Author: 4earth

To Eat or NOT to Eat…Organic is the question!

September 6, 2015

 

 

 

 

As the debate continues to rage on regarding the health benefits of a diet consisting of organic food, some of us are like children, standing in the middle of the cornfield scratching our heads.  While I have not explored this issue to extremes, I have certainly seen the ever-expanding organic sections in my local grocery store.  These supposed, better for you items generally hail on the top shelf, with top-shelf prices and fancy signs made to stimulate your intellect of “good for you stuff.”  “Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.” (http://www.organic.org/home/faq)  Even the USDA has jumped on the organic bandwagon by regulating those farmers who bring their wares to our stores and restaurants with a fancy seal of approval.  Ok, straight from our government, with their seal of approval, it must be better for us.  Right?  Obvious more nutritious than that dangerous, cancer-causing food we have consumed for decades. 

The United States Department of Agriculture states on their website, “Organic farming systems rely on ecologically based practices such as cultural and biological pest management, exclusion of all synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones in crop and livestock production.”  (http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ORGANIC_CERTIFICATIO)  This certainly gives me the impression that eating organic is better.  After all who wants synthetic chemicals in our bodies?  “Ecologically based practices”, now who doesn’t want to save our planet?  “The National Organic Program  has several agreements in place with other countries to facilitate trade of U.S. organic products while also ensuring a consistent supply of organic products for U.S. markets.”  So if our government needs to ensure that we as consumers are supplied with organic products from other countries (in case we run out), then this must be a serious issue in regards to our health. 

As much as I trust our government to guide my healthful food choices I have to question their involvement in the organic market.  I mean, for goodness sakes we have been growing and consuming our food, straight from the ground from the beginning of time…organic.  But the USDA website in a roundabout way, suggests that organic food with the USDA seal of approval is somehow better for you.  “Look at the label. If you see the USDA organic seal, the product is certified organic and has 95 percent or more organic content.”  (http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPConsumers)  The site also goes into detail about the care and treatment of the critters that people are going to eat.  So that chicken that got to roam free on the range will certainly hold more health benefits than his cousin down the street that is stuffed into a cage for the 3 months of his life. 

 

The problem with these certifications and assertions made by this government agency is that all they are really trying to do is to regulate those unscrupulous farmers from making a buck off the word “organic” if their product is not truly “organic”.  That USDA organic seal does not make the food anymore or less healthful to us.  As a matter of fact, I could not find one credible source that makes the claim that an organic product has any greater nutritional value than those that do not claim the organic moniker.  Nutrition for nutrition they are the same.  “…no evidence of a health benefit attached to organic foods.” 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/09/04/is-organic-food-better

So if that truly is the case, then why?  Why go to the expense, risk more rapid spoilage to sell a more expensive product if the health benefits do not outweigh the costs?  David L. Katz writer for health.usnews.com seems to believe that there is some evidence to suggest that, at least in some organic foods, there is a higher nutrition rate.  He states in his Sept. 4th, 2012 editorial, Is Organic Food Better, “There was some evidence of higher antioxidant levels in organic produce, and higher omega-3 levels in organic poultry and dairy.”   But goes on to say that there were no clear health benefits.  I am by no means a certified nutritionist but it seems logical to me that if there were higher levels of those amazing antioxidants, everyone, raves about these days then one could conclude that is BETTER!  And how about those omega-3 levels?  Heck, I don’t know what they are or what they do, but I do know however that it is one of the ingredients in my multi-vitamin.  It must be good for you…and higher doses must be even better.

Katz goes on to state this in his ambiguous blog, “But as noted above, failure to find a health benefit may be more about the absence of such evidence, than true evidence for the absence of such an influence.”  Ok, so what does that even mean?  Is it a riddle?  Perhaps a code meant only for the organic groupies to understand?  Katz asks us to use our imagination a few times in regards to pesticides linked to cancer and other maladies, and then poses another riddle for us to ponder; “So, a considerable health benefit of eating organic remains possible—but consigned to the world of statistical invisibility.”  I was never very good at riddles.  And let’s also consider the statement I made earlier regarding organic and conventionally grown foods…the statement I quoted, “…no evidence of a health benefit attached to organic foods.”  Is a direct quote from Katz.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/09/04/is-organic-food-better

Katz tries to play the planet card, evoking my humanity to our Dear mother Earth; “In general, its production is kinder and gentler to the planet, and our fellow species.”  Seems to me this is more of a neo-political move than one of a health concern.

Then there are the real organic freaks who would rather starve to death than eat a can of Chef Boyardee .  And then there are the people who have completely lost their minds… organically minded pet owners.  Brad Kriser, founder, and CEO of an all-natural, organic pet food, aptly named Kriser’s was interviewed by KCAL9 studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 25th, 2012 (http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/09/25/go-organic-with-your-pets-food-with-tips-from-krisers/) touted the health benefits of his pet food which he claims is, “better food for your pet!”  Kriser claims that his organic pet food can, “Improve skin and coat, Better digestion, improve immunity, Feed less”.  Well, I have to wonder, how can an organic pet food product make such a claim to the enhanced nutrition of their food but study after study performed on food for human consumption finds no life-changing benefits?  Is the physiology of humans so different than that of its best friend? 

Kriser states on his company website (http://www.krisers.com/blog/)  “We are firm believers in the benefits of our products and services and it’s very humbling to receive such an award. Our goal is to deliver high-quality pet food and supplies to help all pets stay as happy and healthy as possible.”  He also claims that his organic pet foods are his commitment to helping pets live a longer healthier life.    Now I just want to know how is it that a pet food company can propagate these health benefits, win awards, state claims that are unfounded in the world of USDA Seals and no one cries FOUL.  Or could it be that this pricey pet provision just contains fewer fillers and more proteins and this is the reason for the health enhancement?  That the “all-natural organic” aspect has absolutely nothing to do with visible results.  Ok, so I have to find out.  The majority of the top ten organic dog foods contained no horrible by-products (fillers) and almost every one contained high amounts of protein. (http://www.dogfoodscoop.com/dog-food-comparison.html)   Even Paul Newman has traded in the sauce for organic pet food.  (http://www.newmansownorganics.com/pet/faqs/)  However, his pet food is USDA certified.  Which, I suppose means that I could chow down with the puppies.  One of the customer comments on Newman’s organic website states, “Once they got back on Newman’s Own Organics, they were happy, healthy, eating and pooping regularly again.”    I found this little tidbit on Newman’s site to be quite interesting, “Newman’s Own Organics organic pet food uses human grade and fit for human consumption ingredients such as natural chicken and organic grains. The AAFCO Board (Association of American Feed Control Officials), which is the regulatory agency for animal foods, actually prohibits the printing of “Human Grade” on pet food packaging.” (http://www.newmansownorganics.com/pet/petfoodfaq.php#Q_156)  Perhaps the reasoning for this is because we, as humans would expect our digestive health to be regular, our hair to be soft and shiny and by consuming this our health would be improved and we would most likely live longer.  At least that is what the peddlers of the organic pet foods claim will happen to our pets by feeding them organic food.  Although, these organic dog foods claim that their pet poop is regular but less (not as much poop to clean up) than the average dog on that horrible non-organic food.  I suppose I am just really ignorant and a dog’s digestive tract is completely different than that of his best friend the human (NOT), and eating organic is supposed to make him poop less but it is to our benefit as a biped to poop more and frequently to be healthy, and eating organic will urge us to, um achieve this  …? 

So what do I really think about all this organic hype?  Well, what I do know is this; 100 years ago the average lifespan in the United States was 47.  All of our food was so-called organic”…farmers and the average Joe grew it and ate it.  We didn’t have pesticides, the crops were watered when it rained.  No one really cared if the pigs were happy in dirty little pig pens, well except for Charlotte, but that’s another story.  I am also not a nutritional anthropologist but I suspect the organics of the food people ate back then had little to do with their longevity as much as it had to do with the first basic necessity of life—FOOD. 

It seems apparent to me, from all three sources researched that there is certainly an agenda where the organic food market is concerned; perhaps even a two-fold agenda.  The first is a provocation by the liberal left to eat organic and by doing so you will not only save the planet but provide a humane, dignified life and death for the animals consumed as certified organic. Prior to the organic blitz people actually thought that this type of food was more healthful to our bodies, cured cancers, prolonged life, etc.   And that is the reason why almost every google search on the subject states, “Is organic REALLY better?”, “Do organic Foods Promote better Health?”…and the like.  Because tests and studies have proven organic foods to not show any beneficial health results than their commercially grown counterparts.

To understand the second all we need to do is follow the flow of the dough.  The organic food industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of U.S. agriculture.  “The current demand for organic produce is increasing faster than supply…” (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe732)   And the Government wants its cut in this BIG business, this profit maker!  This being said, and with the first Lady of Obama land telling us we should all grow a garden and eat more healthful then why oh why is the government doing things like this?  “State authoritarians recently raided a picnic at an organic farm after State health authorities were informed that the farm was hosting a picnic without their permission.  The raid took place at the Quail Hollow Farm,  operated by Laura and Monty Bledsoe, which is a type of Community Supported Agricultural farm.”  (http://www.libertariannews.org/2011/11/10/authorities-raid-picnic-in-nevada-force-chef-to-pour-bleach-on-good-food/)  All the food at this event was thrown into the trash and bleach was poured all over it so no one could eat it.  Because the government doesn’t want this little money maker to be out of their control!

 

So if we are being educated on the actual facts regarding organic foods and the lack of evidence to support health benefits, why then are so many people buying into the hype?  Could it be the slick marketing campaigns that cause us to question using that poisonous high fructose corn syrup?  Or the fear of having babies with 2 heads if we eat Genetically modified Frankenfoods?  I must say though, after reading this: “The Food and Drug Administration, however, told the Times it does not regulate the pesticidal potato because it does not have the authority to regulate pesticides; that responsibility, it claims, falls on the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA, meanwhile, says labeling pesticidal potatoes are under the FDA’s purview since potatoes are a food. But the FDA says federal law forbids the food agency from including information about pesticides on foods.”  (http://www.naturalchoice.net/articles/gmos.htm)  I am gripped with fear and have lost all sensibility and may perhaps rethink my original stance on organic foods.   And I may just grow a garden! Please pass the potatoes, but make sure they are organic.

 

 

Daniella Cross is the caretaker of 4Earth and featured writer.

ALL images used in this site rely on the U.S. Copyright law doctrine of “Fair Use” with No Copyright Infringement intended.

 

 

Trump Plays another card but doesn’t show his hand…YET.

March 26, 2018

 

There are many politically minded folks, Trump supporters and those who are still on the fence having FITS about this Omnibus bill Trump signed last week. Laura Ingraham blasted Trump’s actions on her show and several conservative radio and TV personalities like Tucker Carlson have been quick to jump down his throat. Then there was the “letter” that floated around this weekend signed by Trump and addressed to the Speaker of the house and the President of the Senate Committee that was cryptic unless one looked up the statutes, codes, and meanings contained in the letter, and then still…

 

I spent a great deal of time over the weekend looking up all the sections and codes and meanings contained therein and completed my civic duty by posting them on Facebook for all to see and understand. HA! I don’t think that anyone had much of a clue as to what I had posted because we all know success and comprehension is gauged by how many, “likes” and “shares” we receive…and perhaps it was simply because I had been the one doing the research that it made perfect sense to me, but not so much to anyone reading my research. To the average Joe it read like; Bla bla bla, more bla bla bla…

 

 

 

So, this morning, while scrolling through my Facebook page, looking for pearls of wisdom, I came across this commentary on a friend’s page. Unfortunately, in true Facebook form, I am not able to track down the Author and it has the infamous words; “BORROWED”, which somehow gives credence to whoever reposts. My Kudos go out to the originating author of these points. I simply corrected the misspellings and grammar but kept to the original content.

 

“Trump is a genius. First, he didn’t sign the bill into law. He signed it as an Omnibus. Why is that difference so important? Let’s talk about what the President can and can’t do for this Omnibus Bill. There’s a lot of discussions both ways.

1. Congress allocates money to be spent. The President spends the allocated money.
2. Once Congress allocates money, their job is oversight of the money being spent. They don’t spend the money and have no say HOW it gets spent as long as it’s spent legally. That’s their job to monitor with oversight.
3. Once the President is given the money with the instructions to spend it, he has a number of choices to make in spending it. There are some rules he has to follow & some of the money is fungible and some aren’t.
4. However, there are some other factors that are in play here. One of them is that the President has declared a Human Rights Emergency AND has notified Congress that he’s invoking the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
5. This opens up new options.
6. By making these two declarations President Trump has just communicated that he has the authority to NOT spend any funds he doesn’t deem necessary and will return them to the US Treasury. So, funds for Planned Parenthood? He can simply not allocate the funds.
7. Also, these declarations make some funds fungible. For instance, if he determines that building a Wall on the Southern Border is a defense against Human Trafficking? He can move funds from anywhere else in the Defense Dept Allocation & simply build the Wall.
8. Congress is powerless to stop cash reallocations on an omnibus bill AND cannot stop the DOD from taking measures under a declared Emergency.
9. Despite their language in the Omnibus Bill about the Border Wall, it is trumped by the State of Emergency that Trump declared. So in summary – This will go to the Courts. Congress will sue the President over the Border Wall. But here’s how it will play out – Congress and the President are co-equal branches with different functions. Congress allocates. The President spends.

The President has National Security as his Primary Responsibility and it’s his job to use whatever funds and declarations he needs to for that job. No Court in this Nation (except corrupt on the take Judges) would EVER rule against a President for exercising that authority.

10. In the end, the Supreme Court (yes, that’s where it will end) will fully VALIDATE the President’s Constitutional Authority & the Wall will be built.”

 

 

Daniella Cross is the Guardian of 4Earth and featured writer.

ALL images used in this site rely on the U.S. Copyright law doctrine of “Fair Use” with No Copyright Infringement Intended.

 

 

 

WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE! Eventually…

February 25, 2019

 

 

Back in the ’70s, Leonard Nimoy made a documentary about the coming Global Ice-age. It was WIDELY shown in Public schools all across the Nation. I don’t really remember what its purpose was other than to fearmonger and scare little kids to death…implanting in our impressionable little minds and emotions that within a decade or so we were all going to either freeze to death or die of starvation…but one thing was for sure, WE WERE ALL GOING TO DIE! Raise your hand if you remember seeing or even hearing about this “scientifically true” documentary as a kid!

 

 

 

 

We then lived through the holes in the Ozone that were going to kill us all…like they were simply going to open up and suck out our brains and we would all die a grisly death while we watched the skin literally melt off our friend’s bodies. Then came Al Gore making the “SCARIEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!” ​​The same theme of death and destruction, starvation, skin melting off our bones, and everyone was going to drown or burn, starve or even freeze to death–gotta cover all the bases. Again, this was shown in public schools, to little kids because it really needed to be REINFORCED that their futures were DOOMED…evidently their parents totally forgot about the ICEAGE that came and went without notice…but this, THIS was going to happen and happen within the decade! So, the majority of the kids that had to watch that movie in 2006 are now adults, still perhaps teetering on the brink of extinction, but still alive to tell about the horrors they have experienced due to Global Warming! They must have a reminder of the destruction they are causing to pass to their children…Mrs. O’Leary’s cow has had babies, a LOT of babies and if you think that fire was bad, you just wait…just one match to their posterior is all it will take!

 

 

 

 

And now we have a fresh batch of flesh to scare and to prove that in 12 years, YES ONLY 12 YEARS the planet is going to perish and every living thing with it! We have the Notable Scientist, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explaining to us, especially our children that we are all DOOMED to extinction in the very near future if WE DON’T do something NOW; we will be overcome by Bovine Flatulence and just drop dead in our tracks. Although, there is a highlight to this fearmongering…watching the Liberals eat their own young. I mean if you’re going to die, it might as well be at the hands of the ones that created you…right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniella Cross is the caretaker of 4Earth and featured writer

 

 

 

 

ALL images used in this site rely on the U.S. Copyright law doctrine of “Fair Use” with No Copyright Infringement intended.

 

WHEN PIGS FLY! WILL HOGGS EVER TELL THE TRUTH?

March 27, 2018

 

https://youtu.be/v1Tg9DjDJdg

THEN I watched the second video and thought, WHO IN THE WORLD sets up interviews like this, in a closet, when your school is getting shot up? I mean, this wasn’t one of those videos you see where people are scared to death and freaking out. This was a planned out interview of the students in the closet, who, by the way, also weren’t freaking out and they were being coached as to what to say! But the real question is—>​How did this kid, hiding in a closet, KNOW THAT NIC CRUZ that was the shooter? Answer that! Was he getting secret intel from someone, or did he already know? Somehow?  https://youtu.be/gZVioBDjFeM

And then the third video (at the 4:20 mark) Hoggs admits he wasn’t even at the school when this shooting happened! “DAVID HOGG: On the day of the shooting, I got my camera and got on my bike and rode as fast as I could three miles from my house to the school to get as much video and to get as many interviews as I could because I knew that this could not be another mass shooting.  https://youtu.be/IUOkBv6wMhc

And after hearing his confession another student very quickly DEFLECTS his comments. Obviously, the school wasn’t in lockdown because SUPERHERO HOGGS went right in and found a classroom, went into a closet and started to CNN ALL OVER THE PLACE!

I have to admit that this kid is good and his future in FAKE NEW is well established. And he didn’t even have to fashion a clock bomb to secure his future, he just had to LIE LIE and CONTINUE TO LIE! EXPOSE THIS!

 

 

 

 

 

Daniella Cross is the Guardian of 4Earth and featured writer

 

 

 

ALL images used in this site rely on the U.S. Copyright law doctrine of “Fair Use” with No Copyright Infringement intended.

 

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

February 19, 2018

 

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

 

In America’s urban centers, 3,081 people were murdered in the first half of 2017, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association Violent Crimes Survey. That’s up from 2,994 people for the same period in 2016. Some were killed with guns, others knives, some beaten to death. But dead is still dead. Where is the outrage? Is there little concern because the MAJORITY of these murders in these cities were Black people? THOUSANDS of people are murdered every year, especially in our more populated cities and most are Black. Some are just minding their own business, some are children playing in a park, some are housewives, father, mothers, students… So why don’t their lives matter? Why is it when a school gets shot up people scream–GUN CONTROL? Is it because the large numbers of murders that happen are in places where there is SERIOUS GUN CONTROL already in place? AND, these people would actually have to look at the REAL CAUSES of these murders?

*The murder rate in Detroit is 20.2 per 100,000. In the first half of 2017, 136 people were murdered in that city.

*The murder rate in New Orleans is 24.5 per 100,000. Ninety-six people were murdered in the city in the first half of 2017

*The murder rate in Baltimore is 27.3 per 100,000. In the first half of 2017, 170 people were murdered in that city. In the first half of 2016, 137 people were murdered there.

*The murder rate in St. Louis is 29.1 per 100,000 — the highest of all the cities included in the police chiefs’ data. Ninety-two people were murdered in that city in the first half of 2017.

*650 people were killed in the first half of the year in Chicago.

* ETC!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniella Cross is the Guardian of 4Earth and the featured writer.