Friday, September 28, 2012

Call for action on Abortion in Victoria and globally

September 28 is the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal

Abortion, and Women’s Health Victoria is pleased to support this cause.

“We recognise that unsafe abortion remains a major cause of maternal

mortality and morbidity in the developing world”, said Rose Durey, Policy

and Health Promotion Manager at Women’s Health Victoria.

“We believe that women around the world should be free to make

decisions regarding their reproductive health.

“We should also use today to reflect on the difficulties experienced by

women who have unintended pregnancies in our own state.

“Although abortion in Victoria is now a legal health service, it remains

difficult to access for many women. Women in rural areas have to travel

long distances to access abortions, women experiencing socioeconomic

disadvantage would struggle to meet the cost, and abortion is only

available in public hospitals under very specific circumstances,” Ms

Durey said.

“Women should be free to exercise reproductive choice wherever they

live, whether that is in Victoria or a developing nation”, Ms Durey said.


For more details, please click here


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Men’s Health


Men’s Health

I once read that according to some theories, biologists say that the normal lifespan of a human being should be 120 years. But hat in most developed countries; average life expectancy is about 80 years for women and about 5 years less for men. So why do we die earlier than 120 years? The answer simple: many of us die of illness! This is a significant figure and should be a very important consideration for the male population, in particular, because the cold hard truth is that men are significantly more likely to die of diabetes, cancer, pneumonia, influenza, cardiovascular disease and many other complaints, than women.

Men are four times more likely to commit suicide, two times more likely to die in an accident, and so on. It’s obviously a risky business being a man! Despite playing the dying duck when they have a cold, the truth is that most men do not like to admit, even to themselves, that they have a health problem indeed men make 150 million fewer visits in a year to their doctors than women. And male patients are more likely to wait until a problem that could have been easily treated or prevented becomes severe or life threatening.
With the advent of programmes like Channel 4’s ‘Embarrassing bodies’ we’ve just about seen it all now, and although, like me, you might have wondered what induces the ‘star’ sufferers to bare all on TV when apparently they were too embarrassed to visit their own GP’s, this really is the bottom line, (quite literally, in some cases) - we are still, and this applies more to men than women, embarrassed to take our bits to the doctor.  
One area that affects many men, as they get older is ‘problems with the waterworks.’ This may be nothing sinister but may be due to a serious prostate or bladder problem.  So which is it?  Well, you won’t know unless you go to the doctor! I can remember my mother telling me, when I was reluctant to go to the doctor, that the human body was like a machine to a doctor, moving parts that can and do go wrong.  So, much like your car mechanic, the sight of your white bits, will be nothing your doctor hasn’t seen before.   I am sure doctor’s have more empathy for us than your local mechanic has for your 4X4, but you get the point!
Another problem of our modern age is skin cancer.  Unlike women who spend a long time looking in the mirror and applying lotions and potions to various parts of their bodies men may not even be aware of some of the moles they have.   No one thinks that the worst will happen to them and it is easy to dismiss a spot or sore, thinking that it won’t be anything sinister.  But it might be.  If you are a man, the first thing to do is bare your manly physique to your partner, or even a friend so that they can see what you look like normally, especially on your back where you cannot see well.   If anything changes, moles begin to bleed, darken or itch or get irregular borders, see the doctor.  Even the worst type of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, if caught early enough can be excised and stopped from spreading.
An often often hidden problem is that of mental health.   Possibly where all other taboos have been broken down, this remains the ‘elephant in the room’ for many of us. Ask people if it would be acceptable for employers to discriminate against someone on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation or disability and the answer is likely to be an outraged "of course not".  But ask the same question about someone with a mental illness and the certainty seems to waiver.
So whether your problem is above or below the belt, if you are a man, we know that you may be reluctant to go to the doctor until you are nagged or frog marched there! It would be nice if we never got ill, but we do and how ill we become depends largely on how soon we seek help.  Modern medicine has marvelous and evolving treatments that have taken years to develop, just to help us feel better and live longer!  
The first step is to know your body and to recognise when something changes.  We need to take account of our life style, do you smoke, overeat, do little exercise?  While you are putting those things rght, gen up on the symptoms of some of the related diseases, you know what they say, knowledge is power, and often things are a lot less frightening when they actually have a name rather than being allowed to remain the stuff of nightmares conjured up by our fevered imagination.
We all like something for nothing don’t we?  Well we have an excellent health service, and its’ free, it’s state of the art, and it could save your life, now all you have to do is use it!  

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.
UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com



Amanda Thomas

Breast Radiation Injury Rehabiliation Service

The breast radiation injury rehabilitation service was launched following a pilot in July 2012. It is a highly specialised national service for men and women who are experiencing pain from injury following radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Radiation induced injury is a rare condition affecting the arm on the same side as the treated breast. It cannot be reversed but when left untreated people can develop secondary complications that can result in significant deterioration in their health, these can include:
  • Severe pain
  • Paralysis of arm or hand which limits the function of the limb
  • Swelling of the arm on the side of the treated breast (Lymphoedema)
  • Breathing problems due to lung damage or recurring chest infections
  • Osteoporosis (Brittle bones)
  • Psychological concerns
These symptoms can develop many years after the radiotherapy treatment and is often referred to as ‘late effects’.

Why Choose Us?

Our aim is to provide an assessment for people with radiation induced axillary tunnel damage following treatment for breast cancer. With our team of internationally renowned clinicians our goal is to deliver improvement in pain and in quality of life for individuals with complex and long term conditions.

What we offer

Upon receipt of referral, all individuals are assessed by a telephone triage call from our specialist nurse. After assessment individuals are invited to attend a two day clinic at one of our three specialist centres – Bath, Manchester or London.
The two day clinic consists of:
Day one. Individual appointments with:
  • Pain Physician and Consultant Nurse in pain
  • Oncology
  • Respiratory Physician
  • Psychology
  • Rheumatology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist
  • Social Worker
Day two
  • Rehabilitation therapy group day is an opportunity for rehabilitation in a group session and an opportunity to have informal questions and answer sessions with our Oncologist.
Where appropriate individuals can be admitted to the RNHRD for an intensive inpatient programme of rehabilitation or may be referred to local service for assessment or treatments
Telephone advice and follow up is available to those who attend the service.

How to access our service

This service is free of charge for all individuals registered with a GP in England who meet the diagnostic criteria above. We will also accept individual referrals for other UK and non UK individuals for which an individual price for the service can be provided.

All referrals should be sent to:

Professor Candy McCabe
Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases
Upper Borough Walls
Bath
BA1 1RL

candymccabe@rnhrd.nhs,uk

For existing referral queries please contact Janice Goodway on 01225 473462 or Rnh-tr.BRIRS@nhs.net

Golf insurer in CT arrested for selling illegal insurance in WA



A Connecticut businessman who specializes in insurance for golf tournament hole-in-one prizes has been arrested in his home state after failing to appear for a felony arraignment in Seattle earlier this month.

Kevin Kolenda, 54, was arrested Wednesday in his hometown of Norwalk, Conn. He faces five counts of transacting insurance without a license, a class B felony.

"We've been warning the public about Mr. Kolenda's scam for years," Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in a recent press release. "He has a long history of selling illegal insurance, refusing to pay prize winners, and thumbing his nose at regulators."

Kolenda was supposed to appear in court Sept. 5 for arraignment on those charges, but he failed to appear. So the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Kolenda has ignored a previous cease and desist order from our office, as well as a $125,000 fine.

Update (9/28/2012): Added King5 video at top of post.

Why did you make my auto/homeowners insurance rates go up?

Q: My auto and homeowners insurance rates went up, and my agent and insurer said that it's because Washington state required them to charge more. Did you require this?

A: We get this question fairly often. While we do review rates for many kinds of insurance, no, we did not tell your auto/homeowners/etc. insurer to raise its rates. It's up to insurers to decide when, or if, they will submit proposals to us to increase or decrease rates. (In some cases, notably health coverage, insurers often reduce benefits in order to moderate rates hikes.)

Again: While we may review the rates, the insurance company is the one proposing any changes.

There are many insurers selling auto and homeowners policies in Washington. If your insurer is raising rates too high, maybe it's time to shop around. Need help? Here are some tips when shopping for auto coverage, and here are some tips when shopping for homeowners coverage.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

NYC Scrapbook :: Coterie 2012!


I returned back to Texas on Sunday from a week-long trip to NYC. It was business, not pleasure {but isn't it nice when the two coincide?} as Fashion Coterie for Spring 2013 was taking place, and it was the most incredible experience! We had an AMAZING show. To have been selected to show my line alongside big labels like Milly, Trina Turk, Theory, Nanette Lepore, L.A.M.B., Rebecca Minkoff, House of Harlowe 1969, Catherine Malandrino and so many more was truly a dream come true. It was wonderful to meet all of the sweet buyers as well. Here is a recap of the week! 

Our very first stop upon our arrival was the Waverly Inn, my favorite place to dine in NYC. Their chicken pot pie is life changing! Bradley Cooper was there and wouldn't stop staring at us {annoying} but he left, I'm assuming to meet Zoe for drinks. Nice hair though.


A new discovery in the food realm that is apparently well known all around Manhattan but was new to me is a place called Eataly. One of the best roof-top views I have had the privilege of experiencing!  The next day we stopped by FAO Schwartz for a bit in the morning and thankfully THANKFULLY talked Shiloh out of buying yet another Montenegro-style band jacket. Maddox was totally on board with our decision. Major close call on that one. 


Set up day was nothing short of bonkers, and I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life. The alarm went off at 5am and we peeled ourselves out of bed into pouring rain and were at the convention center before 7. 

We worked worked worked like cray-cray until about 2 in the afternoon with no break for food, so we took a midday breather and headed to a nearby diner for some sustenance.


And by sustenance I mean margaritas, of course.

The rest of the day flew by after that break...strange.


LOVED the end result. So colorful and all around PERFECT!


We went for blow outs late that evening at a place called Drybar, which is a genius concept and I'm told we now have one in Fort Worth. So great! Suri was there in the chair next to me and she was super cute. I asked her to join us for dinner at the Shake Shack but apparently she had some big play date the next morning and politely declined. Heartsies.

We got there early the next morning to take photos of several booths before it got really packed...



Everything had to be taken down completely on Friday night {a monstrous task in and of itself}, but that meant we had all of Saturday to goof off and explore NYC. We were beyond exhausted but came up with our own combo of go-go juice to get us through the day. I tried my first cupcake from Crumbs, ate a pizza slice as big as a baby, found the cutest Pomeranian on the planet, had my first Joe Fresh experience {officially addicted} and feel confident in saying that I now know of the best eggs benedict in all of NYC via Eli Zabar!



Until next year, NYC! 




NEOVASC INC. ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF TIARA ACUTE PRECLINICAL DATA IN JOURNAL OF


Vancouver, BC, Canada – September 18, 2012

 

Neovasc Inc. (TSXV: NVC) today announced that acute results from preclinical studies of its TiaraTMvalve for the transcatheter treatment of mitral regurgitation were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).


The study reports that the initial experience with the Tiara transcatheter mitral valve was encouraging and that implantation of Tiara valves was feasible, relatively straightforward and resulted in a securely-implanted, well-functioning device that maintained good hemodynamics in the test animals. The study, which will be published in the October 9, 2012 edition of JACC, is currently available on-line.

“We are very pleased with the results of our Tiara implantations in preclinical animal models,” noted Alexei Marko, CEO of Neovasc. “Publication of the first results from the acute phase of these studies in a prestigious journal such as JACC highlights the potential value of Tiara for the treatment of patients with mitral regurgitation who cannot be treated surgically. We look forward to sharing long-term Tiara results from studies in chronic animal models at TCT 2012 next month.”

In the published study, Tiara valves were implanted successfully in 81% of the test animals, with total procedure times ranging from 17 to 26 minutes. In the successful implantations, angiographic and echo imaging demonstrated excellent function of the Tiara, with no obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract, no pericardial effusion, no encroachment on the aortic valve, no transvalvular gradients and most importantly, no significant paravalvular leak. All animals remained hemodynamically stable during the implant procedure without the need for rapid pacing.


The report, Tiara: A Novel Catheter-Based Mitral Valve Bioprosthesis: Initial Experiments and Short-Term PreClinical Results, was authored by Shmuel Banai, MD, E. Marc Jolicoeur, MD, Marc Schwartz, RCIS, Patrick Garceau, MD, Simon Biner, MD, Jean-Francois Tanguay, MD, Raymond Cartier, MD, Stefan Verheye, MD, Christopher J. White, MD and Elazer Edelman, MD, PhD. It is being published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Vol. 60, No. 15, 2012, and is currently available on-line at: http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1358177.

 

Flu Shots, We Still Have Them!


We heard that many people were under the impression that we are completely out of flu shots. That is not the case! We still have flu shots available for purchase. The prices are; $17 for Students, $22 for part-time staff/faculty and no charge for full-time staff/faculty with their Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance card. Please make sure that you have your One Card (and insurance card if full-time) with you when you come to get your shot. Also, you do not have to make an appointment to get a flu shot, but we do have certain times when we are giving them. To see the schedules for our clinics, click here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 801.957.4268 and someone will be more than happy to help.

Dangerous online ‘slimming pills’ must not stop us advancing the use of effective anti-obesity medication

By Graham Rowan, Chairman of Obesity Management Association
 
Horror stories of the effects of ‘slimming pills’ bought over the internet continue to emerge as more and more people seek help to try and take control of their weight. With the obesity epidemic spiralling out of control, increasing numbers are turning to the web for quick fix solutions, with disastrous consequences. The Obesity Management Association is working hard to educate people about the dangers of buying drugs off the internet and raise awareness of effective anti-obesity medication and how it should be prescribed and monitored.
 
Preventative action to stem the rising tide of obesity is always the preferred course of action, but for some people it is too late and we need to look at different ways they can be helped without placing extra burden on the state. Licenced and proven medication, monitored and prescribed by doctors in private clinics, is an important part of the solution. In OMA member clinics medication has already helped thousands to tackle their obesity and make a step change in their lifestyles for the benefit of themselves and their families.

Unless we start to take the role of medication seriously – as it appears NICE is now doing with its appraisal of Phentermine and Topiramate – our hospital waiting rooms will be filled with people queuing up for gastric surgery and our health service will be crippled.

Now is the time for a change in approach, moving the focus from the shortcomings of dangerous internet drugs towards the opportunities and positive impact that effective anti-obesity treatment can have to transform lives.
 
 
Find out more about the OMA at:  www.omaorg.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Towards Tomorrow Together

Mel Scott who has been left heartbroken since the stillbirth of her first, much loved, child Finley decided to fund a new charity Towards Tomorrow Together that aims to support others who experience the same tragedy. She has set up an online crowd funding campaign called If Your Baby Died Who Would Help? http://www.indiegogo.com/Ifyourbabydied?a=468970 which is raising funds in order to register her new charity so it can continue to work with bereaved parents.
The initiative started three years ago by supplying memory boxes to her local hospital with donations that had been taken at Finley’s funeral. The aim now is to expand the operation to include providing support such as; a ‘mentor’ who supports at the time of the loss, a special regulated ‘cold cot’ to each hospital that allows parents to spend extended time with their children and funding holistic therapies to baby-loss parents to help them cope with the range of emotions that follow a loss, as well as supporting parents during any subsequent pregnancies, which are often times high anxiety.
All of this additional support and the facilities cost at least £83,000 per year, per county, in the UK. In order to help, people are invited to share the link throughout their networks, and to contribute anything they can spare.
When Mel went into labour at 41+5 days of pregnancy, finding out that her son had died, despite an emergency caesarean and efforts to resuscitate him failing, was a life-changing event. Not only the trauma of the birth itself, but the pain, confusion and realisation of that day does not fade. Mel was lucky, her husband and Finley’s grandparents arrived and a midwife helped them all to make some important memories, including taking photographs and footprints. While Mel came to terms with the fact the Finley would not be waking up.
Thanks to the care of the staff the family have many memories that they treasure, this will not be the case for all of the 17 families that will experience this in the UK today and everyday. This important care varies from county-to-county depending on the skills of the staff, hospital policies and the extra support given by the voluntary sector in that area. The services that Towards Tomorrow Together will fill this gap and ensure that this much-needed support is provided when needed.
Anyone who would like to be part of this important campaign can donate today at: If Your Baby Died? http://www.indiegogo.com/Ifyourbabydied?a=468970
 
UK Health Radio (www.ukhealthradio.com) is pleased to support this wonderful charity.

Aspirin the Wonder Drug!


Aspirin the Wonder Drug!

There is no doubt that there have been many miracles in the field of medicine over the years, the discovery of penicillin, of radium, drugs that treat diabetes and many treatments that have helped cure cancer. Amongst them all, in my opinion, one stand out medicine is the humble Aspirin. I put myself on a daily dose of baby aspirin (75mg) about 10 years ago when I first heard about the advantage it had in reducing the incidence of stroke and heart attack, although at that time I was not at specific risk of either.   Since then the humble little aspirin has gradually been giving away more of its secrets.  The latest news  -that a daily dose of aspirin can reduce the incidence of some cancers and stop others from spreading - is only the last in a long line of discoveries highlighting this drug's extraordinary potential. And Aspirin is not a new discovery.  It was used in ancient times, as an extract from willow bark, for treating fever and pain.

Despite its wonderful benefits in treating various maladies, the actual mechanism of how Aspirin is able to work on so many different medical problems is still a mystery to scientists. It’s first use in modern times came when it was used in the 1850s, to relieve the pains of "rheumatism." It worked but no one had any idea why!

In fact the reason that I chose to take it Aspirin, was not recognised as a benefit of the drug until the late 20th century when doctors started to give it to patients as a preventative against heart disease. Researchers had begun formulating a theory of heart disease that hinged on some sort of inflammation process and the involvement of something called C-reactive protein. (CRP) CRP is a marker for inflammation: if CRP levels in the blood are raised this indicates an inflammatory process.

Taking aspirin reduces CRP levels, and so may also reduce the risk of future heart problems.  There have been concerns that taking this medication in the long term might give rise to other problems such as stomach ulcers.  Its preventative benefits have seen many symptomless patients taking the medication, but there are those who say that it should really only be taken by patients who have been identified as being at risk of heart disease or stroke.  I can imagine that some of you will think I'm mad to be taking a powerful medicine every day when I don’t really know that is doing me any good, and which, in fact, may actually be harming me. But my view is that lots of people take supplements and vitamins - the evidence for those has often been questioned - and I do try to minimise the risks: I take my aspirin after breakfast every day on a full stomach to try to protect my stomach lining.

The more I hear about this drug the more impressed I am with it and so for now, stomach irritation notwithstanding, I am keeping it on my shopping list, along with my seaweed tablets and ginseng.  Oh and that’s another thing, for a drug that packs a big punch has a very small price!

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and does not substitute professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on the UK Health Radio.
UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com



Amanda Thomas


Back pain solution to be revealed at Pharmacy Show

An innovative back pain relief device which could dramatically reduce one of the UK ’s most common medical complaints will be showcased at the Pharmacy Show 2012.
Rophi Cushions Ltd will be exhibiting the Rophi Cushion– a posture improving, pain relieving cushion which alleviates spinal stenosis by aligning the spine and pelvis whilst the user is asleep.
The cushion sits within a medical stocking and is placed between the user’s legs whilst they sleep in the semi-foetal position. Unlike a regular cushion, it comfortably stays in place all night, inhibits perspiration and is fully washable at 65 degrees Celsius.
The company will showcase its product to clinicians, pharmacists and healthcare professionals at the Pharmacy Show, the UK ’s only CPD-accredited training, education and sourcing event for the UK pharmacy community.
Four out of five adults in the UK suffer from back pain at some point in their lives and treating the condition costs the NHS over £1 billion a year.
Robert Lloyd, Technical Director of Rophi Cushions Ltd, said: “Back pain is one of the most common ailments that patients bring to their doctors – but for many of those appointments, the remedy is invariably short-term at best with recurring pain.
“The Rophi Cushion has the potential to dramatically reduce lower back pain for sufferers of all ages, ultimately benefitting both the patient and clinician.
“For a patient, the Rophi Cushion presents a genuinely long-term and cost-effective solution to a problem which can have such a distressing and long-lasting impact on their life.
“Such is the recurrent nature of back pain complaints, healthcare professionals at the Pharmacy Show will undoubtedly recognise the value and potential of the Rophi Cushion and we look forward to meeting interested parties.”

Rophi Cushions Ltd can be found at stand F35 of the Pharmacy Show, which is being held at the NEC in Birmingham from September 30 – 1 October.
 
UK Health Radio (www.ukhealthradio.com) are attending the Pharmacy Show and special editions of the Health Kicks Show (www.health-kicks.co.uk) hosted by John Hicks will be recorded at the event. UKHR will also be attending next February's Back Pain Show at Olympia.

Suicide and Suicide Prevention on College Campuses in Virginia

By Jane Wiggins, Ph.D

It is difficult to determine how many college students die each year by suicide. “Student” status can be hard to define and is not typically recorded by a coroner or medical examiner following a death.
The BAD NEWS: We do know that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students and that more teenagers and young adults die by suicide than from all medical illnesses combined. It is estimated that we lose about 1,350 college students to suicide each year; roughly 3 young people per day.

The GOOD NEWS: Statistics also tell us that 18-24 year olds who are in college are at HALF the risk of suicide compared to their non-student counterparts. That is, being part of a campus community is believed to have a protective effect. While we don’t have the full explanation for these findings, experts suggest that key factors may be reduced access to firearms, the greater availability of mental health care and richer connections to a supportive network. The continued study of suicide risk within campus communities may well teach us some strategies for preventing suicide among 18-24 year olds in non-campus settings.

We also know that preventing suicide may help to prevent violence of other kinds. Clearly, preventing suicide, suicidal thinking and suicidal behavior are a priority to those who work to create safe campus communities.

Historically, the work of suicide prevention has been accomplished through a mental health model, in which those at risk for suicide receive intervention and follow-up services in a mental health care setting. While effective triage and crisis management will always be essential elements of a comprehensive plan, a public health model protects limited crisis management resources by expanding “upstream” prevention efforts.

The Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia works to reduce risk for suicide in Virginia’s college and university communities by helping campus leaders to:

• Promote mental health and emotional resilience for all students;

• Enhance strategies for early identification of mental health concerns;

• Encourage help-seeking among students;

• Provide options for those in need of support services; and

• Respond effectively to individuals who may be at risk for suicide.

As the rest of the country moves to a broader, more proactive and comprehensive public health model for reducing suicide risk, college and university campus communities will too. One of our primary goals is to further that transition in higher education settings across Virginia.

For more information, go to CampusSuicidePreventionVA.org or contact Dr. Jane Wiggins at wigginjr@jmu.edu

Jane Wiggins, Ph.D. has been a school psychologist for the past 30 years. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology from Syracuse University and a masters’ degree in education from Bucknell University. Jane’s expertise is in working with institutions that serve youth, particularly K-12 and higher education settings. She is currently the director of the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia; a partnership between the Virginia Department of Health and the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at James Madison University. In that role, Jane provides resources, training, consultation in suicide prevention to colleges and universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia.



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Open enrollment for children ends Oct. 31

Do you need health insurance for your child? Open enrollment for individual health insurance for children is now underway. From Sept. 15-Oct. 31 you can buy an individual plan for your child or add them to your plan with out having to fill out a health questionnaire.

Under health reform, health plans can no longer deny children coverage if they have a pre-existing medical condition, but they can create open enrollment periods. Washington state has two annual enrollment periods: March 15-April 30 and Sept. 15-Oct. 31.

If you need coverage now, don't wait. You have until the end of Oct., but the sooner you enroll, the faster you'll get coverage.

The next open enrollment starts March 15. Here's a list of plans in the individual market by county and what to do if you miss the enrollment period.

Progress made, by blogger of the month Jacek Jarczynski

Western Wall, Old City, Jerusalem 
Me in red with Julian and Tal.

September is almost through and I can hardly believe that I have been in Israel since mid-July.  A great deal of progress has been made on all fronts with regard to academics, housing, settling in, meeting new people, and getting familiar with Be’er Sheva in general.  As summer turns to fall I can see olives and dates ripening on the trees throughout the city.  There is much inspiration in this area for someone with an appreciation for nature, history and ethnography.  I am quite fond of Be’er Sheva and the new friendships I established here.  The MSIH experience thus far has been fantastic.  The classes are coming along well (taking a break from biochemistry reading to write this entry), I am picking up more of the Hebrew language with every day and the local people I have met here so far proved to be incredibly generous and friendly … and I love my new bed!  No more sleeping on an inflatable mattress!  The things we take for granted until we have to relocate and set up shop all over again in a new place.  Earlier during the month we went on a class trip to Jerusalem.  After meeting with students from the Hebrew University Medical Center we went on a tour of the old city.  It is impossible not to feel the weight of history present in every corner of the old city.  All for now and back to glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway.   - blogger of the month Jacek Jarczynski

Tired?


When it comes to success in the classroom, sleep is your best defense/aid. In spring 2011, Health and Wellness Services administered the National College Health Assessment to Salt Lake community College students. We’ve found that students ranked sleep as one of the top ten academic impacts that inhibited them from doing well in their class or on an assignment. Did you know that getting adequate sleep improves your health and memory?
The National Sleep Foundation states, “Sleep regulates mood and is related to learning and memory functions. Not only will getting enough sleep help you learn a new skill, stay on task or be productive, it may also be a critical factor in your health, weight and energy level.”
 If you’re feeling tired, dragged out or sleepy during the day, here some tips for you.
·         Establish a regular bed and wake time
·         Establish a consistent relaxing “wind-down” bedtime routine
·         Avoid nicotine altogether and avoid caffeine close to bedtime
·         Exercise regularly (at least 3 hours before bedtime)
·         Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet and comfortable.
·         Adults typically need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. You can’t catch up on missed hours of sleep.
·         Your sleep environment should be used for sleep and sex. Watching TV and using your laptop hinders quality sleep.
Citation:
“Myths and Facts.” National Sleep Foundation. n.p., 2011. Web. 15 Aug. 2012.


Life insurance explainer: What are life settlements?

Life settlements are when you sell your life insurance policy to someone else. You get immediate cash, and they collect the value of the policy when you die.

There's a similar type of transaction, known as a viatical settlement, in which a terminally ill person sells his or her life insurance to someone else.

Both these types of transactions are mentioned as options in a notice that life insurers are required to send to some Washington policyholders.

According to a New York Times article published last month, the fast-growing life settlements business swelled to $12 billion in transactions by 2007, but has dropped off dramatically, with only $3.8 billion worth of policies changing hands in 2010. Life settlements brokers maintain, however, that with trillions of dollars in life insurance out there, the industry is still in its infancy.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Health insurers rebates

Q: I've read in the news that health insurers are having to send rebates to their customers because of health care reform. But I didn't get a rebate? What's going on?

A: Yes, we've heard from a number of folks that are wondering whether they're going to get a rebate. The rebates are from companies that aren't putting enough premium dollars toward actual medical care (as opposed to marketing, administrative costs, etc.).

Here in Washington, however, most companies are already spending a high percentage of your premium dollars on medical care. That's the good news. But that also means that few Washingtonians will get rebates. Here's more about the rebates and a state-by-state breakdown.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

ATTENTION: Prop 37

By Dr. Mercola
The first-ever lifetime feeding study1 evaluating the health risks of genetically engineered foods was published online on September 19, and the results are troubling, to say the least. This new study joins a list of over 30 other animal studies showing toxic or allergenic problems with genetically engineered foods.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, found that rats fed a type of genetically engineered corn that is prevalent in the US food supply for two years developed massive mammary tumors, kidney and liver damage, and other serious health problems.
The research was considered so "hot" that the work was done under strict secrecy. According to a French article in Le Nouvel Observateur,2 the researchers used encrypted emails, phone conversations were banned, and they even launched a decoy study to prevent sabotage!
According to the authors:
"The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize (from 11% in the diet), cultivated with or without Roundup, and Roundup alone (from 0.1ppb in water), were studied 2 years in rats. [Editors note: this level of Roundup is permitted in drinking water and GE crops in the US]
In females, all treated groups died 2-3 times more than controls, and more rapidly. This difference was visible in 3 male groups fed GMOs.
All results were hormone and sex dependent, and the pathological profiles were comparable. Females developed large mammary tumors almost always more often than and before controls, the pituitary was the second most disabled organ; the sex hormonal balance was modified by GMO and Roundup treatments.
In treated males, liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5-5.5 times higher... Marked and severe kidney nephropathies were also generally 1.3-2.3 greater. Males presented 4 times more large palpable tumors than controls, which occurred up to 600 days earlier.
Biochemistry data confirmed very significant kidney chronic deficiencies; for all treatments and both sexes, 76% of the altered parameters were kidney related. These results can be explained by the non linear endocrine-disrupting effects of Roundup, but also by the overexpression of the transgene in the GMO and its metabolic consequences."
Folks, if this doesn't get your attention, nothing will.
Does 10 percent or more of your diet consist of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients? At present, you can't know for sure, since GE foods are not labeled in the US. But chances are, if you eat processed foods, your diet is chock full of genetically engineered ingredients you didn't even know about.
The study in question includes photos and graphs. I highly recommend taking the time to actually read through this remarkable study,3 and look at the documented evidence. They really are not exaggerating when they say it caused massive tumors... They are huge! Some of the tumors weighed in at 25 percent of the rat's total body weight. This is the most current and best evidence to date of the toxic effects of GE foods.

Why Aren't Americans Dropping Like Flies?

Rats only live a few years. Humans live around 80 years, so we will notice these effects in animals long before we see them in humans. The gigantic human lab experiment is only about 10 years old, so we are likely decades away from tabulating the human casualties. This is some of the strongest evidence to date that we need to exercise the precautionary principle ASAP and avoid these foods. Naturally, the study is already under heavy fire. According to Monsanto spokesman Thomas Helscher:4
"Numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies performed on biotech crops to date, including more than a hundred feeding studies, have continuously confirmed their safety, as reflected in the respective safety assessments by regulatory authorities around the world."
However, it's critical to understand that the longest feeding study was a mere 90 days long – a far cry from two years! In the featured study, the true onslaught of diseases really set in during the 13th month of the experiment, although tumors and severe liver and kidney damage did emerge as early as four months in males, and seven months for females.
Is it any wonder then that feeding studies lasting just a few weeks or even three months have failed to corroborate these horrific findings? Reuters quotes Mark Tester, a research professor at the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics at the University of Adelaide as saying:5
"If the effects are as big as purported, and if the work really is relevant to humans, why aren't the North Americans dropping like flies? GM has been in the food chain for over a decade over there – and longevity continues to increase inexorably."
Although there are clearly many variables that contribute to cancer, GE foods are a new candidate as they have been in our food supply for over a decade. Interestingly, cancer was just declared as having overtaken heart disease as the number one killer among American Hispanics,6 and according to 2009 CDC statistics it's now also the leading killer in 18 states.
I believe it is crucial that we implement the precautionary principle as rapidly as possible as this study confirms it is difficult to predict precisely what GE foods might do to the youths of today, as many are eating a fair amount of GE ingredients practically from day one. (Yes, some infant formulas actually contain GE ingredients!) What will their health be 10 or 20 years from now? Most adults simply haven't been eating GE foods long enough to tell what the real ramifications are.
Do we really wait 50 years to see what GE foods will do to the human health and lifespan?

GE Foods' Connection to Breast Cancer

This newest study provides clear and convincing evidence that GE agriculture is contributing to cancer in exposed populations. The timing of this new study – two weeks before Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) – is therefore all the more fitting, as GreenMedInfo.com recently commented on this study:7
"...in female animals, 93 percent of the tumors found were in the mammary glands. They also '...observed a strikingly marked induction of mammary tumors by R[oundup] alone ...even at the very lowest dose administered.'"
Generational gene transfer is yet another issue. A frequent claim has been that new genes introduced in GE foods are harmless, as they would theoretically be broken up in the intestines. But researchers have now discovered that genes can be transferred through the intestinal wall into your blood. GE crop genes have been found in sufficiently large amounts in human blood, muscle tissue and liver to be identified.8 And the biological impact – especially the generational impact – of this gene transfer is completely unknown, and cannot be known for at least a human generation or two. Unless we take notice of the results from animal feeding studies, that is...

10-Year Feeding Study ALSO Found GE Foods Cause Severe Health Problems

This news comes on the heels of another experimental animal feeding study carried out over a 10-year period in Norway. It was published earlier this summer, and in this study, genetically engineered (GE) corn and corn-based products were found to cause obesity, and alter the function of the digestive system and major organs, including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and genitals.9 Animals fed genetically engineered Bt corn ate more, got fatter, and were less able to digest proteins due to alterations in the micro-structure of their intestines. They also suffered immune system alterations.
The impaired ability to digest proteins may be of particular concern as this can have far-reaching implications for human health. If your body cannot digest proteins, your body will be less able to produce amino acids, which are necessary building blocks for proper cell growth and function.

Monsanto's GE Corn is Already Losing its Effectiveness, Giving Rise to Superbugs and Superweeds

Related news also sheds light on the massive devastation brought on the environment by GE crops, and how soil destruction ends up affecting your health by decimating the nutrient content in the foods you eat.
In response to a scientific study that determined Western corn rootworms on two Illinois farms had developed resistance to Monsanto's YieldGard corn, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made an admission about genetically engineered crops: Yes, there is "mounting evidence" that Monsanto's insecticide-fighting corn is losing its effectiveness in the Midwest. Last year, resistant rootworms infested corn fields in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska.
According to Bloomberg:10
"The agency's latest statement on rootworm resistance comes a year after the problem was first documented and just as U.S. corn yields are forecast to be the lowest in 17 years amid drought in the Corn Belt. Corn is St. Louis-based Monsanto's biggest business line, accounting for $4.81 billion of sales, or 41 percent of total revenue, in its 2011 fiscal year.
...The EPA's focus is Monsanto's YieldGard corn, which is engineered to produce the Cry3Bb1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, a natural insecticide.
The EPA expects to get data on the performance of YieldGard from Monsanto within two months and complete its analysis by year-end the agency said in its statement, which was e-mailed by Stacy Kika, an EPA spokeswoman. The evaluation will include a review of scientific studies, it said.
...The agency may implement 'strategies' to reduce the threat of resistance to Cry3Bb1, it said. Kika said she couldn't comment on what those strategies may include."
Considering the fact that YieldGard was introduced less than a decade ago, in 2003, this could be very bad news for farmers growing genetically engineered Bt crops everywhere. It really is just a matter of time before resistance sets in, and it doesn't take very long. Naturally, Monsanto disagrees – more data is needed to prove their insecticide-fighting corn is failing, the biotech giant claims.

Roundup-Ready Crops Pose Even Greater Resistance Problem

But YieldGard is just one of Monsanto's problems. Roundup-Ready crops are creating super-resistant weeds that no longer respond to the herbicide. In fact, the problem is so bad that 20 million acres of cotton, soybean and corn have already been invaded by Roundup-resistant weeds.11
To combat the problem, the EPA requires farmers to plant non-modified corn next to their Bt corn, in the hopes that unexposed bugs will mate with the resistant rootworms and create a new generation of hybrids that are again susceptible to the Bt toxin.
However, one has to wonder whether or not it might also work the other way around. The hybrids may just as well incorporate the resistance... Still, that's the prevailing logic the EPA is running with at the moment.
Unfortunately, resistant weeds are not the only, or the worst, side effect of Roundup-Ready crops, genetically engineered to withstand otherwise lethal doses of glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup.
Mounting evidence tells us glyphosate itself may be far more dangerous than anyone ever suspected... Earlier this month, Purdue scientist Dr. Don Huber again spoke out about "the woes of GMO's" and the inherent dangers of glyphosate in an article published by GM Watch.12
"Corn used to be the healthiest plant you could grow. Now, multiple diseases, pests, and weak plants are the common denominator of 'modern' hybrids," he writes.
"Over three decades ago we started the shift to a monochemical glyphosate herbicide program that was soon accompanied by glyphosate- and insect-resistant genetically engineered crops.
These two changes in agricultural practices – the excessive application of a strong essential mineral chelating, endocrine-disrupting chemical for weed control and the genetically engineered production of new toxins in our food crops – was accompanied by abandonment of years of scientific research based on the scientific precautionary principle. We substituted a philosophical 'substantially equivalent,' a new term coined to avoid accountability for the lack of understanding of consequences of our new activities, for science."

The Environmental and Human Health Hazards of Glyphosate

I previously interviewed Dr. Huber about the dangers of glyphosate, and if you missed it, I highly recommend taking the time to listen to it now. It is indeed sobering, as this broad-spectrum herbicide adds its own health risks to an already stacked deck of health hazards related to genetically engineered foods, whether it be Bt- or Roundup-Ready.
Total Video Length: 00:58:12
The problem stems from the way glyphosate persists in and alters the soil, which has wide-ranging ramifications. As a potent organic phosphate chelator, glyphosate immobilizes micronutrients that are essential for normal physiological functions not only in soils, but also in growing plants and in those who eat the plants, namely animals and humans.
The nutritional efficiency of genetically engineered (GE) plants is profoundly compromised. Far from helping improve nutrition, micronutrients such as iron, manganese and zinc can be reduced by as much as 80-90 percent in GE plants! Glyphosate also decimates beneficial microorganisms essential for proper plant function and high quality nutrition, while promoting the proliferation of disease-causing pathogens.
"Glyphosate is a very powerful selective antibiotic that kills beneficial, but not pathogenic, microorganisms in the soil and intestine at very low residual levels in food," Dr. Huber writes.13 "Residue levels permitted in food are 40 to 800 times the antibiotic threshold and concentrations shown in clinical studies to damage mammalian tissues.
By genetically engineering plants with the insertion of certain foreign bacterial genes, glyphosate can be applied directly to crop plants without killing them. There is nothing in the genetic engineering technology that does anything to the glyphosate that is applied to the plant – and that accumulates in it. Both the toxic proteins produced by the foreign bacterial genes and the glyphosate chemical are now present in the feed and food produced for animal and human consumption.
Genetic engineering has introduced other genes for insect resistance where additional toxic proteins accumulate in plant tissues consumed by animals and man. These toxins are found in the blood and readily transferred across the placenta to developing babies in the womb.
Genetic engineering is more like a virus infection than a normal breeding process and results in a multitude of mutations and epigenetic effects as genetic integrity in the plant is disrupted.
These 'foreign' bacterial genes are highly promiscuous and easily transferred by wind or insects to other plants; to soil microorganisms during plant residue decomposition, or to intestinal microflora during food digestion where they continue to direct the production of toxins and allergenic proteins. Epigenetic effects are manifest in GMO plants as a yield drag, poor nutrient efficiency, increased disease, and reduced stress tolerance."
As Dr. Huber warns, scientific studies demonstrate that the assumptions about genetically engineered crops relied upon by the biotech industry and ignorant regulators are invalid. The truth of the matter can be clearly seen in the following effects:
Development of resistant "super-weeds" Development of resistant "super-pathogens" and brand new GE-related organisms
Loss of natural biological controls of pathogens (plant, animal, and human) Degradation of soil quality
Reduced crop yields Reduced nutrient content
Increased disease and more virulent pathogens Exponential rise in infertility and birth defects

Why We Don't Need Genetically Engineered Foods

As stated by Dr. Huber:
"Future historians may well look back upon our time and write, not about how many pounds of pesticide we did or didn't apply, but by how willing we are to sacrifice our children and future generations for this massive genetic engineering experiment that is based on flawed science and failed promises just to benefit the bottom line of a commercial enterprise."
The saddest part about the GE debacle is that there's no real need to take the wild risks we're currently taking with our food supply and our future. For years, genetically modified crops have been sold as the solution for feeding the world. But mounting evidence shows the way to feed seven billion plus inhabitants on this planet is by increasing biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
In fact, the most authoritative evaluation of agriculture, the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development,14 determined that the genetically engineered foods have nothing to offer the goals of reducing hunger and poverty, improving nutrition, health and rural livelihoods, and facilitating social and environmental sustainability.
The report was a three-year collaborative effort with 900 participants and 110 countries, and was co-sponsored by all the majors, e.g. the World Bank, FAO, UNESCO, WHO. In reality, genetic engineering reduce yields,15 increase farmers' dependence on multinationals, reduce biodiversity, increase herbicide use, and take money away from more successful and appropriate farming methods.
Hans Johr, a high-ranking executive at the Nestle Company recently went on the record saying GE food is not only unnecessary, but that the food industry would be better off employing other techniques.
According to GM Watch:16
"Jonathan Foley, director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota and co-author of a study... on water management and yield production, agrees with Johr that GMOs are not the answer to food security. 'I don't think GMOs have contributed, or will likely contribute much, to food security. Most of the GMO traits are focused on pest and herbicide resistance, which is arguably a good thing, but are not improving yield characteristics all that much (at least compared to conventional breeding, or better yet, marker-assisted breeding).
Furthermore, there are other approaches to managing pests and weeds that would be equally (or more) effective, like not planting such large monocultures in the first place...' Johr also went one step further, and addressed the issue of labeling. 'We [Nestle] have a very simple way of looking at GM: listen to what the consumer wants. If they don't want it in products, you don't put it in them...'"

Passing Prop 37 is Key to Expanding Sustainable Agriculture in North America

Despite Johr's stated view, Nestle has donated nearly $1.17 million to the "No on 37 Coalition," which is working to prevent the labelling of GE foods in California. So much for listening to consumers...
Although many organic consumers and natural health activists already understand the importance of Proposition 37, the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Foods Act, it cannot be overemphasized that winning the battle over Prop 37 is perhaps the most important food fight Americans – not just Californians – have faced so far. Once food manufacturers can no longer label or market GE-tainted foods as "natural" or "all-natural," and once all GE ingredients are clearly marked, millions of consumers will demand non-GE alternatives, and organic and non-GE food sales will dramatically increase.
But in order to win this fight for the right to know what's in our food, we need your help, as the biotech industry will surely outspend us by 100 to 1, if not more, for their propaganda.
Please remember, the failure or success of this ballot initiative is wholly dependent on your support and funding! There are no major industry pocketsfunding this endeavor, which was created by a California grandmother. In order to have a chance against the deep pockets of Big Biotech and transnational food corporations, it needs donations from average citizens. So please, if you have the ability, I strongly encourage you to make a donation to this cause.
It's important to realize that getting this law passed in California would have the same overall effect as a national law, as large companies are not likely going to label their products as genetically engineered when sold in California (the 8th largest economy in the world), but not when sold in other states. Doing so would be a costly PR disaster. So please, I urge you to get involved and help in any way you can, regardless of what state you live in.
  • Whether you live in California or not, please donate money to this historic effort through the Organic Consumers Fund.
  • If you live in California and want to get involved, please contact CARightToKnow.org. They will go through all volunteer requests to put you into a position that is suitable for you, based on your stated interests and location.
  • No matter where you live, please help spread the word in your personal networks, on Facebook, and Twitter. For help with the messaging, please see CARightToKnow.org.
  • Talk to organic producers and stores and ask them to actively support the California Ballot. It may be the only chance we have to label genetically engineered foods.
  • For timely updates, please join the Organic Consumers Association on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Friday, September 21, 2012

GMO Debate is Over

The GMO debate is over. There is no longer any legitimate, scientific defense of growing GM crops for human consumption. The only people still clinging to the outmoded myth that "GMOs are safe" are scientific mercenaries with financial ties to Monsanto and the biotech industry.

GMOs are an anti-human technology. They threaten the continuation of life on our planet. They are a far worse threat than terrorism, or even the threat of nuclear war.

As a shocking new study has graphically shown, GMOs are the new thalidomide. When rats eat GM corn, they develop horrifying tumors. Seventy percent of females die prematurely, and virtually all of them suffer severe organ damage from consuming GMO. These are the scientific conclusions of the first truly "long-term" study ever conducted on GMO consumption in animals, and the findings are absolutely horrifying. (See pictures of rats with tumors, below.)

What this reveals is that genetic engineering turns FOOD into POISON.

Remember thalidomide? Babies being born with no arms and other heart-breaking deformities? Thalidomide was pushed as "scientific" and "FDA approved." The same lies are now being told about GMO: they're safe. They're nutritious. They will feed the world!

But the real science now coming out tells a different picture: GMOs may be creating an entire generation of cancer victims who have a frighteningly heightened risk of growing massive mammary gland tumors caused by the consumption of GM foods. We are witnessing what may turn out to be the worst and most costly blunder in the history of western science: the mass poisoning of billions of people with a toxic food crop that was never properly tested in the first place.

Remember: GMOs are an anti-human technology. And those who promote them are, by definition, enemies of humankind.

GMOs are unfit for human consumption

The evidence keeps emerging, day after day, that GMOs are absolutely and without question unfit for human consumption. France has already launched an investigation that may result in the nation banning GM corn imports. It's already illegal to grow genetically modified crops in France, but the nation still allows GMO imports, meaning France still allows its citizens to be poisoned by imported GM corn grown in America.

The GMO industry, not surprisingly, doesn't want any independent research conducted on GMOs. They don't want long-term feeding trials, and they most certainly do not want studies conducted by scientists they can't control with financial ties.

What they want is to hide GMOs in products by making sure they're not listed on the labels. Hence the biotech industry's opposition to Proposition 37 (www.CArighttoknow.org).

The tactics of the biotech industry are:

• HIDE genetically modified ingredients in foods
• FALSIFY the research to claim GMOs are safe
• MANIPULATE the scientific debate by bribing scientists
• DENY DENY DENY just like Big Tobacco, DDT, thalidomide, Agent Orange and everything else that's been killing us over the last century

Monsanto is now the No. 1 most hated corporation in America. The company's nickname is MonSatan. It is the destructive force behind the lobbying of the USDA, FDA, scientists and politicians that have all betrayed the American people and given in to genetically modified seeds.

These seeds, some of which grow their own toxic pesticides right inside the grain, are a form of chemical brutality against children and adults. This is "child abuse" at its worst. It's an abuse of all humans. It is the most serious crime ever committed against nature and all of humankind.

Science for sale

That's what you get with payola science... science "for sale" to wealthy corporations. Nearly all the studies that somehow conclude GMO are safe were paid for by the biotech industry. Every one of those studies is unreliable and most likely fraudulent. Every scientist that conducts "research" for Monsanto is almost certainly a sellout at minimum... and more likely a jackal operative working for an industry of death.

Corporate science is fraudulent science. When enough money is at stake, scientists can be bought off to even declare smoking cigarettes to be safe. And they did, throughout the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Some of those very same scientists are now working for the Monsantos of the world, peddling their scientific fraud to the highest bidder (which always happens to be a wealthy corporation).

There is no poison these scientists won't promote as safe -- even "good for you!" There is no limit to their evil. There are no ethics that guide their actions.

GMO-promoting scientists are the most despicable humanoid creatures to have ever walked the surface of this planet. To call them "human" is an insult to humanity. They are ANTI-human. They are demonic. They are forces of evil that walk among the rest of us, parading as authorities when in their hearts and souls they are actually corporate cowards and traitors to humankind. To pad their own pockets, they would put at risk the very future of sustainable life on our planet... and they do it consciously, insidiously. They feed on death, destruction, suffering and pain. They align with the biotech industry precisely because they know that no other industry is as steeped in pure evil as the biotech industry. GMO pushers will lie, cheat, steal, falsify and even mass-murder as many people as it takes to further their agenda of total global domination over the entire food supply... at ANY cost.

This is war at the genetic level. And this kind of war makes bullets, bombs and nukes look downright tame by comparison. Because the GMO war is based on self-replicating genetic pollution which has already been released into the environment; into the food supply; and into your body.

The hundreds of millions of consumers who eat GMO are being murdered right now, with every meal they consume... and they don't even know it. GMO-pimping scientists are laughing at all the death they're causing. They enjoy tricking people and watching them die because it makes their sick minds feel more powerful. These were the geeks in school who were bullied by the jocks. But now, with the power of genetic manipulation at their fingertips, they can invoke their hatred against all humankind and "bully" the entire world with hidden poisons in the food. That makes them smile. It's the ultimate revenge against a world that mistreated them in their youth. Death to everyone!

Society must respond in defense of life on Earth

The sheer brutality of what the GMO industry has committed against us humanity screams out for a decisive response. It is impossible to overreact to this. No collective response goes too far when dealing with an industry that quite literally threatens the very basis of life on our planet.

To march government SWAT teams into the corporate headquarters of all GMO seed companies and shut down all operations at gunpoint would be a mild reaction -- and fully justified. To indict all biotech CEOs, scientists, employees and P.R. flacks and charge them with conspiring to commit crimes against humanity would be a small but important step in protecting our collective futures. To disband all these corporations by government order have their assets seized and sold off to help fund reparations to the people they have harmed is but a tiny step needed in the defense of life.

The truth is that humanity will never be safe until GMO seed pushers and manufacturers are behind bars, locked away from society and denied the ability to ever threaten humanity again.

What the Nuremberg trials did to IG Farben and other Nazi war crimes corporations, our own government must now do to Monsanto and the biotech industry.

It is time for decisive intervention. Monsanto must be stopped by the will of the People. The mass poisoning of our families and children by an evil, destructive corporation that seeks to dominate the world food supply must be halted.

The GMO debate is over. The horrors are now being revealed. The truth can no longer be hidden, and the reaction from the public cannot be stopped.

Prediction: Activist attacks on GM seeds and the criminals who promote them

The era of GMO deception is history. A food revolution is upon us. And if governments will not halt the mass poisoning of our world by evil corporations, I have no doubt that the People will, by themselves, eventually invoke other necessary methods of halting this great evil.

I predict a future where -- and for the record I DO NOT encourage this -- shipments of GM seeds to farmers are raided and destroyed by activists. I predict Monsanto employees being publicly named and shamed on websites. I predict -- but DO NOT CONDONE -- scientists who conduct research for Monsanto being threatened, intimidated and even physically attacked. Again, for the record, I DO NOT IN ANY WAY condone such behavior, but I predict it will emerge as an inevitable reaction to the unfathomable evil being committed by the GMO industry and all its co-conspirators. The "Army of the 12 monkeys" may become reality. (See the sci-fi movie "12 monkeys" starring Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis.)

What we are fighting for here is the protection of our species. We are fighting for the sanctity of life on our planet. Those who threaten that life must be stopped from continuing to harm us. This evil must be put back in its box and prevented from ever threatening us again.

Even Congress is starting to state the obvious on how evil Monsanto really is. Just yesterday, Congressman Dennis Kucinich demanded GMO labeling in a powerful speech. Watch that at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J_YvtbSSqg


Source:  http://www.naturalnews.com/037262_GMO_Monsanto_debate.html#ixzz279XFg2Is