Health

Health care bill, now in hands of the Senate, ignores every industrial threat and harm to health. It finds that people's behavior is the biggest threat. Could this be because all Senators are economically-linked to health-harming industries, AND their insurers and investors? Sworn and public-paid Congress members wouldn't go AWOL on their solemn oaths and duties to the people, would they?

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today launching a new evaluation of the human health effects of the pesticide atrazine. According to an agency press release, "EPA will evaluate the pesticide’s potential cancer and non-cancer effects on humans," including "the most recent studies on atrazine and its potential association with birth defects, low birth weight, and premature births." Based on the findings, EPA says it will decide whether to keep the old standards or formulate new ones to better protect public health.

Atrazine --an endocrine disruptor sold as Lariat, Bicep and Shotgun-- is one of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the U.S. The pesticide is now so commonly found in groundwater, lakes and rivers that technicians use its absence as a red flag that a water test has been botched.

Dr. Tyrone Hays, atrazine expert, says he's pleased by EPA's action. "I was very happy to see this response from the EPA. It is a clear indication that the new administration will finally start to emphasize environmental health, public health, and good science."

by Sudhama Ranganathan

<p>The Town Hall not so peaceful takeover hype during the month of August made it seem a large majority of Americans were opposed to government sponsored health care reform.  All over the media images of village trouble makers organized and having fun at the expense of decent folk was promoted as general American mentality.  Health care reform was vanquished said pundits across the boards because apparently we preferred to let corporate greed alone decide the fate of our health.  Voices of the town hall ambushes were said to be speaking for all of us.</p>

Pesticides? What Pesticides ??

The FDA will ignore pesticides, chlorine, dioxins, radiation and other industrial parts of typical cigarettes in its new Act. This Act, supposedly against the cigarette industry, is entirely in support of that industry, even to the point of assisting it to evade legal consequences.

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A newly formed faction of the Seeds of Peace Collective, named Eastern Seeds of Peace, is committed to organizing medical infrastructure in support of the expected large-scale actions against the International Pittsburgh Coal Conference and G20 Summit in Pittsburgh in late September.

All Bad Legislation comes wearing a halo. That's how about 60 years of Reefer Madness drug war atrocities began.   The just-passed law (not signed yet) giving the FDA power to "regulate tobacco"  is not what  mainstream media, or public officials tell us.  This is Reefer Madness II, concocted by the same industries who did RM I...important whether or not one cares about "smoking" of any plant.

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