Fair Food Fight

by: El Dragón
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 14:11

Michael Sykuta, associate professor at the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri at Columbia, wrote an opinion piece for the Modesto Bee asking Why are Feds Launching Ag Antitrust Probe? and it's not a rhetorical question:

Why, one may wonder, is the Department of Justice launching an antitrust investigation against some of U.S. food system’s major players at a time when Americans are enjoying a widening array of food choices and spending less and less of their disposable income to do so?

Sykuta goes on to lay out his argument, which is basically, "Food is cheap because of consolidation. Get off Big Ag's back!" But with a nine-digit Farm Bill bailing out the ag sector in 5-year intervals, crediting consolidation with cheap food is like crediting AIG and Morgan Stanley with a successful recovery last year. If food prices are cheap in this country, it's because we tax ourselves heavilty in order to allow Tyson, Kraft, ADM and Big Beef to consolidate around cheap grains and feed.

It's a fine strategy, if the goal is cheapness.

But that's where Sykuta's wrong. America's chief goal and reason for being isn't cheap goods; it's fair competition in the marketplace. When domination of the marketplace actually impedes growth and job creation, that's when the people need to step in via their government and chop down the big tree that's shading out the rest of the apple orchard.

Yep. All eyes are on you, Monsanto.

I got thinking about this when a buddy of mine on Twitter, a student of genetic engineering in Iowa, actually said she hoped that Department of Justice would go after Monsanto. She and I don't see eye to eye on everything (or, much), but suddenly, we were in happy agreement? Why was she in favor of breaking up Monsanto? Because it would mean more jobs in her sector and more opportunity for her after graduation. If a biotech student in Iowa sees hope in antitrust investigations, you better believe the feds see a potential economic uplift in biotech as a result, too.

And I'll take a hesitant step toward embracing that idea -- with the caveat that I can change my mind about this later. Here goes.

While a boom in the biotech field doesn't make this Fair Food Fighter all warm and fuzzy inside, I will say that more biotech companies, with a wider array of competition, might mean greater accountability and, ironically, greater transparency. As is, we have one major company in the field and its influence over government "regulation" and approval of its product is unconscionably opaque. GMO traits have historically been approved on a fast track, and, with Monsanto's stranglehold on licensing, those traits get disseminated widely and freely, because Monsanto has the deck so heavily stacked in its favor.

With more, smaller "baby Monsantos," we'd have more eyes in the field, and more competitors watching each other. We might even have the opportunity for creating niche markets within the industry -- GMO traits that are deemed "organic friendly," so that a weird marriage of sustainable farming and genetic engineering might believeably take place. Monsanto's reputation for secrecy and back-room influence makes the idea of "safe GMO traits," and the public's acceptance of them, virtually impossible right now.

So go get your axe, Barack. I think it's choppin' time.

From article at Fair Food Fight
URL Address;
http://www.fairfoodfight.com/blog/el-drag%C3%B3n/antitrust-destroying-monsanto-sake-industry

True Nature Centre Founded in New Zealand by Elysha and Sarah

There is a free ebook that is also quite interesting here called
7 Steps to Living In Your Freedom. Just wanted to share.

Please let me know what you think!

Namesta,
Allisonian

Sri Yantra; Loom; Mendala; Bindu

A mandala is a plan, chart or geometric pattern which represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the universe from the human perspective. A Sri Yantra is a type of mandala with geometric patterns. Sri Yantra literally means loom, instrument or machine. In actual practice, a yantra is a symbolic representation of aspects of divinity, the creative forces of the universe. It is an interlocking matrix of geometric figures, circles, triangles and floral patterns that form fractal patterns of elegance and beauty. These visual patterns can have a powerful effect on the mind. Just as primordial sounds, or mantras, can be useful in balancing our mind and body through hearing, primordial shapes can generate increased coherence in our brains, creating a balancing and calming influence. In cultures around the world, beautiful visual patterns are used to quiet a restless mind.




Yantra Meditation

As you look at the yantra, allow your eyes to focus on its center. This dot in the center is called the Bindu, which represents the unity that underlies all the diversity of the physical world.

Now allow your eyes to see the triangle that encloses the bindu. The downward pointing triangle represents the feminine creative power, while the upward facing triangle represents male energy.

Allow your vision to expand to include the circles outside of the triangles. They represent the cycles of cosmic rhythms. The image of the circle embodies the notion that time has no beginning and no end. The farthest region of space and the innermost nucleus of an atom both pulsate with the same rhythmic energy of creation. That rhythm is within you and without you.

Bring your awareness to lotus petals outside the circle. Notice that they are pointing outwards, as if opening. They illustrate the unfolding of our understanding. The lotus also represents the heart, the seat of the Self. When the heart opens, understanding comes.

The square at the outside of the yantra represents the world of form, the material world that our senses show us, the illusion of separateness, of well defined edges and boundaries. At the periphery of the figure are four T-shaped portals, or gateways. Notice that they point toward the interior of the yantra, the inner spaces of life. They represent our earthly passage from the external and material to the internal and sacred.

Now take a moment to gaze into the yantra, letting the different shapes and patterns emerge naturally, allowing your eyes to be held loosely in focus. Gaze at the center of the yantra on the page. Without moving your eyes, gradually begin to expand your field of vision. Continue expanding your vision until you are taking in information from greater than 180 degrees. Notice that all this information was there all along, you just became aware of it. Now slowly reverse the process by re-focusing back to the center of the yantra. Now gently close your eyes. You may still see the yantra in your mind’s eye. The patterns of creativity represented by these primordial shapes express the fundamental forces of nature. They govern the world and they govern you.






http://www.chopra.com/mandalas

Dr. Andrew Weil's Tip of the Day~~Click on this title to go to his website. There is a great food pyramid

4 Tips for Nutrition and Cognitive Health
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:06AM
To help preserve mental function and protect against age-related cognitive decline consider implementing these healthy lifestyle, nutrition and supplement choices:

1.Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. It helps prevent inappropriate inflammation and counters the damage from oxidative stress, which may be linked to Alzheimer's disease. Focus on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, foods rich in vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and the spices turmeric and ginger. My Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid has more information and specific recommendations.
2.Eat berries. Blueberries in particular may improve motor skills and help reverse age-related short-term memory loss, and may also protect the brain from stroke damage.
3.Use cooking methods that limit inflammation. Cook at lower temperatures to avoid the formation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products) which have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, and avoid cooking methods that require excessive fat, such as deep frying.
4.Focus on fish. Wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, herring and black cod are excellent sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, yet are relatively low in potential environmental toxins. Diets rich in fish have been shown to help alleviate depression and other mental-health issues.

isn't inovation key? I dare say......

I have to give this one a KUDOs by only my standard. What a lovely article and photos as well(Just ClICk on the title and see, it's an advent calendar inovative and down right smart and kind. Happy holidays and frugal festivities to all! who need them...

Winter Blessings~and hot drinks~~

So, did you ever ponder?

My Blog is my journal which I chose to use on the world wide web. To share. I am in betwix and in between.
Now back to the ponder.
How life's little parallel's are never ending and always intriguing?


Catching the fly on the cy......

What Would Dahli do?

A Prayer(wish, hope, appeal, entreaty, plea) 4 You and Me

Prayer
6/30/09
From the Book of the 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
My Wish 4 You and Me.
at the back of this little book lies some wonderful enlightening prayers. It doesn't matter what you call it, wish, or hope, if prayer doesn't suit you, but listen;
Here it is...
"Please take a moment to close you eyes,(ah, that's better), open your heart, and feel the love that comes from your heart.
I want you to join me with my words in your mind and in your heart, to feel very strong connection of love. Together, we are going to do a very special prayer(wish, if you want) to experience a communion with our Creator.
Focus you attention on your lungs, as if only your lungs exist. Feel the pleasure when your lungs expand to fulfill the biggest need of the human body - to breathe.
Take a deep breath and feel the air as it fills your lungs. Feel how the air is nothing but love, notice the connection between the air and the lungs, a connection of love. Expand your lungs with air until your body has the need to expel that air. And then exhale, and feel the pleasure again. Because when we fulfill any need of the human body, it gives us pleasure. To breathe gives us much pleasure. Just to breathe is enough for us to always be happy, to enjoy life. Just to be alive is enough. Feel the pleasure to be alive, the pleasure of the feeling of love....."
Before and after the quotes are
©Allisonians
Between the quotation marks is by Don Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements, Published 1997 by Amber-Allen Publishing, Inc. San Rafael, CA 94903

June 1st and the Midnight Summer's Dream

Ode to this beautiful time on earth.
The one where we were all birthed.
To learn from it is at all intense.
The lessons are all so immense. Unless they are modest.
To all of my fellow travelers converge.
And we'll learn from each other or we'll even merge.
To one another where we came and to where we go?
Does anyone ponder these things or say,
I have to now, I have you today??
What of tomorrow, where will we all go?
Or does it even matter how one doth flow?
Forever onwards to what, do we know?
Do we need to identify,
Or are we all where we should already be for?
And after.

My personal rhyme of the day.
Please listen and don't think I'm astray.
I may always have been this way,
I may not want to be any other day.
We might meet and say, yes we are and here we are now,
Or when we go will we go far?

I only know I am so glad for all of the times and places we've all had.
And to you who consciously make a difference, thank you and blessings and happily puristic!
And not to say we don't always any way make a difference how ever it is deemed.
For this I know to be true, do you?
Have impeccable speech
Speak only in Truth. Even if our truths vary, they are easier to read.
Don't take anything personal.
Don't make assumptions.
Do your Best.

Peace out!

©Allisonians
June 1st 2009
From June 1st 1962
Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing before you purger (plagiarize) yourself. silly silly