CALIFORNIA TO VOTE ON GMO LABELING

Posted at the request of Moms Across America. This post is copied from their email and Mama Making Changes does not claim authorship. 

Dear Friends,
Our entire movement needs your help!
The Dali Lama said "Western Women will change the world."
That is us and the time is now. And men, we cannot do this without your support!

California is the 7th largest economy in the world.
WHEN California passes GMO labeling it will be a HUGE win for our entire movement!

Don't live in California?
WE NEED EVERYONE to help!
If you do not live in CA you can send this to all your friends and family in CA, post on FB for CA friends.
You can also email national organizations or groups like Autism support groups, cancer groups etc and ask them to endorse
Californians for GE Labeling at http://www.caforgefoodlabeling.org/endorsement_main_page

Californians, can you go to this link, http://www.caforgefoodlabeling.org/take_action

Click on "Find Your Rep" and CALL them today?
Regarding GMO food labeling, ask them to :

1. Co Author
2. Endorse it
3. Vote for it

The Hearing for the vote on this bill in the committee is March 26th.
Deadline to contact your legislator for endorsements is March 27th.

If there are ANY Moms who can be at the Capitol hearing on Wednesday, the coalition is ASKING FOR MOMS to be present.
If we could have hundreds of Moms there, it would pass! 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA, 95814
Rally North Capitol Steps (L St & 11th St) 11:30 - 1:00 pm - just before Hearing. 
*HEARING –  1:30 pm - 4:30 pm   HEALTH COMMITTEE HEARING ROOM 4203


Here is an example for an email to your rep:

Dear Diane,
Thank you for all you do!!
I am writing to you to ask you to PLEASE co author, endorse and vote for the CA GE food labeling bill SB1381 which is going into going to be heard in the health committee at the Capitol next Wed, March 26, 2014.
Moms Across America ask for immediate GMO labeling so we can best care for our families. There is growing evidence of harm to our children's health when they ingest GMOs and we see our kids get better from allergies, autism, asthma and auto immune issues when they do avoid GMOs in their diet.
Will you co author and support this bill?
Signed, 
Your Name
Moms Across America

Calling and meeting is person is the MOST effective. Please call and meet with your rep as soon as possible.
Their tel. number is on their page when you click on "Find Your Rep" at  http://www.caforgefoodlabeling.org/take_action


Thank you for taking action today! This is so important!
We need EVERY person reading this to please take action and share!!!

Moms Across America
P.S. We want to support all states with hearings and legislative votes, please send us the links to your sites and your deadlines and we moms will help! Together we can move mountains!!!


Moms Across America
http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/

Monday A La Mode: July 29, 2013

This week's Monday A La Mode will be brief. I've spent much of my weekend prepping for a trip with the youth at my church. I'm volunteering as a chaperone, which means I will have 3 or 4 teenage girls with me at all times for the next 5 days! Wish me luck! I did round up a few tidbits to share with you, however. I might also have thrown in a shameless plug for my church that I love so much! 


You May Want to Read This...

• I am very much against GMOs and "Frankenfish" frighten me for so many reasons. I mean do you really want to eat animals that were grown in a lab? Click here to read more about this hot topic and you may even want to check out the rest of the site on SmartPlanet.com.
• I love Huffington Post and I recommend following them if you don't already. Check out their recent article on government subsidies for the junk food industry by clicking here and get mad!

What I'm Reading...

• Eat, Pray, Love  by Elizabeth Gilbert is a memoir of her travels to Italy, India, and Bali in a search for balance between the earthly and the transcendental. I started this a while back and got sidetracked so I thought this week would be a good time to pick it back up! Of course, I downloaded this on my Nook. I believe in using digital media whenever possible to save on paper. What are you reading? Do you love your Nook or Kindle like I do?

Freebie Alert!!!

• This week I discovered a great website that offers free personalized tutorials, videos, helpful hints, and reading to help you move forward toward a healthier lifestyle. Because it's personalized, it doesn't matter where you are in your journey currently. You will get information that's suitable for you. Check out thriveforward.com by clicking here. I signed up and started already!
• There are lots of books and apps and magazine subscriptions available to help you make the best shopping choices, but this one is absolutely free! Ethical Consumer offers a very comprehensive list of product guides on the part of their website that is available for free. Check it out by clicking here!

Why You Might Like Newspring...

• If traditional churches are not your cup of tea, you may find it refreshing that we have a band instead of a choir and that we don't dress up for church. In fact, you can watch at home on your computer via live feed at www.newspring.cc/live every Sunday at 9:15 and 11:15 am EST. I prefer being there but watching online is a great option to have! 
• If you have trouble staying awake during sermons, you haven't heard Pastor P.! We often have guest pastors that are amazing speakers, too, like Dan Lian from Australia. We don't mind laughing and enjoying ourselves during church. Church should be fun!
• Newspring is growing fast and that isn't an accident. Christ never wanted the church to be small. Newspring has doubled in attendence since this time last year! Check it out to find out why!

That's all she wrote today folks! Have a happy Monday and wish me luck on my adventure this week!

If you enjoyed this post, click here to see a complete list of all Monday A La Mode posts.

Monday A La Mode

As promised previously, I've got some interesting tidbits to share with you that I've discovered recently. So here's the dish for today -


IN THE NEWS:

• The President of the United States will be speaking at 1:35pm EST on Tuesday, June 25, about his new plan to address climate change. Don't miss this! See the video he released below.

MOVEMENTS TO FOLLOW:

• What is slow food? Put simply, it's the opposite of fast food. Learn more about the Slow Food movement and join Slow Food USA as well as your local chapter. My local chapter has potluck dinners and other meetings, as well as our own facebook page and website. While you can donate as much or as little as you like, I joined Slow Food USA via their $5 challenge. Check it out by clicking here. 
• Moms Across America is organizing 4th of July marches against GMOs in America. For more info or to join Moms Across America, join a march, or even organize a march in your town, just click here. 
• The Story of Stuff is an online community of problem solvers that lets you weigh in on issues that matter to you. Take a stand for a "sustainable and just planet" while you participate in study programs, sign petitions you support, or just keep up with current issues. Join by clicking here. Watch the video below about bottled water in our National Parks and then head on over to sign their petition to stop National Parks from selling bottled water by clicking here. 

FRUGAL RECIPE ALERT!

• You may know that I am feel strongly about food being wasted. I believe in checking the fridge for leftovers and fresh food that's near spoiling before I plan a meal. For a great way to turn leftover rice into a sweet treat (there's also a savory option if you prefer), click here to try this recipe for calas, a traditional cajun snack that used to be sold by street vendors in New Orleans. 

LOW CARB REAL FOOD RECIPE:

• No guilt here! This recipe is great for your low-carb diet and it's all made from scratch. Remember to buy all of your ingredients locally if at all possible! Click here to get Rachel Ray's recipe for Lamb Burgers on Fennel Salad. 

DID YOU KNOW...

• According to a recent article from Reader's Digest, before WWII all crops were organic. Farmers had not yet begun to use pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. To read the complete article online, complete with a slide show, click here. 
• Recycling is great, but repurposing is even better. Before you throw anything in the recycling bin, think about how you might be able to re-use it and save a little money in the process. Example: Plastic containers filled with sand, salt, rice, etc., make great dumbbells! Fill two matching containers and weigh on a food scale or bathroom scale (depending on the desired weight) to be sure they are even. Remove any labels and use a permanent marker to write the weight on the outside of each. This is great for any container that has a handle or is small enough to wrap your hand around including 20 oz drink bottles, dishwasher or laundry detergent bottles, and cooking oil bottles.



Tea Tree Oil

• Tea Tree Oil is kills bacteria and fungus naturally so it's a great ingredient for homemade bath and skincare products. Bonus: I love the way it smells! Also look for it in organic or natural store-bought products as a natural alternative to chemical anti-bacterial agents. Other natural anti-bacterials include honey, thyme, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, orange oil, lemon oil, grapefruit oil, and lemongrass. 
• There is an easy and natural way to clean the inside of your microwave. Fill a microwavable bowl with a solution of half vinegar and half water. Microwave on high for two minutes. Next, dip a sponge in the same solution (be careful, it may be hot) and use it to wipe away the grime. 

I love to read your comments. Let me know what you like, how you feel, and if you have any suggestions for Monday A La Mode. Did you learn anything?  Please share with your friends using the buttons below for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google! Thanks!

X is for Xylitol

Xylitol was discovered in the late 19th century, but lately the sweetener been touted loudly and often as a healthier alternative to sugar. Because it doesn't effect insulin levels the way sugar does, xylitol is considered safe for diabetics. In the 1970s, scientists discovered it also causes remineralization of tooth enamel before cavities can form. The natural sweetener also inhibits the bacteria that cause cavities because it cannot be used for energy, causing the bacteria to starve while the xylitol remineralizes the teeth. The bacteria in our mouths aren't the only ones inhibited by this substance. Xylitol inhibits pneumococcus, which is a leading cause of pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infections, meningitis, sepsis, cellulitis, brain abscess, and other infections. 

Be careful, however, not to overindulge. While it is considered safe by the FDA (that we all love and trust, right?), xylitol is not easily digestible and causes upset stomach if over-used. Symptoms can include bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Our bodies can handle much less xylitol than sugar. 

Of concern are the studies that show animals as small as rats and as large as dogs have experienced life-threatening symptomes when consuming xylitol. In fact, large doses resulted in liver failure. 

It is also important to note that much of the xylitol manufactured today is produced from corn, which presents all of the same problems as high fructose corn syrup. Is the corn organic? Is it GMO? How much of our farmland is being destroyed by overgrowing of corn? How much farmland could have been used to grow real food for hungry people all over the world? 

What do you think? Would you eat xylitol mints or use xylitol as a sweetener in your food? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

G is for GMO

Too often, we assume that because we are passionate about a subject that everyone else should not only know exactly what we're talking about, but also share our opinion! In reality, many people just don't know what the heck we are talking about.

Such is often the case when I start talking about GMOs. Occasionally someone will ask me what is a GMO? In fact, my mom admitted not long ago that she didn't really know anything about them and wanted to know more. 

So, this post is for those who have wondered but not asked. Just a quick and very basic overview. No opinions, just facts (although the facts are what determine our opinions, right?). There is so much more information than this, but this is an introduction. Do a little research on Google and you'll find plenty more if you find yourself interested. 

1. GMO is an abbreviation for genetically modified organism, an organism being defined by www.dictionary.com as "a form of life composed of mutually interdependent parts that maintain various vital processes." 
2. A GMO is created when scientists in laboratories alter the genes of an organism to create what they determine to be a "better" version of the original, i.e. more drought resistant or resistant to common herbicides.
3. GMO seeds are marketed to farmers as a way to produce a more bountiful crop using fewer natural resources.
4. Monsanto is the leader in producing GMO seeds and was the first company to ever successfully alter the genes of a plant.
5. Farmers who use GMO seeds are not allowed to keep seed from their crops because Monsanto, the company that produces these seeds, claim to own the sole rights to the seeds (and this has been upheld in United States courts).
6. If GMO crops pollinate neighboring farmers' crops, Monsanto claims the rights to all seed on those farms also. Thus, Monsanto currently controls about half the world's seeds for agriculture.
7. When GMOs are sold as food, there is no legislation to require that the food be labeled as such, although about twenty states have attempted or are presently attempting to obtain a labeling requirement.
8. While there is a lack of definitive research, some studies have indicated that animals that eat GMOs are negatively affected and some claim that GMOs are a carcinogen. 
9. Monsanto scientists claim that GMOs are completely safe according to their privately conducted studies.
10. About thirty countries have restricted or banned GMOs because they have not been proven safe.

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

Reaction to Russian Ban of GMO Corn

photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net

Okay. Let me apologize in advance. And warn you. I plan to rant. I need to let it out. I am angry. 

Here we are begging and pleading and signing petitions and blogging and facebooking and lobbying for LABELING of food containing genetically modified organisms and to no avail. Monsanto has so much money in the right pockets and so many people whispering in the right ears that we can't get anywhere! 

Meanwhile, France has studied GMO corn and found that it's a dangerous carcinogen. It causes CANCER! So they banned American corn. Now Russia is following suit based on the same study. And France is presenting the study to the European Union in an effort to ban all imports of American GMO corn (cause only stupid Americans grow this stuff for food).

I hope they do! I absolutely positively hope that the EU bans the stuff. Maybe then America will WAKE UP! 

I am sick and tired of big money companies running our lives. If the majority wants labeling, then label the stuff! Even better, follow France and Russia and ban GMO food in America! 

It's time for some action!

For more info on GMOs, try my previous article here or try this website for basic info and this one to stay updated on what's going on in the anti-GMO community.