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The great GM crop yield myth exposed
Genetic modification actually cuts the productivity of crops, an authoritative new study shows, undermining repeated claims that a switch to the controversial technology is needed to solve the growing world food crisis.
The study – carried out over the past three years at the University of Kansas in the US grain belt – has found that GM soya produces about 10 per cent less food than its conventional equivalent, contradicting assertions by advocates of the technology that it increases yields.
Professor Barney Gordon, of the university's department of agronomy, said he started the research – reported in the journal Better Crops – because many farmers who had changed over to the GM crop had "noticed that yields are not as high as expected even under optimal conditions". He added: "People were asking the question 'how come I don't get as high a yield as I used to?'"
He grew a Monsanto GM soybean and an almost identical conventional variety in the same field. The modified crop produced only 70 bushels of grain per acre, compared with 77 bushels from the non-GM one.
The GM crop – engineered to resist Monsanto's own weedkiller, Roundup – recovered only when he added extra manganese, leading to suggestions that the modification hindered the crop's take-up of the essential element from the soil. Even with the addition it brought the GM soya's yield to equal that of the conventional one, rather than surpassing it.
The new study confirms earlier research at the University of Nebraska, which found that another Monsanto GM soya produced 6 per cent less than its closest conventional relative, and 11 per cent less than the best non-GM soya available.
The Nebraska study suggested that two factors are at work. First, it takes time to modify a plant and, while this is being done, better conventional ones are being developed. This is acknowledged even by the fervently pro-GM US Department of Agriculture, which has admitted that the time lag could lead to a "decrease" in yields.
But the fact that GM crops did worse than their near-identical non-GM counterparts suggest that a second factor is also at work, and that the very process of modification depresses productivity. The new Kansas study both confirms this and suggests how it is happening.
A similar situation seems to have happened with GM cotton in the US, where the total US crop declined even as GM technology took over.
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GM food is not the answer to world hunger. Addressing the cause of hunger is. This is only a profit making scheme for CEOs like Hugh Grant of Monsanto to make over THREE MILLION dollars a year not even counting the hundreds of thousands of shares he has in the company while people continue to starve in the world.
And our own FDA has helped them put something on the market that goes in our bodies and the bodies of our children that was not scientifically vetted and is not labelled on our food. It is time to expose the corporate frauds that seek to control our food and water and send more poor farmers in this country and in Asia, Africa, and South America into debt. Patenting life is immoral as is deceiving the public about what they are eating and devastating our environment.
We need to boycott Monsanto, Cargill, ADM, and any other multinational in the business of profit over people until they are held accountable for their deceptions. Genetic modification actually cuts the productivity of crops, an authoritative new study shows, undermining repeated claims that a swi... more -
Activists demand Russia ban GM foods
The growth in genetically modified foods has not yet seen large-scale public debate in Russia but a number of people do feel strongly about the issue. Thus, a group of youth activists in the northern city of Murmansk is demanding a ban on GM products.
Consumers have the right to know what they are putting in their bodies and feeding to their children. The growth in genetically modified foods has not yet seen large-scale public debate in Russia but a number of people do feel strongly ... more -
Al Gore's Ten Year Energy Challenge
A momentous challenge calling upon us to have the same spirit that birthed this nation and make no mistake about it, this is just as much an issue of Democracy as it is an economic, environmental, or national security issue. However, as usual, all we see on blogs and in the media by the usuals is bickering about whether climate change is "natural" or not when we already know that most of the effects on our planet we are seeing are a result of human behavior.That has been debated ad nauseum, and is why this country will wind up at the back of the pack when other countries pass us up regarding coming into the 21st Century. We are stuck in first gear still while the rest of the world is in drive.
We have been getting our oil from the Middle East and now will we get our solar panels from there too because we in this country are so myopic and politically polarized to the point that we cannot even concede one damn point? The alternate energy market is just waiting for a boom in this country. Employment in this country would soar and with investment, we would get the economic shot in the arm we need to avoid economic collapse while saving ourselves. Many say (even people in his own party) that Mr. Gore made this proposal at the wrong time with gas prices being so high... to that I say, WHAT?
This was the absolute right time to come out and tell people the truth that they are being lied to and duped by big oil and coal. This was exactly the right time to come out and tell people that they have a CHOICE and that they have the power in this next decade to put those choices into motion. That they have other options for energy that can be cheaper than what they are using now. Of course the oil and coal companies and special interests and their minions are not too happy about that, but I say, screw them. They have done more harm to this planet and economy with their pollution and wars than any alternate energy being instituted could do. It is time for them to see that their way is not the best way for the continued sustainability of this planet and work to make amends for what they have done.
The Earth as it stands now is going through changes in climate that are too exacerbated to just be natural and the cost of ignoring it far exceeds the cost of implementing changes to avoid it. What price do you put on a human life? That has been confirmed by the IPCC, NASA, the National Academy of Sciences, The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, and thousands of other studies and scientists' reports from around the globe. It is a known fact also that for YEARS scientists in possession of these facts have been gagged by our government to keep quiet about it, because the very thing Mr. Gore stated must be done is something they don't want to do because they believe it will ground their gravy train.
More at the link. A momentous challenge calling upon us to have the same spirit that birthed this nation and make no mistake about it, this is just as m... more -
GMO Rice In Kansas
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Rice with Human DNA - planting plans in Kansas, Spring 2007 - Lee Quaintance farms in Edgerton, Kansas - member grower, Kansas City Food Circle.
He speaks truth about crop contamination and GMOs regarding disclosure. Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Rice with Human DNA - planting plans in Kansas, Spring 2007 - Lee Quaintance farms in Edgerton, Ka... more -
Campaign For Healthier Eating In America : Ban GMOs
Jeffrey M. Smith, international bestselling author and expert on the health dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods, describes the Campaign for Healthy Eating in America, and how it will achieve the tipping point of consumer resistance to GM foods. This will drive them out of the U.S. food supply as was accomplished in Europe and is already being witnessed in the rejection of genetically modified bovine growth hormone, rBGH, in the U.S. People are invited to participate in the campaign by signing up at http://www.responsibletechnology.org. Jeffrey M. Smith, international bestselling author and expert on the health dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods, describes the ... more
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Nestle water plant? Not in our town, Enumclaw says
Last spring, in the small town of Enumclaw, a company came calling. What it wanted was water. One hundred million gallons a year, to be precise.
It would pay nicely for the privilege. It would set up a bottling plant and provide jobs for the people. If only somebody, somewhere in Enumclaw, would listen to what Nestlé Waters North America had to say.
But it was not to be.
Last month, without so much as a public hearing, Enumclaw sent a message to the multinational corporation: Go tap someone else's spring.
In the past several years, as the bottled-water industry has boomed, Nestlé has set up 26 plants in towns across the country, tapping into local springs. Enumclaw was its first shot at a Northwest plant.
It did not go well. As word spread of the proposal, residents unleashed a torrent of e-mails and letters to the local paper, concerned about a possible water shortage, the potential for invasive corporate control and the damage plastic bottles can do to the environment.
"This is such an incredibly bad idea, I can't believe that the city of Enumclaw would even consider such a thing," one area resident, Diane Hanes, wrote to the city administrator. "The residents of Enumclaw will not stand for this."
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Yes!. People are pushing back to preserve their water resources from corporatization for profit. Hands off Nestle!
Last spring, in the small town of Enumclaw, a company came calling. What it wanted was water. One hundred million gallons a year, to b... more -
The old man who farms with the sea
"experts including Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center, say seawater agriculture could prove to be an important weapon in the fight against climate change.
Hodges has already built such a farm in Africa. Political upheaval there shut much of it down in 2003. That's why he's determined to construct a showcase project in North America to demonstrate what's possible.
All he needs now is $35 million. That's where salicornia comes in.
A so-called halophyte, or salt-loving plant, the briny succulent thrives in hellish heat and pitiful soil on little more than a regular dousing of ocean water. Several countries are experimenting with salicornia and other saltwater-tolerant species as sources of food. Known in some restaurants as sea asparagus, salicornia can be eaten fresh or steamed, squeezed into cooking oil or ground into high-protein meal.
Hodges, who now heads the nonprofit Seawater Foundation, plugged salicornia for years as the plant to help end world hunger. Do-gooders applauded. The private sector yawned.
Then oil prices exploded. Hodges saw his shot to lift his fleshy, leafless shrub from obscurity."
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This is a time for vision. Investors aren't laughing at him now.
"experts including Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center, say seawater agriculture could prove to be an i... more -
American Nurses Association Calls for Ban on Monsanto Bovine Growth Hormone
Therefore be it resolved that the American Nurses Association:
Support the development of national and state laws, regulations and policies that specifically reduce the use of rBGH or rBST in milk and dairy production in the United States,
Work collaboratively with other nursing organizations and hospital and healthcare organizations to eliminate purchasing milk and dairy products for use in the health care industry that contain artificial hormones such as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and any other food containing inappropriate additives,
Educate nurses regarding the known and projected harmful effects of the use of food additives, rBGH and other hormones and antibiotics in milk and dairy production and in agriculture,
Support the public's right to know through support of appropriate food labeling including country-of-origin and genetic modification, and of nutritional information for food served in institutions, restaurants, and fast food chains
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This is great. Hopefully we will see more organizations lining up to denounce Monsanto and its deception. I am going to be contacting my board of education as well, because I don't want to see children served milk in school lunches and milk programs that have these hormones in them. We have to stand up together as healthcare professionals, parents, educators, and citizens to companies like Monsanto that push poison for a profit and the FDA that covers for them in lieu of protecting the health of Americans. Therefore be it resolved that the American Nurses Association: ... more -
Man defends neighbors store from thug, gets charged with assault
A businessman was stunned when he detained a yob for smashing a shop window only to be charged by police with assault.
Steve Kink apprehended a thug after catching him breaking into a mobile phone shop late at night.
Although the 47-year-old was punched in the face, he managed to pin the offender to the floor.
Passers-by called the police while he stood over him until officers arrested the 25-year-old man.
Mr Kink, who owns a tattoo parlour, was stunned when he found out the next day the suspect had been let off with a caution for criminal damage.
But his shock turned to fury when days later police officers turned up at his house to arrest him for assaulting the thug.
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by dailymail.co.uk A businessman was stunned when he detained a yob for smashing a shop window only to be charged by police with assault. ... more -
A POLITE DISPLAY OF POWER
Music by Signal Elctrique - "Cops on the beat"
100 persons stop traffic, just crossing the road.
An action by TrafficKills.com community.
http://www.traffickills.com
Join your local TrafficKills Meetup and repeat this action.
http://traffickills.meetup.com
Music by Signal Elctrique - "Cops on the beat" 100 persons stop traffic, just crossing the road. ... more -
Live Earth One Year Ago
Last year on 7/7/07 I attended the Live Earth concert in East Rutherford, Nj. It was a day of environmental awareness and great music, and left an impression on my teenage son to live a more sustainable life. Since that time I have been wondering about all of the other people who attended Live Earth around the world. Did they take the pledge? Have they lived by it? And while some have chosen to pan this concert simply because Al Gore put it together, I will say that it was a great attempt to raise awareness of this crisis and I truly hope people got the message.
So thanks again Mr. Gore and Kevin Wall for bringing us Live Earth. Hopefully it didn't end with the concert last year and some were brought to that higher level of consciousness. Anyway, this is a video from Giants Stadium where I was of the last performance by Roger Waters, which was one of my favorites.
You can see more about the concert, take the pledge, or see what Live Earth is doing at http://www.liveearth.org Last year on 7/7/07 I attended the Live Earth concert in East Rutherford, Nj. It was a day of environmental awareness and great music,... more -
Al Gore Speaks About Constitutional Abuses
Al Gore joined with then Republican Bob Barr to bring us a stark truth: Our Democracy is in grave danger. On this July 4th I remember this landmark speech delivered by a great statesman, Al Gore. And like our founding fathers whose words are still prescient today, so are the words and warnings presented in this eloquent speech describing truthfully the abuses committed against our Constitution by the Bush administration and the enabling by both parties. And though I am displeased that neither Mr. Gore nor any prominent Democrat has specifically called for impeachment, I thank Mr. Gore with all of my heart for speaking truth to power here and for giving us a chance to share in a Democratic dialogue. Al Gore joined with then Republican Bob Barr to bring us a stark truth: Our Democracy is in grave danger. On this July 4th I remember ... more
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Our Founding Fathers On Liberty and Tyranny
To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perfect union... a free union. We don't truly have that today, and the main reason why is because we as a people have to really want it. I question now if we really do, and that is sad. These words of wisdom and warning from men who though flawed were brilliant and who knew something themselves about slavery of the mind and soul are words to be reflected on. As John Adams said, "Liberty once lost, is lost forever." We as a people are allowing liberty to slip away as we distract ourselves and lose our focus on these words. How I wish we had men of such courage and brilliance as these to once again point us in the right direction. However, their words can be the inspiration we need to now do that. The question is: will we?
To me this is what the Fourth of July is all about. Remembering the men who sacrificed all they had to take the journey to a more perf... more -
Bottled water industry faces growing opposition
Last week’s decision by a York County water board to delay a vote on whether to sell municipal water to Nestle Corp., the owner of Poland Spring, did not happen in a vacuum.
* Last month in McCloud, Calif., after encountering opposition to what would have been the largest water bottling plant in the country, Nestle announced plans to significantly reduce the plant’s size.
* Earlier this month in Enumclaw, Wash., the city council rejected a proposal to allow Nestle to build another such plant.
* And last Monday, the U.S. Conference of Mayors voted to phase out use of bottled water for municipal employees.
Across the country, opposition to bottled water is building, amid growing concerns about the industry’s environmental impact and rising fears about private control of public water supplies.
“There’s no question that there is a groundswell,” said Ruth Caplan, coordinator of Defending Water for Life, a Washington, D.C.-based campaign that opposes the bottled water industry.
There are several reasons for the backlash to bottled water. Some of it is driven by fears about global warming - given the amount of oil needed to bottle and transport the water.
Some stems from concerns about the chemical makeup of plastic water bottles.
Some of the opposition is a byproduct of the huge price disparity between bottled water and the kind of water that comes from the tap for free.
Here in Maine, some of the local opposition to Poland Spring’s operations has stemmed from the traffic generated by the trucks that transport the water.
Perhaps the biggest factor, though, is a fear that as bottled water becomes more popular, private corporations are gaining more control over a natural resource that is central to life.
“The fundamental issue is, who owns the water?” said Jim Olson, an attorney for Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, which has been engaged in a legal battle with Nestle. “If this company gets to do it, all companies get to do it, and you’re not going to be able to say no in the future.”
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We need to stop the commoditization of this resource which is the lifeblood of the Earth. Water is a human right. It cannot be bought by Nestle at the expense of the poor in countries where water is already scarce. It is a good sign to see people finally standing up to these companies.
Last week’s decision by a York County water board to delay a vote on whether to sell municipal water to Nestle Corp., the owner of Pol... more -
Monsanto lobbied FDA to change rules regarding disclosure of Posilac use
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today filed a legal complaint against Ohio's Department of Agriculture, challenging as unconstitutional an "emergency" rule seeking to prevent labeling that tells a consumer whether the cows were treated with rBST, the synthetic growth hormone manufactured and sold by Monsanto under the brand Posilac(R). The lawsuit represents a determined effort not only to protect the consumer's rights to receive truthful information about how organic milk and dairy products are produced, but also to protect the rights of organic dairy farmers and processors to communicate truthfully with consumers.
"The Organic Trade Association firmly believes that consumers have a right to know, and want to know, about the products they purchase, and organic farmers and processors have a right to communicate with their consumers regarding federally regulated organic production practices," stated Caren Wilcox, executive director for the OTA. Attorney Randall J. Sunshine, a partner at Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif LLP, is representing the OTA in this matter.
The federally mandated USDA National Organic Standards prohibit the use of hormones to promote growth or increase production, genetically engineered organisms (GMOS), antibiotics and toxic, persistent pesticides and have a rigorous system for inspection, certification and verification which protects consumers from false claims. In issuing its rule prohibiting organic products from being labeled "produced with milk from cows that have not been treated with synthetic growth hormones", the State of Ohio, however, has essentially chosen not to recognize the federal Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).
In a time of unprecedented food and fuel costs, and following a year in which over 3000 of the nation's dairy farms shut their doors, the State of Ohio has stepped in to further exacerbate small dairy farmers' problems. For those farmers who have chosen to not use rBST on their cows, and who were finding new and growing markets by marketing their milk as no-rBST or organic, Ohio has passed an "emergency" rule which will hurt the farmers' ability to convey to consumers how they produce their milk.
Monsanto was the driving force behind getting FDA approval for rBST and then turned its substantial resources towards lobbying the Ohio Department of Agriculture for this new "emergency" rule.
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Monsanto is even stronger than the Federal government. They can put their lobbying weight behind a government agency to get a rule changed that clearly puts the consumer's right to disclosure and their health at risk. This isn't only unconstitutional, this is criminal. However, all Monsanto cares about is profit.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today filed a legal complaint against Ohio's Department of Agriculture, challenging as unconstitut... more -
Midstaters ditch cars for other rides
Wanda Jones was tired of paying $50 to fill up the tank of her SUV. So she bought a scooter. Now her 24-mile commute to work at Penn State Dickinson School of Law costs her about $4 a week in gas. "It's wonderful," she said. "People laugh at me and I say, 'Go ahead and laugh. I'll be laughing at you at the gas pumps.' "
Jones isn't the only one making a change in her commuting habits. Mass transit officials and agencies that help organize car pools in the region say interest in alternative transportation is rising quickly.
Money is part of that motivation.
And there is a lot to be saved -- $2.3 million a day in the four-county Harrisburg region, according to a Patriot-News analysis.
People who commute to work alone burn 108 million gallons of gas a year, according to the analysis that looked at the gasoline used by the 423,396 people in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon and York counties who said they drive alone to work.
How much is 108 million gallons? Enough to fill a storage tank 100 feet around and as tall as the Empire State Building. Put another way, it would take 7.3 million barrels of oil to make that gas, enough to fill three and a half super tankers.
On the flip side, a 1 percent drop in solo riders would remove 8,400 vehicles from midstate roads each day and reduce fuel demand by more than 1 million gallons a year.
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This is actually a good result of high gas prices. The question is, should they fall would people continue what they are doing now?
Wanda Jones was tired of paying $50 to fill up the tank of her SUV. So she bought a scooter. Now her 24-mile commute to work at Penn S... more -
The Coal Hard Facts
#1: Coal Increases Rates of Disease
The United States burns more than a billion tons of coal each year – that’s 20 pounds of coal for every person in the country, every day.
According to the American Lung Association, 24,000 people a year die prematurely because of pollution from coal-fired power plants. And every year 38,000 heart attacks, 12,000 hospital admissions and anadditional 550,000 asthma attacks result from power plant pollution.
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#2: Coal Kills Jobs
Despite coal industry claims that coal mining creates lots of jobs, the truth is that coal mining employment has been declining for decades, due to increased use of machinery instead of manpower.
In West Virginia alone, coal mining employment has plummeted from 126,000 miners in 1948 (who produced 168 million tons of coal), to just 15,000 miners employed in 2005 (who, with the help of machinery, produced 128 million tons of coal).
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#3: Burning Coal Emits Mercury
Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of human-generated mercury pollution in the U.S. Mercury emissions from electrical generation continues to rise.
Mercury in mothers' blood and breast milk can interfere with the development of babies' brains and neurological systems and can lead to learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, problems with coordination, lowered IQ and even mental retardation.
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#4: Burning Coal is Fuel for Global Warming
The U.S. produces about 25 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Burning coal contributes 40 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions. Coal is the most carbon intensive fossil fuel. According to the United Nations Environment Program, coal emits around 1.7 times as much carbon per unit of energy when burned as does natural gas and 1.25 times as much as oil.
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#5: Coal Kills Miners
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 12,000 coal miners died from black lung disease between 1992 and 2002.
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#6: Coal Wastes Huge Quantities of Water
Coal mining requires an estimated 70 to 260 million gallons of water every day.
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Continued at the link where you can find out how to stand up to 'clean coal' in your community and online. #1: Coal Increases Rates of Disease ... more -
The World's Hardest Working Shaman
Western Shoshone leader, Corbin Harney talks about his prophetic conversation with the water
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USAspending.gov: where Americans can see where their money goes!
Have you ever wanted to find more information on government spending? Have you ever wondered where federal contracting dollars and grant awards go? Or perhaps you would just like to know, as a citizen, what the government is really doing with your money. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act) requires a single searchable website, accessible by the public for free that includes for each Federal award:
1. The name of the entity receiving the award;
2. The amount of the award;
3. Information on the award including transaction type, funding agency, etc;
4. The location of the entity receiving the award;
5. A unique identifier of the entity receiving the award.
Welcome to www.USAspending.gov, a relaunch of www.FederalSpending.gov, that provides citizens with easy access to government contract, grant and other award data.
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What a powerful tool! A great step towards government transparency! The following is excerpted from FedSpending.org:
The Federal government has launched USASpending.gov, a website mandated by the Federal Funding, Accountability, and Transparency Act. The website is based on the software that runs FedSpending.org. OMB Watch intends to continue to operate and upgrade FedSpending.org, adding new features and data to provide a more powerful accountability tool for citizens. http://fedspending.org/
Have you ever wanted to find more information on government spending? Have you ever wondered where federal contracting dollars and gra... more -
Tell bottled water corporations to come clean
In the face of a growing global water crisis, corporations are turning water into a profit-driven commodity. Nowhere is the corporate water-grab more insidious than the exploding corporate control of our drinking water.
Bottled water corporations use clever marketing and misleading advertising that makes people doubt the safety and quality of their own tap water. In reality, bottled water is less regulated than public water systems, and studies reveal that bottled water can actually contain harmful bacteria and other contaminants. Public water systems are required to disclose the source and quality of their water and are accountable to the public. Often, water bottlers are not.
Furthermore, the corporations threaten local control of water supplies in communities across the U.S. and around the world when they aggressively build bottled water plants over community protest.
Tell corporations to come clean about bottled water. Ask Coke, Nestlé and Pepsi to:
Reveal the sources and sites of the water used for bottling;
Publicly report breaches in bottled water quality comparable to reports by public water systems; and
Stop threatening local control of water when siting and operating bottled water plants.
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There is a link at the link provided to send your letter to call on corporations that bottle water to come clean about their practices. Please help bring accountabilty to an industry exploiting a human right for profit. Thank you! In the face of a growing global water crisis, corporations are turning water into a profit-driven commodity. Nowhere is the corporate ... more
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Citizen Activism
