Monsanto and Its Cover

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Survivalann

Monsanto, best known for its genetically engineered crops, had scored some victories early this year when President Obama signed a spending bill, HR 933 into law.   Best known as the “Monsanto Protection Act” the decision bars the federal courts from being able to halt the sale or planting of controversial genetically engineered seeds, no matter what health issues may arise in the future.

Even though there were thousands of voters who signed a petition opposing the provision and White House protestors, President Obama endorsed the bill.   Surprisingly, many members of Congress were unaware that the “Monsanto Protection Act” even existed within the bill they were signing.   In fact, the provision’s language was written in collusion with Monsanto.   Seattle attorney, Bill Markler, who has represented victims of foodborne illnesses in lawsuits against corporations, stated, “Any time you tweak with the ability of the public to seek redress from the courts, you create a huge risk.”

However, Monsanto has had some setbacks.  Most recently, in early May, the Department of Agriculture has decided to subject crops to more stringent environmental reviews.   In question are Monsanto’s dicamba-resistant cotton and soybeans.   Currently, most of the corn, soybeans, and cotton grown in the United States are genetically engineered to tolerate the main herbicide-Roundup or glyphosate.

With the introduction of a stronger herbicide into farming, dicamba, many farmers are concerned that their corn and soybean crops would be destroyed.  Consequently, Monsanto has prepared dicamba-resistant cotton and soybeans which could impact human health.   Environmental opponents of Monsanto state that the approval of these herbicide resistant crops could spur even larger increases in the use of dicamba which is more damaging to the environment and human health than Roundup or glyphosate.

Monsanto called the delay for reviews from the Agriculture Department “unexpected,” since they were hoping to sell soybeans by next year and cotton by 2015.   The Department hinted that the decision to approve these dicamba-resistant crops would rest on whether they are a plant pest risk.   Environmentalists have pointed out that when environmental impact is secondary, then there are flaws in the regulatory system.

For more information:  see Environmental Review to Delay Two Engineered Crops – New York Times.com  (May 11, 2013)

 

 

Posted in Monsanto | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Signs of the Times

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Survivalann

Will it survive?

Since the time of Noah, people have seen natural disasters as divine punishment or the result of angry gods for man’s bad behavior.   However, now we’re moving towards a more natural explanation of disasters.  During the Holocene period which covered the last 10,000 years, temperatures and sea levels were relatively stable.    Presently, we are in a new geological era, which scientists call Anthropocene-a world remade by man, most obviously in his emissions of carbon dioxide.

The excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has resulted in more glacier ice melting, water heating, mega-floods, and heat-waves, not witnessed in magnitude before.  Climate change is making the world more seismically active with tectonic and volcanic forces occurring.

Some would argue that there are more natural catastrophes now than ever before in any time of history.  It can also be argued that there are more people living on the planet  with profound consequences to the environment and world.  According to a British report published two years ago, in March of 2011, by Paddy Ashdown, a member of the British House of Lords, “scientists believe that recent natural disasters are not an aberration, but the beginnings of a new kind of future in which mega-disasters are going to be more frequent.”

As a consequence of environmental disasters, there will be an onset of humanitarian disasters in the coming years that will accelerate according to the report.   Non-climate related disasters as earthquakes and man-made disasters will impact people even more.  The question now becomes, if these are now signs of the times, can man change his behavior and lift his consciousness and heart to create a more environmentally-just world and greener planet?

 

Posted in Natural Disasters | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Pope Francis Calls for a Poor Church for the Poor

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Survivalann
On the balcony

In a nod to global inequality of wealth and climate change, the newly elected pope has chosen to honor a famous saint who loved creation  and who looked after what had been created.   This  pope  revealed that during the counting of the final votes, he thought of peace and that was when the name, Francis, came to his mind and heart.

St. Francis of Assisi represented poverty and profound peace.   St. Francis was known to have kissed the hand of a leper and to formally denounce all his wealth.   He was the son of a prominent aristocrat who forsook riches to live in poverty as a preacher and guardian of nature.   This well known saint also was the great reformer of the church during the Middle Ages when the church had fallen to corruption and the outward trappings of wealth and power.  St. Francis began his mission when he heard the call to “rebuild the church.”   This great saint changed the church by his example and simplicity.

There is a quiet dynamism exhibited in this 76 year-old  pope who has been an advocate of the poor.    His episcopal motto, “lowly, but chosen,” is indicative of the course his papacy may assume.  After his election to one of the highest offices, this pope settled his own hotel bill, turned down the papal Mercedes, and opted to hop on a minibus with the cardinals to the Vatican conclave residence.   This is reflective of his personal style of humility.  As a cardinal, in Buenos Aires, he moved out of the episcopal palace, maintained his own apartment, cooked his own meals, and traveled by bus to work each day.

The pope has called for a poor church for the poor, a church of simplicity and greater transparency.  This pope may just hold the  key to evangelize and rebuild the church, like his namesake.

Posted in The Church and the Poor | Tagged , , | Comments Off

More People and Less Food

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Survivalann


It is estimated that the global demand for food will double over the next forty to fifty years.  Presently, there are over 6 billion people on the planet.  By 2040 there will be around 9 billion people if global births continue. World population is exploding and consequently the demand for food.

Further complicating matters is the environmental degradation and the lack of water to grow more food. It is estimated 25% of all farm land has some degradation. Food can no longer be obtained from the oceans because 30% of the fisheries have collapsed. Of the 6 billion people living on earth, it is estimated that over 1 billion people in the world go to bed hungry every night. Somewhere in the world, someone is starving to death every 3.6 seconds. It is estimated that a third of all children in the world now suffer from malnutrition in some degree.

The importance of food and water conservation and environmental protection became evermore paramount for everyone. It is estimated that in developed countries people throw away from one-third to one-half of all food produced. With the global economy collapsing, food conservation and food production will become the most important consideration.

Posted in Food Crisis | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Hunger in America

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Survivalann

  • Hunger has come to this country of plenty.  According to the blog, investment watchblog,  a record 46.7 million Americans are on food stamps, and anti-hunger organizations all around the country are reporting a greater need than ever before.  The underlying question is what will happen when this country can’t feed its poor.  The food shortages seen in other countries could spread to this country.    Escalating food shortages and drought conditions have compounded the problem.  In poor countries, people typically spend half their incomes on food. 

Leading scientists from the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) have reported that there will not be enough water to produce food for the 9 billion population in 2050 if changes in diet are not made now.  It is estimated that humans are deriving about 20% of protein from animal-based products.   To compound the problem, the United States, has been in a drought pattern which has led to reduced exports worldwide.   The drought has reduced the corn yield and driven feed costs sky high.  This in turn, has led livestock producers to liquidate their herds which will shrink the supply of meat.

Even horse ranchers have been affected in the western United States.  Pastures dried last summer and ranchers were forced to use their winter hay.   Some ranchers sold their horses and others abandoned them.   The cost of feed skyrocketed.

If the price of feed and food continues to escalate, food shelves could empty and that would increase the malnutrition present in some communities.    The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program have jointly stated last September, “We need to act urgently to make sure  that these price shocks do not turn into a catastrophe hurting tens of millions…”

http://investmentwatchblog.com/food-inflation-food-shortages-and-food-riots-are-coming/

 

Posted in Food Crisis | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Climate Change and Its Impact on Human Health

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Survivalann

Long term extreme weather and hotter days will impact human health.  Medical authorities are reporting that the implications for human health  as a result of climate change will be serious.   Most significantly, the Pacific countries such as Australia are already experiencing disruptions with food and water.

In an interview given by Professor Tony McMichael of the Australian National University to Radio Australia, Professor McMichael stated that there is a high potential for the spread of disease-transmitting mosquitoes and rainfall pattern changes.   Such would be the case if mosquitoes began to thrive if there were warmer and wetter conditions.   There is a real threat of malaria, dengue fever, and other viral diseases spreading if the climate changes.

Other issues would include problems with food and water supplies for low-lying Pacific nations.  Since there is continual coastal erosion with storms, water from the sea can spill over and contaminate well water.  This in turn can present a host of health problems.   If there is further erosion and contamination of water, some Pacific communities will be forced to move to higher ground.

Finally, hotter temperatures and extreme temperatures can lead to heat related deaths such as heart attacks, strokes, and heat exhaustion.   The most vulnerable would include the elderly and the very young.   For more information: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asia/radio/program/connect-asia/climate-change

 

Posted in Environment and Health | Tagged , | Comments Off

Is it cancer Mrs. Hughes?

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Survivalann

Is it cancer?

In last Sunday’s third season premiere of Downton Abbey with several million viewers glued to their sets,  Mrs. Hughes, the Crawley family housekeeper was informed that the results were inconclusive for breast cancer.   She would have to wait another two months to find out her fate.   In the 1920′s, prospects were very grim for anyone with cancer.   Most cancers were a death sentence since most patients  delayed diagnosis and options for treatment were near non-existent.   Usually, for most patients, there was metastasis with pain involved.

During that period of time depicted in Downton Abbey, women were not educated about breast cancer.  Often, it was not until the cancer was eroding through skin causing an ulcer, that attention was paid to the problem.   When the family doctor drew fluid from Mrs. Hughes’ breast, the fluid contained blood which prompted the two month delay and further suspense.   In that time, the only operation was the Halsted radical masectomy in which underlying chest muscle was removed.   Thus, Mrs. Hughes reacted as if she had received her death sentence.

Fast forward almost one hundred years later and cancer still remains the leading cause of death today in the world.   It is projected that the deaths from cancer will continue to increase for the next twenty years through 2030.   However, unlike the much beloved character, Mrs. Hughes, there is hope for cancer victims.   It has been estimated that at least 30% of all cancers have a behavorial and dietary component to them.    These predisposing factors include low fruit and vegetable intake, decreased physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, high body mass, sexually transmitted diseases such as HPV infection, and urban air pollution.

Other recognized solutions include reducing exposure to occupational hazards, toxins, and to sunlight.  Along with dietary regimens, there are also psychological and spiritual aspects that can change the course of cancer in the body.   Many of these components are yet to be fully recognized by the medical profession.

The solutions become more clear for those who strive to live healthy .  Unlike the unfortunate Mrs. Hughes of Downton Abbey, who had few choices, there are opportunities in today’s world to be proactive with our health for survival.

Posted in Cancer | Tagged , | Comments Off

Doomsday: 12/21/12

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Survivalann

For Doomsday soothsayers, the world and civilization as we know it, ends on December 21, 2012 of this year.  Such predictions are based partly on myth, the Mayan calendar, and the popular media which has focused so much attention through movies and books on that date.

Is December 21, 2012 the end of the world and civilization as we know it?  Can it be the time and beginning of the great tribulation spoken of in the Bible?  Could this significant date be the ending of an old age and the beginning of a whole new age to come?

To alleviate the anxiety and mass panic among people everywhere on the planet, NASA began debunking some of the myths associated with the planetary end by answering questions about how the planet would be destroyed.  NASA has answered some of the questions submitted to them concerning the end date Mayan prophecy.

The Mayan calendar that hangs in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City is composed of three calendars.  The Long Count calendar has been used to predict the end of a period, not the end of the world.  Since the Mayans understood the precession of equinoxes, the calendar was designed to end on the solstice of December, 2012.  However, according to Mayan scholars, the Mayans believed that a new cycle would commence after 2012 for planet Earth.  The 2012 cycle is the end of 5,125 years.

According to NASA, there is no planetary risk from bombardment of planets or asteroids as depicted in media and movies.  The last asteroid to hit the Earth occurred 65 million years ago which led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.  In regard to a polar shift, NASA claims that will not happen for the next several millennia.  Furthermore, no risk is seen from solar flare activity predicted for the next two years.  Also, debunked by NASA are stories about wayward planets, such as planet X hitting earth.  http:www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

What is known and accepted is the increase in environmental disasters and catastrophes that are man-made or induced by our lack of proper stewardship of the planet.  The clock is ticking for us if we disregard our relationship to nature and our fellowman.  What we can learn from the doomsday date of December 21, 2012 is that the time is long overdue fro man of earth to take responsibility for proper stewardship for all creation, from the lowest of creatures to fellow human beings.

Let his solstice, Dec. 21, 2012, be the beginning of peace and goodwill for all on Earth.

Posted in Mayan Prophecy, Survival Prophecy | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Looming Worldwide Food Crisis in 2013

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Survivalann

According to the UN, world grain reserves are so low that severe weather in the United States or other food-exporting countries could trigger a major hunger crisis by early next year.  Failing harvest in the United States and other countries have eroded worldwide reserves.  A  worldwide food crisis has been predicted.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization recently released figures that the food crisis is growing in the Middle East and Africa.  Yields of most crops have been falling worldwide.  The need for key staples including wheat and rice may double in the next 20 years.   Lester Brown, president of the Earth policy research centre in Washington, stated that the climate for growing crops is no longer reliable and the demands for food are growing so fast that a breakdown is inevitable.  “Food shortages undermined earlier civilisations.  We are on the same path.  Each country is now fending for itself.  The world is living one year to the next,”  Lester Brown stated.   Food unrest is now predicted as the principal threat to our future.

 

 

Posted in Food Crisis | Tagged , | Comments Off

Hurricane Sandy and Planetary Disaster

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Survivalann

Hurricane Sandy just finished smashing its way along New York City and the rest of the densely populated Northeast weeks ago leaving a trail of devastation and death.  New York City was left without power or transportation.  Those that were confined to apartments had little access to public transit, water, or provisions.   The storm left millions of people without power.

Scientists have attributed Hurricane Sandy to the overall global warming trends.  Intense storms have been on the rise in the last twenty years.  Rising sea surface temperatures have been linked to global warming resulting in a greater number of stronger hurricanes.  Record warm conditions make more intense hurricanes easier to occur.

Dr. James Hansen, NASA scientist, recently stated that maintaining carbon dioxide concentrations of 390 ppm in the atmosphere will guarantee disaster.  “We will have a planetary emergency if we burn all fossil fuels.”   To ignore the problem of greenhouse emissions is both negligence and denial as humans living on this planet.  With sea levels rising and more coastal areas affected, Hurricane Sandy could be speaking to us for years about the ill-fated actions of our own doing.

 

Posted in Environment and Health | Tagged , , | Comments Off