Lower Oneonta Falls is not the kind of hike that you decide upon at the last minute. You’ve got to steel yourself for this one and there is prep work. I’m not saying it’s difficult, dangerous, or remote. On the contrary. This little gem can be tackled within an easy drive of Portland, Oregon, sans hiking poles and pack, and suffering a mighty hangover. (Okay, the famous log jam might test the hangover.) Complex, it is not. But this popular route does have one compelling attribute that sets it apart from every other trail in the Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area.
The trail is a creek. You heard me: a creek.
TIP #1: Wear something you want to see wet. Because if you are in Oneonta Creek, you are on the trail–the creek IS the trail, and you will be wearing it. A narrow gorge with…
No animal should have to suffer..
Green 400 Magazine gives a voice to those who cannot speak, and this is especially true for animals and their freedoms..
I don’t like any zoo, but I am especially outraged by the action of the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark on Sunday (February 9). I am hardly alone: More than 27,000 people signed a “save Marius petition,” when the zoo announced that zoo officials intended to kill the adorable and much-loved 18-month old Marius. Many thousands of other people around the world have taken to the Internet to express their sadness, their bewilderment, and their horror at this completely unnecessary, even ghoulish act. It caused revulsion in most people who read about it. It was an execution many noted. The reason the zoo gave for killing Marius struck just about every ordinary person as bizarre: He was killed because his genes were too similar to those of other zoo giraffes in a European breeding program. “He cannot add anything further to the breeding programme that does not already exist,” a European…
Fracking (aka, hydraulic fracturing or industrial gas drilling) is a dangerous way of getting oil and gas and a shortsighted energy strategy. It’s poisoning our air and water and on its way to jeopardizing the health of millions of Americans and people all across the globe.
Since the United States started fracking, here is their governments definition of this dangerous practice. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hydraulic fracturing is a process to stimulate a natural gas, oil, or geothermal energy well to maximize the extraction. The technique of hydraulic fracturing is used to increase the rate at which fluids, such as petroleum, water, or natural gas can be recovered from subterranean natural reservoirs. Reservoirs are typically porous sand-stones, lime-stones or dolomite rocks, but also include “unconventional reservoirs” such as shale rock or coal beds. Hydraulic fracturing…
UK No Fracking Allowed Demonstrators Hold-Placards-Protest by Green 400 Magazine
What is hydraulic fracturing?
Fracking (aka, hydraulic fracturing or industrial gas drilling) is a dangerous way of getting oil and gas and a shortsighted energy strategy. It’s poisoning our air and water and on its way to jeopardizing the health of millions of Americans and people all across the globe.
Since the United States started fracking, here is their governments definition of this dangerous practice. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hydraulic fracturing is a process to stimulate a natural gas, oil, or geothermal energy well to maximize the extraction. The technique of hydraulic fracturing is used to increase the rate at which fluids, such as petroleum, water, or natural gas can be recovered from subterranean natural reservoirs. Reservoirs are typically porous sand-stones, lime-stones or dolomite rocks, but also include “unconventional reservoirs” such as shale rock or coal beds. Hydraulic fracturing enables the production of natural gas and oil from rock formations deep below the earth’s surface (generally 5,000–20,000 feet (1,500–6,100 m), which is typically greatly below groundwater reservoirs of basins if present.
UNITED KINGDOM~STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!
U.K. Proposes to Frack One-Half of Great Britain
As the rapid expansion of fracking in the U.S. has led to a growing chorus of concerned voices about the potential health and environmental repercussions of this activity, news has surfaced that the European Union (EU) is taking significant steps toward preventing fracking in Europe.
However, in a conversation with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed that he will work to ensure that fracking comes to Europe.
This acknowledgement comes at a time when the EU is debating strengthening its carbon-trading system. The EU has recently moved to delay the selling of 900 million carbon allowances, which is likely to raise the prices of carbon allowances by 10 to 15 percent.
The withholding of carbon allowances—which is a publicly-tradable certificate that “offsets” or pays for the carbon dioxide a company releases into the atmosphere, with each certificate representing a metric ton of the gas—is thought to raise the prices on energy production, as companies must spend more to control their emissions.
Cameron’s comments come on the heels of the EU deciding it won’t regulate fracking on the European continent. The European Commission, based in Brussels, has previously moved to introduce new regulations that would control the environmental impact the drilling may have. Buoyed by France, which has banned fracking within its borders since 2011, concerns of contamination to the continent’s shared watersheds and the possibility of induced earthquakes have forced commissioners to take seriously this relatively new and dangerous technology.
However,lobbying from the UK and various fracking companies have convinced EU President Jose Manuel Barroso that a “hands-off” approach is best.
“I was just very worried that while we are already behind on fracking and unconventional gas compared to America, we would fall even further behind if we had more legal processes to go through,” Cameron said after the EU’s reconsideration. “So it’s a good step forward. It could mean 70,000 jobs or more for people in the UK as well as helping to keep the bills of individuals down, but also helping to make us more competitive as a location for investment.
“We’ve got to follow through on that and now make sure that this industry can really go ahead,” Cameron said.
Chasing Shale Gas in Great Britain
Currently, shale gas extraction is regulated under 17 EU regulations, with the member states having autonomy over how to enforce the legislation. In the UK, rising energy costs have proven to be a cantankerous issue ahead of the 2015 general elections. While the rising price of energy has been a matter of concern—particularly, in light of an abnormally cold winter and tightened carbon trading—anti-fracking protests and outcries from a number of communities have led a number of Tory MPs to fear that their seats may be in danger should fracking be approved in the country.
According to UK government-commissioned report, the government is planning to permit as many as 2,800 wells to be drilled. Every English county—with the exception of Cornwall—will receive a well, with the local communities being promised at least $164,730 in benefits per well. Government estimates project that at peak fracking will satisfy one-fifth of the UK’s gas demand and create as many as 32,000 jobs, but at what cost to the British people?
Among the areas that have been offered to fracking companies as potential well sites are several national parks, a large number of “areas of outstanding natural beauty,” and several sites deemed of “international importance” for conservationists.
Below, click on the words “The Big Picture” to take you to a map of what is to become of England’s pristine countryside.
So far, 176 “license” areas have been allocated to the drilling companies, mostly around Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire and Sussex. The proposed sites stretch from the south of Scotland to the Southern English coast and represent approximately two-thirds of England or one-half of Great Britain.
The oil and gas companies will be allowed to apply in a licensing round to commence in the summer. The companies will be required to secure a series of planning and environmental permits, however, prior to drilling.
“We have seen the enormous impact that shale gas extraction in the States has had on its economy, both on household bills and industrial prices. It has had a strong impact there and it has the potential to have an impact here,” said Michael Fallon, the U.K. energy minister. “It will reduce our dependence on liquid natural gas. We import over half our gas at the moment and we face the prospect of having to import 70 percent of our gas by 2030 if we haven’t found any shale by then.”
“If we do find shale that will obviously reduce our dependence on those imports and reduce our dependence on wholesale gas prices,” Fallon continued. “That in turn will be good for the economy.”
According to a government-commissioned report, the government is planning to permit as many as 2,800 wells to be drilled. Cuadrilla fracking site in the Bowland Basin near Blackpool, England.
Differing Views:
Throughout the continent, there seems to be few shared opinions on fracking. Germany, under Angela Merkel, has increased drilling and extraction to such a high degree that fracking is logistically impossible in the country.
German People Against Fracking Green 400 Magazine
The German coalition agreement read:
According to available studies on its environmental relevance, the fracking technology in unconventional natural gas production—particularly in shale gas production—is a technology with enormous potential risks. The effects on humans, nature and the environment are scientifically not yet sufficiently clarified. Drinking water and health have absolute priority for us.
We reject the use of environmentally toxic substances in the application of fracking technology for exploration and extraction of unconventional natural gas deposits. A request for approval can only be decided upon when the necessary data basis for evaluation exists and is clarified beyond doubt that any adverse change in water quality can be ruled out.
Poland, on the other hand, is aggressively tapping its reserves—thought to be the largest on the continent. This presents a host of problems: Poland is one of Europe’s most-densely populated nations with a large agricultural base. The nation’s water supply was already under pressure before fracking. Questions about the drilling’s massive water use have raised concerns that Poland will be pulled into drought conditions or that leaked fracking fluids can poison a large population quickly.
Polish Flag Aggressive Green 400 Magazine
However, the prospect of Polish gas relieving the EU’s dependency on Russian gas has convinced the Eastern European nation to push on despite the risks. Russia currently provides the EU with 25 percent of its natural gas.
California and “Safe Fracking”
As Europe embraces the American fracking model, the U.S. is starting to deal with the long-term implications of the technology. After a series of Associated Press reports highlighting Southern California offshore oil and gas companies discharging fracking chemicals into the ocean, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced new rules requiring well operators to report the release of any chemicals into the waterways.
The reports found that the well discharged the chemicals without an environmental impact analysis, without public disclosure and with little or no oversight. State regulators ruled separately that California oil companies must test the groundwater and alert local landowners prior to the starting of any fracking or well stimulation activity. In addition, the companies must disclose all chemicals used during fracking and acquire permits prior to a fracking job.
For many, the notion that the oil and gas companies are hiding what they are doing begs the question of just how safe fracking truly is.
“The EPA’s rule will provide some information about the toxic fracking chemicals dumped into our ocean, but it relies on oil companies to be honest and transparent in their self-reporting,” said Miyoko Sakashita, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.
These regulations are scheduled to go into effect in 2015.
Below is a series of video’s that explains in great detail the dangers to our environment and to all who inhabit the world.
To help the people of the United Kingdom and England, please follow the link below to sign the petition to keep fracking out of the U.K.
Characterized by feelings of chronic sadness, melancholy and disinterest, depression is classified as a mental illness that affects sufferers in a variety of debilitating ways. Many individuals suffering from depression experience difficulty carrying out everyday activities, and have trouble coping with life in general.
General Herbs-For-Depression By Green 400 Magazine
Top 10 Herbs For Depression
As symptoms of depression are varied and complex, receiving an accurate diagnosis can be a lengthy process. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), symptoms of depression include frequent feelings of guilt or worthlessness and about past mistakes; recurring thoughts about death and/or suicidal thoughts; fatigue, lack of energy, extreme tiredness, and lack of motivation; irritability, frustration, agitation, and restlessness; indecisiveness, inattentiveness and difficulty concentrating; trouble with memory and thinking. Other common symptoms are decreased libido and sudden bouts of intense crying “out of the blue.” Some people with depression experience unexplained weight gain or loss, and others may develop physical problems with no apparent cause. Symptoms of depression are not the same for everyone, and depend on a number of variables including age, gender, culture, and hereditary factors. People who experience five or more of the above symptoms for over 14 consecutive days may meet the criteria for clinical depression, also referred to as major depression or major depressive disorder.
(1) St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Indigenous to Europe, St. John’s wort has a history of use in traditional herbalism as a remedy for various mental and emotional disorders. The herb is available in powder, tea, tincture and capsule form. Used today by practitioners of alternative and naturopathic medicine, St. John’s wort has been studied in recent years regarding its effects on brain chemistry. A number of clinical trials have suggested the effectiveness of St. John’s wort as a treatment for mild to moderate depression. According to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial published in a 2006 edition of BMC Medicine, St. John’s wort was superior to placebo in treating symptoms of major depression. As determined by laboratory experimentation, active constituents in St. John’s wort prevent reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, and therefore might be used as a natural alternative to pharmaceutical depression medications in the selective-serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) class.
St Johns Wort Flowers By Green 400 Magazine
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)- Derived from tryptophan, an essential amino acid, the chemical 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is required for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with well-being and happiness. Dietary sources of tryptophan include turkey, chicken, dairy products, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, sunflower seeds, and leafy greens including kale and collards. Other tryptophan-rich foods include sea plants such as wakame, kombu, and kelp. In most cases, Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) levels are maintained via regular consumption of tryptophan- containing foods. However, some individuals may lack the ability to absorb tryptophan and thus may benefit from direct supplementation of 5-HTP. Extracted from seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a plant native to Africa, 5-HTP supplements are widely available have been tested clinically for their effectiveness in treating depression disorders. Results from number of small-scale and preliminary trials suggest that 5-HTP meets the criteria for FDA approval as a medication for depression.
Also called linseed, flaxseed has a history of use in ancient cultures as a remedy for various ailments, especially digestive disorders such as constipation. Due to their high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a powerful, health-promoting omego-3 fatty acid, flaxseeds have been tested clinically to determine their potential to help cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, addiction, and other disorders affecting the body and mind. Various studies using animal models have revealed that flaxseed might be effectively used to treat various psychiatric disorders, including depression. In 2009, French scientists found that when compared to placebo, depressive symptoms were significantly reduced in rodents treated with ALA from flaxseeds and other omega-rich sources.
Flax Seed and Flax Seed Oil by Green 400 Magazine
Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Native to eastern Europe, northern Africa and parts of Asia, vervain has a history of use in traditional medicinal systems as a treatment for headaches, respiratory disorders, snake bites, fevers, jaundice, gout, kidney stones, epilepsy, ulcers, and painful menstruation. Mentioned in historical texts as a remedy for feelings of fatigue and ill-will, vervain contains a broad spectrum of active phytochemicals and tannins–including verbenalin, verbenin, and beta-carotene. A precursor to vitamin A, an essential dietary nutrient, beta-carotene is associated with the treatment and prevention of depression and related conditions. Although its medicinal properties have not been extensively studied, vervain is used by contemporary herbalists as a treatment for various disorders, including mild depression.
Green 400 Magazine
B Vitamins
Found in many herbs (as well as other sources), B-vitamins are involved in the maintenance of healthy brain chemistry. Results from clinical trials indicate that B-vitamin deficiencies are linked to depression, and even those with healthy, well-balanced diets are at risk. In order to properly diagnose B-vitamin deficiencies or imbalances, blood panel analyses are often required.
Herbs that are sources of B- vitamins include catnip, alfalfa, burdock root, yellow dock root, and nettle.
B-vitamins are categorized as follows: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate (also called folic acid), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin and pantothenic acid:
Botanical sources of thiamin (vitamin B1) include leafy green dark-colored vegetables, green peas, lentils, almonds and pecans.
Plants high in vitamin B2 (riboflavin) include dark greens (i.e. asparagus and spinach).
B3 (niacin) plant sources include legumes such as peanuts and lentils, and sources of folate (vitamin B1) include dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collards.
Botanical foods high in vitamin B6 include potatoes, bananas, spinach and other leafy greens.
Sources of vitamin B7 (biotin) include leafy greens (i.e. swiss chard) and legumes (e.g. peanuts).
Vitamin B1 deficiencies are characterized by various symptoms of depression including feelings of sadness and disinterest, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, memory problems, insomnia, and–in some cases–suicidal thoughts Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a necessary component in the production of serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine–all of which are involved in the maintenance of mental health. Deficiencies in vitamin B6 include lowered immune function, mental confusion, and inhibited healing of wounds.
Vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin)–perhaps the most important of all B vitamins–is produced by the metabolic systems of all animals, including humans. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can be the cause depression symptoms including mood swings, irritability, loss of appetite, and fatigue. For many, dietary consumption of vitamin B12 is an easy feat. For others–such as those who do not eat meat (including poultry and fish), eggs, or dairy–dietary absorption of vitamin B12 is a more difficult feat. Strict vegetarians and vegans may need to supplement with synthetic vitamin B12 supplements in order to remain healthy. However, studies show that people of all dietary habits – -including those who eat meat or consume dairy on a regular basis – are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. To combat vitamin B12 deficiencies, experts recommend sublingual tablets, liquids, and also vitamin B12 shots.
Foods High in Vitamin B12 by Green 400 Magazine
Rhodiola Rocea
Also known as rose root, arctic root, or golden root, rhodiola rosea is a wonderful herb that shows promising effects in dealing with depression. What makes rhodiola effective in combating depression is its ability to inhibit the activities of monoamine oxidase A and B. When the activities of these substances are prevented, neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin cannot be broken down. In effect, they become more available. According to research, low levels of these neurotransmitters usually lead to depression.
Some studies claim that depression and stress level are directly related to each. Excessive level of stress hormones like cortisol, is believed to be one of the major factors that trigger depression. According to research, rhodiola rosea is effective in reducing the level of cortisol hormones thereby limiting one’s susceptibility to depression. This stuff really works and is off the charts extremely good for depression and for energy…experience speaking on this one.
Rhodiola Rosea By Green 400 Magazine
Ginkgo Biloba
For thousands of years, ginkgo biloba proves to be an excellent herb that treats depression. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center website, intake of ginkgo biloba regularly is effective in eliminating the symptoms of depression. Furthermore, the leaves of this herb contain lipophilic extracts that are believed to have anti-stress and anti-depressant effects.
Ginkgo Biloba Tree With Fruit by Green 400 Magazine
Lavender
For centuries, lavender proves to be an outstanding herb for depression. Though it can be used as oil which can be directly applied onto the skin, lavender is often used in aromatherapy. Experts believe that the scent of lavender helps in promoting relaxation as well as in inducing high quality and longer sleep. This can help in alleviating one’s stress level which is considered as one of the major causes of depression.
Aside from its natural ability to balance the level of cortisol hormones in the body, lavender also works by slowing down the brain waves. Lavender is believed to have natural sedative effects that are beneficial in calming one’s mind, body, spirit and soul, especially in times of depression and restlessness.
Lavender Plant by Green 400 Magazine
Valerian
Today, valerian emerges to be one of the most popular effective herbs that cure depression. Known for its natural sedating effects, valerian is also capable of calming the nerves by reducing one’s anxiety and phobia towards a certain stimulus.
When taken regularly, this perennial herb brings about promising results in treating depression. In fact, many studies have proved that regular intake of valerian can significantly help in eliminating the most common symptoms of depression which include high blood pressure, insomnia, lack of focus, restlessness, irritability and anxiety. It works because of its valepotriates, which are known to be natural relaxants. Aside from reducing one’s stress level, valepotriates are also effective in relaxing the central nervous system of the body.
Valarian Plant by Green 400 Magazine
Peppermint
Though widely used to treat toothaches, peppermint never ceases to amaze patients who suffer from depression. Through the years, peppermint has proven itself to be effective in dealing with the symptoms of depression. As mentioned in the University of Maryland Medical Center website, peppermint oil offers soothing and calming effects which make it effective in treating anxiety and depression.
Peppermint Leaves and Candy by Green 400 Magazine
We at Green 400 Magazine care about “you” our readers. and hope that in some way that these articles that we write make your life somewhat happier and more content. Please view the following video’s for a bit more happiness and relaxation…… they are just awesome!
Siegfried Kasper, Ion-George Anghelescu, Armin Szegedi, Angelika Dienel and Meinhard Kieser. Superior efficacy of St John’s wort extract WS® 5570 compared to placebo in patients with major depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial. BMC Medicine 2006, 4:14
Byerley WF, et al. 5-Hydroxytryptophan: a review of its antidepressant efficacy and adverse effects. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 1987;7:127-137.
Nicolas Blondeau, et al. Subchronic Alpha-Linolenic Acid Treatment Enhances Brain Plasticity and Exerts an Antidepressant Effect: A Versatile Potential Therapy for Stroke. Original Article. Neuropsychopharmacology (2009) 34, 2548–2559; doi:10.1038/npp.2009.84; published online 29 July 2009.
Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A practical A-Z reference to drug-free remedies using vitamins, minerals, herbs and food supplements, 4th ed. 2006. New York, NY: Penguin Group.
Butler, Christopher C., et al. Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Family Practice (2006) 23 (3): 279-285.
Our hearts are heavy and our memories are long, Let’s join together on this day to give love to those who has suffered from this tragic event.
We where having friends over that day, outside barbecuing and not worried about much of anything. until I turned on the television and seen a site that just shocked me from head to toe,…I started yelling to the people outside. They all came running in to see what was wrong, and we all stood there is shock, some started to cry and some just sat down with their head in their hands. Immediately we all started calling loved ones to see if they too were all ok.
So this day is well remembered, the shock, the heavy hearts and the pain we all felt, for our beautiful country was under attack. Could we ever be under attack ever again? Many of us have wondered that same question. The answer to that would be to always stay close to your family, loved ones, neighbors, co-workers and friends, because you just never know what life holds.
People paying tribute to this part of history:
From left: President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during memorial ceremonies observing the 12th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Va., Sept. 11, 2013. Memorial ceremonies across America on Wednesday offered not just an occasion to remember those who died, but a moment to assess a decade of war.
A Green 400 Exclusive Update:
Millions of Americans, Canadians and Europeans get sick from eating food that inspectors say are safe. A special report in the November 2012 issue of Bloomberg Markets explored those dangers.
Trying to find records on any of the fisheries in China is near to impossible because there are no records, and if found…. very few records have details of daily activities to prove food safety.
“We are trying to meet international standards,”says a Chinese fisherman Ngoc Sinh.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Buckley, says her company has no records of auditing for Ngoc Sinh.
Would you eat a fish that came from this picture below?
Polluted Fish Farm in China
At Chen Qiang’s tilapia farm in Yangjiang city in China, Chen feeds fish with feces from hundreds of pigs and geese.That practice is dangerous for American consumers, says Michael Doyle, director of the University of Georgia’s Center for Food Safety.
“The manure the Chinese use to feed fish is frequently contaminated with microbes like salmonella,” says Doyle, who has studied food borne diseases in China.
On a sweltering, overcast day in August, the smell of animal feces is overpowering, Chen age 45, wades barefoot into his murky ponds that have several thousand dead fish laying upside down in the water to open a pipe so that fresh water from a nearby canal can appear to make the water look healthy to the exporters that come to his farm to sell the fish to U.S. companies.
We all know how greedy the U.S. companies are, they will buy up the live and dead fish and re-sell it to turn a profit.
FUQING, China — Here in southern China of Fujian Province, lie dozens of enormous ponds filled with murky brown water and over-crowded with eels, shrimp and tilapia, much of it destined for markets in Japan and the West including Europe, Canada and the U.S.
Green 400 Magazine asks: The U.S. has more than enough room to grow and harvest fish, so why infect our nation with food from other countries that are contaminated and dangerous?
China~Choking on Growth
This information comes from the eighth in a series of articles and multimedia examining the human toll, global impact and political challenge of China’s epic pollution crisis.
Contamination Threatens Seafood Industry
Fuqing is No. 1 on a list for refused seafood shipments from China.
Fuqing is one of the centers of a booming industry that over two decades has transformed their country into the biggest producer and exporter of seafood in the world, and the fastest-growing supplier to the United States, Europe and Canada.
AGAIN!! The U.S. has more than enough room to grow and harvest fresh and uncontaminated fish, so why infect our nation with food from other countries that are contaminated and dangerous?
Answer: GREED, for it is cheaper to have fish farms in China then it is to have them in the U.S.
No matter what the dangers are to the American people, the only thing that matters to corporations in the U.S. is the almighty dollar, and as Bill Gates says we need to depopulate the world anyway, so lets keep buying contaminated foods for the 99% of the population from filthy countries, the sooner they get sick and die the better for us 1%.
Watch this video of the people (snakes) who control your food supply, this is Wall St, Corporate America, New York, New York.
The title of this video is:
Mike Myers visits Occupy Wall Street & one of the most upsetting comments.
Human growth and over population is threatened by the two most glaring environmental weaknesses in China: acute water shortages and water supplies contaminated by sewage, industrial waste and agricultural runoff that includes pesticides. The fish farms, in turn, are discharging waste water that further pollutes the water supply.
“Our waters here are filthy,” said Ye Chao, an eel and shrimp farmer who has 20 giant ponds in western Fuqing. “There are simply too many aquaculture farms in this area. They’re all discharging water here, fouling up other farms.”
Farmers have coped with the toxic waters by mixing illegal veterinary drugs and pesticides into fish feed, which helps keep their stocks alive yet leaves poisonous and carcinogenic residues in seafood, posing health threats to consumers.
In this upcoming video, it will show you the consumer, a frightening, alarming and dangerous reality that lies behind the bright and perky displays at your local grocery store.
Environmental degradation, in other words, has become a food safety problem, and scientists say the long-term risks of consuming contaminated seafood could lead to higher rates of cancer and liver disease and other afflictions.
Foreign importers are worried, in recent years the European Union and Japan have imposed temporary bans on Chinese seafood because of illegal drug residues and carcinogenic preservation in keeping fish fresh.
Carcinogen’s are the fumes from a car’s exhaust. If your local grocery store sells hybrid sushi please read the labels….most of them are just soaked in carcinogens to keep the color in the seafood and will tell you so on the label. It will say the word carcinogens.
Hybrid Grocery Store Sushi
Carcinogens are also used to preserve sushi. Watch your labels and ask your sushi chef how his seafood is preserved.
Usually the seafood chef will say…”fresh very fresh”, but that does not answer the question. The question is, how do you preserve your seafood? They probably won’t answer you or act like they don’t understand..then if this happens …just leave.
Regulators in countries are struggling to keep contaminated seafood out of the market. China has shut down seafood companies accused of violating the law and blacklisted others, while United States regulators are concentrating on Chinese seafood for special inspections, but most of the seafood gets through inspections to the supermarket to your plate.
China’s Fisheries Polluted With Dangerous Chemicals
By comparison, Thailand, also a major exporter of seafood to the United States, had only two refusals related to illegal veterinary drugs. China as a whole had 210 refusals for illegal drugs. READ YOUR LABELS it will say from CHINA!
“For 50 years,” said Wang Wu, a professor at Shanghai Fisheries University, “we’ve blindly emphasized economic growth. The only pursuit has been G.D.P., and now we can see that the water turns dirty and the seafood gets more and more dangerous.
Every year, there are food safety and environmental pollution accidents.”
Environmental problems plaguing seafood would appear to be a bad omen for the industry, but with fish stocks in the oceans are steadily declining, the global demand for seafood soaring, farmed seafood, or aquaculture is the future.
No country sells more seafood than China, which produced about 115 billion pounds of seafood last year.
China produces about 70 percent of the farmed fish in the world, harvested at thousands of giant factory-style farms that extend along the entire eastern seaboard of the country. Farmers mass-produce seafood just offshore, but mostly on land, and in lakes, ponds, rivers and reservoirs, or in huge rectangular fish ponds dug into the earth.
“China will be a major supplier not just to the U.S., but to the world,” said Richard Stavis, the chairman of Stavis Seafoods.
China started gaining power as a seafood power in the 1990s as rapid economic growth became the top priority in the country. But environmental experts say that headlong pursuit of higher gross domestic product has devastated Chinese water quality and endangered the country’s food supply. In Guangdong Province in southern China, fish contaminated with toxic chemicals like DDT are already creating health problems.
“There are heavy metals, mercury and flame retardants in fish samples we’ve tested,” said Ming Hung Wong, a professor of biology at Hong Kong Baptist University. “We’ve got to stop the pollutants entering the food system.”
More than half of the rivers in China are too polluted to serve as a source of drinking water. The biggest lakes in the country regularly succumb to harmful algal blooms. Seafood producers are part of the problem, environmental experts say. Enormous aquaculture farms concentrate fish waste, pesticides and veterinary drugs in their ponds and discharge the contaminated water into rivers, streams and coastal areas, often with no treatment.
China’s Waters Contaminated By Green 400 Magazine
“Water is the biggest problem in China,” said Peter Leedham, the business manager at Sino Analytica, an independent food safety testing firm that works with companies that buy from China. “But my feeling is China will deal with it, because it has to. It just won’t be a quick process.”
In the meantime please be careful and watch all your labels on all your food supplies, you just never know what to expect anymore from our local supermarkets..The new trend is to go directly to the farmer nearest you to get your food supplies. Stay safe and be careful….
Who is killing all the whales, dolphins and porpoises?
First let us learn a little about whales, dolphins and porpoises, they are all in the class of cetaceans. Cetaceans are aquatic mammals characterized by having fusform (streamlined) body shapes, paddles-shaped front limbs and vestigial hind limbs. Their tails have been flattened into flukes to aid propulsion.
Cetaceans spend all their time in the oceans, they are mammals just like us. This means that they are warm blooded, give birth to live young, nurse their young, have traces of hair or fur, and must come to the surface to breathe air through their lungs.
Millions of years ago, the ancestors of whales lived on land. Scientists believe these land ancestors looked like small dogs, but were probably more closely related to hippos and went into the ocean about 60 million years ago. Over time, these ancestors adapted to survive solely in the ocean environment. Their front legs turned into paddle-shaped flippers, they lost their back legs, their tails grew larger and widened to form flukes, and they developed a thick layer of fat, called blubber, to keep warm in the ocean. Also, their skulls elongated and the nostrils shifted to the top of their heads (blowholes) to aid in breathing at the ocean’s surface. They developed a series of adaptations related to diving, which include the ability to store more oxygen in their blood and muscles and having more blood volume relative to their body size than land mammals. The baleen whales eat very small animals, which are low on the food chain, these whales are all very large and eat great quantities at once. For instance, the blue whale is the largest animal on earth, weighing up to 150 tons. Baby blue whales gain 10 pounds (4.5 kg) an hour!
Watch this amazing video of the amazing blue whale.
Current Status
Many whales are endangered, largely due to past hunting from the Japanese and South Koreans. Right now people are protesting all over the world about hunting these valuable animals. Years ago, people used the oil from the blubber of whales for all sorts of items, including oil burned in lamps and ingredients for manufacturing lipstick. They also used whale meat to eat or make pet food, sinews for tennis racket strings, and even used baleen as supports in ladies underwear. A waxy substance called ambergris, which is from a sperm whale’s digestive system, was used in making perfume. Ambergris was very valuable and a large lump found by a beach goer was worth a fortune.
Since 1986, there has been a ban or moratorium on hunting the large whales for commercial uses. However, some countries still kill whales for scientific purposes, and others have illegally resumed commercial whaling. This is controversial because the products from these whales are still used commercially. Many scientists question whether the whales really need to be killed to learn the sorts of things being studied. Each year from September to May over 20,000 dolphins are slaughtered in Japan. Fishermen round them up by the hundreds using sound barriers to disorient and herd the frantic pods out of their normal migrations into hidden lagoons like the one featured in The Cove.
Bottle-nose dolphins especially ones that look like Flipper, are pre-selected by trainers and sold off for upwards of $200,000 to marine mammal parks around the world, where they will remain in captivity performing as circus acts. After the trainers and spectators have left, the rest of the dolphins are inhumanely killed in what can only be described as a massacre.
The butchered dolphins are later used for food, but the Japanese government has intentionally sheltered people from the dangers of eating them. Consumers of dolphin meat run the risk of mercury poisoning due to high levels of the toxin within the animals. Adding to the danger, much of the pricier whale meat they purchase is actually mislabeled toxic dolphin meat. While the Japanese government defends dolphin hunting as part of their cultural heritage, this tradition has serious health effects on its own people.
The more lucrative captive dolphin industry is the driving economic force behind the dolphin slaughter in Taiji.
In the U.S. alone, dolphinariums represent an $8.4 billion industry, while a dead dolphin fetches a mere $600. International law provides no protections against the killing of dolphins, and other slaughters occur in places outside of Japan.
Small cetaceans, namely dolphins are not protected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In fact, the IWC affords no protections for 71 (out of 80, known) cetacean species, including all dolphins and porpoises, which is why Japan can legally kill them by the tens of thousands.
Green 400 Magazine will keep petitions running so that our friendly sea family will remain safe from poachers way. Please go to our Facebook page and hit our like button to support our cause.
The Japanese people have been intentionally sheltered from the slaughter, and the large majority are still unaware that much of the meat they purchase is actually mislabeled dolphin meat.
Many people are concerned about the fate of the small whales (the dolphins and porpoises). Thousands die every year from getting caught in fishing nets and plastic trash. Toxins and pollution in the ocean are affecting the health of these animals and likely their ability to fight off diseases. Around the world, there has been an increase in reported strandings of marine mammals. Strandings occur when marine mammals or sea turtles swim or float into shore and become “beached” or stuck in shallow water. Other species are suffering due to loss of their habitat. Sometimes even whale watching can interfere with and harass whales, if the boats venture too close to the whales or separate mothers from calves. Small whales are sometimes captured for display in aquariums and even hotels, and many people question the quality of life and health for these animals.
In the recent past, popular movements helped to save the whales from hunting. Unfortunately, the whales are not completely safe. We need to understand and solve some of the problems currently threatening whales like climate change, boat strikes, entanglement in nets, and noise pollution. You can help by learning about the issues, letting others know what you have learned, and writing to lawmakers. Also, if you ever have the chance, try to see live whales in the wild. You will never forget it!
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES AND ALL NATURAL SLEEP AIDS FOR A RESTFUL NIGHTS SLEEP!
Insomnia HELP!
Sometimes at night we just cannot sleep…we toss and turn, and we are up and down, from one side to another. Sometimes it is stress related, sometimes our mind just cannot shut down to rest.
Sometimes it is just the foods we have eaten during the day, that may not have agreed with our systems. In maturing women it could be menopause. Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life when her ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone and she stops menstruating. It is a normal part of aging and marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Menopause typically occurs in a woman’s late 40’s to early 50’s. It can also lead to major sleep problems.
From Google Scholar: The Impact of Somatic Health Problems on Insomnia in Middle Age
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the impact on insomnia symptoms of somatic diseases, psychological factors, living habits and life events during the previous year.
Background: Although health problems are a significant cause of insomnia, psychosocial factors are considered to be even most important. The relative impact of these and other factors on insomnia calls for further evaluation.The most relevant phychosocial factor is work-related stress. this has the potential to negatively affect an individual’s psychological and physical health. Therefore, it is recognized world-wide as a major challenge to workers’ health especially in males. Males also start to loose testosterone as they start heading towards middle age which is said to begin at 40, which begins the male menopause stages of a males life. Methods: A questionnaire study in a randomly selected middle-aged population in Finland.
Results: In the conducted study, 9.8% of men and 17.0% of women reported the occurrence of insomnia at least once a week during the previous 3 months. Insomniacs perceived their health as ‘poor’ or ‘rather poor’ more often than others and depression, allergic rhinitis, asthma, hypertension and heart symptoms such as arrhythmias were more common among them. Insomnia was not a side-effect of the treatment of these diseases; lack of medical treatment was associated with a higher incidence of insomnia. Work-related factors such as ‘moving to a poorer job or to poorer working conditions’ during the past year increased the possibility of insomnia, while moving house seemed to have a positive effect. When comparing these associations in logistic regression models, nervousness and tension were, however, the factors most significantly associated with insomnia.
Conclusions: Psychosocial factors appeared to be more significantly associated with prolonged insomnia than somatic health problems.
Here are some important remedies that can help calm down the mind, body and soul and help relax.
1) Melatonin
Melatonin
Melatonin is a popular remedy to help people fall asleep when the sleep/wake cycle has been disturbed, such as in shift workers or people who with jet lag. Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. The pineal gland in the brain makes serotonin which is then converted into melatonin at night when exposure to light decreases.
Melatonin also decreases in the brain with age, and has been found to be a miracle worker when sleep is much needed.
Melatonin is typically taken about 30 minutes before the desired bedtime. Some experts caution that melatonin should not be used by people with depression, schizophrenia, autoimmune diseases, and other serious illness. Pregnant and nursing women should not use melatonin.
The University of Alberta study examined 17 studies with 651 people and found no significant side effects when used for three months or less.
2) Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques are one of the most effective ways to increase sleep time, fall asleep faster, and feel more rested in the morning. They require a minimum of 20 minutes before going to bed. There are many different techniques:
Visualization – involves imagining a relaxing scene. You can try it in bed before falling asleep. Involve all your senses. If you’re imagining yourself on a tropical island, think of the way the warm breeze feels against your skin. Imagine the sweet scent of the flowers, look at the water and listen the waves–you get the picture. The more vivid the visualization and the more senses you involve, the more effective it will be.
Relaxation Response – A mind/body technique based on the principles of Transcendental Meditation. Learn how to elicit the relaxation response.
Mindfulness – A type of meditation that essentially involves focusing on your mind on the present. Learn mindfulness.
Yoga – combines deep breathing, meditation, and stretching. A Harvard study found that daily yoga for eight weeks improved total sleep time, the time to fall asleep.
3) Diet
Cut out caffeine
Caffeine can have a pronounced effect on sleep, causing insomnia and restlessness. In addition to coffee, tea, and soft drinks, look for hidden sources of caffeine such as chocolate, cough and cold medicine, and other over-the-counter medicine.
Avoid sweets
Although sugar can give a burst of energy, it’s short-lived and can cause uneven blood sugar levels. This can disrupt sleep in the middle of the night as blood sugar levels fall.
Eat foods that help you sleep
Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin. Carbohydrate snacks such whole grain crackers before bedtime may help to promote sleep. Just be sure to stay away from sweets.
Eat magnesium-rich foods
Magnesium is a natural sedative. Deficiency of magnesium can result in difficulty sleeping, constipation, muscle tremors or cramps, anxiety, irritability, and pain. It has also been use for people with restless leg syndrome.
Foods rich in magnesium are legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, and whole grains.
Other foods include:
A. Fish
Most fish—and especially salmon, halibut and tuna—boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness), according to an article published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
B. Jasmine Rice
When healthy sleepers ate carbohydrate-rich suppers of veggies and tomato sauce over rice, they fell asleep significantly faster at bedtime if the meal included high-glycemic-index (GI) jasmine rice rather than lower-GI long-grain rice, in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. While the authors aren’t sure how it happened, they speculated that the greater amounts of insulin triggered by the high-GI meals increased the ratio of sleep-inducing tryptophan relative to other amino acids in the blood, allowing proportionately more to get into the brain.
C. Tart Cherry Juice
In a recent study, melatonin-rich tart cherry juice was shown to aid sleep. When adults with chronic insomnia drank a cup of tart cherry juice twice a day they experienced some relief in the severity of their insomnia.Remember you can turn your tart cherry juice into a smoothie…yum.
D. Yogurt
Dairy products like yogurt and milk boast healthy doses of calcium—and there’s research that suggests being calcium-deficient may make it difficult to fall asleep.
Tart Cherry Yogurt
E. Kale
Dairy products are well-known calcium-rich foods. But green leafy vegetables, such as including kale and collards, also boast healthy doses of calcium. And research suggests that being calcium deficient may make it difficult to fall asleep.
Kale Cranberry Salad
F. Bananas
Bananas, well-known for being rich in potassium, are also a good source of Vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness), according to an article published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Banana
G. Chickpeas
Chickpeas boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness), according to an article published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Turkey has been accused of causing drowsiness: Tryptophan an ingredient in turkey, has a precursor to melatonin, a sleep-associated hormone manufactured in the brain’s pineal gland. “Melatonin secretion is increased during sleep,” and some studies have suggested that melatonin helps people fall asleep as well as adjust their body clocks to new time zones, says psychiatrist Jerry Siegel of the Center for Sleep Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Indian Curried Chick Peas
4) Aromatherapy
The scent of English lavender has long been used as a folk remedy to help people fall asleep. Research is starting to confirm lavender’s sedative qualities. It’s been found to lengthen total sleep time, increase deep sleep, and make people feel refreshed. It appears to work better for women, possibly because women tend to have a more acute sense of smell.
The good thing about lavender is that it begins to work quickly. Try putting a lavender sachet under your pillow or place one to two drops of lavender essential oil in a handkerchief. Or add several drops of lavender oil to a bath — the drop in body temperature after a warm bath also helps with sleep. Other aromatherapy oils believed to help with sleep are chamomile and ylang ylang.
5) Light
If you have trouble falling asleep at night, you may need more light in the morning. Light exposure plays a key role in telling the body when to go to sleep and when to wake up. Try taking a walk first thing in the morning. Just be sure to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.
On the other hand, if you find you’re waking up too early in the morning, you may need more light in the afternoon. Try taking a walk in the late afternoon.
6) Music
Gentle, slow music is another remedy that can help to improve sleep without medication. Music has been found to improve sleep quality, decrease nightly wakenings, lengthen sleep time, and increase satisfaction with sleep.
7) Acupuncture
Acupuncture may help with insomnia. A University of Pittsburgh analysis concluded that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for insomnia. A preliminary study found that five weeks of acupuncture increase melatonin secretion in the evening and improved total sleep time.
8) Traditional Chinese Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, insomnia often stems from kidney energy weakness. This syndrome is not necessarily related to kidney disease in Western medicine. A few signs of kidney energy weakness are low back ache, tiredness and fatigue, and a burst of energy at about 11 pm in the evening. Women in menopause often experience this type of insomnia. People who are taking anti-estrogenic drugs such as tamoxifen also experience this type of insomnia, however, they should not take herbal combinations such as the herbal formula liu wei di huang that may increase estrogen levels.
9) Ayurvedic Medicine
In Ayurvedic medicine, insomnia is often associated with a vata imbalance. Vata regulates breathing and circulation. People with a vata imbalance often notice irritability, anxiety, and fear with insomnia. One Ayurvedic treatment is the application of oil on the head and feet. For the pitta type, room temperature coconut oil is used, for the vata type, warm sesame oil is applied, and for the kapha type, warm mustard oil is often applied.
10) Exercise
Lack of exercise can contribute to poor sleep. Muscle tension and stress build in the body. Exercise can promote deep sleep that night. However, intense exercise too close to bed can increase adrenaline levels, leading to insomnia.
11) Natural Awesome Remedies
For hot flashes, a thin, flat foam pillow insert, called a Chillow, can help to cool the head throughout the night.
Chamomile is a wonderful tea that helps relax the body and then it’s magic makes you sleepy , hops, passionflower, lemon balm, and ashwagandha are often used for insomnia. Most people may find benefit from simply having a cup of chamomile tea one to two hours before going to bed. Chamomile can reduce anxiety, calm the digestive system, and relieve muscle tension.
Organic Chamomile Flowers for Tea
12) Feng Shui
Feng shui, which originates in the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, instructs on how to arrange rooms, furniture, offices, houses, and other arrangements to maximize favorable energy flow throughout living spaces. Here are some recommendations that may help promote relaxing sleep:
Try not to have the bed in a corner of the room. The corners are where energy tends to be stagnant.
Avoid putting your bed next to a window. Energy can be drained this way.
The bed shouldn’t be positioned so that the soles of the feet, when lying face-up in bed, directly face the doorway.
When lying in bed, you should have full view of anyone coming in the door. If you can’t do this directly, hang a mirror to reflect the entranceway.
Try to avoid facing sharp corners from desks, bookcases, and other pieces of furniture.
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