Monthly Archives: September 2013

Weekly Chromoscope

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September 22-28:

The theme this week is expect a change.  Things are moving fast and furiously now, and all the old stuff that you thought was so predictable is no longer so.  Foundations are shifting and things are changing.  You will see a lot of it this week.  Fasten your seatbelt, and enjoy the ride.

Overall Color for the Week:    Rose Indigo

It can be hard to face a lot of things this week, but the energies are going to make you do just that.  You may be ready.  You may not be ready.  Either way it does not matter.  Things are going to be the way they are.  They are all part of the trajectory that moves ever closer to the climax of the year.  This is a week for getting ready for that.  You will need to become aware of that, to know that preparation will make everything so much easier when things comes to pass.  But the choice is always yours.  To believe that the old will always be or to choose unending novelty, to take each moment as it comes, and to rejoice in the newness that it brings.  This is your week for looking at things all over again and choosing what is important, what can be jettisoned, what you really, really are here to do, what you have taken on because of others and their cajoling and what is your truth.  Hey, no right, no wrong.  Choices.  But there are always choices.  It is a good week for taking the longer view, having the wider perspective, and using that for your compass.  Oh, and intuition, intuition, intuition.  Listen to that inner voice.   You can be very much aware of your body this week as it starts responding to foods, environments, people in new ways.  This is not a time for panic, but it is an opportunity to work with your physicality to discover the changes it is going through and the stresses it is dealing with.  Honor your body this week and heed its directives.  You will feel better.

 

On the larger scale, there are some major shake-ups that can happen this week.  The whereabouts will be unexpected, and the results can be either devastating or fulfilling for the areas in which they occur.  We are not speaking here of only the political issues, but also the financial, climatic, and media-touted. You might just find yourself rethinking a lot of the things that you have taken for granted.  There is a new kind of currency on the horizon, and it will be goods based.  This is a week for looking at your personal worth and how your skills translate into marketable items.  There will be some rather large figures out there who are going to try to convince the people in general that things are fine and under control and just to trust them.  Basically, they do not understand what is happening and are trying to ,move away from their own fears.  Interestingly, their egos have kept them from even considering that there might arise some kind of popular outcry on all levels and in all areas which could question, much less threaten, the plans that they have had set up for so long.  There is something stirring in the area of the Balkans that can bring some interesting things to light.  Some of it is related to ancient, ancient times and the original races of Gaia, and some of it is related tot trouble that is being fomented there due to interests that wish to remain hidden.  It should be interesting as time goes on.  It is a good time not to listen to what is being said in the mass media.  Anything that is sponsored, remember this, has an agenda.  Anything that comes forth from the heart is connected to the larger intelligence, and it is there that you can find your truth.  Things are spinning this week as the pattern emerges more and more.  You can see it if you take your focus off what is nearby and allow your perspective to widen.  Weather, there seems always to be a great deal of interest here.  Well, if nothing else, the weather can be capricious this week.  You will see it in many areas throughout the world.  In the high mountains of the Himalayas waters will wash to the surface some artifacts that have been hidden for millennia, but there time is now come to be seen, acknowledged, and utilized.  The Adepts will know the function.  These kinds of thing will be brought forward outside the mass media.

Ummm – Chinese Chicken

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The New Potential Danger Lurking in Supermarket Chicken

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Processed-Chicken China doesn’t exactly have a stellar track record in regard to , earning a reputation for being one of the world’s worst offenders. In January of 2013, the FDA linked the deaths of more than 500 dogs with chicken jerky treats imported from this country.

And this isn’t an isolated incident, as more horror stories spotlighting China’s unsafe food supply have surfaced in just the past year. These include reports of poisonous fake mutton and sales of 46-year old chicken feet.

All of these recent blunders beg one very important question: Why did the just green light China to export to the U.S.?

Coming soon to a supermarket near you: Chicken products that were processed in China with no U.S. inspector present

Until recently the U.S. had a strict ban on the importation of poultry from China. Now, a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow four Chinese poultry processors to ship meat to the U.S. is troubling news to those concerned about the safety of imported food – and with good reason. Food safety standards in many other countries fall markedly short of those in the U.S., a reality that has resulted in food contamination and health risks.

At this time China will be permitted to only export cooked products from chickens raised in the U.S. Chickens will be slaughtered in the U.S. or Canada, shipped to China for processing and then shipped back to the States. Sounds totally safe, right? However, critics predict it is only a matter of time before the government expands the rules, allowing products made from China-bred chickens to end up in American supermarkets as well.

Even before these rules are expanded, this decision by the USDA is cause for concern. U.S. inspectors will not be present in the Chinese processing plants to verify that the food products manufactured in fact came from U.S.-slaughtered chickens. Even worse, the USDA won’t mandate point of origin labels on these products since they are assumedly cooked from U.S. chickens. The bottom line is that consumers won’t know if the chicken nuggets they purchase in supermarkets were processed in China or in the U.S.

What Does China Say About the Poor Safety Standards of its Food Supply?

In a July press conference, a senior Chinese official involved in trying to improve food safety standards was asked if and when the country could conform to safety standards of the developed world. He said since China was still in the process of developing, it should base its food safety regulations on “national conditions” rather than on international standards.

So why did the USDA make this decision to allow chicken processed in China into our country? For a long time U.S. beef and poultry producers have tried to lift restrictions in hopes that the Chinese government would reciprocate by lifting its current ban on imports of U.S. beef.

Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, which represents big chicken processors in the United States, stated, “We certainly don’t look forward to any more imports, but we also realize free trade is a two-way street. We’re hoping the Chinese will look a little more favorably on our chicken products and on other U.S. agricultural imports.”

Hoping… that makes us feel better.

While this goal should be pursued, it shouldn’t involve sacrificing the safety of our food supply. American consumers are the big losers in the latest USDA policy ruling.

So how can you make sure your chicken was processed in the U.S.?

Search for organic brands that encourage farm-to-fork food. All food sold in the U.S. is required to have a manufacturer’s name and contact. Don’t be afraid to call manufacturers and ask about their food-processing practices.

from:    http://www.liveinthenow.com/article/the-new-potential-danger-lurking-in-supermarket-chicken

On Plantar Fasciitis

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Top 5 Ways to Relieve Plantar Fasciitis

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Plantar-Fasciitis Anyone who has experienced the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis will tell you how awful the condition can be. Those suffering from it are typically unable to perform a number of physical activities, and often even have difficulty walking. Fortunately, several natural methods exist to safely treat the condition.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament which runs on the underside of the foot, particularly in the heel. Generally speaking, it is caused by overuse of the ligament, and is commonly exacerbated by physical activity, weight gain and aging. Rebecca Simonds, a Doctor of Physical Therapy Candidate at Emory University, noted that flare ups can also occur as a result of calf tightness or ill-fitting shoes.

It is a fairly common condition, occurring in some two million Americans each year, and can usually be effectively treated with the proper techniques. However, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can evolve into plantar fasciosis, a more serious, degenerative condition.

The pain resulting from the condition can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (), but this method generally only provides short-term relief, and does not typically heal the condition. With that in mind, consider attempting some, or all, of the following five methods as a superior way to stop a painful case of plantar fasciitis.

1.

Stretches designed to release tension in the heel and foot may help to keep the plantar fascia loose and unstrained. The three most common stretches are to bend your toes upward with your hand, bend your toes downward, and stretch out the back of each heel by pressing against a wall with one foot out behind you. Simonds also recommends stretching your calves off the edge of a step, or by gently pulling your big tow back towards your shin. Typically these stretches are performed one or two times, held for about 30 seconds each, and performed two or three times per day. Use caution in performing stretches, and release the stretch if it results in serious pain.

2. Cold Therapy

Applying ice packs to the affected area can help to reduce inflammation and swelling, and ultimately lead to reduced pain. One effective way to do this, Simonds suggests, is by freezing a bottle of water, putting it on the floor and “self massaging” the bottom of your foot for a few minutes.

Different professionals suggesting varying methods of ice treatment (and sometimes recommend mixing it with heat treatment), but in general, performing a structured ice-on, ice-off regimen over a series of days will be the most effective treatment.

3. Braces, Inserts, and Splints

Varieties of useful contraptions are available to help eliminate the strain on the plantar fascia, and should be considered for relief. Braces designed to tightly wrap around the ankle, heel, and foot can help to relieve the strain on the ligament. Likewise, shoe inserts can be used to provide additional padding and support for the heel. Splints (which are designed to be worn at night) act to stretch the ligament, and keep it from becoming tense. These types of products are widely available, and can be ordered online or purchased in stores.

4. Lose Weight

This option may be easier said than done, but reducing your weight can lessen the pain of plantar fasciitis. As the condition affects the foot and heel, greater amounts of weight to support result in greater demand and strain. Simply put, the less weight, the better. If this method of treatment applies in your situation, consider it additional motivation to improve your health, and an opportunity to improve two conditions with one approach.

5. Rest and Rub

Rest may be the most difficult treatment of all for someone with a busy schedule or an athletic event on the horizon, but in some cases it may be the only treatment that works. One smart approach is to pinpoint a particular activity that triggers the pain, and avoid it for an appropriate period of time. However, in more severe cases, general rest may be necessary, including limiting your amount of walking. Rest in combination with the aforementioned methods, may be a particularly effective mix.

And while you’re getting your due rest, Simonds recommends massaging the foot and the calf using a foam roller, to help relieve any muscle tension that might prolong the pain.

Most people will be able to alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis by following some combination of the methods already described. In particularly severe cases, less natural methods may be considered, such as cortisone injections, surgery, and even extracorporeal shockwave therapy. However, all of these methods have dangerous potential side effects, and should only be considered in rare circumstances after all other methods have been thoroughly exhausted.

Prior to panicking or performing any drastic measures, be sure to try combining some or all of these five methods to eliminate plantar fasciitis. First and foremost, remember that rest may be your best option, and despite the frustration of down time and temporarily giving up some activities you enjoy, it may be the best long-term solution.

from:    http://www.liveinthenow.com/article/top-5-ways-to-relieve-plantar-fasciitis

Technological Delusions

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The Technological Fix Delusion

intelligent earthEnvironmentalists and concerned citizens are increasingly beginning to recognize the delusion of the ‘technological fix’ – the use of technology to remedy problems caused by previous technology.

It is increasingly obvious that a new pesticide won’t finally eliminate the superweeds that evolved to resist the previous pesticide, that new and more powerful antibiotics won’t bring final victory over the superbugs that evolved to resist previous antibiotics, and that massive geoengineering projects like seeding the stratosphere with sulphuric acid or the oceans with iron (to combat climate change) will likely cause horrific unanticipated consequences.What is less obvious is how pervasive the mentality behind the technological fix is. In the United States, we respond to the failure of metal detectors, lockdowns, and other forms of control in our schools by calling for even more control. European countries unable to pay their debts are lent even more money, with the proviso that they try even harder to pay their debts. Imperialist powers apply military violence to fight the terrorism that is a response to previous imperialism and violence. Doctors prescribe drugs to address the side-effects caused by other drugs. Urban planners address traffic congestion by building more roads (which leads to more development and more traffic). And millions of people manage the emptiness of a life of material acquisition by buying more material possessions.

Underneath the technological fix is a way of perceiving ourselves and the world. More than a mere mentality of separation and of control, it comes from a disconnected state of being that is blind to the indwelling purpose and intelligence of nature.

For example, a skilled organic farmer might see weeds or bugs not as interlopers but as a symptom of imbalance in soil ecology. To address them holistically, she must believe there even is such a thing as soil ecology. In other words, she must believe in the wholeness and interconnectedness of all beings that make up soil. She must see soil as a collective, emergent entity in its own right, and not an inert, generic substrate that plants grow in.

Conventional agriculture, on the other hand, sees weeds as kind of an outbreak of badness, similar to the way we have seen terrorism, or violence in schools, or disease. To see it otherwise, as a symptom of a deeper disharmony, presupposes that there is such a harmony, an integrity, a beingness, and not just a senseless jumble. The technological fix addresses the symptom while ignoring the illness, because it cannot see an integral entity that can become ill.

I don’t want to gloss over the profundity of the paradigm shift we are accepting if we are to see nature as intelligent and purposive. To do so is to abdicate the exclusive domain to which we have appointed ourselves: the sole intelligence of the world. It is to humble ourselves to something greater, and seek our place not as Cartesian lords and possessors of nature, but as contributors to an unfolding process beyond our selves. This inescapable conclusion is, perhaps, the reason why teleology is anathema to orthodox science. Purpose was supposed to be our domain! And the king of that domain was the scientist, wielding technology to enact its dominion.

The idea of an inherently purposeful universe is far more radical than religious notions of intelligent design, which agree with mechanistic science about matter and cede intelligence to an external, supernatural being. Such a narrative offers no compunctions to limit the despoliation of nature. It asks us to humble ourselves to nothing of this world.

To be so humbled, we must see that the soul of nature – its purpose, intelligence, and beingness – comes not from without but from within. It is an emergent property borne of non-linear complexity. In non-linear systems, small actions can have enormous consequences. The technological fix is based on linear thinking. The alternative is to develop sensitivity to the emergent order and intelligence that wants to unfold, so that we might bow into its service.

What might that look like? Technology in service to Earth includes things like regenerative agriculture and permaculture to heal the soil, replenish the aquifers, and sequester carbon. It includes green energy technologies, conservation technologies, bioremediation, wetlands restoration, zero-waste manufacturing, anything that contributes to the health of the planet and its ecosystems.

Today, painfully, we are becoming aware of the folly of the delusion that we can, with clever enough technological solutions, avoid the consequences of what we do to the world. We are learning that we are not separate from nature, and that it bears a wholeness that we ignore at our peril. Our techno-utopian dreams and basic scientific paradigms are unraveling in tandem with many of our social institutions, because the underlying narrative of separation is unraveling as well.

These converging crises – social, ecological, and intellectual – are expelling us from our old story. As that happens, none of our fixes, technological or otherwise, are working anymore to control the pain: the grief, the rage, the loneliness we feel as we gaze out upon what we have wrought. Thus begins the healing journey into a new narrative of cocreative participation in the unfolding destiny of our planet.

Source: “Technology and the Intelligence of Nature,” by Charles Eisenstein, from theecologist.org

from:    http://theunboundedspirit.com/the-technological-fix-delusion/

Are you a Starseed?

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Star Seeds
Star Seeds

Last updated on September 21, 2013 at 12:00 am EDT by in5d Alternative News

 

 

 

Are you a starseed? Starseeds (or ‘lightbeings’) is a term used to describe human beings who believe they originated as extraterrestrial life from other worlds or planets, and arrived to Earth through birth or as a walk-in to an existing human body.

Persons calling themselves star seeds find that they share in common feelings of isolation or aloneness, as though they don’t quite fit in to Earth institutions and current events. It is estimated that 65 percent of starseeds are women and that about about one-fourth of these have unusual blood types. In surveys with people thought to be Star People (starseeds), the Science Channel reports that nearly half reported near-death experience and seventy-five percent had out-of-body experience. Nearly all of them say they feel tremendous urgency to fulfill a mission.

Starseeds are defined as evolved beings from another planet, star system or galaxy who have come to Earth with the specific mission of assisting its people to achieve a higher level of civilization.

In reports based on surveys, starseeds (also “beings of light”) incarnate into human lifeforms and suffer the same conditions of helplessness and total amnesia concerning their identity, origins and life-purpose as Earth humans do. Starseeds differ in a theory that their genes contain alien DNA, and are encoded to awaken them and their awareness at a planned time.

The awakening process experienced by starseeds is described as either a gradual series of realizations over time, or an abrupt and dramatic awakening of consciousness. Through the awakening process, starseeds regain their memories about their past, their origins and their missions. An increase in intuition, psychic ability, and the sense of a more universal “self” that transcends mortal identity are also commonly reported experiences.

Some star people speak of communication via telepathy with beings not of this world, either physical or non-physical. Elevated awareness claims that communication or memories recall extraterrestrial or multidimensional life, such as “beings of light” (lightbeings).

Persons who identify themselves and others as starseeds share a belief that life exists on other planets. Most believe they have lived on other planets, and many account having experiences that they claim are memories of life on other worlds. The concepts of star ships, spaceships, intergalactic travel, psychic phenomena and sentient life forms in other galaxies come naturally and seem logical to them.

 

Characteristics and Traits of a Starseed

* Descriptions and comparisons of traits shared by starseeds:
* Feeling like a “stranger in a strange land”
* Compelling eyes; unique and striking physical appearance
* Lower than normal body temperature and low blood pressure
* Sharp hearing
* Little sleep requirements
* A strong sense that Earth is not their home
* Visitations by benevolent and luminescent beings with human-appearance
* Was an unexpected child
* Unusual abilities considered paranormal by peers
* Have “flying” dreams
* Extreme sensitivy to electricity and electromagnetic fields
* Feelings that their biological mother and father are not their real parents
* Ongoing longing for some other home
* Had unseen companions as a child
* A deep knowing their home is someone among the stars
* Often starry-eyed romantics
* Often notice they glance at a clock when it’s 11:11

from:    http://in5d.com/star-seeds.html

Supplements & Cancer Care

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Available for a limited time:

Free Access: Seminal Paper on Integrating Top 10 Dietary Supplements Into Cancer Care

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Sunday, September 15th 2013 at 4:15 pm

Written By:Glenn Sabin

ICT Cover

A new paper titled Integrating Dietary Supplements Into Cancer Care, authored by the Clinical Practice Committee of the Society for Integrative Oncology, will be published in the October/November 2013 edition of SAGE’s Integrative Cancer Therapies, edited by Keith I Block, MD.

SAGE has graciously made the article available, accessible here for 30 days, starting September 1, 2013.

A significant portion of cancer patients are now using dietary supplements. However, patients often don’t report their use of supplementation to their providers. Moreover, physicians have varying levels of understanding and experience with supplements and their use with oncology patients.

“Today’s informed patients truly value physicians who appreciate them as equal participants in making their healthcare choices.” ~Moshe Frenkel, MD

This important paper, written by leading researchers and clinicians with extensive experience using supplements, features the following 10 natural agents as having some of the strongest suggested benefits and evidence of effectiveness for cancer care:

1. Curcumin
2. Glutamine
3. Vitamin D
4. Maitake Mushrooms
5. Fish Oil
6. Green Tea
7. Milk Thistle
8. Astragalus
9. Melatonin
10. Probiotics

As the article states, “The information was constructed to provide an up-to-date base of knowledge, so that physicians and other healthcare providers would be aware of the supplements and be able to discuss realistic expectations and potential benefits and risks.” Read the entire paper here.

This article will be discussed during session conducted by lead author Dr. Moshe Frenkel during 10th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) in Vancouver.

For registration information on the 10th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology, click here.

An excerpt from the Conference website is as follows….

Multidisciplinary oncology practitioners from around the globe, including stakeholders from virtually every major cancer center in the US and Canada, will convene to discuss the translation and evolution of evidence-based integrative oncology in practice, the steadily growing science base, and its continued rise in popularity as patients demand a whole person approach to cancer care that addresses the mind, body and spirit.

Keynotes by
Kerry S. Courneya, PhD
Victoria Sweet, MD, PhD
Frank Meyskens, MD, FACP

Program highlights include a moderated debate on the controversial topic of the role of cannabis in the treatment and management of cancer and related side effects, led by Dr. Donald Abrams from the University of California San Francisco’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. And, be sure to join us for our annual SIO Gala on Monday, October 21.

gsabin@fontherapeutics.com

Media and marketing veteran Glenn Sabin is a 22-year cancer “thriver” who created a comprehensive, integrative oncology approach to achieve a complete pathological remission of his CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia)—considered an “incurable” disease—without conventional intervention. Glenn’s case has been chronicled through Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and his personal oncologist, Lee M. Nadler, MD, Dean of Clinical and Translational Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Read More at his website FON Therapeutics.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.
from:    http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/free-access-seminal-paper-integrating-top-10-dietary-supplements-cancer-care

Hidden GMO’s

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Hidden GMO Exposures: Is It Possible To Avoid Them?

Thursday, September 19th 2013 at 10:45 am

Written By:

Eleni Roumeliotou

Hidden GMO Exposures: Is It Possible To Avoid Them?

Systematically bypassing public awareness and approval, GMOs have invaded a much wider market than the food industry. Dubious industrial uses surpass even the wildest imagination and show that our daily lives are far more contaminated by GMOs that we thought. 

There are many genetically modified crops that have entered our food chain and that goes primarily for processed food products. However, an incredible number of very common everyday products, often completely unrelated to food have also been seriously tainted by GMs. Most of the problems come from GM corn, soy and cotton, which have dominated conventional agribusiness for many years now and the combined fact that several secondary (or even primary) products from these crops are used in many different industries en masse, thanks to the Government subsidies.

Hidden Exposure #1: GM Corn

Corn is considered an important commodity today due to the many uses in industry. 86% of U.S. grown corn in 2010 was genetically modified, accounting roughly for 55% of the world’s corn export. But the bulk of corn that’s produced today does not go to food production anymore. Surely corn syrup is used to sweeten most processed food (candies, confectionery, sauces, bread, biscuits, flavored yogurts, juice, sodas, cough drops etc), but when it comes to food additives, corn derivatives have many names, like “xanthan gum,” “natural flavors,” “free-flowing agents,” “vitamin E,”  and “cellulose”. For example, conventional iodized salt contains corn dextrose (free-flowing agent). Corn is also a very popular animal feed; animals raised in GMO grains suffer significant physiological and immunological reactions, which alter their body and hence the products deriving from them. Corn is also used for the production of ethanol, which is subsequently used in cosmetics, hand sanitizers and alcoholic beverages, and is even mandated by the federal government to be put into our gasoline at a 10% concentration. Corn germ oil is widely used in cooking oils, salad dressings, soaps (liquid/solid), detergents and insecticides.

Corn starch is another corn derivative that has invaded many industries. Thanks to its absorbent nature, corn starch is ideal for use in diapers, deodorants, baby powder and pharmaceutical drugs; it is also used in candies that are formed in molds in order to get the fine details to hold their shape – think of gummy candies that have fine details, like character shapes or imprinted logos. Corn starch or cornmeal is also used as adhesive; it is present in the adhesive stripe in envelopes, which seals it once moistened. Industrial glues also contain corn products, mainly corn germ, which replaces more expensive options like resins. The majority of vitamin C at the moment comes from corn as well. This is because corn starch is easily converted into glucose through industrial methods, making it an ideal and cheap option for the producers. Biodegradable corn-based plastic is also becoming very popular because it needs less fossil fuel than petroleum-based alternatives and therefore has reduced carbon footprint. Such plastic can be found in food containers and plastic food packaging, lining the “to-go” coffee cups, disposable dishware and gift cards. Although covering fruit and vegetables with wax is a very old practice that improves self-life and presentation, the wax covering store-bought fruit and vegetables may be corn-based or contain corn-derived additives, even in organic produce. Textile production is also using corn products, either as colorings/dyes or the textile per se. This means that your carpet may very well be based on GMO corn (if not GMO cotton).

Hidden Exposure #2: GM Cotton

The three major cotton producers at the moment are USA, China and India. 93% of cotton planted in the U.S. in 2010 was genetically modified, while 68% and 90% of China’s and India’s cotton production is GM as well.  On a global scale, only 12 countries grow GM cotton, but they account for most of the world’s cotton production. Naturally cotton is mostly used for the production of textiles (think clothes, towels, bed sheets, upholstery). In fact, the majority of our garments at the moment are made up of GM cotton. Even in countries that have banned GMOs, there is hardly a distinction in imported textiles between non-GMO or GMO varieties, which makes it close to impossible to tell what kind of clothes we are wearing. In UK alone, it is estimated that 75% of clothes are made of GMO cotton. It is becoming so difficult to get hold of organic cotton that major retailers, such as M&S, Adidas and H&M, have teamed up to ensure ‘sustainable cotton’ can be GM. But the problem doesn’t stop here. Daily used products, such as swabs and cotton balls in your bathroom, feminine hygiene products (tampons, towels), baby products (baby wipes and diapers) are most likely made of GMO cotton as well.

Food uses of cotton are not uncommon either. Cottonseed oil is highly valued cooking and frying oil and often used a source of vitamin E. Cottonseed meal (whole grain) is used as animal feed. Leftover, non-textile fibres consist almost completely of cellulose and can be used as food additives. Cellulose (E 460) and methylcellulose (E 461) can be used as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, or fillers.

Hidden Exposure #3: GM Soy

Just like corn, soy has a variety of industrial uses, which are not limited to food products. The largest producers of soy are United States (33%), Brazil (27%), Argentina (21%), and China (7%). US and Argentina produce almost exclusively (85% and 98% respectively) GM soy, while Brazil produces approximately 64% of GM soy. As of 2007, more than half of the world’s production (58%) of soy is GM.

Soy is widely used as animal feed in many countries, which poses the same health problems as GM corn. Even countries that ban GMOs for human consumption, liberally import GM soy form the three main producers, mainly for animal feed. This is well documented in European Union, where 40 million tons of raw GM soy beans are imported every year. Soybean flour is used in all aspects of industrial farming, spanning from aquacultures, to poultry, pork and beef and even for pet foods. Soybeans are widely used for food products destined for human consumption, such as breads and pastries, Asian delicacies, soy oil/cooking oils, shortening and more. For example Taiwan’s imports consist up to 90% of GM soy from the US, which is used for the production of tofu, and other local specialties, without informing the public for the potential dangers.

However, it is the industrial uses of this crop that escape most regulatory mechanisms and most importantly public awareness and approval. Soybean oil is used in electrical insulations, fungicides, herbicides, paints, plasticizers, soaps, shampoos, detergents, disinfectants and even in ink (soy-based ink) and printing.  On top of the above, the flour is used in pharmaceuticals, water based-paints, plywood, leather substitutes, cosmetics, polyesters and textiles. These are only selected examples of the very long list of current industrial and food uses of soy. As part of the soybean extension and research project, Iowa State University has compiled a very extensive list of soy-based products, which, depending on the origin of soy, could be GM.

from:   http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/hidden-gmo-exposures-it-possible-avoid-them

New Coronal Hole

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CORONAL HOLE: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is monitoring a coronal hole in the sun’s northern hemisphere. It is the UV-dark region in this image taken during the early hours of Sept. 21st:

The white lines in the image trace the sun’s magnetic field. A coronal hole is a place where the magnetic field spreads apart, allowing solar wind to escape. A stream of solar wind flowing from this particular coronal hole is heading for Earth, due to arrive on Sept. 23-24. Its arrival could add to the impact of a minor CME expected to reach Earth at about the same time. Polar geomagnetic storms are possible early next week.

fr/spaceweather.com

Your Color Vibe for Sunday

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Sunday,  September 22:    Magenta

Ah, Equinox, the sublimity of being in the balance.  BUT do not let it rock you into some kind of lethargy.  This Equinox is not placid.  It is active.  It is not allowing.  It is demanding.  Choices have to be made today and direction set.  Where will you go from here?  What is most important?  What to keep and what to let go of?  Arrrggghh.  This can be a day form hell or a day form heaven.  It all depends upon your readiness.  It is too late now to make the preparations.  That is what the past few months were for.  It is time to move forward into the next phase.  So, the balance is tipping today and you have the option of making it go and be and do what you wish it go and be and do, regardless of the outcome.  I hope this is not overly cryptic, but it is what it is.

Your Color Vibe for 9/21

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Saturday, September 21:    Deep Forest Blue

Today brings a beginning to the next round of changes.  There can be some bumps along the road and some surprises.  Deal with each things as it arises and do not hold onto it after it has passed.  This is truly a day for enjoyment of the scenery as the Autumnal Equinox approaches and the light continues to fade.  Hidden in the depths of the forest is a new kind of magic, a magic that has been gestating for quite some time now; a magic that is ready to come forth to the light where it can show its wonder bit by bit as it continues to develop and mature.  The time of miracles is approaching, and you will feel this today.  Look towards the synchronicities that occur, the bits of déjà vu, the things that fall into your path.  They are not accidental.  Know that in all of this, you remain the creator.