM PDT By Barbara Zaragoza / Part four of four Visit the Tijuana River Valley and the area feels serene. Perhaps it's even forgotten, with a total population of 42. But attend a community meeting with groups such as the Tijuana River Valley Equestrian Association or WildCoast and you'll experience the passionate pleas of equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers and conservationists who have a vision for this area. Then take a look at a map of the Tijuana River Valley and you'll notice a head-spinning checkerboard of government agencies that own this land alongside a few private ranchers. The County of San Diego since the 1990s has become a primary land owner.   [Read more...]

Stay the Course, Republicans! Billionaires Blowing Thru Cash is Very Entertaining Posted: 23 Oct 2015 08:58 AM PDT By Bob Dorn The Republicans may be catching a bad case of Campaign Contribution Fatigue.  It can lead to money failure. JEB! has found out that fundraising $13.4 million and enjoying his last name and the family bank account aren't enough to purchase the lead in the Republican race for the nomination to the presidency.   He's behind Trump, Carson, Rubio and Fiorina, and tied with Ted (Vampiro) Cruz at fifth place among the 15 nuts and fruits still running.   Gov. Chris Christie is near busted, with only $1.4M on hand in his account, which used to be enough to buy a New Jersey Congressional seat, and at any rate is not enough to shut the mouths of 67% of the state who say he should go AWOL from the platoon of declared candidates of his party.   [Read more...]

Geo-Poetic Spaces: Visiting the Hala Sultan Tekke (The Mosque of Umm Haram) Posted: 23 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT We take off our shoes before entering the mosque Bare feet hovering over red and gold carpet We pause inside a prayer niche carved with familiar stars   [Read more...]

North of the Fence: Sex Parties and Lawsuits Posted: 23 Oct 2015 08:56 AM PDT By Barbara Zaragoza / South Bay Compass Last week I focused on the U.S.-Mexico border after former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, visited. I thought that would be the end of it–time to turn our focus on Chula Vista’s lawsuits. But nope. The border continues to be in the news this week, this time with the Union-Tribune reporting that employees, including a supervisor, in the San Diego sector of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allegedly used government time to recruit workers for swinger parties. (What in the world?) The headlines about alleged sex parties overshadowed an interesting KPBS report that migration from Mexico to the U.S. slowed to 164,621, down more than 41% from the previous year. Their source is the highly regarded organization El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF).   [Read more...]

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

13 Spectacular Moments From Hillary Clinton’s Marathon Benghazi Hearing

It's the day after the latest Benghazi hearing, and in case you dosed off during the 9 hours of questioning, we compiled 13 must-see moments. Or, for a thematic overview, watch this 3 minute video of men explaining things to the former Secretary of State. President Obama gave his best explanation of the problem with "all lives matter" yet. And, bizarrely, the camerawoman who was caught tripping a Syrian refugee is planning to sue him. 13 Spectacular Moments From Hillary Clinton’s Marathon Benghazi Hearing Hillary’s Day Of Mansplaining: Benghazi Edition WATCH: Chris Christie Clashes With Veteran Nurse Over Medical Marijuana Obama Explains The Problem With ‘All Lives Matter’ Many politicians have taken up the rallying cry of “all lives matter” to criticize the Black Lives Matter movement for focusing on specific injustices done to African Americans. During a criminal justice panel discussion with Police Chief Charlie Beck of the LAPD and Editor-in-Chief Bill Keller of the Marshall Project on Thursday afternoon, President Barack Obama took on that claim and explained why “black lives matter” is an important statement. ...(read more) Camerawoman Who Tripped Syrian Refugee Now Plans To Sue Him ThinkProgress | Center for American Progress Action Fund 1333 H ST NW | Washington, DC 20005 Contributions to Center for American Progress Action Fund are not tax deductible

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Enter your name for a free signed copy of my new book_Robert Reich

Friend --

I had a great time talking with Democracy for America members on Tuesday night on our exclusive DFA Live call. 

We chatted about the problems with capitalism, the threat of increasing income inequality, and how we can build progressive political power to push back -- all things I discuss in my book, "Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few."

As a way of saying thank you, I'm signing 12 books for DFA members -- perhaps you! -- and DFA is paying for the books and the cost of shipping them to 12 randomly selected members. Would you like to enter your name for a chance to win a FREE signed book, delivered to you by DFA? Click here to enter your name now.

In this new book, I explain in detail how the American economy is failing us and what we can do to fix it. As we head into the critical 2016 election cycle, my book arms progressives like you with the knowledge necessary to effectively push Democratic politicians to directly address the greatest crisis of our time: Skyrocketing income inequality.

Together, driven by DFA's relentless focus on income inequality, we can take this movement to the next level and build an economy that works for everyone.

If you want a chance to win a free signed copy of my new book, click here to enter your name now.

Thanks for all that you do -- and good luck!

- Robert

Robert Reich
Former Secretary of Labor

ROBERT B. REICH, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies, was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. He has written fourteen books, including the best sellers “Aftershock, “The Work of Nations," and"Beyond Outrage." He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause. His film, INEQUALITY FOR ALL is available on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon. His new book, "SAVING CAPITALISM: For the Many, Not the Few" is out 9/29. 

The TRUTH will set you FREE.