Recycle Your Old Electronics at Rainbow with E-Cycle!

E-Cycle Environmental will be at Rainbow Grocery on Sunday January 04,2009 from 12 noon until 4 pm. Bring in your old televisions, computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, and electronics to be recycled free of charge! E-Cycle Environmental:

For more information visit www.ecycleenvironmental.com.

New Coupons Make Their Debut

The 2009 edition of the AT&T Phonebook has started popping up around the city. That means coupons! We've recieved a ton of calls from people with questions. Here's a few answers:

President Obama Nominates Big Corn for Secretary of Agriculture?

Andrew Kimbrell of the Huffington Post outlines reasons to be worried about former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture. Will this decision hamper the new President's ability to chart a course towards a new green economy?

There is still time to let Obama know that he needs to make more radical choices for USDA undersecretaries. Sign the petition at Food Demogracy Now! The Organic Consumers Association is campaigning to voice public opposition to Vilsack's nomination. Sign that petition at the OCA website.

Bringing the Culture Back in Agriculture

American's have been duped by the myth of mono cultures. This article gives the history and science that explain our mineral-deficient soil.

Optimism Helps Reduce Cancer Pain and Fatigue

Many of us have witnessed the strong empirical evidence that a postive outlook is a powerful weapon in the fight against cancer and other diseases. This article summarizes a study that explains how optimism can be medicine.

The Top 10 Health Breakthroughs of 2008

2008 may mark the year when we started the return to the "roots of wellness." As Byron Richards of NaturalNews.com points out:

The drug-based paradigm of Western medicine is crumbling under the weight of its own massive fraud. New technology is proving how nutrients interact at the fundamental gene level to promote health and prevent disease. The discoveries are occurring at a breakneck pace – these are exciting times.

Are The USDA's Organic Standards A Sham?

According Dr. Marion Nestle of NYU, corporate motives have corrupted the intent of the USDA's organic certification program:

As is usual for government agencies in the current political environment, business concerns take precedence. In setting the organic standards, the USDA tackled good and clean (although with some unfortunate compromises), but didn't bother at all with fair or sustainable.

This article by Kerry Trueman delves into issues of trust which are at the hearth of the organics industry.

USDA Pulls Plug on Organic Certification Agent

The California Crop Improvement Association has been reprimanded by the NOP. Their status as an organic certification agent has been revoked for a period of at least three years.

New Berry-Based Natural Sweetener "Brazzein" to Hit the Market in 2009

The University of Wisconsin has created a new sweetner dubbed "Brazzein" by processing extracts from a berry indigenous to West Africa. As this article points out:

Because the University of Wisconsin used an artificial process to extract the brazzein sweetener from oubli berries, it was able to obtain patents over the sweetener itself. No credit was given or payment made to the indigenous Africans who had used the sweetener for centuries, drawing accusations that the university had engaged in "biopiracy," stealing ancestral knowledge for private profit.

Australian government, industry to set salt targets

According to this article the average Australian consumes 900% of the salt necessary for health. We here in the US aren't far behind. It goes on the make the point that most of the salt we eat is added in the preparation of the food, not at the dinner table. All those ready-to-eat foods may be convienient. But until we get some similar restrictions here in the US, make sure and check those sodium levels!

What Makes Milk Organic? New Standard Proposed

It makes common sense that cows that are allowed graze on a diverse selection of grasses and clover would be healthier then those raised on bulk feed. So why don't organic standards support this supposition?

Eleven organic breakfast cereals get put to the spoon

Ever found yourself staring at the rows of packaged cerals in aisle 2? The options seem endless. Make the right choice and buy a cheap ticket to morning nirvana. Make the wrong one and risk a sugar jolt, broken tooth or worse.

Toronto Is the Latest City to Ban Bottled Water

The city of Toronto has taken the bold move of banning the ubiquitous plastic water bottle.

Animal study suggests existence of sugar addiction, says scientist

Scientists are close to completing the argument that sugar addiction is real.

Black radish extract may replace sulphur dioxide for wine: study

In a new study, researchers are experimenting with this natural addidtive for wine.

Organic & Small Farmers Are a Strategic Key to Solving the Global Warming Crisis

The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) strives to give local farmers a voice on the national scene. They are bringing awareness to the integral role that farmers play in turning the tide against climate change. Read the full article at the OCA website.