CONTENTS
1) Editorial: Genetic Engineering
2) Feature: Did You Get Your Greens Today?
3) Issue Updates
--Feds Make Positive Move to Phase Out Nuclear Power
--Organic Farmers Granted Leave to Appeal Class Certification Decision
--Adverse Reaction Database Has Minimal Information
--Canadian Statistics: Research and Development in the Health Field 1988 to 2004 (preliminary)
4) Media Watch
--Top Ten Reasons Why Organized Medicine Supports CODEX
--Canadians Gear Up for Protest against Natural Gas Projects in Maine
--One-third of Panel on Breast Implants Declares Conflict
--Three EU States Warned to Adapt GMO Laws
--EU Food Supplements Directive Upheld
--Proposed Legislation Would Void County Biotech Seed Bans
--Unborn Babies Soaked in Chemicals, Survey Finds
--Jury Still Out on Soy and Health
--Scientists Raise Alarm about Ocean Health
--Acupuncture May Calm Overactive Bladder
--Your Ask is Grass: On Lawnmowers
--What the American Medical Association Hopes You Never Learn about its True History
--The Side-effects of Drugged Crops
--Health Canada Lukewarm on Vioxx Panel Findings
--Council of Responsible Nutrition Criticizes Vitamin E Dosage Report
--California Files Suit on French Fry Health Warning
5) Calendar of Events
--Breakthroughs in the Quest to Cure Cancer
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1) Editorial: Genetic Engineering
Hello HANS members and friends;
Many longtime supporters probably already know that genetic engineering (GE), or genetic modification (GM), is one of many issues that HANS has been following for years. I almost can’t believe that our first magazine article on genetic engineering was written way back in the early nineties! Long before most other mainstream media, HANS was raising public awareness.
Well, times have changed, but the issue hasn’t. Now more than ever, genetic engineering is on the minds of concerned Canadians.
Fortunately, other environmental and consumer groups have picked up the cry when it comes to this gene-splicing technology. I thought I’d share a couple of good websites for getting the latest GE news.
All the best,
Lorna Hancock
Founding Member & Director
www.gmcontaminationregister.org
A new site as of June 2005, this registry is the first of its kind in the world. Although GE crops were grown on more than 80 million hectares in 2004, the website notes, there’s no global monitoring system.
Here, all incidents of contamination resulting from accidental or deliberate release of GE organisms are recorded, as well as information on illegal GE plantings and reported negative agricultural side-effects.
www.greenpeace.ca/shoppersguide/index.php
This is an ultra practical website because it catalogues GE foods sold in grocery stores across Canada. If you’re wondering what name brands likely do or don’t contain GE ingredients, check it out.
For those consumers who are ultra motivated, Greenpeace Canada also provides contact information for companies who use GE ingredients.
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2) Did You Get Your Greens Today?
By Michelle Hancock
If you’re like most Canadians, you’re probably not eating enough fruits and vegetables. Only 43 per cent of us regularly consume the five to 10 daily servings recommended by most food experts, notes a recent survey.
Our top three reasons for not eating enough are a lack of convenient options, the tendency for produce to go bad in the fridge, and the effort required to prepare tasty dishes.
Two in five parents in Canada also find it difficult to get their children to eat vegetables every day. Half of parents resort to hiding or disguising veggies on the plate.
Well, struggle no longer. Here are 10 tips for “greening” your diet.
Start your day right. Why wait till dinner to stuff your face with spinach? Add spinach, green peppers, tomatoes and onions to your breakfast omelet or eggs.
Stay smooth. Toss blueberries, banana, yogurt and a heaping tablespoon of your favourite green drink powder into a blender for a delicious smoothie.
Get your produce delivered. Fresh home-delivery is readily available, and surprisingly cheap. Try it for a month. You’ll be amazed at how this one change encourages you to eat more healthfully.
Wrap away! Instead of bread for your next hot or cold sandwich, use lettuce or cabbage (softened by boiling a few minutes with tomato juice). Yum.
Create colourful salads. Who said fruit was for dessert? Add some mandarin orange slices, pineapple or strawberries to your garden or spinach salad.
Dress up frozen foods. The next time you whip out the frozen pizza, chop up some peppers, spinach and zucchini to throw on top.
Keep chopped veggies in the fridge. Pre-chopped carrots and celery in the fridge make it easier to grab and go. Also, you’re less likely to snack on junk food.
Make a fruit-and-veggie chart. And stick it right on the fridge door so the entire family knows if they’re hitting their daily servings’ goal.
Specialize your soup. Start with your favourite organic canned or packaged soup and add fresh or frozen vegetables such as beans, peas or corn. The possibilities are endless!
Herb it up. Many common herbs are healthy. Mint and parsley, for example, fight bad breath and relieve upset stomach. Try them in salads and sandwiches.
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2) ISSUE UPDATES
Feds Make Positive Move to Phase Out Nuclear Power
PRESS RELEASE – JULY 15, 2005
Ottawa - Sierra Club of Canada congratulates Minister Andy Scott and Prime Minister Paul Martin for deciding to put Canada and New Brunswick on the road to phasing out nuclear power. By rejecting New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord's demand for a federal subsidy to support the 1.4 billion dollar refurbishment plan of the ailing Point Lepreau nuclear station, the federal government has set the tone for a Canadian energy future of efficiency and investment in renewable energy.
”Halleluiah!” exclaimed Elizabeth May, Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada. “The Prime Minister has looked at the legacy of nuclear waste and the industry's chronic, billion dollar, money pit boondoggles and made the right decision to spend wisely when it comes to our energy future.”
The federal government alone has spent a cumulative total of more than $17 billion subsidizing the nuclear industry. The official estimate is $24 billion for storing high level waste from Canada’s nuclear reactors. In Ontario, the premature shut down of nuclear reactors as well as construction cost overruns have left electricity rate payers with a $20 billion “stranded” debt.
“Nuclear power is an environmental and economic nightmare for Canadian taxpayers,” said John Bennett, Senior Policy Advisor-Energy. “Fortunately, the Prime Minister has woken up to this. Leaders from around Canada and the world should take his lead and phase out nuclear power,” he continued.
New Brunswick has already created an office of energy efficiency, which is a sensible and positive first step. “The New Brunswick government needs to concentrate on things like replacing base-board heaters in homes around the province. This saves people money and is an example of focusing on efficiency to meet the provinces energy needs,” said Emily McMillan, Director, Sierra Club of Canada-Atlantic Canada Chapter.
Canada could have been a world leader in renewable energy today if public subsidies given to the nuclear industry had been invested in safer alternatives. Environmental responsibility should be the basis for government investment in all future energy projects.
Visit www.sierraclub.ca.
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Organic Farmers Granted Leave to Appeal Class Certification Decision
PRESS RELEASE – August 30, 2005
SASKATOON - Today the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal released Honourable Mr. Justice Cameron’s decision granting certified organic farmers of Saskatchewan leave to appeal the Court of Queen’s Bench decision dated May 11, 2005 denying them class certification under Saskatchewan’s Class Actions Act. The farmers are seeking compensation for losses due to contamination of organic fields and crops by Monsanto’s and Bayer’s genetically engineered canolas.
Judge Cameron agreed that the issues raised by the plaintiffs should be dealt with by the Appeal Court. He agreed that the questions of whether Judge Smith erred in her finding of no cause of action – an error which cascades through her decisions on the remaining four tests required to grant class certification – and whether she applied an overly rigorous standard for class certifications should be examined by the Appeal Court.
Justice Cameron stated, “… I am satisfied the proposed appeal raises some comparatively new and potentially controversial points of law, that it transcends the particular in its implications, and that it is of sufficient importance to the practice pertaining to this subject to warrant attention by this Court.”
Plaintiff Larry Hoffman says he feels encouraged by the decision. “It gives us a chance to argue how the Class Actions Act should be applied. The spirit of the law is to even out the odds between the Davids and the Goliaths in the world. The lower court decision made it too hard on us Davids, and we think that’s unfair. A farmer like me can’t afford to take on a big company like Monsanto when it threatens my livelihood and way of life. But if we can join together in a class action, our combined strength can make it possible to hold these companies accountable for their actions.”
“This is great”, says plaintiff Dale Beaudoin. “On behalf of 1000 plus organic farmers we can continue to fight for our right to remain stewards for sustainable agriculture. This is no minor issue. It is a matter of independence and survival for all farmers world-wide.”
Visit http://www.saskorganic.com.
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Adverse Reaction Database Has Minimal Information
“Critics charge that Health Canada’s recently minted Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Information System (CADRIS) is user-unfriendly and downright uninformative, in that it doesn’t allow physicians or patients to determine the likely incidence of adverse drug reactions,” writes Wayne Kondro. Visit http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/173/2/137?etoc.
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Canadian Statistics: Research and Development in the Health Field 1988 to 2004 (preliminary)
Research and development in the health field sector is definitely getting our dollars, according to this new report’s preliminary estimates. Last year, total spending on research and development in the health field was $5.7 billion nationally, up 9.0 per cent over 2003. Visit http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050727/td050727.....
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3) MEDIA WATCH
Top Ten Reasons Why Organized Medicine Supports CODEX
http://www.newstarget.com/009532.html
Canadians Gear Up for Protest against Natural Gas Projects in Maine
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8588
One-third of Panel on Breast Implants Declares Conflict
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/173/3/241?etoc
Three EU States Warned to Adapt GMO Laws
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseactio...
EU Food Supplements Directive Upheld
http://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/newsmaker_articl...
Proposed Legislation Would Void County Biotech Seed Bans
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseactio...
Unborn Babies Soaked in Chemicals, Survey Finds
http://enn.com/today.html?id=8239
Jury Still Out on Soy and Health
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?artic...
Scientists Raise Alarm about Ocean Health
http://enn.com/today.html?id=8236
Acupuncture May Calm Overactive Bladder
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?artic...
Your Ask is Grass: On Lawnmowers
http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2005/07/13/umbra-law...
What the American Medical Association Hopes You Never Learn about its True History
http://www.newstarget.com/008845.html
The Side-effects of Drugged Crops
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseactio...
Health Canada Lukewarm on Vioxx Panel Findings
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/173/4/350?etoc
Council of Responsible Nutrition Criticizes Vitamin E Dosage Report
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=61...
California Files Suit on French Fry Health Warning
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/3...
For more current stories, check out ‘News’ at www.hans.org.
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5) Calendar of Events
Breakthroughs in the Quest to Cure Cancer
Who: Dr. Gerry Potter, BSc, PhD
When: Wednesday, Sept 28
Where: Point Grey Golf and Country Club
3350 SW Marine Drive (w of Blenheim), Vancouver
Cost: Prepaid by Sept 23
HANS members - $15, non members - $20
At the door
HANS members - $20, non-members - $25
To pre-register, contact: HANS at 604-435-0512
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Founded in 1984, Health Action Network Society is a membership-based, non-profit charitable organization dedicated to gathering and disseminating health promotion information.