Tag Archives: glyphosate

Agriculture, cancer, Glyphosate, News, Rangitikei District Council

The Glyphosate Presentation to the Rangitikei District Council Pt. 2 … Question Time

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Following on from the RDC meeting in late March 2015 where the topic of eliminating the spraying of glyphosate in urban Rangitikei’s public places was discussed following a report by Council into cost effective alternatives. If you missed part 1, read it HERE first.

The Outcome

Fast forward to the day of the meeting in March when the outcome was given. Council read out their report, embedded in the Order Paper [on page 26, Council Agenda 26 March 2015 electronic version.compressed (1)] which states, briefly,  that a no spray register will be established so that those who wish to opt out can, and any areas thus opted out of will be kept weed free by that person. There was then some discussion around the issue and other possible options put forward. Cr Sheridan suggested that the no spray areas could be sprayed by the current contractor using a non chemical spray. Mayor, Andy Watson however,  foresaw difficulties price-wise with that, potentially incurring more expense for ratepayers, so the idea was dropped.  Cr Sheridan asked why the report had not addressed the initial health issues raised at the forum in November. CEO Ross McNeill responded that he had only been directed to research what alternative options other Councils used … not the health issues. More discussion ensued and Cr Ash tried to point out the recent findings by WHO and Canterbury University regarding health risks. She was promptly reminded that this was question time, not discussion time. Seconds later (still question time) another Cr expounded on the safety of glyphosate with nods of agreement all around.

So you will see here, the way Council operates, there is no room for discussion or dialogue, except by Council of course, amongst themselves, whilst you sit and listen only. There is no opportunity to correct any misconceptions, or to raise any other issues. Your five (rather four) minutes … is it. There ends your input.

Would it not have been pertinent to research the health issues which, after all, were the point of the whole exercise?  It seems the RDC takes the three monkeys approach (if we don’t look at, hear or speak about the research then we won’t need to be concerned … even if it is by Doctors and Professors). By virtue of one very specific Mayoral direction here,  the whole health issue is effectively sidelined. I feel this is a very lop sided way of interacting with the community … the  very people who elect these representatives. You may or may not agree.

Two Other Questions Raised by Councillors

I should add here, in the mix of the discussion, two other questions were raised by other Crs. One was the cost of preparing the report, specifically … how many hours did it take [waste] in preparation? A very pointed question to which of course I was unable to respond in any way.

So here, a person is vilified for daring to raise health concerns for the public, health concerns the public are unaware of because, as has been established by France’s highest Court, the manufacturer has lied about its safety. Everybody believes it is safe.

It clearly isn’t.The other question was, ‘who else was concerned about this issue or was it just one person?’ [that would be me presumably]. I was unable of course to respond to that either … had I been able to I could have said there were, as far as I knew, at least ten other persons anyway. Quite likely more but we shall see.

An UPDATE here: There are currently, as at 16 July 2015,  111 others who are concerned. If you happen to be concerned also, please sign the petition HERE. You could also ‘like’ our glyphosate FACEBOOK PAGE and stay informed with regular updates on this issue.

~ Watch for Part 3 ~

Pam Vernon  ~ Envirowatchrangitikei ~

Glyphosate, RDC, Related Chemical Websites

Petition to Ban Carcinogenic Chemical in Rangitikei’s Urban Public Places

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TO: THE RANGITIKEI DISTRICT MAYOR ANDY WATSON, AND CEO ROSS MCNEILL

We are calling on the Rangitikei District Mayor Andy Watson, and CEO Ross McNeill, to protect the public’s health by banning the use of the carcinogen glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, within the Rangitikei town limits. We want to see the Community housing grounds and parking areas, street verges, berms and roadsides, public parks and walkways designated chemical free zones.

Why is this important?

Recently glyphosate was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Class 2A carcinogen, meaning, it probably causes cancer.
In 2009 French Professor Séralini’s two year study on glyphosate found it produced large cancerous tumours in rats. Because its effects are cumulative and not immediate (that is they only show up over a long period of time) people generally think it is safe. Dr. Don Huber, an award-winning, international scientist, microbiologist and professor emeritus of plant pathology at Purdue University (US) who has 55+ years experience in research and expertise in the area of plant pathology, says that contrary to the common claim of safety, a large volume of peer-reviewed scientific information clearly demonstrates that Roundup herbicide is chronically toxic to human and animal tissues and leads to cancer, premature death, kidney and liver failure, blood disorders and a host of other diseases.
Glyphosate is many times more toxic than DDT, and there’s also a correlation between Glyphosate use & bee die off.
With our cancer statistics at one in three now and climbing, it is important we protect the public, particularly children, from exposure to this chemical. It is a product most Council contractors use in keeping both urban and rural public areas weed free. There are some Councils however that now use chemical free alternatives, one in particular is hot water and foam. Some of us have already requested of Rangitikei District Council that they consider a chemical free alternative, however they’ve declined, based on their own report that failed to look at the proven cost effectiveness of hot water and foam treatment which is almost equal in cost to chemical spraying.
Our environment has long been subject to frequent spraying of this toxic chemical and France’s highest Court ruled in 2009 that it is not biodegradable as advertised. It has now also been found present in human blood, urine and breast milk. With WHO’s damning conclusions we need to be taking responsibility for protecting our health and making our beautiful district healthy and environmentally friendly for all. The public spraying of this carcinogenic chemical is a violation of our human rights.

Help us make public areas in our Rangitikei towns both glyphosate and chemical free now.

Sign the Petition HERE

Herbicides, Rangitikei District Council, Related Chemical Websites, roundup

Rangitikei Mail reports on Rangitikei District Council’s Spraying decision

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Spraying Decision Dismays

By Caroline Brown

A Marton resident says she is disappointed with the council’s decision to continue using a chemical-based herbicide for weed control.

Pam Vernon claims the council has side-stepped health concerns about the main active ingredient of Roundup – glyphosate – and instead focused on cost.

The Rangitikei District Council voted on March 26 to maintain existing methods of weed control and to formally establish no-spray lists. Residents choosing to be on the no-spray list would be responsible for the upkeep of the land.  The council contracts the spraying of urban areas to Fulton Hogan.

The council requested a report on alternative methods to chemical spraying for weeds after Vernon raised her concerns around the safety of current methods in a presentation at the end of last year.

Non-chemical sprays, pastes, gas burning and hot water treatment were investigated in the report as alternative options for the treatment of weeds. The council report indicated that cost was a prohibitive factor to many alternative methods.

At the meeting Cr Cath Ash questioned the report’s indication that hot water treatments were 15 times more expensive than herbicide and suggested the council contact some providers for quotes. Ash said the council had an obligation to consider alternative methods to chemical spraying in light of research by the University of Canterbury into the risks of glyphosate and the World Health Organisation suggesting glyphosate was a potential carcinogen.

Vernon said she also had issue with the report’s conclusion on the cost of hot water treatment. She said she had contacted a provider and was told that while at the moment it would be about 10 to 15 per cent more expensive by the end of this year it would be cost comparable.

Vernon said she decided to make a presentation to the council last year after ongoing issues with spraying around her property. She said it was good to finally have a formal no-spray register, however she did not think it went far enough.

“I believe the council are not really interested in finding another option.”

Mayor Andy Watson was not available for comment but in a statement endorsed the council’s decision based on the commissioned report.

 

Agriculture, Glyphosate, Health, Herbicides, Related Chemical Websites

Monsanto Employee Admits an Entire Department Exists to “Discredit” Scientists …Natural Society

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From Natural Society … by Christina Sarich …

This article shows what lengths this company will go to to push its poison on people. Not only do they lie, they pull out all stops to stamp out any opposition. The heat has turned up for them with WHO’s latest announcement that Glyphosate probably causes cancer. And still our environmental protection agencies continue to allow people to slather it everywhere… schools, Councils, farmers, contractors.

“Dare to publish a scientific study against Big Biotech, and Monsanto will defame and discredit you. For the first time, a Monsanto employee admits that there is an entire department within the corporation with the simple task of ‘discrediting’ and ‘debunking’ scientists who speak out against GMOs…”

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/monsanto-employee-admits-an-entire-department-exists-to-discredit-scientists/#ixzz3XLtFZ0nN
Follow Natural Society: @naturalsociety on Twitter | NaturalSociety on Facebook


See our other Glyphosate pages for more info & links, &/or search categories for further related articles (at left of any page). 

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Thank you!

EnvirowatchRangitikei

Bees, cancer, Carcinogen, Chemical Sprays, Environment, Glyphosate, GMO, Herbicides, News, roundup, WHO

The Glyphosate Presentation to the Rangitikei District Council Pt.1

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Following on from the recent update on the chemical spraying presentation made to the Rangitikei District Council forum in November 2014, and featured in the Central District Times recently,  I’ve offered some thoughts on the Council process. This may be informative for some, and  may also dispel some illusions about our so-called democratic processes.

A few weeks ago at the last Council meeting, March 26th, a verdict was given  by RDC about the presentation … chemical sprays in public spaces. (The terms Glyphosate and Roundup are used interchangeably here. The active ingredient in Roundup is Glyphosate). To bring you up to speed with the original presentation, you can read it at this link … https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/a-presentation-to-council-regarding-chemical-herbicide-spraying-in-public-places/  

The Process

When anyone presents an issue of concern at a Council forum the time limit is five minutes which includes question time, so it is really only four. Bear in mind with an issue this large this is not long. I had to condense my case to the quintessential and speak at top speed. Also bear in mind that in attending Council meetings there is little if any space for actual dialogue around issues. Five minutes is it. The process is not that people friendly (one Cr didn’t hide the fact he found the issue humorous) nor conducive to meaningful interaction or problem resolution. The Mayor, Andy Watson, allowed two questions from the Councilors … one centered around other possible alternatives. These I provided as I’d researched them. The other was not a question, rather it was to tell me that Horizons could provide the correct information about spraying parameters / guidelines / exposure etc. That completed I was duly thanked for my presentation and I sat down. I quietly whispered to  a member of the Community Committee who was also there that day, asking her what happens next (quietly because you’re not supposed to be talking in there … and the Community Committee by the way, is a conduit group between community and Council).  It appears that I should have asked specifically for somebody to get back to me on the issue. Since I hadn’t,  that could well have been the very last I’d have heard about the issue.  Now who ever would know that ‘minor’ technicality about being heard? It could have effectively disappeared into the black hole, forgotten forever. As good fortune would have it however, after I’d left and the meeting continued, Cr Sheridan voted for the matter to be put on the Agenda. It was seconded by Cr Ash. The Council was going to research other NZ Council methods of weed treatment and write a report.

The History

Now, bear in mind here, seven or so months prior, I’d emailed Council citing the research on the health risks of using glyphosate sprays (the herbicide of choice by most councils throughout the country). This research had been dismissed as ‘unproven extrapolation’.  Cr Ash, and myself, had then met with the Mayor to discuss the research and the possibility of using non chemical sprays in the urban areas. He had sent us each away to research weed control methods used by other Councils with the prospect of RDC’s possibly considering  a  non-chemical alternative that was cost-effective … should we find one that is. In addition, information was given regarding how to get this issue onto the agenda using Council protocols. By all appearances, to the uninitiated, a very convoluted process. Because of these prior happenings, I already had a great deal of information on other councils, so later, I emailed contact details for an Auckland contractor with a cost effective hot water treatment.

During the interim I endeavoured to email updates to the Mayor and all Councilors about the surrounding facts on this issue since four minutes had clearly not enabled me to do this.  In addition I kept them up to speed with all the latest research that comes in at quite a steady pace these days. Councilors apparently, have a great deal of information to wade through I’m told,  so there are seldom any responses. Not even an ’email received’ message.

The Research

Anyway, regarding the research (and the case against Glyphosate is mounting) the latest is the World Health Organization’s announcement that Glyphosate probably causes cancer (and I see Dr Oz weighing in on this as well). In addition, Canterbury University has said Glyphosate causes resistance to antibiotics. Neither the

The Seralini Rats
The Seralini Rats

Mayor, the CEO nor the Councilors (bar two) are impressed by WHO’s research, or any of the large body of research that is available on Glyphosate. Not surprising since our Government approves it,  end of story.  Note here, many governments have actually banned it though and France’s highest Court ruled that Monsanto (the manufacturer) has lied about Roundup’s biodegradability.  Sadly, with the way Council works, there has been no opportunity for dialogue on this issue. Still, I do not believe it is rocket science.  I would be placing my money on WHO, Professor Seralini’s evidence and France’s highest Court, as opposed to the wisdom of the Rangitikei District Council in Marton or the NZ government (aka corporation) that says it is GE free by the way and is not. Remember, Monsanto initially tested their lab rats for the required ninety days … not long enough for tumours to develop. Professor Seralini’s team tested them for two years… long enough to grow enormous tumours.

Why is Monsanto not now re-testing for two years themselves to prove to the public their product is safe? And why was it so difficult for Prof Seralini to even get a sample of their Glyphosate-laced GM corn to use in his research?

(Watch the Seralini video HERE or read the damning transcript). Would you buy a used car on the car salesman’s word alone? This is historically what the authorities have done with Roundup. It’s all been on Monsanto’s say so.  Read more about the RDC’s decision in my next post.

Pam Vernon

~ Envirowatchrangitikei ~

Glyphosate, Health, Related Chemical Websites

New Study from NZ Shows Roundup Herbicide Causes Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria

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From Sustainable Pulse:  “Research lead by a team from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand has found that commonly used herbicides, including the world’s most used herbicide Roundup, can cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics….”

An update here on the ongoing Glyphosate research this time from our own laboratories here in NZ … it gets more disturbing by the day. Each piece of research that is damning of the product should be leading all countries to ban it. Posts soon to follow regarding our own district and submissions to Council to restrict its use in public places….

Read the article HERE

Glyphosate, Health, RDC, Related Chemical Websites, roundup

Central District Times reports on Glyphosate outcome for urban spraying in the Rangitikei

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RDC’s Verdict on Non-Chemical Urban Spraying Option in the Rangitikei 

The Central District Times has reported on the outcome of my presentation to the RDC’s forums on 26th March 2015 . You can read the CD Times article at its source HERE, or to enlarge, click on the copy below….the article by Caroline Brown is titled …

URBAN SPRAYS OPTIONAL

Urban Sprays Optional CD Times

I have written a response to this article, not published at this stage (it may or may not be). You can read it here:

Letter to the Editor re ‘Urban Sprays’, 31st March 2015,

This issue was raised with the RDC 12 months ago citing much research deeming glyphosate a probable carcinogen. The response; ‘unproven extrapolation’. Following discussions with the Mayor at my request, he said if a cost effective alternative were found it would be considered. Seven months later I made a presentation to the RDC citing the research again, requesting opt out from chemical sprays in Rangitikei’s urban public places. Two Cnlrs voted it onto the agenda pending a report by Council. I then forwarded contact details for a company in Ak with a proven system costing 10-15% more than glyphosate (not 15x more) set to match glyphosate by end of year. The contact wasn’t followed up. If you decide to opt out of chemical exposure, be prepared for ridicule and unpleasantness.  When RDC discussed this, the Clr for the proposal, in citing the latest announcements from WHO and Canterbury University, was directed to stick to questions not discussion, whilst seconds later a Clr against the proposal, still question time, was allowed to expound on the safety of glyphosate. For more info & if you’re for a chemical free urban Rangitikei, sign the petition at envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com or the Sustainable Rangitikei FB page

Please note, the online petition will not be on the websites until this weekend 11th April.

Please consider signing it if you are at all keen to restrict chemical spraying around town where humans, including our children, are exposed. You will find more information on the spraying of Glyphosate in particular, on the Glyphosate page, a sub page to the Chemicals page. Links to the research are there also. For further articles use the categories box at the left of the pages, or scroll to ‘Updates’ at the bottom of the Glyphosate page. Sign up for ongoing updates.

Pam Vernon

~ Envirowatchrangitikei ~

Additives, Baby food, Food, Glyphosate, Health, roundup

Report Finds Gerber Baby Food Filled With GMOs … Don’t feed this to your baby

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Here is some shocking news on baby food and formula. I’m unsure if this brand is sold in NZ however readers from the US will recognize it. A quick search tells me it is sought after by parents outside of the US. A fairly recent report told us NZ baby foods contain 800x more pesticides than those in Europe. Good reason to do some online research before buying. I emphasize online because it tends nowadays to be not 100% reliable to simply ask the companies. Remember the Ribena fiasco? Two fourteen year old High school students discovered in a classroom experiment, the manufacturers, GlaxoSmithKlein had been lying about the Vitamin C content. If you’ve read the information on my website with regard to how corporations operate (see the movie The Corporation on the Corporations page) you will know they are frequently caught lying. Their bottom line is profits not people, health or safety …. a sad reality. Nevertheless the tools are there for us to find out for ourselves. Better still, if you can, grow or buy your own fresh organic food for baby, that is by far the best. You will then know what it contains. Do your homework and protect your precious little ones.

The article is from Natural Society’s website:

 “What kind of person, even as the head of a major food retailer, would want to feed developing children pesticides and questionable genetically modified ingredients?…..”  Read the article HERE

Bees, Glyphosate, GMO, RF, Smart Meters

Wally Richards’ Weekly Article: For your garden plus updates on Glyphosate, the Bees & Smart Meters

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Here is Wally’s latest updates from his Weekly Newsletter page. Check out his website for lots of information & advice on local gardening plus recommended products. This week he’s commented on Big Tobacco, Germany, the bees and Bayer, and on the WHO and glyphosate….
WINTER IS COMING

Now that day light savings has finished we realise that winter is coming and in a number of areas light frosts have already occurred.

From my own experience in Palmerston North and talking to gardeners in other areas including Invercargill, the winters now days are very mild to what we experienced when we were young.

Heavy frosty mornings with frost lasting well into midday but nice sunny blue skies except when we had what we called a black frost.

That was when the frost did not disappear because the day would have heavy clouds, which did not allow the sun to warm the ground. Not nice.

These days in Palmerston North at least we do not have too many frosts in winter and usually the ones we have are light and soon disappear. Outside of the city you do not have to go far to find a good frosting when the conditions are right.

What has changed besides ‘climate change’ is the warmth that a city generates from houses, vehicles and street lighting. Pollution in the air also acts the same as cloud cover trapping heat and preventing frosts to settle. We are more likely to see fogs than frosts.

This bodes well for the more tender plants which would be damaged or killed by a good frost.

It does not help with control of pest insects and plant diseases which a good heavy frost will knock them for a six.

For us gardeners we still need to give more tender plants some protection and later in winter use methods to reduce disease and insect pests.

Now is the time to take action to help your plants survive the winter chills.

Apply Fruit & Flower Power to the root zone of plants that could be damaged, your preferred plants and any tender plants. The potash and magnesium in this product hardens up the foliage, strengthens the root system and helps to maintain nice green foliage.

Apply this month and again monthly for the next two months on evergreen plants but only once on deciduous plants and trees.

Wet weather diseases are caused by lots of rain and insufficient drainage.

The root systems need oxygen and if there is too much water then there is insufficient oxygen, the roots can hold their breath (so to speak) for a while but then they will start rotting.

You will see leaves turning yellow, curling and dropping followed by the plant’s death.

You can assist the plants to withstand wet weather diseases by spraying them with Perkfection Supa once a month for the next 3 months on evergreens such as citrus. One spray on your roses and deciduous trees at this time.

If you can; ensure that the drainage around plants that hate wet feet is improved where possible.

One easy way on established plants such as citrus or around the edge of vegetable gardens is to dig a trench one or two spades deep. On citrus and similar just out beyond the drip line.

Excess water will drain into the trench where wind and sun will evaporate it away quicker.

This is only needed where you know that ponding takes place during rainy times, good free draining areas are not so prone to the problems.

For our final protection of tender plants we can use the ‘spray on frost protection’ called Vaporgard.

Mixed at 15mls per litre in warm water and sprayed over the foliage of tender plants it will give them down to minus 3 degrees frost protection for 3 months within 3 days of application.

This works very well on the first frost but if there are several frosts in a row, night after night then additional protection such as frost cloth will be needed.

The reason for this is the damage to the cells does not have a chance to repair before they are frozen again.

Tender plants that are in containers can be moved to places where they are protected such as under the eaves or under evergreen trees. I now can keep impatiens and petunias in containers going year after year by using all the above suggestions and having them in sheltered areas.

Plants such as capsicums and peppers growing in open ground can be sprayed with Vaporgard under and over foliage and a couple of days later carefully lifted and placed into containers.

Then moved to a glasshouse or protected area like a porch where they will continue to produce for you slowly over winter as long as you keep them a little on the dry side.

Now that the soil is cooler and rains have starting to moisten the gardens; means you can plant your spring bulbs in sunny areas. Container grown bulbs are likely planted already.

Let your strawberries run and root in for a fresh lot of plants later in May.

LATEST NEWS:

Monsanto & Bayer

The latest news is very interesting as chemical company giants, Monsanto and Bayer are taking a hammering as reports about the harm some of their main products are doing to our health and the environment.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently placed glyphosate on level 4 meaning its a very probable cause of cancer. (Level 5 means it does definitely cause cancer.)

Monsanto’s cause was not helped by the video of pro-GMO Patrick Moore claiming Monsanto’s glyphosate is “safe to drink,” then walking out of an interview when asked to prove it, has been making the cyber-rounds. But perhaps no one has framed it better than Jeffrey Jaxen, a writer for Before It’s News.

Jaxen calls the Moore interview a “Big Tobacco Moment,” comparing it to the publicly televised statement in 1994, by William Campbell, then-CEO of tobacco giant Phillip Morris, who told Congress, “I believe nicotine is not addictive.”

Jaxen wrote: “When paradigms shift, tyrants fall, or corporations lose their market it is often not from some spectacular event, but by a single, humanizing display.”

If you have not seen it go to:  https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/gmos-big-tobacco-moment-shocks-public-awake

Bayer is loosing its battle; saying their toxic neonicotinoids such as Confidor are safe. Study after study show neonicotinoids are a key culprit in bee declines and are harming other organisms, from earthworms to birds.

Bayer filed a lawsuit against Friends of the Earth Germany in an
effort to shut down their campaign to save the bees. Thanks to the work
of concerned people across Europe, Bayer lost and Friends of the Earth
Germany won. This demonstrates the importance and power of organizing and
when the truth is revealed, people can push back against corporate power,
and win.

On the home front it was reported that Lloyds of London are not covering events
of smart meter fires or health risks associated with wireless devices. 

Likely soon most insurance companies will follow suit as they normally do
when Lloyds makes exclusions..

Are Smart Metres causing fires? According to TV3 news yes; within the
last five months there have been 67 call outs in Canterbury to
malfunctions involving power boxes, and 422 throughout the country.

Smart Meters & Power Surges Causing Fires

Your power company installs a smart meter and then when there is a power surge it can blow up appliances and possibly set your home on fire, which has happened in NZ and overseas.

Then you could find your Insurance company has wavered damage cause by Smart Metres.

Not only that but health problems cause by High Intensity Radio Frequencies are not going to be covered either. See:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF-djNIb5Oc

People and children sensitive to this radiation can have problems of head aches, nose bleeds, emotional problems and sleeplessness. Makes for more interesting times.

Wally Richards

cancer, Carcinogen, Corporations, Food, GE, Glyphosate, GMO

“GM-Free” Domino’s Caught Selling GMO-Laden Pizzas

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From NaturalSociety … all too common now, the lying of corporations to sell their wares. So here Dominoes has been caught LYING. People are waking up to their wiles. A good expose of corporations that explains all is the doco ‘The Corporation’. This will clearly set out for you how and why corporations tell bare faced lies. They have no conscience for one but analytically, it goes deeper. To guard your good health you must research the facts. No longer can we rely on these behemoths to be truthful, and neither can we rely on the mainstream media to report the truth either. The thing with the GM developments, and particularly with GM crops that tolerate lashings of glyphosate, WHO has recently announced glyphosate probably causes cancer (which we did already know from mountains of other research including France’s Professor Seralini’s findings) however it is convenient for governments world wide (aside from some) to ignore the facts. For further information on all of the above visit the Corporations page and the Glyphosate page on this site.

Read the NaturalSociety article HERE

cancer, Gardening, GE, Glyphosate, GMO, Health, Herbicides, roundup

Wally Richards’ Weekly Column: This Week, WHO’s latest announcement on Glyphosate

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Here is Palmerston North’s gardening guru Wally Richards’ weekly garden news & commentary. Wally gives us his thoughts on the latest findings from WHO … “Glyphosate probably causes cancer”. This latest revelation from WHO along with Canterbury University’s findings were presented to the RDC last Thursday, however they remain unconvinced and the status quo remains regarding the liberal use of Roundup (active ingredient is Glyphosate) in Rangitikei’s public spaces. (Remember, this is also sprayed on pastures so glyphosate has to be in our meat and milk!). Read Wally’s articles and further research on the topic. You can sign up for his weekly article, and phone him on the toll free number provided if you have any gardening queries. You can also email him with queries (details at the end of the article). His website is a mine of useful information.

Gardening Articles for week ending 4th APRIL 2015
Written by Wally Richards.

GARDENING CHEMICALS RAISING HEALTH CONCERNS

The news this week coming from the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that glyphosate the active ingredient in Roundup (and found in other weed killers), ‘probably’ causes cancer.

There has been mounting evidence of this from various science reports and findings over the last few years.

All of which Monsanto denies as they did in the past with Agent Orange as being safe.

The health problems came to light in Vietnam when Agent Orange (and similar) herbicides were used to defoliate jungles causing servicemen and local populations major health issues..

On the 21st March 2015 (The Guardian article said) – Roundup, the world’s most widely used weedkiller, “probably” causes cancer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – WHO’s cancer agency – said that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide made by agriculture company Monsanto, was “classified as probably carcinogenic to humans”.

It also said there was “limited evidence” that glyphosate was carcinogenic in humans for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, said scientific data did not support the conclusions and called on WHO to hold an urgent meeting to explain the findings. “We don’t know how IARC could reach a conclusion that is such a dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the globe,” said Philip Miller, Monsanto’s vice-president of global regulatory affairs.

Concerns about glyphosate on food have been widely debated in the US recently, and contributed to the passage in Vermont last year of the country’s first mandatory labeling law for genetically modified food.

The US government considers the herbicide to be safe. In 2013, (Based on information supplied by Monsanto’s scientists) Monsanto requested and received approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency for increased tolerance levels for glyphosate.

Monsanto will fight this tooth and nail because of the many millions of dollars the company makes every year from selling this herbicide.

In March, 2015, 17 experts from 11 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC; Lyon, France) to assess the carcinogenicity of the organophosphate pesticides tetrachlorvinphos, parathion, malathion, diazinon, and glyphosate (table). These assessments will be published as volume 112 of the IARC Monographs.1

In NZ already we see that some of the above chemicals have already been removed or restricted by EPA and ERMA. Which is very good but there appears to be no controls or restrictions on glyphosate.

We do not even test for the chemical in our food chain and I am sure that if we did the results would be alarming.

Glyphosate does not disappear when it hits the soil (Which was another lie Monsanto told when Roundup was first introduced) Instead it has a soil life of months or years dependent apon what research

you read or on what soil type.

One thing would appear certain is that if land is cleared using glyphosate at the recommended rates and a food crop is planted then that produce will have glyphosate traces in the foliage and even larger concentrations in root crops.

Farming practices that Monsanto recommends make matters even worse; this includes killing pasture grass with glyphosate and immediately putting stock into graze. (Likely spraying while stock is there)

In dairy this means that glyphosate would be in milk, cheese and all by products.

Does Fontera test for glyphosate? I dont think so but it is an interesting question. It could likely mean that traces of glyphosate would be in baby formula?

Then its also in your meat from farm produced stock. The health of the stock is very likely affected also.

As I wrote back in February, Monsanto also encourage farmers to use Roundup as a desiccant, to dry out all of their crops so they could harvest them faster. So Roundup is now routinely sprayed directly on a host of non-GMO crops, including wheat, barley, oats, canola, flax, peas, lentils, soybeans, dry beans, carrots, parsnips, onions, potatoes and sugar cane.

To sum up there is very likely a lot of glyphosate in your food chain coming in small amounts from all those foods we normally eat and no one tests for the chemical!

A few parts per million in your potatoes, onions, meat, breakfast cereals, milk, cooking oils, bread, carrots, sugar etc. Add it up for one day’s meals and maybe thats a lot of parts per million? We do not know because glyphosate is assumed safe according to our Govt departments who presumably only relate to what Monsanto says to the FDA. The fox is guarding the chickens.

Here are some facts:

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide, currently with the highest production volumes of all herbicides. It is used in more than 750 different products for agriculture, forestry, urban, and home applications. Its use has increased sharply with the development of genetically modified glyphosate-resistant

crop varieties. Glyphosate has been detected in air during spraying, in water, and in food. There was limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of glyphosate.

Case-control studies of occupational exposure in the USA, 14 Canada,6 and Sweden 7 reported increased risks for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that persisted after adjustment for other pesticides.

The AHS cohort did not show a significantly increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In male CD-1 mice, glyphosate induced a positive trend in the incidence of a rare tumor, renal tubule carcinoma. A second study reported a positive trend for haemangiosarcoma in male mice.

Glyphosate increased pancreatic islet-cell adenoma in male rats in two studies. A glyphosate formulation promoted skin tumors in an initiation-promotion study in mice.

Glyphosate has been detected in the blood and urine of agricultural workers, indicating absorption.

Soil microbes degrade glyphosate to aminomethylphosphoric acid (AMPA).

Blood AMPA detection after poisonings suggests intestinal microbial metabolism in humans. Glyphosate and glyphosate formulations induced DNA and chromosomal damage in mammals, and in human and animal cells in vitro.

One study reported increases in blood markers of chromosomal damage (micronuclei) in residents of several communities after spraying of glyphosate formulations.

Bacterial mutagenesis tests were negative. Glyphosate, glyphosate formulations, and AMPA induced oxidative stress in rodents and in vitro. The Working Group classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans”

One of my pet thoughts is the great number of people that have allergies these days compared to say 50 years ago before glyphosate. The chemical in the food chain could well be the cause of a number of these health conditions.

Here is an interesting thought, where trade agreements that allow companies to sue countries if legislation used to protect the populations reduces the profits the company had being making!

Why not have the reverse where a company that supplies a product/chemical that is found to be harmful later on, then that company is totally liable for all the costs involved to that country.

That might have a few chemical companies and pharmaceutical companies change their ways.

Latest news; glyphosate also causes antibiotic resistance in harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

My personal opinion, its the worst gardening chemical currently for gardeners health.

Problems ring me at 0800 466464 (Palmerston North 3570606)
Email wallyjr@gardenews.co.nz
Web site www.gardenews.co.nz

cancer, Glyphosate, monsanto, Related Chemical Websites, roundup

WHO Glyphosate Report Ends Thirty Year Cancer Cover Up

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From Sustainable Pulse:

“Following on from last week’s Word Health Organization (WHO) report on glyphosate, which confirmed the world’s most used herbicide probably causes cancer, Sustainable Pulse has discovered documents from 1991 that show how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) themselves were fully aware of glyphosate’s carcinogenic potential….”

These revelations are shocking. Please read, educate yourself and protect yourself & your loved ones…

Having attended RDC’s brief discussion on this yesterday, and heard their total endorsement of this toxic product, and refusal to consider the mounting evidence against it I’m left mystified. Presumably intelligent people, some of whom have university degrees, steadfastly refusing to consider the fact that the World Health Organization just MIGHT be right?

For more information and links on Glyphosate and Roundup, visit the Glyphosate page on this site.

Read article at the SOURCE

cancer, Glyphosate, Herbicides, Pesticides, roundup, WHO

WHO Declares that Glyphosate Herbicides Probably Cause Cancer

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This is not a long article and it illustrates yet again the dangers of this product, dangers it seems nobody wants to consider going by our persistence here in NZ (and elsewhere) in using it:

WHO Declares that Glyphosate Herbicides Probably Cause Cancer

-assessment is by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

-IARC reached its decision based on the view of 17 experts from 11 countries, who met in Lyon, France, to assess the carcinogenicity of 5 organophosphate pesticides.

-The IARC’s assessment of the 5 pesticides is published in the latest issue of The Lancet Oncology. (LINK TO LANCET PROVIDED)


LINK TO ARTICLE http://sustainablepulse.com/2015/03/21/who-declares-that-glyphosate-herbicides-probably-cause-cancer/
GE, Glyphosate, GMO, monsanto, Seeds

GMO dangers revealed by former U.S. government scientist

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(NaturalHealth365) “Since 1996, when genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were first introduced, we have seen a dramatic rise in the rates of food allergies, autism, reproductive disorders and digestive problems. Of course, companies like Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta – which own approximately half of the entire proprietary seed market – would have you believe that GMO dangers don’t exist. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth……..

One of the biggest lies connected to GMO technology exposed Agricultural technology corporations, like Monsanto, continue to push the notion that the use of GMO seeds will reduce the need for toxic chemicals in farming. Yet, in the past 5 years, due to the development of weed-resistant crops – farmers have been required to spray more herbicides on their fields – in an effort to kill the weeds. This is having a devastating effect on our environment and human health”. – See more at the source:

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/gmo-dangers-soil-scientist-digestive-disorders-1329.html#sthash.m1F83kya.dpuf

Agriculture, Carcinogen, Glyphosate, Glyphosate, GMO, Herbicide, New Zealand, roundup, US Congress

How GMOs and Glyphosate Get Approved

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Kiwis in particular readily use glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular product called Roundup, because it is advertised as ‘safe’ and ‘biodegradable’. Glyphosate is an integral part of the GE food industry because it is sprayed on GM crops. The seeds for those crops are genetically modified to tolerate the herbicide, therefore it becomes ingested by whoever eats it. However, France’s highest Court has ruled that Monsanto lied about its safety and has deceived the public. Roundup/Glyphosate is not biodegradable. This brief video explains how the industry works  to promote the view that it is safe. The following short video (3 1/2 minutes) is from http://www.naturalhealth365.com

http://www.naturalhealth365.com offers this exclusive interview with Jeffrey Smith, a leading consumer advocate promoting the health benefits of non-GMO food choices.

Video highlights include:

How genetically engineered foods got approved. (shocking facts!)

Suspicious Food and Drug Administration behavior exposed.

The scientifically-proven health dangers associated with eating GMOs.

Revealing truths about the most dangerous (genetically modified) chemical on the planet.

Plus, much more!

In less than 4 minutes, this video is packed with lifesaving information for you and your family. Help us spread the word and share this video with everyone.

To hear the entire interview with Jonathan Landsman and Jeffrey Smith plus much more – join us inside the NaturalNews Inner Circle, a monthly subscription – by clicking the link below:
http://www.naturalnews.com/NaturalNew…

To learn more about glyphosate and its dark side, and to become active in persuading the Rangitikei District Council to restrict its use in the Rangitikei, visit the glyphosate page on this site by clicking this LINK

Food, GE, Glyphosate, GMO, roundup

GMOs, Monsanto’s RoundUp Found in Kellogg’s Froot Loops

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Now, we know that most folks think Roundup is so safe you can drink it. A local farmer told me when it was first introduced back in the ’70s it was advertised as being as safe as ‘Sunlight Liquid’ dishwash. If you really think it’s safe, visit the Glyphosate page on this site. It has been linked by independent, peer reviewed research with many illnesses, including cancer & birth defects. Especially, read the research and watch the video from the French team of scientists who tested this product for two years on lab rats (there on the ‘glyphosate’ page). They grew enormous tumours. Monsanto tested their own product on lab rats for just three months. It was given long term approval and here we are more than 3 decades later and it is still be slathered everywhere, and particularly on GE, Roundup read crops. Many farmers use it pre harvest on their wheat. We are ingesting this stuff from many fronts. Educate yourself and spread the word.

Here is the article from the Natural Society website that says Roundup has been found in Froot Loops! No surprizes there … it’s also been found in human breast milk. It has to stop… read article on Fruit Loops, other cereals and GE foods.

READ ARTICLE HERE AT NATURAL HEALTH WEBSITE

Breast Cancer, Glyphosate, New Zealand, roundup

Pinkwash – baleage wrap conceals true cause of rural cancer

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Glyphosate in Roundup, the spray that Kiwis love to slather everywhere… an older post but a reminder of the need to educate yourself. Classified by WHO as a probable carcinogen.

Saturday, 10 January 2015, 12:03 pm
Press Release: Food Matters Aotearoa

Press release 8.1.15
Food Matters Aotearoa
Pinkwash – baleage wrap conceals true cause of rural cancer
desiccation with Roundup, a leading cause of rural health problems. Exposure to Roundup has be shown to increase incidence of female cancers and reproductive problems and male problems such as infertility and prostate cancer.(2)
Have you noticed the eye-catching pink wrap now appearing in paddocks around you? Agpac’s admirable action in donating a percentage of the price of each roll to the Sweet Louise breast cancer charity highlights the health problems facing rural families.(1)  Read Full ARTICLE HERE

Note details too at the end of the article, regarding the upcoming Food Conference in Wellington (Feb 2015) with Professor Seralini, Dr Meriel Watts and others.

Glyphosate

Glyphosate-Resistant Grass Was Approved in 2014 Without Any Review

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I’ve had a NZ farmer tell me he grows GM grass. He was a dairy farmer. I can’t verify this as in prove it however the man who told me, I do not believe would lie about this. NZ is not GE free as claimed going by previous information. Read our GMO pages.
EnvirowatchRangitikei

From naturalsociety.com on GMO grass approval…

“New GMO-Approved Grass may Infiltrate a Lawn Near You

The USDA has just approved a new genetically modified, glyphosate-resistant grass without a single environmental review. Apparently, Scotts Miracle-Gro company and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) thinks GMO grass, targeted for sale to golf courses and other turf-like arenas – is brilliant. The government agency just approved the new GM, glyphosate-resistant grass without a single environmental review…..”

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/new-gmo-approved-grass-may-infiltrate-lawn-near/#ixzz3OGtywcaw

As another of naturalsociety’s articles at their site says, we can kiss grass-fed beef good bye. Don’t think they won’t try that here. We already have a recent Herald article saying ‘GMO is the way to go…’ from Massey’s Peter Kemp. All the information from the independent research falls on deaf ears. What is their agenda?

cancer, Chemical Sprays, Fungicides, Glyphosate, Herbicides, Massey, New Zealand, Pesticides

Massey Researcher Seeks Farmers, Orchardists, Horticulturalists for Health Research into Sprays

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From ‘Rural Women New Zealand’

“Massey University Research Nurse, Heather Duckett, wants to talk to farmers (sheep & beef, dairy, deer), orchardists and horticulturalists/flower growers in the Lower North Island from Taranaki across the Central Plateau to Hawke’s Bay and south to Wellington as part of her research into the use of sprays (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides) and the effects on health.

She wants to contact 50 farmers who either use sprays or who may enter paddocks after spraying has been done.

The research is around the higher risk these people face as an occupational group of developing blood and lymph node cancers.”

To find out more information email: H.G.Duckett@massey.ac.nz, or call (06) 350 5064.

Click here to view an Information Sheet about the study.

– See more at: http://www.ruralwomen.org.nz/news-and-inspiration/health-research-into-pesticides#sthash.zkiisGZz.dpuf

Dairy Cows, Glyphosate, monsanto, Pesticides

Dr Krüger: Glyphosate is Toxic to Dairy Cows

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“Field Investigations of Glyphosate in Urine of Danish Dairy Cows

NZ, where Glyphosate is an integral part of farming
NZ, where Glyphosate is an integral part of farming

A new study by  a team of scientists led by Dr Monika Krüger has revealed that Glyphosate (Roundup) is toxic to the normal metabolism of dairy cows…”

Here is yet another study revealing the toxicity of Glyphosate. Read the full article HERE, at ‘GMO Evidence’, and/or download the actual study from the Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology.

And in the meantime, from Reuters

USDA report says pesticide residues in food nothing to fear

Note in this article … “Last year, Monsanto Co, the developer of Roundup, requested and received EPA approval for increased tolerance levels for glyphosate…” and… as usual the USDA don’t test for Glyphosate… so who knows how much is in our food? Now bear in mind why Glyphosate gets such free reign:

MonsantoandUSGovernment.

Glyphosate, Rangitikei District Council, Related Chemical Websites, roundup

Presentation to Rangitikei District Council Re Chemical Spraying in Public Places

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On November 27th I presented to the Council Forum information (including credible research) regarding the need for some parameters around the spraying of chemical sprays in public places. Click on the documents to read:

Information presented to Council Forum on 27 Nov 2014
Information presented to Council Forum on 27 Nov 2014

Roundup forum presentation, picture image for site0002

Of the twelve Councilors, two are interested in this issue. Clearly convincing people of the authenticity of the independent research is a hard sell. People will either not look at the research or they just don’t believe it … even the long term research of Scientists, Doctors and Professors in their respective fields … unmoved by the obvious conflict of interest that exists in Monsanto testing their own product. The product is not safe. Please read the expanded information on Professor Seralini’s two year long experiment on rats on the Glyphosate page.    Monsanto tested their product prior to release for the required 90 days. Further to this, the following information offered by Dr Meriel Watts from Auckland (see PANANZ website & also link at the end) highlights quite explicitly the problem with the initial approval of glyphosate and Roundup. It follows a govt submission she has recently made regarding very high pesticide levels found in NZ’s baby food (800 times higher than the EU’s). She states that the testing of pesticide levels including Glyphosate, are industry funded, and therefore subject to a conflict of interests. I cite that info here:

1) No critical study in these vital toxicity assessment areas, that form the parameters used to approve our daily consumption, our RfDs / ADI’s, are ever supplied by an independent organisation like, say a university or public interest group.

2) Every animal study for glyphosate (the pesticide commonly known as Roundup) that the USA EPA and the WHO use to apply the ‘non-carcinogenic to humans’ rating, is sponsored and paid for by an agrichemical company.

3) The toxicity studies for glyphosate (Roundup) are all private, obtained directly from contracted laboratories that only work with industry – Product Safety Laboratories, Dow, ABC and Covance. They are unpublished and unavailable for review by public sector health representatives or individuals.

4) The very studies that provide the parameters that end up being residue levels, within toxicity assessment, are only ever supplied by the very organisations that require the toxicity assessment to be declared safe.  In the case of glyphosate, the studies for proving non-carcinogenicity are only ever provided by Syngenta, Monsanto and Cheminova.

5) Furthermore, no study ever uses the stronger, more effective complete formulation of Roundup, (only the weaker active chemical glyphosate is used).   And I believe this ‘policy’ has profound ramifications for our health.

This is precisely why the lack of parameters around spraying Glyphosate and any other chemical sprays concerns me.

Full article & references go here: http://www.rite-demands.org/make-it-safer-blog/

A book by Dr Watts on pesticides and the vulnerability of children is now in our local Marton library or can be found on the pananz website. The title is ‘Poisoning our Future: Children and Pesticides’  http://www.panap.net/sites/default/files/Poisoning-Our-Future-Children-and-Pesticides.pdf

Agriculture, cancer, Chemical Sprays, Food, Food, Glyphosate, Glyphosate, Health

The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic (it’s not the gluten)

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Here is an article that traces many allergic issues back to glyphosate that is sprayed on wheat crops before harvest. A regular practice apparently that kills the plant and allows an earlier harvest. Great idea if you don’t mind ingesting a herbicide that’s been linked with many diseases including birth defects and cancer.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, as of 2012, 99% of durum wheat, 97% of spring wheat, and 61% of winter wheat has been treated with herbicides. This is an increase from 88% for durum wheat, 91% for spring wheat and 47% for winter wheat since 1998.

Read the full article  from the healthyhomeeconomist website HERE

Agriculture, Food, Glyphosate, Herbicides, Organic, roundup

ALERT: Certified Organic Food Grown in U.S. Found Contaminated with Glyphosate Herbicide

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This is alarming. Those who buy organic and/or grow their own food to avoid glyphosate are now encountering this. It demonstrates how widespread are the reaches of this poison called glyphosate.
EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

“Think you can avoid glyphosate by buying organic? Think again. A new investigation by Tropical Traditions reveals that many products in the organic grain market in the U.S. contain glyphosate residue at levels almost the same as conventional grains.

Brian Shilhavy
Health Impact News Editor

With over 80% of the U.S. food supply now reportedly contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate, many people are turning to USDA certified organic products to avoid this toxic chemical……”

Further links from the article on glyphosate:

Glyphosate Herbicide Causes Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, Kidney Disease, and Infertility

Is Glyphosate Responsible for your Health Problems?

Common Weedkiller Used in Modern Agriculture Could be Main Factor in Gluten Intolerance

Gluten Intolerance and the Herbicide Glyphosate: A National Epidemic

MIT Researcher: Glyphosate Herbicide will Cause Half of All Children to Have Autism by 2025

Why Should We be Concerned about Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is in 80% of our food supply in the U.S., and some scientists believe it may well be the most toxic chemical ever approved for commercial use. Glyphosate is now linked to kidney disease, antibiotic resistant bacteria, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, depression, ADHD, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, cancer, cachexia, infertility, and developmental malformations. It destroys the microbiome of humans and plants, which is the root cause of many modern diseases.

– See more at: http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/alert-certified-organic-food-grown-in-u-s-found-contaminated-with-glyphosate-herbicide/#sthash.hAX9xINF.dpuf

Corporations, Glyphosate, monsanto, News, Related Chemical Websites

Roundup linked to birth defects

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New Study Shows Direct Link Between Monsanto’s Glyphosate And Birth Defects

By: Tammy Marie Rose

“Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup, which contains glyphosate was linked to fatal kidney disease back in the spring.  In parts of Central America after an epidemic of fatal kidney disease Roundup was banned in El Salvador and Sri Lanka.

Now new study shows a strong link between glyphosate fetal deaths and birth defects.  Monsanto continues to stand by its product calling it a ‘safe and effective herbicide,’ but as the evidence mounts it is becoming abundantly clear that Monsanto is doing all that it can to keep the public in the dark….”

Read more: http://www.daybreakmill.com/blog/new-study-shows-direct-link-between-monsantos-glyphosate-and-birth-defects

cancer, Glyphosate, Health, monsanto, News, roundup

Glyphosate (Roundup) Linked To Cancer of the Lymph Tissue In New Study

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A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reviewing almost 30 years of research into the relationship between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and occupational exposure to pesticide active ingredients reveals a link between blood cancers in the lymph glands and the popular herbicide glyphosate also known as Roundup.

Read Sayer Ji’s article and links to the research at greenmedinfo.com