Wednesday, May 25, 2011

GM Foods are Bad for Your Health

Confirmed by scientists that GM corn and other foods cause heath problems.

A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health

Males are clearly more sensitive than female animals to show physiological disturbances when fed NK 603. This is not observed for all three GM maize varieties. Moreover, most effects appear to be dose-dependent since 83% of male effects emerge only at the 33% feeding level (15/18), the highest GM maize concentration in the diet (Table ​(Table1).1). The maximal mean differences are observed in male kidney parameters.
Urine phosphorus, for instance, is importantly disturbed in a dose-dependent manner and at both 5 and 14 week periods of feeding and hence reproducible over time. The significant effect at this level does not appear to be a false positive result (week 5, 33%, adjusted p<0.003 for FDR calculated according to Benjamini and Yekutieli), considering that all parameters were not independent. Comparable results were also obtained for relative lymphocyte and neutrophil differences (all for males, week 14, 33%, adjusted p<0.005).
Among 18 GM maize-related effects versus controls, 11 show that groups of reference and control animals are similar in these cases (Table ​(Table1,1, framed values). However 6 GM-linked effects are also significant versus all reference groups (Table ​(Table1,1, double framed values). At week 5, these relative maximal effects concern a diminution of blood and increase of urine creatinine clearance, and then a diminution of blood urea nitrogen. This is not observed at week 14 (Fig. ​(Fig.3a,b).3a,b). Even so, the kidney parameters measured are clearly the most reactive in both sexes; 52% of significant effects are noticed at this level, but kidney parameters represent only 31% of those measured in total. We also observe that ion concentrations are enhanced in urine of male GM fed rats. Besides this, crude and relative liver weights are also affected at the end of the maximal (33%) GM maize feeding level as well as that of the heart which for corresponding parameters to a comparable extent, showed up to an 11% weight increase. Variations in females are far less frequent (5/23), with no clear significant differences except for urine phosphorus (major relative difference versus controls) and blood potassium (versus all groups).

Full Article:
A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health

SEATURTLE.ORG - Plastic Pollution

SEATURTLE.ORG - Plastic Pollution

Sunday, May 22, 2011

MediaBurn.org: Video Preview

MediaBurn.org: Video Preview

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Episode 42: John Rzeznik :: Live From Daryl's House with Daryl Hall :: Current Episode

Episode 42: John Rzeznik :: Live From Daryl's House with Daryl Hall :: Current Episode

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Lily the Black Bear, Hope and Faith - April 20, 2011


Youtube link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPji85I6FMc

Lily, Hope and Faith have been at the same bed tree for a week. The bears are restricting activities to the immediate area. During the researcher's visit, bear tracks were seen around the general area, including Faith's.

In this video we watch as the little one slowly wakes up from her nap. Faith is still a small cub, but she is healthy, strong, and playful.

~~~~~

Lynn Rogers, Ph.D., regarded by many as the "Jane Goodall" of black bears, has spent over 44 years learning about wildlife and sharing his information with the public. Using airplanes, vehicles and snowshoes, he has radio-tracked over 100 bears in the vast forests of northeastern Minnesota, studying some for as long as 22 years.

Lily is a wild black bear who is part of Dr. Rogers' long-term study of black bear ecology and behavior at the Wildlife Research Institute. On January 8, 2010, Dr. Rogers installed a live video camera in Lily's winter den near Ely, Minnesota, so the public could share in the birth and care of her cub.

Dr. Rogers, along with his research associate Sue Mansfield, and tens of thousands from around the world watched on the Internet, spending a sleepless night as bouts of labor continued for 21 hours and 39 minutes. Finally, on January 22 at 11:38 AM CST, Lily made some contortions, looked under her, and began the intense, sweet grunts that mothers make only to their cubs. A loud squawk from a single female cub made it definite. Lily tucked her head under her chest to care for and breathe on the cub to warm her. This was the first time the birth of a wild black bear has been viewed live on the Internet.

Lily and Hope are proving to be the best ambassadors for bears we know. The number of fans have increased to over 200,000 (over 128,000 on Facebook alone). They learned about bears from the bears themselves. They saw an animal far different from the ferocious image of the media. They want to share their knowledge and have become a force for bears.

The interest in Lily and Hope was unexpected and much appreciated by all who truly know bears. Hundreds of classrooms began each day watching the Lily Den Cam and then going on to include Lily and Hope in lessons throughout the day. People who watched from their homes discussed these bears online and became friends, all bonded by their love of these bears.

Last summer, Lily unexpectedly went into estrus, temporarily abandoning Hope to mate. They reunited and are denning together once again, as mother and yearling should. However, this year, Lily entered the den pregnant and had two new cubs along with Hope.

Visit http://www.bear.org and http://www.bearstudy.org to learn more about the research and the bears who are part of it.

China Dogs' Rescue Shows Growing Animal Activism


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRKWEzaW6jA

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Rock the House 2011 Auction for Compass House Buffalo NY

Compass House is the only center in Buffalo for runaway and homeless teens. The monies raised go for food, clothing, counseling and training for them.

Absolute Goo has raised more than $65,000 through this annual auction thanks to the generosity of the Goo Goo Dolls, other artists, Goo fans, and businesses who have donated items to previous auctions. We're hoping to have the best fundraising year yet, and we can't do that without your help!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Radiation surges above 4's fuel pool | The Japan Times Online

Radiation has risen to high levels above the spent-fuel pool at reactor No. 4 and its temperature is rising, the nuclear safety agency said Wednesday, indicating the fuel rods have been further damaged and are emitting radioactive substances.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Five U.S. nuclear reactors in earthquake zones - USATODAY.com




At least five U.S. nuclear reactors are located in earthquake-prone seismic zones, potentially exposing them to the forces that damaged the Fukushima plant in Japan, a new analysis shows.
They appear in an analysis by the mapping and geographic data firm ESRI Inc., based in Redlands, Calif. The online map, the first of its kind to let the public ....

Read the full article at USATODAY.com:

Five U.S. nuclear reactors in earthquake zones - USATODAY.com

Friday, March 18, 2011

Naval sonar exercises linked to whale strandings, according to new report

Science-daily (2011-03-16) -- An international team of researchers reports the first data on how beaked whales respond to naval sonar exercises. Their results suggest that sonar indeed affects the behavior and movement of whales.


Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Group Pans UBC's Plans to Exchange Endangered Sea Turtles with UK Aquarium - UBC, Vancouver, animal rights

Group Pans UBC's Plans to Exchange EndangeredSea Turtles with UK Aquarium
Welcome Vist Our WebSite:
http://stopubcanimalresearch.org/
VANCOUVER, BC – Today, Stop UBC Animal Research expressed serious concerns about a deal UBC was brokering over seven endangered green sea turtles currently housed at the university. According to a Postmedia news report, “A United Kingdom-based entertainment group, which operates more than 30 aquariums in European countries as well as Sea Life Minnesota, has offered to take UBC's young turtles in exchange for old or injured turtles reaching the end of their lives.” The news report also noted UBC planned to carry out invasive and ultimately “terminal” experiments on the new arrivals from Britain. Stop UBC Animal Research said it could not support such an arrangement because it would “trade one life for another” and cause stress and trauma for the turtles shipped from abroad.

“While we are encouraged UBC wants to find homes for the seven endangered sea turtles, we cannot support any deal that trades one life for another,” said Brian Vincent of Stop UBC Animal Research.

Last week, a UBC insider tipped off the Vancouver-based animal advocacy group about the university’s plans to kill the highly imperiled turtles. That story was featured on the front page of the Vancouver Sun, picked up by international media, and gained world-wide attention. Stop UBC Animal Research launched a vigorous campaign – that....



READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
Group Pans UBC's Plans to Exchange Endangered Sea Turtles with UK Aquarium - UBC, Vancouver, animal rights

Friday, February 25, 2011

Campbell Hall Kids Help Feed the Hungry - North Hollywood-Toluca Lake, CA Patch



On a blazingly sunny afternoon last week, in the parking lot of Temple Beth Hillel, about 30 third-graders from Campbell Hall School set about packing 100 food bags for the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, a charity Patch has reported on many times.

This day was the culmination of a weeklong, schoolwide food drive, during which the kids collected nearly 800 pounds of groceries.

The students were from the school's Roots and Shoots troop, the Earth Savers.

“We’ve done a food drive every year,” said Jan Weiss, co-leader of the Earth Savers. “Our group…started in first grade. So this group of 8- and 9-year-olds have been very busy the last three years.”

Roots and Shoots is the youth program of the Jane Goodall Institute, with thousands of members all over the world. The organization is devoted to doing community service, preserving the environment and learning about animals.

The dedicated activists in the Earth Savers troop participate every week in a project designed to make the world a better place.


READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE:

Campbell Hall Kids Help Feed the Hungry - North Hollywood-Toluca Lake, CA Patch

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

URGENT--ACTION-NEEDED-BY-6PM-ON-2-22-TO-BAN-THE-SALE-OF-FUR-IN-WEST-HOLLYWOOD

Greetings!

URGENT: Action is Needed by 6pm on 2/22 to Ban the Sale of Fur in West Hollywood!

Last Chance for Animals has been working with fellow animal advocates on the  
Fur-Free WeHo Campaign. There have been four rallies now, all held on Saturday's in West Hollywood. The success of this campaign is undeniable; support from the city and it's lawmakers is pouring in. However, there is a West Hollywood Council Member, Lindsey Horvath, who opposes this campaign.

Council Member Horvath is instead trying to put forth an item on the city council's agenda to have West Hollywood become the first city to implement the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, which was signed into federal law in December 2010. The Truth in Fur Labeling Act closed a loophole which let clothing garments priced under $150 go unlabeled as to whether it was faux for or animal fur. What Horvath is doing is wasting tax payers money and trying to appease the fur industry with a piece of legislation that is worthless. The Truth in Fur Labeling Act will go into affect on March 18, 2011 no matter what, that is fact! While Last Chance for Animals supports the new Federal Truth in Fur labeling Act, it's distressing to hear that Ms. Horvath would consider promoting the sale of fur, however labeled, as "Animal-Friendly", it is not. Clearly skinning an animal alive cannot ever be considered humane or "animal-friendly". Ms. Horvath needs to be encouraged to join others on the West Hollywood City Council to ban the sale of fur! It is disappointing that in response to an invitation to help end the cruelty of the fur trade that Ms. Horvath has decided to spend city resources to promote the fur trade rather then end it.  

Ms. Horvath stated that her item on the agenda (2.S.) is a "proactive way to protect animals while helping our business community come into compliance with this law". All Horvath is doing is wasting time and hindering Fur-Free WeHo's Campaign to BAN the sale of fur in the city entirely. Her proposed item would do nothing to protect animals, it would only protects furriers. Council Member Horvath is the lone voice on the city council not to support a ban on fur in the city. Last Chance for Animals cannot stand by and let her claim to protect animals by shielding furriers from prosecution under the new Federal Law. 


Tell the City Council NOT to Support the Cruel Fur Trade.  
Ban the Sale of Fur- Period!

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL BEFORE 6pm on 2/22!
  • Call (323) 848-6400 and ask for Council member Lindsey Horvath's office. Politely inform her it's NOT OK to skin animals alive for their fur! Ask her to support the BAN on the sale of fur in West Hollywood.
  •  Email Tom West- West Hollywood City Clerk for distribution to all council offices
twest@weho.org subject line: NO on 2.S.   
  • And/or email the Council Members directly
jheilman@weho.org  Mayor John Heilman 
Jduran@weho.org    John Duran
aland@weho.org     Abbe Land
jprang@weho.org    Jeff Prang
lhorvath@weho.org   Lindsey Horvath


For the Animals,

Campaigns Department
Last Chance for Animals
Campaigns@LCAnimal.org

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/URGENT--ACTION-NEEDED-BY-6PM-ON-2-22-TO-BAN-THE-SALE-OF-FUR-IN-WEST-HOLLYWOOD--.html?soid=1011040807792&aid=On86s4EJ0JY