Organic . . . or, Not?

My blog post today is only a reinforcement of what, I am sure, you all know already. It is, though, a subject about which I am very passionate. And it is neither rocket science, nor the product of my smart brains. The information is all over the Internet. However, please READ ON!

So, one of my friends said: At my age, I’m not going to worry about whether the produce, or products I use are Organic, or Not. What’s the point?

Her statement would be correct If we are only worried about our own selfish person. That is: whether I, personally, will suffer in any way from ingesting, or using stuff that is infused with chemicals, antibiotics, dyes, hormones, GMOs, preservatives or any other such awful substances. And the answer to that would be, of course: No. At this point, and in my seventies now, I’m not worried about my own personal well-being anymore.

After all, and according to: www.atomicarchive.com

The pre-raid population of Hiroshima was: 255,000, Nagasaki’s was 195,000.

The casualties were 135,000 in Hiroshima, 64,000 in Nagasaki.

See those numbers? Not everyone died when the US dropped the atomic bomb on those innocent civilians. The further away people were from the center of the bombing, the more chance they had of surviving. However, many were maimed for life, many more had lingering health issues and many had children and grandchildren born with defects due to that. (Informational Side Note: Our US and Allied drone and bomb casualties in the Middle East are many more times those numbers, and the miscarriages and babies being born with defects are tenfold those born in these two Japanese cities. Nuclear bombs are lethal, but so are white phosphorous and all bombs and munitions that the US and Israel et al are using in the Middle East.)

It is the same with our eating and using products that have all the nasty substances I mentioned. They might not have harmed us personally, but their effects are affecting millions of the generations that were born from the inception of our tampering with food products, which has been going on since about 1940 and on. They are also affecting the whole eco-system. Moreover, many of those chemicals and harmful substances are now finding their way into the waters (oceans, seas, rivers) from where we get our fish. The latest studies indicate that these fish now have antibiotics, chemicals and all sorts of pharmaceuticals in their bloodstreams, which eventually we ingest. This also applies to our drinking water, and, No, Federal and State Governments are not telling us the truth about the condition of this vital element, however, independent studies have found abundant medications and other harmful substances in our drinking waters. Water filtration systems reduce, but do not eliminate, those components. And, if Organic seeds and produce are irrigated with contaminated water then they too will carry some of that impurity within them.

Nevertheless, I insist on buying Only Organic stuff as I am watching out not for myself, but for my children and theirs, as well as for our planet. While saying this, I also realize that Organic is more expensive. However, as Economics 101 tells us, it is a question of Supply and Demand. The more of us that insist on Organic, the cheaper it will become.

Hereunder is an explanation of what is allowed to be labelled Organic from:

www.blogs.usda.gov:

“The use of genetic engineering, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is prohibited in organic products. This means an organic farmer can’t plant GMO seeds, an organic cow can’t eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic soup producer can’t use any GMO ingredients. To meet the USDA organic regulations, farmers and processors must show they aren’t using GMOs that they are protecting their products from contact with prohibited substances, such as GMOs, from farm to table.”

Got it? This does Not mean that USDA will not change its mind. After all, every one of our laws has been manipulated to please the corporations no matter how harmful to humanity this is. So far, though, Organic Must be USDA Certified. This is the law. Read the labels well! Also, pay attention: Products labelled “Natural” are not necessarily pure and non-GMO.

Also, from: www.gmo.awareness.com:

“The United States and Canadian governments do NOT allow companies to label products “100% / Certified Organic” if they contain genetically modified foods.”

Therefore, and to date, buying USDA Certified Organic is not only healthy, but also conscientious. Do you need more convincing? Here is food for thought from: www.organicconsumers.org:

Farmers are caught up in a lose-lose situation. They end up with a far more expensive crop that has the potential to fail more frequently than conventional crops and can be very dangerous to the animals and humans who consume them.

According to Phillip Howard from Michigan University, as quoted by The Ecologist, the increasing power of seed companies is “incompatible” with renewable agricultural practices, and one solution to restricting their control would be through banning the practice of granting patents on seeds, plants, and genes.

One very alarming sign that change is needed NOW is the wave of farmer suicides in India. The rate of Indian farmer suicides, for instance, has greatly increased since Bt cotton was introduced in 2002.

A publication from the New York University School of Law shows that in 2009 alone, 17,638 Indian farmers committed suicide, which translates to one farmer every 30 minutes. A great number of those affected are cash crop farmers, cotton farmers in particular.”

Are you beginning to see what damage this is doing? Corn, Soybeans, Cotton, Canola, Avocados, Pumpkins are only Some of the produce that have GMO seeds. And now, it seems, the US is forcing countries like Iraq and Ukraine to buy Monsanto etc. seeds also, as well as all those other places our Empire has conquered. Quite despicable and utterly disgraceful!

Many Flowers are also genetically engineered these days, and that’s why they barely have any scent, which makes them last longer. However, this is harming the bees, pollination and the eco-system in general! Add to that the Monsanto weed killer that has proven to be hazardous to our health and to the environment and is being banned by some countries.

However, the good news is that there are also Hundreds of corporations that are now considered environmentally safe, morally correct and healthy for human and animal usage. Do please look for them on this site:

www.bcorporation.net

Hereunder is a short explanation from that site:

“B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk.

B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Today, there is a growing community of more than 1,600 Certified B Corps from 42 countries and over 120 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business.”

If we try to use as many of these products as we can find, we will be doing ourselves and the planet a great service.

These days there are Organic Products galore! From foods, to cleaning products (one of them being Method, a terrific B corporation), from shampoos to makeup, clothes, bed linen, coffee, tea and all else!

What is obvious at the end of the day is that most corporations involved with our food chain do not give a rat’s ass about our health, or the planet’s, but only care for profits and how to maximize those. And we cannot simply sit back and mourn little Johnny next door who has developed cancer, or young Jane and her asthmatic episodes and allergies probably due to all the chemicals and poisons in our environment and foods, let alone the hormones and antibiotics in all the milk we encourage our children to drink!

If we want to change, then we have to – we must! – begin to stand up to all the corporations that are contaminating our foods and waters by NOT buying their products in protest. It’s simple, it’s healthful and it’s beneficial to our children and planet.

 

Just do it! Please, do it!