The next glass might kill you: Brought to you by Monsanto

Brown Sugafest 2008 was an all day event hosted by Ietef Hotep Vita, community activist and popular local artist. The event included a mock refugee camp in tribute to Camp Darfur and performances by Motevation and the unique and original Paradox group. The evening wound down with a panel discussion ‘going and living bling.’

Moderated by Ietef Vita and paneled by NerCity (Inner City), poet from Oakland, California, Mona Ibrahim, director of community building, Faatma Mehrmanesh, owner of Solar Café and Tashaka Campbell, poet and actress.

The ‘soil’ panel was held to create dialogue among the community members about the health benefits of eating organically and progressive dietary solutions among inner city youth. From the opening question the panel and audience members enthusiastically debated the subject of going green and spreading the word.

“Through negative vibes, how do we address the issue of going green to today’s youth?” Asked moderator Ietef Vita. The question sparked an hour-long discussion that included information about American food processing.

“Meat four years ago wasn’t as processed as it is now.” Said Faatma Mehrmanesh.

There are now about 830 different additives in the food we eat today. Not including the rGBH substance being injected into millions of cows to increase milk production.

“Going green isn’t about being a vegetarian, it’s about eating organically.” Faatma explained the misconception. With that statement, the discussion took a turn from community education alternatives to the actual contents of the food found in grocery stores and fast food restaurants.

“What is KFC if it isn’t chicken?” Asked audience member Lucifury after a short argument about the mythical KFC embryo chicken product.
KCF still refers to their product as chicken in commercials and other advertisements.

Milk producers, however, do not have to label their milk as being genecially modified with rBGH of rBST, the highly controversial synthetic growth hormone. rBST is a hormone that increases production of IGF-1, a protein hormone that plays and important role in helping regulate the conversion of dietary nutrients into milk. Controversy behind the hormone is due to health risks to cows and humans. The hormone is believed to cause increased risks of mastitis (infection of the mammary gland and humans). It is believed to cause reproductive problems in cows and even death.
By ingesting milk containing increased levels of IGF-1, which is also produced in the human body. The substance may be absorbed and cause cancer of the prostate, colon, and breasts.
“IGF-1 has been associated with the growth of numerous tumors, including colon, smooth muscle, and breast.”

The FDA has concluded that these health effects are minimal and a study by Cornell University concluded, “there are no differences in nutrient content or sensory characteristics.” They also concluded the increase in concentration of IGF-1 was of no impact to the human body or cows.
“Mastitis affects more than half of U.S dairy cows”

They also concluded that antibiotics used to treat cows with increased mastitis are not dangerous to humans.

These results are based on studies done on rats.

The FDA approved rBGH, the Monsanto Corporation product with out pre-market safety testing. “Since 1994 every industrialized country in the world, except the U.S has banned the drug.”

Monsanto Corporation is a biotechnology corporation developed the bgh hormone and is a leading producer of genetically engineered seed. Many controversies have surfaced due to their seed, hormone, and several other issues. Monsanto has sued many farmers for patent infringement.

A Canadian “court ruled in 2004: by cultivating a plant containing the patented gene and composed of the patented cells without license, the appellants (Percy Schmeiser) deprived the respondents of the full monopoly”
“Since rBGH was approved, approximately 40,000 small and medium sized dairy farmers have gone out of business.”

Started in 1901, Monsanto produced the sweetener used in Coca Cola, later taking part in the production of the nuclear bomb and Agent Orange in the forties. Monsanto bought G.D Searle in the eighties (producer of celebrex) while Donald Rumsfeld was president of Searle. Monsanto has political influences including Clearance Thomas, who worked for them, and Linda Fisher, who works back and forth between Monsanto and the EPA.
Monsanto tried to sell their hormone in 1998, but nobody wanted to buy it. “Several studies have shown that increased levels of IGF-1 lead to increased risk of cancer. Studies done on lung cancer cells show that drugs inhibiting such signaling can be of potential interest in cancer therapy.”
“A petition in 2007 by Samuel S. Epstein with Cancer Prevention Coalition, Ronnie Cummins of Organic Consumers Association, and John Kinsman, of Family Farm Defenders asked the FDA to reject the hormone from approval or at least label infected milk, but no such requirements have been made.”

NerCity said, “Going green is a choice, you have to want to be healthier.” With companies with Monsanto tainting food and refusing to label it, there is no choice. And with strong political influence and support of the FDA and EPA, Monsanto will continue to sell tainted food without informing the public of the potential risks.

http://en.wikipedia.org
Insulin-like growth factor 1: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Apr. 28
2008
List of food additives: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Apr. 28 2008
Monsanto: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Apr. 30 2008

Petition Seeking the Withdrawal of the New Animal Drug Application Approval for Posilac: Feb.20 2007

Report on the Food and Drug Administration’s Review of the Safety of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin: Apr.28 2008 http://www.fda.gov

U.S Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition FDA Prime Connection: Cornell University bST Fact Sheet: Apr.28 2008 http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/

Genetically Modified Foods Update: Apr.28 2008 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/07/25

rBGH, Monsanto and Corporate Agriculture Information About Intellectual Property Rights Apr.28 2008 http://www.mindfully.org/GE/Monsanto-rGBH-Corporate-Agriculture

rBGH/rBST Apr.28 2008 http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/rbgh2.cfm

BGH: Monsanto and the Dairy Industries Dirty Little Secret: Apr.28 2008 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/articles/2002/02/27/rbgh.aspx