Monsanto’s GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure, Study Reveals
Monsanto's GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure, Study Reveals
Monsanto has immediately responded to the study, stating that the research is "based on faulty analytical methods and reasoning and do not call into question the safety findings for these products."
A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health
"Effects were mostly concentrated in kidney and liver function, the two major diet detoxification organs, but in detail differed with each GM type. In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. As there normally exists sex differences in liver and kidney metabolism, the highly statistically significant disturbances in the function of these organs, seen between male and female rats, cannot be dismissed as biologically insignificant as has been proposed by others. We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity....These substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown."
I'm calling bullshit on Monsanto. There is no absolute proof that GMO is safe. The health effects of all the other foods we eat is known because we've been eating it for so long. Some people are even allergic to various food like peanuts. But GMO? It's not the same food as the original. Not even close. These plants produce their own insecticide!
Monsanto... Your gig is up. We the American people should have a nation wide class action lawsuit for the harm you've done to each of us through at least the GMO food stuff you say is safe. Denial only lasted so long for the Cigarette industry.
The Investor Revolution
I've been wondering recently why stock market investors don't have much power over companies. This explains it very well.
From what i understand this bill allows investors to have some say in selecting board members. This is a FANTASTIC idea. This is how private corporations work. The owners have a say. Any venture capital firm will tell you that this is how they operate. Companies aren't just allowed to do what they want without the owners authorization. This bill essentially brings this mentality to publicly traded companies. How good is it? Well, it sounds awesome and is a great start toward restoring capitalism in the economy.
A few other ideas i had regarding investor ownership. Remove corporate personhood. This would make investors responsible for corporate actions... both good and bad. A rising stock price is worth being an active investor. Another idea i had was an investor union. This would allow investors to have one or a set of representatives within the company. I'm not sure exactly how it would work but maybe an investor tax on the company like a penny per outstanding share per year to pay for this union. Shrug. just an idea. Maybe have a Chief Investor Outreach Officer. Anyway. Please register and comment on other methods of controlling corporations.
I'm also fond of making all health insurance companies into non-profit entities. This would remove the profit motive and allow them to focus on the health motive.
The most interesting thing to ponder is what would happen if investors really had a say in public companies.
- Green investors would love to buy big oil and convert them, for their own good, into future energy providers of solar, wind, and ocean. (I'd even buy some shares in Exxon-Mobil to help this happen!!). Yeah, it may be expensive but it's better than not being forward thinking, letting the companies fail, or worse, bailing them out.
- Investors could demand that companies split up to create more jobs if deemed too big to fail
Basically, investors have their lives to draw upon in making decisions, not just their pocket books. This could inject a longer term view into corporate culture.
There could be harm done, but investors would have to keep each other in check just as they need to keep the board and management in check.
Government was designed around three branches for checks and balances. Companies should be designed around this same model of checks and balances. Management (like the White House), Board of Directors (like the Court system), and Investors (like Congress). There are similarities but there are also differences. Regardless, three is better than two for checks and balances.
For example, just look at our two party political system and how corrupted by money and influence it has become. A third party candidate could provide a much need breath of fresh air, but also the balance to keep the Republicrats focused on the benefit of the people. This is why I believe we should institute all elections as instant run off voting. People wouldn't be afraid to vote their real values instead of the lesser of two evils.
As it gets worse
This is what is going on in the real economy. California is ahead of the pack due to their massive state budget cuts. This is what the rest of us have to look forward to. So while Wall Street is flying high, Main Street is collapsing. The question is, how long will the stock market continue to soar? The reason for Wall Street is Main Street. Without Main Street, Wall Street is just a fraud. Without Wall Street, Main Street would be fine. Right now, the banksters and government keep taxing us through inflation to bailout the richest of rich. This is a sick sick system we live under.
State Revenue and Food Shortages
U.S. states suffer "unbelievable" revenue shortages
Most states had been pessimistic in forecasting their tax revenues for the 2010 fiscal year, Pattison said. So far, collections have fallen below even those low targets.
Lower tax revenues could lead to higher taxes or another sharp reduction in services if receipts do not show signs of improvement before year-end, as every state but Vermont is required by law to balance their budgets.
That could mean fewer teachers, early prisoner releases and fewer highway repairs as residents battle soaring unemployment.
So, I keep reading about economists talking about how the economy has recovered and growth has been restored. Doesn't that mean that state revenues should be increasing and not decreasing? Something does not add up. Printing trillions of dollars over the last year will influence the GDP, indeed, but that does not mean recovery.
In the second quarter of calendar year 2009, total state revenue was down 18 percent compared with the period in 2008, according to the National Governors Association, which projects revenue will not return to pre-recession levels until 2014 or 2015.
So, the Governors are talking about it taking 4 or 5 years for a complete real recovery to take place.
Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization
"In early 2008, Saudi Arabia announced that, after being self-sufficient in wheat for over 20 years, the non-replenishable aquifer it had been pumping for irrigation was largely depleted," writes Lester R. Brown in his new book, Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization (W.W. Norton and Company).
"In response, officials said they would reduce their wheat harvest by one eighth each year until production would cease entirely in 2016. The Saudis then plan to use their oil wealth to import virtually all the grain consumed by their Canada-sized population of nearly 30 million people," notes Brown
A World Bank study of India's water balance notes that 15 percent of its grain harvest is produced by overpumping. In human terms, 175 million Indians are being fed with grain produced from wells that will be going dry. The comparable number for China is 130 million. Among the many other countries facing harvest reductions from groundwater depletion are Pakistan, Iran, and Yemen.
"The tripling of world wheat, rice, and corn prices between mid-2006 and mid-2008 signaled our growing vulnerability to food shortages," says Brown. "It took the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression to lower grain prices."
The food outlook for the world is looking a bit grim when put like this.
What can I do now about the economic collapse?
If you think worst case, how would you prepare now?
I hope the worst case doesn't happen because i can think of some very outrageous cases, like having UN Peace Keepers in America, China invading the US, Russia taking over Alaska, even a world war against the US to stop the bankers and Federal Reserve. When other fascists ruled they always opted for very strong military. They also tried to occupy other lands. That's what we are doing. We even did it preemptively. We are becoming what bin Laden wanted us to become... Tyrants. ah, ranting. So what can you do right now.
Get this stuff immediately for emergency use:
- storable food, 1 week supply per person at least
- water, two weeks supply per person at least (or @ 10 gallons per person per week x 2= twenty gallons of water minimum)
- toilet paper
- flash light(s)
- radio
- extra batteries
- some backup cash
- defensive weapon
- first aid kit
- animal contingencies if you have pets, 1-2 months of food and water. One 40lb dog will drink 2.5 gallons of water per week (scale to weight)
- medications. Get your prescriptions filled as early as possible and save those little devils so you have at least a month of extra.
This should allow you to weather the storm should one arise. I hope it doesn't get worse than this.
nothing had been solved expect a Total collapse
I love how at the end he adds, "It'll be wonderful!" I really hope it's not wonderful. I hope it's nothing extraordinary. I hope Obama will wake up and realize it needs to be fixed, and fix it before anyone else realizes what's going on. Wham bam. And the Federal Reserve is closed... forever. New money is issued which will return the government to solvency. Then things may get back to normal. We'll take the hit in our savings but food won't just suddenly stop. That's a fair trade, a part of my savings to stay alive. I'll take that. I'm ready to sacrifice to keep my country.
Unfortunately it'll take total collapse before the masses realize what happened. By then it'll be too late. God. These are fucking scary times.
Now I want to throw a Windows 7 party
This is awesome! Can i have my _very_ _own_ "launch party"?