CONTENTS
1) Editorial: Breakthroughs in the Quest to Cure Cancer
2) Feature: Water for Life
3) Issue Updates
--Global Seed Industry Concentration, 2005
--No Need to Wait Any Longer. Regulate Cars Now!
--Conference on Post-market Drug Safety and Effectiveness
--Sweep Up Campaign
4) Media Watch
-- Creating GE-Free Zones Across the Americas
--India Invites Canadian Investment in Biotech, Food Processing
--EPA Calls on Agency, Congress to Recognize Carcinogenicity of Fluoride
--Which Plastics Are Safe for Lunchbox Use?
--Are Cell-Phones Safe?
--Canada Doesn’t See Breakthrough at Post-Kyoto Meet
--Excessively Sleepy? Could be More than Poor Sleep
--The Politics of Sugar: Why Your Government Lies to You about this Disease-Promoting Ingredient
--Where are Those Cravings for Oreos Coming From?
--Olive Oil Compound May Fight Disease, Act Like Painkiller
--California Sues Potato Chip Makers
5) Calendar of Events
--Breakthroughs in the Quest to Cure Cancer, Sept 28
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1) Editorial
For some reason, I found it hard to settle down and write this editorial. Perhaps because it’s such a busy time of year. There’s always so much going on. Summer holidays over. Kids back to school. Everyone else back to work.
This rush-rush energy has invaded the HANS office, too. In addition to all the other projects and issues we’re involved in, we’ve got a big event coming up on September 28 with Dr. Gerry Potter. He’ll be discussing his research. “Breakthroughs in the Quest to Cure Cancer.”
Tickets are $15 before Sept 23 for HANS members, more at the door and for non-members. Call us at 604-435-0512. Hope to see you there!
All the best,
Lorna Hancock
Founding Member & Director
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2) Water for Life
By Michelle Hancock
In our quest for the perfect diet, we often overlook what should be considered the fifth basic food group: water. If only it were as simple as turning on the tap and filling the glass.
More and more Canadians are becoming concerned with the quality of the water they drink and are looking for alternatives to untreated water. But with the diversity of treatment options available on the market, it is easy for consumers to get stuck up the creek, lost in a quagmire of sales pitches and system glitches.
Humans are water beings
“Just as a flower or tree leaf withers and gets yellowish and dies because of lack of water, the human skin and body withers and dies for lack of water,” wrote health practitioner Reza Kareemi in a recent article. And it’s true. The human body is more than 70 per cent water. The average person carries 45 to 55 litres of water at any given time.
Water is a component of virtually every bodily process, especially respiration, metabolism, digestion, perspiration, urination. It’s in our blood (83 per cent), our bones (22 per cent) and our muscles (76 per cent). Simply put, only air is more precious for our very survival. We can last longer without food than we can without water.
Eight glasses; that’s what the experts say we should be drinking daily. And yet, it’s not just a question of quantity. In 1989, 95 per cent of Canadians polled were concerned about water quality. That percentage hasn’t dropped amidst continued fears of contamination of our water supplies. In a worse case scenario, who wants to drink two litres of bacteria-infested, chemical-laden sludge on a daily basis? Most people don’t.
These consumer worries have spawned an industry determined to exchange assurances of cleaner water for cash. For buyers wanting to satisfy their thirst, the most popular options are bottled water, distillation, reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and block carbon filters.
Bottled water
In 1992, bottled water was the largest growing beverage in the country, worth an estimated $198 million. A 1998 study in the American Journal of Medicine revealed that bottled water consumption has grown by 400 per cent in the past decade; one in five Canadian households now uses it. And yet, like other alternatives to plain tap water, controversy surrounds the bottled water industry.
Few regulations exist to protect consumers from misleading claims, so words like “pure,” and “natural” don’t necessarily guarantee liquid perfection. As tests commissioned by The Vancouver Sun have revealed, even brand name bottles can include the unwanted presence of mould, yeast and carbon.
Distillation
Distillation is less expensive than purchasing bottled water and involves heating water to 100 degrees C. As the water evaporates, most impurities are left behind including inorganic contaminants, and little wrigglies such as bacteria and germs. The vapour is then condensed, producing a “soft water” that has been stripped of minerals.
Several disadvantages lie in relying on this method alone. Distillation units produce relatively small quantities of water and require a constant electrical charge for heating. More complex models depend on a secondary step, for example a carbon filter, to remove any residual gases or contaminants from the water.
Some experts debate the merits of soft water and argue that minerals alkalinize the water and are essential to good health. Dr. Zoltan Rona recommends using distilled water only during times of detoxification, as it is an active absorber that can pull toxins from the body.
Reverse osmosis
In a reverse osmosis system, water molecules move through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks the passage of larger-sized contaminants and dissolved solids. A typical reverse osmosis design fits under the sink and may be combined with other filtration methods for further effectiveness.
In this process, minerals are also too large to pass through the original barrier. As a result, reverse osmosis produces the same demineralized, soft water of distillation. Another downside: some upkeep is usually required to keep the system clean and running smoothly.
Activated carbon
Also known as a granular carbon filter, this particular treatment is especially effective in absorbing organic chemicals. However, metal particles and minerals may be small enough to pass through the system. Carbon in a granular form is more prone to bacteria growth and requires changing periodically.
While activated carbon is usually cheaper than other models that offer multi-treatments, depending on how much water runs through this system, additional costs will pop up when it comes time to replace the filter.
Block carbon
Generally more efficient than granular carbon, in a block carbon system, water flows through evenly distributed holes. The result is water that has been consistently treated. Chlorine and other organic chemicals are absorbed, and tiny solid particles are also trapped. Bacterial growth is also unlikely to occur, as oxygen cannot permeate the block.
Overall, a hybrid system that combines block carbon filtration and another treatment which removes heavy metals seems a good purchasing choice. Consumers in the process of investigating various systems should familiarize themselves with the specifics offered by each company.
H2O to go
Considering that water comprises about 85 per cent of the brain, one would think that we wouldn’t have to be reminded to drink our daily ration. But in fact, dehydration is quite common. A culture of coffee, tea and soft drinks lures us away from Mother Nature’s favourite liquid.
Sam Graci, author of The Power of Superfoods, encourages us to maximize our drinking efforts by habitually carrying a water container. By drinking through a straw, we consume much more than we would by using a glass. But, he cautions, drink water half an hour before and at least two hours after meals to ensure the proper digestion of food. “Increasing water intake too quickly can overwork your kidneys and digestive system,” he writes.
Despite the controversy, despite the confusion, even science’s greatest straddler-of-the-fence would agree: water plays more of a role in good health than we might think.
Reprinted from Vista magazine with author permission.
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2) ISSUE UPDATES
Global Seed Industry Concentration, 2005
PRESS RELEASE - September 5, 2005
The ETC Group has released a new report on seed industry consolidation that shows a recent upsurge in seed industry takeovers and a shake-up in rankings.
According to ETC Group, the top 10 multinational seed firms control half of the world’s commercial seed sales. With a total worldwide market of approximately US$21,000 million per annum, the commercial seed industry is relatively small compared to the global pesticide market ($35,400 million), and it’s puny compared to pharmaceutical sales ($466,000 million). But corporate control and ownership of seeds - the first link in the food chain - has far-reaching implications for global food security. A single firm, Monsanto, now controls 41 per cent of the global market share in commercial maize seed, and one-fourth of the world market in soybean seeds. The same company’s seeds and biotech traits accounted for 88 per cent of the total area planted in genetically modified seeds worldwide in 2004.
ETC Group’s report includes a table listing many of the world’s top 20 seed companies and their acquisitions and/or subsidiaries.
IMPACT: With control of seeds and agricultural research held in fewer hands, the world’s food supply is increasingly vulnerable to the whims of market maneuvers. Corporations make decisions to support the bottom line and increase shareholder returns - not to insure food security. Ultimately, seed industry oligopoly also means fewer choices for farmers. A new study by the US Department of Agriculture examines the impact of seed industry concentration on agbiotech research. The study concludes that reduced competition is associated with reduced research and development. Despite seed industry claims to the contrary, concentration in the seed industry is resulting in less innovation - not more.
PLAYERS: A fistful of transnational firms, the Gene Giants, dominates global seed sales. Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta - all among the world’s top-ranking pesticide firms - lead the pack.
POLICY: Seed industry concentration is already high on the agenda of civil society and farmers’ organizations that are working to support and maintain peasant and farmer-controlled seed systems and against policies and technologies that seek to further privatize seeds.
World’s Top 10 Seed Companies + 1
[Based on 2004 seed sales (US) millions]
1. Monsanto (US) + Seminis pro forma $2,803
2. Dupont/Pioneer (US) $2,600
3. Syngenta (Switzerland) $1,239
4. Groupe Limagrain (France) $1,044
5. KWS AG (Germany) $622
6. Land O’ Lakes (US) $538
7. Sakata (Japan) $416
8. Bayer Crop Science (Germany) $387
9. Taikii (Japan) $366
10. DLF-Trifolium (Denmark) $320
11. Delta & Pine Land (US) $315
The full text of the 12-page report is available free for download on the ETC Group website: http://www.etcgroup.org.
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No Need to Wait Any Longer. Regulate Cars Now!
PRESS RELEASE – AUGUST 23, 2005
Ottawa - The automotive industry has used its influence in Washington to destroy fuel economy of North American vehicles and open loopholes in the rules big enough to drive SUVs through. The Bush administration has announced changes to federal fuel economy standards known as CAFE. While the new rules call for improving the fuel economy of SUVs from 21 miles per gallon to 22.2 mpg, they also change the classification system from weight to size.
Replacing weight with size will enable manufacturers to avoid making fuel economy improvements by lengthening a vehicle. The result will mean little if any improvement in fuel economy overall in the United States.
“This is a giant step backward. These new rules will not help the environment or drivers facing huge price increase for gasoline,” said John Bennett Senior Policy Advisor - Energy, Sierra Club of Canada.
CAFE regulations were put in place in the late seventies at the height of the oil crisis. They moved the average fuel economy from about 13 mpg to 27.5 mpg between 1980 and 1990. Since 1990 no improvements have been required. Failure to meet the regulation in the US resulted a large fine based on the number of cars sold by the manufacturer. Canada has had a voluntary agreement that piggybacks on the US regulations.
“Clearly Canada should regulate fuel economy in Canada because it can no longer piggyback on US law,” said Mr. Bennett.
Last April the automotive industry and the federal government negotiated a new voluntary agreement that is to result in a 5.3 megatonne reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from new cars by 2010 from the business as usual prediction. The agreement is managed by government-industry committee and can fluctuate based on the sales and other factors.
“This new system will have the car companies calling for Canada to follow suit and the answer has to be no. Canada should join with California, Washington State, New York and several other states that are putting new greenhouse gas regulations in place,” said Mr. Bennett.
Visit www.sierraclub.ca.
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Post-market Drug Safety and Effectiveness
Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and British Columbia Health Minister George Abbott, co-leads in the development of the National Pharmaceuticals Strategy, have announced a working conference that will explore how to enhance the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs.
Visit: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/2005/2005...
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Sweep Up Campaign
Got bags of old junk in your attic? Old clothes you’ve clung to but haven’t worn for years? The David Suzuki Foundation is encouraging Canadians to get rid of clutter with the foundation’s Sweep Up campaign. Practical tips and resources are available online, including links to charities to benefit.
Visit http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/Challenge/Newsletter/...
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3) MEDIA WATCH
Creating GE-Free Zones Across the Americas
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm
India Invites Canadian Investment in Biotech, Food Processing
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseactio...
EPA Calls on Agency, Congress to Recognize Carcinogenicity of Fluoride
http://healthy.net/scr/news.asp?Id=7898
Which Plastics are Safe for Lunchbox Use?
http://go.care2.com/e/ERN/Ai/dLAb
Are Cell-Phones Safe?
http://www.cancerdecisions.com/091105.html
Canada Doesn’t See Breakthrough at Post-Kyoto Meet
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8777
Excessively Sleepy? Could be More than Poor Sleep
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&e=1&u=...
The Politics of Sugar: Why Your Government Lies to You about this Disease-Promoting Ingredient
http://www.newstarget.com/009797.html
Where are Those Cravings for Oreos Coming From?
http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/8/where_are_those_cr...
Olive Oil Compound May Fight Disease, Act Like Painkiller
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=62...
California Sues Potato Chip Makers
http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/13/california_sues_p...
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.