Natural Solutions Foundation
www.HealthFreedomUSA.org
Health and Freedom Supporters send 636,516 emails to Congress to stop fake “Food Safety” bill (H.R. 2749). Ron Paul’s office says vote is near.
For Immediate Release:
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 28, 2009 –
Over a Half Million eMails say “NO!” to Fake Food Safety Bill – HR 2749
“Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009″ a Threat to Food AND Freedom!
Congress is set to deliver a huge blow to local food production and safety by giving Big Agra interests exactly what they want: the industrialization of all food production in the US — forcing family farms, natural, successful home gardeners and other local food sources to meet Agra-Biz industrial standards or go out of business. H.R. 2749 — the (sic) “Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009″ has been “fast tracked” and is heading to a vote this week under a Suspension of Rules that will allow no amendments and a total of 40 minutes debate. The latest report we’ve had indicates the bill was removed from the voting agenda today: rumors suggest that continued strong public opposition may force the bill back to committee for further amendment.
The Natural Solutions Foundation, www.HealthFreedomUSA.org, concerned by Codex Alimentarius’ US-led industrialization and global degradation of the food supply, noted with alarm the introduction of bills to do the same thing here in the US. While the public was distracted by the economic collapse and the non-lethal Swine Flu “Pandemic Emergency” and the threat of mandatory vaccination with the weaponized Swine Flu vaccine, Congress was planning its own surprise: the forced-industrialization-of-farming bills, such as HR 875 & 759, were replaced by a new “fast-tracked” (sic) “Food Safety” bill – HR 2749 – that threatens food, health and freedom. Since it gives the FDA power to declare marshal law in the face of food contamination in the US, it is, in reality, a “martial law food control bill” — see: http://farmwars.info/?p=1145
Small farms, organic production, biodynamic operations and home farmers who share their food will be required to comply with standards which they cannot afford, like seed sorting plants running to more than a million dollars for each species of seed when no threat has ever been posed by simple hand sorting devices. All food preparation and storage facilities, including home kitchens, could be entered without a warrant for inspection of records – which no home keeps. Ultimately, the only acceptable food would be prepared, industrialized and industry-controlled food. Codex standards and guidelines would govern all agricultural production, driving non-chemical operations out of business.
Today, recognizing the importance of push back and citizen involvement in the legislative process, Rep. Ron Paul, responding to the 600,000+ emails supporters of health freedom have sent to Congress demanding protection for organic farming and food freedom, urged, through his Legislative Aide, that the Natural Solutions Foundation “Keep it up!”
Natural Solutions Foundation’s White Paper on Food Safety is here:
Assaults on Health Freedom have not been limited to proposed food fascism. The right to refuse vaccines is threatened under both federal and state statutes. Outraged over the impossible choice presented to the to either accept Swine Flu vaccines (without the possibility of exemptions) or face incarceration, Americans have sent over 1 million emails to decision makers demanding the right to Self Shield in the face of Pandemic Swine Flu vaccination.
The Natural Solutions Foundation’s White Paper on Self Shielding is available at:
We thank Dr. Ron Paul (TX-R) for confirming that Push Back works!
For example, we’ve been urging Congress to defeat all fake “Food Safety” bills since they do not address the major health and environmental threats posed by huge factory farms and feed lots which threaten local production. When the Foundation created our an Action Item more than a half a million emails told federal legislators to protect family farms and ranches, organic, natural and home food production, food co-ops, community gardens, etc.
And, apparently, they heard at least part of the message. Those who support HR 2749 are touting the (slight) “farmer protection” added to the bill to initially get it out of committee:
“Are Small Farms Protected?
“The legislation is doing a bunch of things for food safety, most notably giving the FDA mandatory recall authority. This has been a major sticking point for previous iterations of this legislation in the House, because House reps more than senators represent small fiefdoms inside large rural states. These districts wide recalls will disproportionately harm smaller businesses and processors versus their larger partners. In a sense, FDA recalls and fees would represent a regressive tax.
“This is an extremely valid concern given the FDA’s proclivity for influence from industry. However, this bill was able to climb out of committee in the House because it properly addressed small growers and farmers markets. Specifically, Section 107 of the bill which stipulates ‘Traceability Requirements’ on most farms makes an exemption for farmer’s markets (more or less):
‘(4) EXEMPTIONS-
‘(A) DIRECT SALES BY FARMS- Food is exempt from the requirements of this subsection if such food is-
‘(i) produced on a farm; and
‘(ii) sold by the owner, operator, or agent in charge of such farm directly to a consumer or restaurant.
“Traceability is a huge issue and this bill seeks to establish a new electronic system for tracking that will be vetted over the course of a couple years. The exemption for small farmers is good but poorly defined. We hope this vague language about exemptions gets tightened up as the bill moves forward. It would be a pity to see this single exemption allow major agribusiness farmers off the hook.”
This weak provision is not the protection we want for local food production.
But it is a start. We are concerned that the word “farm” could be construed too narrowly. What about religious communities, nonprofits, co-ops, community and family gardens that produce surpluses… Real protection is needed for local, natural production.
This is not a bill that we expect conscientious congresspeople to support, and we certainly don’t support what has been called a “martial law food control bill.”
Health Freedom advocates need to redouble our efforts to get Congress to listen!
Natural Solutions Foundation President, Maj. Gen. Bert Stubblebine (USA Ret.) stated,
“We do not need a fake food safety bill that forces the industrialization of family and natural food production while not addressing the very real safety problems caused by industrialized food production. The Foundation, as always, proposes Natural Solutions to this dilemma and urges supporters to visit our new Food Freedom eJournal at http://www.FoodFreedomeJournal.org.”
Remember to follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/healthfreedomus and http://www.twitter.com/drlaibow – whenever we post a new item, the link appears on twitter!
—————————————————————
* The language was modified later, and this later language was sent to Congress many thousands of times:
“The citizens ascribing to this Petition therefore hereby request that the
Food Safety Modernization Act be defeated, or that it, or any substitute for
it, such as H.R. 759, be amended to exclude organic and natural agriculture,
family farms and ranches, and natural or organic food products, including
dietary supplements, through a rule of interpretation, as follows:
“Rule of Interpretation
“No provision of this act shall be deemed to apply (a) to any home,
home-business, homestead, small farm organic or natural agricultural activity,
(b) to any family farm or ranch, or (c) to any natural or organic food
product, including dietary supplements regulated under the Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act of 1994.”
“We also note the language of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 USC sec 203 (s)
(2) which provides, “(2) Any establishment that has as its only regular
employees the owner thereof or the parent, spouse, child, or other member of
the immediate family of such owner shall not be considered to be an enterprise
engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce or a part of
such an enterprise…”
“Language such as this would be helpful to allay our concerns.”
To become a supporter of the Natural Solutions Foundation, the largest supporter supported health freedom organization in the world, please visit http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=187.
To learn more about the Foundation’s Valley of the Moon(TM) Eco Demonstration Project, designed to help reclaim the production of food for farmers and non farmers alike, please visit http://www.NaturalSolutionsFoundation.org
We’re here in Rome at the Codex Alimentarius Commission annual session. This report covers the first day of the meeting.
Ractopamine is a beta agonist, a drug which causes profound changes in the animal which consumes it, or the human which consumes the animal which consumes Ractopamine. As a physician (trained in nutritional medicine and environmental medicine as well) I am, of course, deeply concerned with the nutritional value of food and its toxic components. I know that toxic compounds (including drugs like Ractopamine) may be more toxic AFTER the liver has had a go at them than before. These compounds, called “metabolytes” have a toxic profile all thier own and, in the case of Ractopamine, have not been studied after their passage through animal livers, into their tissues and then into us when we consume their tissues [meat]. That is apparently of not much concern to Codex, despite the fact that their first mandate, posted on their website, www.CodexAlimentarius.net, is the protection of the health of consumers.
For the first time in history, Codex Alimentarius, the “World Food Code” is on the verge of approving a drug, and a dangerous one at that, which has no other function in pigs or cattle than to cause them to swell and get fat. Swollen, they come to market weight sooner, reducing the cost of raising them by fewer days of feed and housing costs.
JECFA, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, says that Ractopamine is perfectly fine to give to pigs and other animals and, hence, to people. Of course, the break down products of this pharmaceutical poison (and ALL drugs poison enzyme systems so it is, quite literally, one poison among many) either in pig tissue or in people eating that tissue (AKA “meat”) have yet to be studied.
China is the world’s largest consumer of pig meat. Not surprisingly, it is also the world’s largest producer of pig meat. At last year’s 31st Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in Geneva, we reported that China was very upset by the pending approval of Ractopamine and said so, quite unusually for the Chinese, in no uncertain terms (after all, this time, it was their ox, er, pig, which was being gored). They were, quite literally, smacked down by the Chairman, Dr. Claude Moshe, who said that if they had concerns, they had failed to present them at the relevant committee meeting so their voice was now of no consequence on the matter.
The Chinese Delegate, in what sounded to me like fiery fury (astounding at Codex, and doubly so from the Chinese) responded, out of turn, if I recall, that the Chinese Delegation to the meeting on the topic in the US had been denied its necessary visas by the host country, which just happened to be the US, which just happens to be the second largest pig meat producer in the world and which just happens to permit Ractopamine. And, if I forgot to mention it, the US just happens to be the home of Monsanto, which just happens to be the owner of the world-wide patent on the [Ractopamine-doused] pig and every other modified pig in the world.
The anger of the Chinese Delegate apparently spurred Brazil, ordinarily one of the US’s most docile toxic ducklings, to make the point that the legitimacy of Codex was highly questionable because of this sort of disregard for both science and sense while Iran made the point that small countries have an enormous difficulty participating in the many, complex and intertwining meetings which lead to decisions in which they are disenfranchised and which thus lack legitimacy.
China, not a small country, of course, is also selectively disenfranchised… when it suits the Powers That Believe, they are the Powers That Be. While we would not presume to compare the Natural Solutions Foundation to the mighty empire of China, none the less, we, too, are selectively isolated by Codex. Click below to read the email which we just sent to the Codex Chair and Commission about the fact that we, alone of all observers, have been relegated to an un-airconditioned, uncomfortable 4th floor gallery for “lack of room” for Public Observers.
And here is the seating area in the main hall in which there is “no room” for the Natural Solutions Foundation.
Back to the pigs.
The new CAC Chairwoman, Dr. Karen Hulebeck, works for the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA. FSIS is the home of the US Codex Contact Point. Like the US President, CAC Chairs are selected, then elected. Dr. Hulebeck is smart, forceful, savvy and nobody’s fool. She is completely in control of the Codex meeting, or believes that she is.
Yesterday, in the opening sessions of this year’s CAC, she welcomed the delegates and observers (apparently, not the only Public Observers, us, who had come to the meeting, though, since we were relegated to our hot and guarded gallery and were not given invitations to the OPEN reception held after the meeting yesterday… but not to worry, delegates are seeking us out) and introduced the welcoming remarks of the newest member of Codex, Djibuti – whose Trade Minister noted that the reason that he was there was that Codex dealt with trade – the Codex Secretariat and WHO and FAO folks.
I was delighted to note that the Natural Solutions Foundation was mentioned in the welcoming speech given by the Codex Secretariat, the organization which runs the technical and procedural details of the Codex meetings. On previous occasions we have been specifically mentioned from the Podium (sometimes in a clear breech of protocol, but that happens when your impact is unexpected and difficult to deal with) by the Chair (CAC, Geneva, 2006) and, given the “guarded” response that we get when we arrive, we are by no means unknown.
This time, however, we were not mentioned by name. Here is the direct quote from that ‘welcoming’ speech. See if you agree with me that we are the subject of this quote:
“… In addition, Codex is being challenged in the public domain in a court of public opinion that did not exist when it was founded in 1963. Science and prevention are hard sells. In today’s multimedia world, with YouTube and online blogs, Codex has new challenges from self-serving interest groups [yes- that would be us healthy eaters! - REL] that have tapped the online public to their advantage, taking the challenge of Codex well beyond the scientific debate. In answer to this, Codex has produced a series of public awareness and communication products in order to make sure that the real picture of the crucial role of Codex – what it is and what it does – reaches the public. Codex videos are now online and the new Codex website will further increase the transparency of the Codex process….” CAC/32INF/11
The Natural Solutions Foundation is Health Freedom’s New Media; we are Global Health Freedom. It would appear that we have pushed Codex into the world of new media, as well.
Back to the pigs: After numerous countries, starting with China, stated their strong dissent to the use of Ractopamine, stated their concerns and challenged both the science and the procedure by which the use of Ractopamine had come to be on the agenda today for world-wide approval.
Country after country raised grave concerns, the Chairwoman appeared frantic to get the Ractopamine standard approved but was facing major opposition.
I am writing this to you in real time. The Chairwoman is doing her level best to make sure that the comments against Ractopamine are both brief and limited. The Chair finally acknowledged the fact that consensus has not been reached. None the less, she wants to “hold Ractopamine at Step 8, the approval step. Once something reaches Step 8, it has been approved. There is actually no definition of what “Holding something at Step 8″ so in this highly rule-bound environment, where everything is detailed and spelled out in obsessive detail, the Chairwoman, who has already acknowledged that she works for the USDA, which never met a drug for animals it did not like (just like the FDA), but that, whatever it means, is what she wants to do with a substance which has no reason to be fed to animals except for profit.
But, she says, that is not enough. Since there is no real meaning to holding something at Step 8, she suggests new work be taken on to “advise guidance” to tell the Commission what it means to “hold at Step 8″ to the Committee on General Principles” including a “full and complete discussion of all the issues which are blocking consensus”, that a time line be developed for working through those issues and that a deadline be established. Chairwoman Hulebek says, “I have a further suggestion: that the work be undertaken without prejudice to those items which are still under development which means that during the time that the guidance is developed, the issues of any one of those draft standards can be worked through so that it seems to knowledgeable parties that consensus can be developed, that the issues can be brought to this body at any time. I suggest that the development be done very carefully but very rapidly.” and then she asks: “Can I have the sense of this Commission on this proposal?”
I sat here shaking my head, as did General Bert. We looked at each other, shaking our heads and asking “Huh? What did she say?” Canada, perfectly happy, like the US, to dose animals with needless toxic chemicals to get them to market weight faster, regardless of toxicity, noted that any expressions of concern were about the science and that all of those expressions of concern were about pig meat (since China spoke about their research showing toxicity in pigs fed the drug), “so we recommend that the MRLs [Maximum Residue Levels) be adopted with regard to cattle since no mention was made of those levels.” Not exactly Canadian bacon! Instead, eat your beef with Ractopamine and don’t ask any questions. Good for you? Not at all. Good for the company that makes it? Sure! Good for the factory “farms”? Sure. OK with Codex? Well, as far as the official line goes, holding up the water works by refusing to accept this poison is bad form since it does not lead to “consensus”!
The Chairwoman responded, as if approving Ractopamine for cattle was fine, “For pig meat, we would propose that the CAC consider an expert consultation with respect to establishment of an MRL and that come back to the CAC next year for a decision. In framing the question to be put to the expert consultation, you might wish to consider the framing of a “Group of Interest” to articulate the question.”
Long story short?
CAC wants to use this chemical. Even China, a country staggering under astounding pollution and contamination burdens in its environment and its food, cannot tolerate the use of this drug which has, as Norway pointed out last year, no use except to fatten animals through metabolic poisoning with a toxic substance. Remember that Risperadol, an “atypical anti-psychotic” drug, and others of its class, lead to weight gain in humans. That weight gain is the result of a dangerous toxicity. It seems to me that making an animal sick to make it fat to make it profitable is a disgusting use of NOT better living through chemistry.
And what does the Observer Organization which denies us a seat at the table (as ordered to do so by the Codex Commission in 2006) have to say about this issue? Good question.
NOTHING, nothing at all.
Let’s talk about that “Voice of Health Freedom” as it recently styled itself on a major radio show, the one “health freedom organization” which has a seat at Codex as an Official Observer organization. On this radio show they called themselves “the Voice of Health Freedom”. Well, apparently the voice had sever laryngitis!
The ONLY Observer Organization which spoke in this debate was the International Food Additives Association. Guess upon which side they spoke?
Where was the “Voice of Health Freedom” when the health of billions, literally billions, of pork consumers and everyone drinking the water downstream of those pigs was under attack? What about the health of the people who will be eating the plants watered with water contaminated by the excrement of those pigs? Nowhere. Nada. Not a peep. Just the Sound of Silence, and nothing more.
Are they here? Hard to tell. The Codex Commission keeps us relegated to an upper gallery where we cannot see the delegates well. We are under guard so getting to talk to National Delegates is extremely difficult (although we have managed to do so, but with significant difficulty). Is the Voice of Health Freedom asleep? Couldn’t say. Are they “controlled opposition”? Who knows. What is for sure is that they are not speaking out for your well-being!
The fact remains that the Natural Solutions Foundation is here, but not permitted to speak, although Codex itself has directed this other organization to give us a seat at the table, and a seat at the microphone. They have not done so. Whether they are lap dogs or lazy watchdogs, they are not providing the voice that health freedom needs and are blocking us from doing so. And you know that we will speak clearly on your behalf, once we have the microphone.
Right now, the CAC is acting with outrage at the idea that their powerful dedication to the use of this chemical is being derailed.
EU says that despite what Codex does, it will continue to forbid the use of Ractopamine as it will do with MGA, debated yesterday and approved “by consensus” despite similar fervent opposition. Thus the real players know that our Codex Two Step is a viable alternative to countries submitting to Codex dictates
By the way, this “Ractopamine Mutiny” shows that Codex can be stimulated, with appropriate science and personal contact with decision-makers around the world, either to finally become a health freedom organization or be dissolved.
The multi-nationals are hard at work degrading the world’s food.
But the world’s buyers and eaters of food, you and I, who are anything BUT useless, can have their desired impact: clean, healthy foods supporting the needs, and lives, of the world’s peoples.
Right now, the worst of the worst industrialization and degradation of food is underway through the food laws which are supposed to “HARMonize” our laws with Codex standards.
Those bills MUST be defeated. Click below to take this critically important action step to protect your food and your freedom.
And, on a slightly different note, the same WHO that is a parent organization of Codex has other ways to take you out, food only being one. Another one is to create a phony pandemic and then take you out with a weaponized vaccine while international organizations take over the country. Sound OK to you? Good. In that case, please do nothing. DO NOT click below to demand your right to self-shield in the event of a US Pandemic Emergency State.
Dr. Rima
Rima E. Laibow, MD
Medical Director
Natural Solutions Foundation
www.HealthFreedomUSA.org
www.GlobalHealthFreedom.org
Valley of the Moon Eco Demonstration Project
www.NaturalSolutionFoundation.org
www.Valleyof theMoonCoffee.org
www.Organics4U.org
www.NaturalSolutionsMarketPlace.org
Natural Solutions Foundation
www.GlobalHealthFreedom.org
Helping Self-Quarantine and Self-Shielding “Go Viral”
There is no action more critical at this moment in time than for health freedom advocates to demand further legal protection for the right to shelf-shield. See the proposed PASS Act at: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=2888
We’re reproducing here an email one patriot just sent to his email list, as an example of what we mean by “making it go viral” — we need you — the new independent media — to get the message out, across the world. Here is how it’s done:
———- Original Message ———-
From: “mepatriot@juno.com”
To:
Subject: 2 HOT ACTION ITEMS: From Major General Stubblefield
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:40:15 GM
Dear General Stubblebine and Dr. Laibow,
It was a true pleasure speaking with both of you briefly this morning. I am sending you by way of this forward a copy of a mailing that I just sent out to all of my email lists.
God bless your efforts in Europe, and I will look forward to speaking with you when you get back to Panama.
For the Republic,
Steve
———- Forwarded Message ———-
From: “mepatriot@juno.com”
Subject: 2 HOT ACTION ITEMS: From Major General Stubblebine
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:37:32 GMT
Hey everyone,
I just got off the phone with Major General Albert Stubblebine (US Army, Ret.) and also his wife, Dr. Rima Laibow. General Stubblebine is one of the real American heroes among our retired Military. He is an outspoken signatory to, and participant in, the “Oath Keepers” program, as well as one of the highest ranking former military people to publicly question the government story about 9-11. I caught both of them just prior to their departure to Rome for the CODEX meetings where further strident steps are underway to remove our rights to self-help health, to alternative medicines and supplements, etc. He will be a guest on my radio program (The Aroostook Watchmen) in a few weeks.
They both pleaded with me, stridently, to please share these two action items with all of my friends in the patriot community. According to both of them, if we lose these two battles, America will be finished as we know it, and I agree.
The first deals with the right to self quarantine in the event of a declared “national health emergency.” There is extensive information about this issue at their primary website (www.healthfreedomusa.org) and the specific action step on this information may be found here:
Please help spread the word about the PASS Act and help me to brainstorm ways to drum up support for it. I will start by leading off the radio show tomorrow with this information, but that touches just a certain circle of listeners in northern Maine. We must do more.
The other item is to urge our elected representatives to work against several new bills under consideration right now that would wipe out small farmers–even gardeners, and restrict private citizens’ access to the means with which they could provide for their own food supply. The information and the form to send on this action item is found here:
PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THESE TWO ITEMS and network with me on what else we can do to spread the word.
Thanks everyone!
For the Republic,
Steve Martin
Host, Aroostook Watchmen Radio Program, WXME-AM 780, Monticello, ME
Maine State Republican Committee Member
Organizer, 911truth.org
Amity, ME
207-532-3635
mepatriot@juno.com
___________________________
My reply:
Dear Steve,
General Stubblebine (which means “stubble field” in German, by the way) and I both thank you sincerely for your help in disseminating these Action Items.
This is the Minute Man Spirit that we need so urgently in our country!
Natural Solutions Foundation
www.GlobalHealthFreedom.org
The Dangers of Estrogen Mimicking Compounds in Certain Plastics
Bis Phenol A (BPA) is bad for you, especially if you have not been born yet. Moms who are exposed to BPA during their pregnancies (or before it) give birth to male babies whose sex organs and anatomy have been feminized. That is just one of the dangers of xeno-estrogens (which mimic the effect of estrogen on the body) like BPA. There is no known way to reverse these changes.
Breast and prostate cancer, of course, are other known hazards. Why is it permitted in our food chain both by the US and by Codex Alimentarius (the “World Food Code”). Well, as the Narrator says in Cabaret, “Money makes the world go ’round, the world go ’round, the world go ’round!”
Money certainly makes the FDA go ’round and the FDA makes Codex go ’round. But, when you read the notes of the meeting held recently by the industry interests which want to keep BPA going ’round because it brings them SO much money, prepared to be horrified at the way the “real world” works. Watch for their definition of the “Holy Grail” spokesperson on the wonderful benefits [sic!] of BPA and be prepared to change your buying habits to real, whole, uncontaminated foods – exclusively, and water in glass bottles – exclusively.
BPA has long been known to be both dangerous and ubiquitous in prepared foods. Leeching from the lining of cans and plastic bottles, the US Government has chosen not to set upper limits of any kind for it.
Treehugger.com points out:
“17% of the American diet comes out of cans, and many of those have an epoxy liner made with Bisphenol A, a chemical which can mimic human estrogen and which is linked to breast cancer and early puberty in women. While the leaching of BPA from Nalgene water bottles and other polycarbonate bottles is a concern, the danger from canned food may be greater. The Environmental Working Group tested canned food bought across America and found BPA in more than half of them, at levels they call “200 times the government’s traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals.” There are no standards for BPA; it is allowed to be put in anything, and billions of pounds are produced each year.”
The Environmental Working Group found, in a study of canned food,
“Of all foods tested, chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had BPA levels of highest concern. Just one to three servings of foods with these concentrations could expose a woman or child to BPA at levels that caused serious adverse effects in animal tests.”
Their results are staggering: 33% of all infant food is seriously contaminated with BPA while 1/10 of all canned food is, too.
While the Chemical Industry, in the guise of the American Chemical Council, continues to opine, in the absence of any meaningful substantiation, “”Human exposure to BPA from can coatings is minimal and poses no known risk to human health.”, the facts are quite different. There are literally hundreds of peer reviewed studies which show the biological and reproductive hazards associated with BPA exposure at low levels.
BPA is an approximately $6 Billion per year business. Recognizing its bad behaviors as an additive or as a substance that the public is ingesting would be very bad for that business, indeed. So recently the main actors in the BPA scenario met together to figure out has to make this problem – the rejection of BPA by the public – go away.
Following, you find the purported notes of that meeting. I say “purported” because I have no certain knowledge that this meeting took place, that these notes were, in fact the output of that meeting or that this document represents a slice of reality. I believe, however, based on the internal consistency and content, that they were taken at that meeting and that the contents of this document bear careful examination. The contents should induce anger and extreme caution in you.
Anger because of the blatant assumption that you are so easily led and mislead and that your well-being is of no consequence in the dollar game (it is not of consequence to anyone in this meeting, apparently) and caution because if you are eating or drinking anything out of plastic or cans, you might want to stop doing so NOW.
I know that General Bert and I have.
The use of the phrase “prolong the life of BPA” in the notes suggests that these people know that the truth about BPA will eventually be recognized and that it will be forced off the market. Very much like the tobacco-death industry during recent decades, these people are willing to endanger public health to extend their profits a few more years. They expect that you will do nothing about their disinformation plans to fool you… but we know the power of pushback. Now that you know, what will you do?
PS: A quick note about baby food: when my son, now 34 years old, was a baby, I took the food that we ate at the table (all of it organic, free of added sugar or salt, artificial colors or flavors, additives and other contaminants, of course) and put it into a “Happy Baby Food Mill” which I carried with us wherever we went.
It was basically a fine grinder, easily cleaned, which put out a puree of whatever I put into it. Voila! Instant fresh baby food at any moment I wanted it. I knew EXACTLY what went into it, whether there were additives (I would have had to have put them there myself if there were any) and my baby was eating fresh, wholesome food exactly as I was. A quick rinse under a water faucet and the mill was ready to slip into a plastic bag until it was needed again on our excursion or until I got it home to a sink of hot soapy water. I see no reason why ANYONE needs commercial baby food, based on my happy experience with the Happy Baby Food Mill!
Did I mention? No BPA’s! REL
These alleged minutes follow an invitation from a major food trade association to its
members requesting their attendance at a communications strategy meeting on
Thursday, May 28, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Obtained by the Environmental Working Group
Meeting Minutes
North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc.
May 28, 2009 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:10 p.m. EDT
RE: BPA Joint Trade Association Meeting on Communications Strategy
Meeting Goal: Develop potential communication/media strategies around BPA
Discussion Topics: Consideration of available web-based communication
options, including targeted geographies, as well as mainstream media response
Attending Companies: Coca-Cola, Alcoa, Crown, North American Metal
Packaging Alliance, Inc., Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), American
Chemistry Council, Del Monte
Summary: Attendees discussed the need to be more proactive in
communications to media, legislators, and the general public to protect industries
that use BPA, prolong the life of BPA, put risks from chemicals in proper
prospective, and transcend the media and the blogosphere. Attendees believe a
balance of legislative and grassroots outreach (to young mothers ages 21-35 and
students) is imperative to the stability of their industry; however, the association
members continue to struggle to initiate research and develop a clear-cut plan to
defend their industry. The committee will spend approximately $500,000 to
develop a survey on consumer BPA perceptions and messaging and eventually
content and outreach materials. Overall, the committee seemed disorganized,
and its members frustrated. Lack of direction from the committee and these
associations could continue to allow other associations and environmental
groups to push BPA out.
Other Points: Attendees suggested using fear tactics (e.g. “Do you want to have
access to baby food anymore?”) as well as giving control back to consumers
(e.g. you have a choice between the more expensive product that is frozen or
fresh or foods packaged in cans) as ways to dissuade people from choosing
BPA-free packaging. Attendees noted, in the past, the different associations
have had a reactive strategy with the media, with very limited proactive outreach
in reaching out to journalists. The committee agrees they need to promote new,
relevant content to get the BPA perspective into the media mix. The committee
believes industry studies are tainted from the public perspective.
The committee doubts social media outlets, such as Facebook or Twitter, will
work for positive BPA outreach. The committee wants to focus on quality instead
of quantity in disseminating messages (e.g. a young kid or pregnant mother
providing a positive quote about BPA, a testimonial from an outside expert,
providing positive video, advice from third party experts, and relevant messaging
on the GMA website). Members noted traditional media outreach has become
too expensive (they have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars) and
the media is starting to ignore their side. The committee doubts obtaining a
scientific spokesperson is attainable. Their “holy grail” spokesperson would be a
“pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about
the benefits of BPA.”
Eventually, the committee concluded before deciding on the tactics to spread
their messages, they need to develop the messages. The committees plan to
fund a joint survey and message testing—what new messages they need to
sell—before implementing a website and creating materials. Another task group
will be implemented to finalize how to develop messages and aggressively use
electronic media to deliver those messages.
Members noted the industry needs research on how perceptions of BPA are
translating into consumer behavior—Is it translating into most moms not buying
canned products or just a minority of moms? They hope to form messages
relevant to how people live their lives—What does not having BPA mean to your
daily lifestyle? Focusing on the impact of BPA bans on minorities (Hispanic and
African American) and poor is also important. The members want to put the
danger of BPA into perspective.
Legislatively, the committee is focusing on Connecticut and California.
Committee members are meeting with as many representatives on the Health
Committee as possible. The members are focusing on more legislative battles
and befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process. They
believe a grassroots and legislative approach is favorable because the legislators
worry about how the moms will react. If the Connecticut bill goes through, the
committee believes it will be a good opportunity to talk about the negative impact
that ban will have on businesses and employment—How will it affect the union
workers? The committee wants to put a proposal together for the right way to
deal with legislative issues in each state.
The committee discussed Prop 65 in California—requiring the Governor to
publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer
or reproductive toxicity. The committee will form a coalition to write a submission
about the benefits of using BPA by the deadline for submissions on June 30,
2009. Members will also build up their contact base in Sacramento. The
committee does not want to win at the legislative level and then not have anyone
to buy the product.
The committee questioned whether or not trade associations should challenge
what is being said about BPA. Other trade associations for plastics have begun
writing letters in response to “lies” being told about BPA. The committee
proposed to be involved in the dialog and comment electronically and directly
back to reporters. Attendees noted it does not matter what the next material is,
there will be issues with it, and the committee wants to work to make people feel
more comfortable with BPA and “BPA2” or whatever chemical comes next.
The committee suggested dividing the costs of the work and research equally by
the members. The members are guesstimating it will cost at least $200,000 for
the message testing and the survey and $500,000 for the entire project. The
committee is also looking for new members to help with costs and outreach.
Dr. Laibow’s video: http://www.youtube.com/v/A52DcIG4qYI
You know that Natural Solutions Foundation is "More than just words…"
We look for solutions to social problems that support the natural environment. That’s why we’re pleased to introduce an exciting new way you can SAVE MONEY and get SIGNIFICANT CASH BACK on all your purchases at over 600 of the biggest online stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway, Best Buy, Home Depot, OfficeMax, eBay … the list goes on and on! We know you make environmentally friendly choices when you buy what you need. Now you can exercise those choices on-line, reducing your impact on the world while showing big retailers, through your choices (your "dollar votes") that you want them to serve consumer needs.
Additionally, you should also be able to save valuable time and gas (better for the environment) by shopping online at your very own personal savings "Green Portal"ANDhelp support Natural Solutions Foundation in its continuing fight against "Big Agra," "Big Chema," and "Big Pharma" to protect the safety and quality of our food supply! Non-profit organizations like Natural Solutions that sponsor green portals receive donations from the retailers based on your savings!
Best of all, this Program is FREE to all our Members and Supporters, and by extension, to all their friends and families … and so on! That’s why we’re offering it to you as a simple "no-brainer" way to help yourself and others you know survive these tough economic times, while also helping NSF continue to raise the funds we so desperately need!
So we invite you to "Go Green" and "Go Viral" with this Program by clicking on the link below, viewing the 3-minute video, and signing up TODAY to start saving:
Then cut and paste the body of the suggested email below into a new "personalized" email and send it out ASAP to everyone you know and care about.
Please be creative and unique with your subject line to minimize the risk of your email getting blocked as "spam" by the internet service providers.
Happy Savings!
Natural Solutions Trustees
SUGGESTED EMAIL LETTER
(to send out to all your friends and family):
Dear Friends and Family –
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve found a great new way to save money and get significant c*a*s*h-back on all my purchases at over 600 of the biggest online stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway, Home Depot, Office Max, Best Buy, eBay, etc… the list goes on and on!
Additionally, I’m also saving valuable time and energy (better for the planet) by shopping online at my very own "savings portal"ANDhelping to protect the safety and quality of our food supply which is currently under assault (please see food safety alert at the bottom of this email)!
Best of all, the program is F*R*E*E to join with no "strings" attached! That’s why I’m passing it on to you as a simple "no-brainer" way to help yourself and others you know survive these tough economic times, while also helping to protect and defend our endangered health freedom!
So I invite you to "Go Green" and "Go Viral" with this program by clicking on the link below, viewing the video, and signing up TODAY to start saving! Then cut and paste the body of this email into a new personalized email and send it out to everyone you know and care about.
Please be creative and unique with your subject line to minimize the risk of your email getting blocked as "spam" by the internet service providers.
Together, we can all help each other AND make a real difference to protect our food safety and health freedom … so please pass this on!
Happy Savings,
{your name}
* Your Food Safety and Health Freedom is currently under attack and may soon be taken away from you … UNLESS YOU ACT NOW to stop it. Please watch this video: Nutricide – Criminalizing Natural Health, Vitamins, and Herbs (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634&hl=en) to understand why. Then visit www.HealthFreedomUSA.org to learn how you can take quick and immediate action to protect your rights!
"I hardly have any money as it is, and I live in the United Kingdom, but I strongly believe in what you are doing and I'm so sorry that you even need to exist. Keep fighting please, I will support you any way that I can"
