Tuesday, June 22, 2010

BP Burning sealife

BP just can't stay off my radar these days. It seems that they're grossly incompetent in just about any way that a major corporation can be incompetent. I can only imagine how many stories like this the "media blackout" are filtering out.

From Change

It’s not just oil going up in flames in the controlled burns BP has been setting off in the Gulf of Mexico. According to eyewitnesses, sea turtles and other marine life trapped in the oil slick are being burned alive — and BP is preventing rescuers from saving the creatures’ lives.

The Los Angeles Times reported last week that converging ocean currents are collecting long clusters of sargassum seaweed along with the spilled oil, creating 30-mile-long "islands of death." The booms trailing BP ships indiscriminately gather up the oil and seaweed (as well as whatever critters have the misfortune to be clinging to it), which is then torched. The 100-foot flames mark an area referred to as the "burn box."

Since April, more than 5 million gallons of oil have been ignited in more than 165 burns. No statistics are available as to the number of turtles and other marine creatures trapped and ignited in those burns. BP executives must be breathing a huge collective sigh of relief over that.

The Times story follows a team of turtle researchers as they cruise near Deepwater Horizon, shadowing the boom boats’ paths in an effort to save any turtles before they are incinerated. Not that the poor creatures have a chance for survival anyway.

"We've seen the oil covering the turtles so thick they could barely move, could hardly lift their heads," said Blair Witherington, a research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. As for their almost certain death by either suffocation or fire, he conceded, "I won't pretend to know which is the nastiest."

In one case, the crew watched helplessly as a long, thick clump of seaweed was gathered by BP boats and burned — seaweed they were sure was full of sea turtles.

"In a perfect world, they'd gather up the material and let us search it before they burned it," Witherington said. "But that connection hasn't been made. The lines of communication aren't there." At least the team was able to save 11 turtles that day, all of them coated with oil.

Read the rest of the article here

Here's how to help:

* The National Wildlife Federation is working with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and is encouraging anyone in the southern Louisiana area looking to help to reach out through its website;
* The International Bird Rescue and Research Center has sent a team of specialists to the region to help with any oiled wildlife. If you spot oiled wildlife, call the Wildlife Reporting Hotline at 866-557-1401. Please note that oiled birds (or any other oiled wildlife) should not be captured, but reported to the hotline;
* The National Audubon Society is recruiting volunteers to be trained to respond to the oil spill. They are also encouraging members of the public to contact the Interior Department and encourage them to halt the expansion of offshore oil drilling in the eastern United States;
* Alabama residents are asked to contact the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program at 251-431-6409;
* Or contact the Mobile Baykeeper at 251- 433-4229 to volunteer anywhere along the Gulf Coast;
* Save Our Seabirds is a Florida bird rescue group that is looking for volunteers as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. To help, call 941-388-3010;

Monday, June 21, 2010

Oil, Joe Barton and the shame of being from Texas

First let me say that I was going to write about the despicable behaviour of Joe Barton last week when he "apologized" to BP, but I thought twice about that. Let me say this though, I love Texas and I love a lot of things about this state but the political environment stinks to high heaven. Readers of this blog (all 3 of you) have seen that I've posted things on here from time to time that, personally, make me hang my head in shame. People need to realize that politics, suffering and stupidity walk hand in hand (at least in Texas.)

This article is from Change

As if the millions of gallons of oil hemorrhaging into the Gulf of Mexico weren't bad enough, it appears that there is at least some evidence that the solution is almost as bad for animals in the affected areas. At issue is a chemical called Corexit, an oil dispersant.


Now, it's hard to tell you a lot about Corexit, for a couple of reasons. First, we're talking about some pretty hardcore chemistry (key ingredients include things like 2-Butoxyethanol, propylene glycol, and dioctyl sodium sulfosiccinate), and, more importantly, Corexit's makers don't really want you to know a lot about the stuff, since it's a proprietary mixture. The ingredient list was kept secret until last week, when the EPA finally revealed it and scientists could start trying to figure out exactly how the chemicals will impact wildlife.

What we do know about Corexit is plenty though. We know, for instance, that on May 20, the EPA ordered BP to find a better, less toxic alternative to Corexit, and BP more or less refused. We also know that the two flavors of Corexit are but two options out of eighteen on the EPA's list of approved dispersants.

Most importantly, perhaps, we know what Corexit does, at least according to people like Joe Taylor, an environmental engineer in Daphne, Alabama. Taylor told his local TV news that Corexit basically makes oil sink from the surface down to the ocean depths, where it depletes oxygen levels. That, according to Taylor, kills of plankton, with resulting trauma all the way up the food chain.

And finally, we know that, according to the New York Times, "other U.S. EPA-approved alternatives have been shown to be far less toxic, and in some cases, nearly twice as effective."

So why the slavish devotion to Corexit? You might suspect, given BP's past history, it has something to do with lining their own corporate pockets. You would be right about that.

First of all, BP is already in pretty deep with Corexit; they've used between 800,000 and 1 million gallons so far. Nalco Holding Company, who makes Corexit, estimates that they could sell as much as $40 million worth of the chemical for use in the Gulf. And this stuff isn't cheap.

But, more insidious by far are the connections between Nalco and the oil industry, and specifically BP. Nalco exists, in its current iteration, thanks to a joint venture with Exxon in the mid-1990's. And, Nalco's board has more than a few oil-industry insiders, including at least one executive with over a decade of service to — guess who? — BP.

Basically, BP is getting a free pass to continue to help out their friends, while putting Gulf wildlife — even the ones who survive or avoid the oil itself — at risk.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Deepwater Spill Analysis (with oceanographic map)

Oceanographic Analysis for Deepwater Horizon Spill Dated June 8th  

Animal Abuse at Cal-Cruz Hatcheries


Warning: This video is graphic and disturbing



New Report Says FDA Needs Revamping

(From Change.org)

As if we needed any more evidence that the food safety system in this country is dysfunctional, a new report found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is — wait for it — unequipped to handle problems with the food supply and in need of major revamping.

The report was issued yesterday by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council at the request of Congress. Authors recommend that the FDA take a risk-based, proactive approach to food safety at every stage of production, provide standards for inspections, and have mandatory recall authority over the roughly 80 percent of the nation's food supply it's responsible for overseeing.

"FDA uses some risk assessment and management tactics," said committee chair Robert Wallace, "but the agency's approach is too often reactive and lacks a systematic focus on prevention. Our report's recommendations aim to help FDA achieve a comprehensive vision for proactively protecting against threats to the nation's food supply."

Oh, and to do that, Congress is going to need to enact legislation that is unsurprisingly similar to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which has already passed the House of Representatives and has been pending in the Senate for seven months now. Congress asked for an expert opinion, and now they have it. It's time for them to act.

In a written statement, FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg concluded that "the report clearly highlights the need for enactment of pending legislation that provides much-needed authorities and resources to assist in our efforts to ensure the safety of our nation's food supply."

There's nothing particularly new or shocking within this report. For anyone who even casually follows food safety issues, everything about this report should be familiar. What is perhaps most shocking is how painfully clear it is that our food safety system is broken. While a viable solution is within reach, the Senate refuses to take the necessary action. How many more Americans must die or become ill before the Senate reads the writing on the wall?

One simple vote could transform our nation's food safety system. Sure, it won't be perfect, and certain interests groups have legitimate concerns about the pending legislation's potential impacts. But it will be a positive step for consumers, food producers, and our country. Tell your senators to bring S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, to the floor for a full vote.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Eat Less Meat .. Save the Planet

(From Change.org)

Last week, the United Nations issued a dramatic report calling on the world to reduce its consumption of animal products. According to the U.K. Guardian, the U.N. believes a "global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change."

As the U.N. report makes clear, animal agriculture is extremely wasteful: "Animal products, both meat and dairy, in general require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives." According to Time, "worldwide livestock farming generates 18 percent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions — by comparison, all the world's cars, trains, planes and boats account for a combined 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions." More than half of all the food grown globally goes to feeding farm animals. And, according to Professor Edgar Hertwich, the lead author of the report, "Animal products cause more damage than [producing] construction minerals such as sand or cement, plastics or metals. Biomass and crops for animals are as damaging as [burning] fossil fuels."

Alas, in many places, people are eating more meat, not less. "Meat consumption per capita in China rose by 42 per cent over eight years from 1995 to 2003," says Sangwon Suh of the University of California, Santa Barbara. As a nation becomes richer, its citizens become more carnivorous, and the Earth suffers the consequences.

Sadly, it comes as no surprise that the U.N. report doesn't address the more than 55 billion animals killed worldwide every year in factory farms and slaughterhouses. If you're looking for something about the moral and ethical issues involving eating animals, you won't find it in this dry, academic report. Nor will you find anything health benefits of a meat-free diet. And, as Erik Marcus at Vegan.com notes, "The number of times this 112-page report uses the words vegan or vegetarian: zero."

Many will resist the United Nations' call to consume fewer animal products. Yet it is now obvious that a vegetarian or vegan diet is about more than saving the animals. It's about saving the
planet.


Here's the report:

Priority Products and Materials Report Full

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

BP is in Full Media Lockdown over Gulf Spill

Here is a picture that neither the President saw, nor does BP want you to see. this picture is a rotting dolphin corpse that was dragged from the gulf."When we found this dolphin it was filled with oil. Oil was just pouring out of it. It was the saddest darn thing to look at."



I will be posting more later because TRUST me ... there is more and plenty to be angry about.

7 Tips for a low budget vegetarian diet

(From Savvy Vegetarian)

Here are 7 tips for eating a healthy vegetarian diet on a budget:

1. A pressure cooker to cook beans, soups and other foods - one of the best vegetarian investments you’ll ever make, and will save you TONS of Time. A good one costs about $120, and will last 20 years or more. We recommend the Fagor brand. Are you due for a gift from someone who can afford it?

2. Crockpots or slowcookers are also great time savers, and inexpensive. Put supper on to cook, leave the house for the day, and come home to a cooked meal. What a brilliant invention! It’s handy to have both 4 – 6 qt, and 8 – 10 qt. sizes.

3. Get a good chef’s knife with a sharpener, to chop veggies, and learn how to use it. Otherwise prepping veggies is time consuming and difficult, the main reason most people can’t be bothered. But being a healthy vegetarian means eating vegetables! A good chef’s knife will last your lifetime, and you can get a 1st class knife for around $30. My favorite is Victorinox – it’s one of the best & cheapest, recommended by Cook’s Illustrated.

4. Have at least one excellent all purpose vegetarian cookbook, with a large, informative ingredient section, nutrition information, cooking methods, and a vast array of delicious recipes for a varied vegetarian diet. Find used books in excellent condition online for half the price. See SV cookbook reviews.

5. Make extra, and freeze for later: beans, grains, soups, stews, breads, etc,. Not quite as nutritious or tasty as freshly made, although far better than most of the alternatives. Most of us can’t tell the difference, and don’t have time to cook three meals a day from scratch!

6. If your budget allows, buy bread, yogurt, sprouts, and other basics, such as canned beans, tomatoes, and frozen veggies like peas, corn, or spinach, to supplement what you make yourself. You’ll pay more, but the time saved for other activities, such as earning money, may be worth it to you. Getting these things through a food co-op, or shopping sales, will save quite a bit, but the trade off again, is your time.

7. Shop Around For Fruits & Veggies: Prices can vary widely for produce from store to store. The cheapest fruits and vegetables are usually in season, and they also happen to be the freshest and healthiest. Basics like cabbage and carrots are always cheap and nutritious. Apples oranges & bananas are the least expensive fruits in winter. When foods like asparagus or peaches are in season, they’re relatively cheap, so go for the treats! Shop carefully at the local farmer’s market, and if you can, grow some of your own veggies – super cheap, but again, the trade-off is your time.

The Truth about Hamburger

For those of you who enjoyed a hamburger over Memorial Day, here are some facts for you:

One hamburger can contain the meat of hundreds of different cows, even from different slaughterhouses. Most beef cattle spend the last months of their lives at feed lots.

At the feed lot, cattle are pumped full of hormones, antibiotics, and fattening feed. Their feed is corn-based, but often contains the meat of pigs, chickens, and turkeys. It also legally can contain road kill and euthanized cats and dogs, as well as fecal waste from cattle, pigs, or chickens. As cows are designed to eat grass, they need roughage in order to digest their food. Plastic pellets are often used instead of natural fiber.

After a few weeks on the feedlot, cattle are sent to the slaughterhouse. The cattle are stunned before they are hung upside down and bled to death. The stunning process often does not render them unconscious and they remain kicking as a knife is stuck in their throat.

Beyond the cost to the animals, there's also the environmental impact of a hamburger. The manufacture of a single hamburger takes enough fossil fuel to drive a small car 25 miles. According to The Rainforest Action Network, 55 square feet of rainforest are destroyed for the production of every hamburger.

What's the harm in one hamburger? Well, if you ask Stephanie Smith, a lot. Stephanie Smith was a former dance instructor, and thanks to one hamburger, she will never walk again. Stephanie ate a largely vegetarian diet, rarely eating hamburgers. But the one she happened to eat was contaminated with fecal matter, which carries E.coli bacteria. She suffered seizures after eating the burger and was kept in a medically induced coma for three months. She is now paralyzed, with cognitive problems and kidney damage. Stephanie's case against beef producer Cargill Inc. was settled earlier this month.

Natural Resources Used Up in Food Production-

User of more than half of all water used for all purposes in the U.S.: animal agriculture
Amount of water used in production of the average cow: sufficient to float a destroyer
Gallons of water needed to produce a pound of wheat: 25
Gallons of water needed to produce a pound of California cow meat: 5,000
Years the world's known oil reserves would last if every human ate a meat-centered diet: 13
Years they would last if human beings no longer ate meat: 260
Calories of fossil fuel expended to get 1 calorie of protein from beef: 78
To get 1 calorie of protein from soybeans: 2

Amount of meat imported to U.S. annually from Central and South America: 300,000,000 pounds.

A new report authored by an Ohio State University professor estimates food-borne illnesses cost the U.S. $152 billion each year in health care and other losses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year.

For every foodborne illness case that is reported, as many as 40 more illnesses are not reported or lab-confirmed.

More than 30 million people in the United States are likely to be particularly susceptible to foodborne disease. Very young, elderly, and immune-compromised persons experience the most serious foodborne illnesses.

It is estimated that chronic, secondary complications resulting from foodborne illness occur in 2-3 percent of cases.

The Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the annual costs of medical care, productivity losses, and premature deaths due to foodborne illnesses caused by the five major pathogens to be $6.9 billion.

Still need more convincing?

Phyllis K. Fong, the Agriculture Department's inspector general, looked at how beef is tested for harmful substances.

According to her new report, inspectors charged with checking cattle for disease and meat for contaminants were, "unable to determine if meat has unacceptable levels of... potentially hazardous substances [and do] not test for pesticides... determined to be of high risk."

The inspectors also failed to test beef for 23 pesticides, the report says.

The study -- entitled the National Residue Program for Cattle Audit Report -- says there are no standards for how much of certain dangerous substances, such as copper and highly toxic dioxin, is too much for someone to eat.?? As a result, meat containing these substances has gotten into the nation's food supply, it finds.

The report says the health danger to people who eat this beef is a "growing concern," and calls for better coordination among the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety of the country's meat supply.

Yearly:

20,000 others suffer from poisoning by E.coli 0157-H7, the mutant bacteria found in contaminated meat that generally leads to lifelong physical and mental health problems. A more thorough meat inspection with new technologies could eliminate most instances of contamination--so would vegetarianism.

Facts speak for themselves.

Health Related Foodborne Illness Costs Report.pdf 1