Health & WellnessS


Better Earth

Fracking disaster: California aquifers polluted with billions of gallons of wastewater

Mike G
Desmogblog
Tue, 07 Oct 2014 11:30 UTC
fracking waste
© Sinisha Karich
After California state regulators shut down 11 fracking wastewater injection wells last July over concerns that the wastewater might have contaminated aquifers used for drinking water and farm irrigation, the EPA ordered a report within 60 days.

It was revealed yesterday that the California State Water Resources Board has sent a letter to the EPA confirming that at least nine of those sites were in fact dumping wastewater contaminated with fracking fluids and other pollutants into aquifers protected by state law and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity, reveals that nearly 3 billion gallons of wastewater were illegally injected into central California aquifers and that half of the water samples collected at the 8 water supply wells tested near the injection sites have high levels of dangerous chemicals such as arsenic, a known carcinogen that can also weaken the human immune system, and thallium, a toxin used in rat poison.
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Red Flag

Dallas county sheriff's deputy exhibiting Ebola symptoms


Dfw.cbslocal.com
Wed, 08 Oct 2014 13:50 UTC
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© CBS
An afternoon news conference has been called in Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, to discuss a possible second case of Ebola.

According to a statement from the City of Frisco, the patient claims to have had contact with Thomas Eric Duncan, referred to as Dallas 'patient zero.'

The Frisco patient has been identified as a Dallas County deputy Michael Monnig, who was not one of the 48 people being monitored by federal, state and local health officials because he never had direct contact with the patient. Monnig did enter the apartment where Duncan stayed after Duncan had been admitted to the hospital.

The call came in shortly after noon from Care Now, 301 W. Main Street, where the patient was "exhibiting signs and symptoms of Ebola."

CBS 11 has confirmed with Care Now that the facility is in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and is holding everyone in the facility until receiving clearance from the CDC. The patient has been transported to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital by Frisco firefighter-paramedics, the same hospital where Duncan, the first patient to be diagnosed with the virus on American soil, was admitted. Duncan died earlier today, after spending more than 10 days in isolation at that hospital.

Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas confirmed the patient's arrival to the Emergency Room in statement, which reads in part, "Right now, there are more questions than answers about this case. Our professional staff of nurses and doctors is prepared to examine the patient, discuss any findings with appropriate agencies and officials. We are on alert with precautions and systems in place." The hospital is still admitting and caring for other patients at this time.
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Health

Ninety-nine in quarantine after Uganda Marburg death


Theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com
Wed, 08 Oct 2014 22:13 UTC
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8 people develop Ebola-like Marburg disease in Uganda

World Health Organization (WHO) representative said Tuesday. Preparations are underway to quarantine the eight, the country's Health Ministry said. WMUR 9 News reported the number of people exhibiting symptoms was as high as eleven. A 30-year-old radiographer who had worked at Kampala's Mengo Hospital died of the Marburg virus on September 28. Nearly 100 people who had been in contact with the victim have been identified, including workers at Mengo Hospital and another clinic that treated the victim and people living in western Kasese district, where the deceased was buried. "We are in the initial stages of the Ugandan epidemic," WHO representative Alemu Wondimagegnehu told DPA. "We cannot tell what lies ahead, but efforts should be stepped up in vigilance and to activate the existing hemorrhagic fever task forces," Wondimagegnehu said. The government said earlier it was mobilizing health teams and had issued a public alert, asking Ugandans to avoid contact with people with disease symptoms and to report suspected cases. Three days after a fatal case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever was diagnosed in Uganda, 99 people are under isolation in four different locations across the East African country, as field epidemiologists and surveillance officers continue to closely monitor all people who got into contact with only victim.-Spy Ghana

Comment: On October 5, the number quarantined was 80; 19 more people in 3 days.

Ebola-like virus 'Marburg' breaks out (again) in Uganda - 1 dead, 80 quarantined

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Ambulance

Texas Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has died


RT
Wed, 08 Oct 2014 15:21 UTC
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© Reuters/Jim YoungWorkers in a hazardous material suits clean the apartment unit where a man diagnosed with the Ebola virus was staying in Dallas, Texas, October 6, 2014.
The Liberian national who recently became the first man to ever be diagnosed in the United States with Ebola died early Wednesday, a Dallas, Texas hospital said.

"It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 am," Texas Health Resources said in a statement. "Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola. He fought courageously in this battle. Our professionals, the doctors and nurses in the unit, as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas community, are also grieving his passing. We have offered the family our support and condolences at this difficult time."

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A North Texas CBS affiliate reported earlier Wednesday that Duncan, 42, was still in critical condition more than 10 days after he was first placed in isolation at the Dallas hospital. Duncan had traveled to the US from Liberia late last month and, despite seeking medical treatment upon arrival, was not quarantined until several days later.
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Beaker

Monsanto's Roundup = Cancer

Jeff Ritterman, M.D.
Truthout
Mon, 06 Oct 2014 23:41 UTC
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© Jared Rodriguez / Truthout
A brilliant and celebrated inventor, John Franz, gave us an herbicide, Roundup, which has changed the face of agriculture. This herbicide has become the foundation for an entirely novel approach to farming - biotech agriculture - that has expanded rapidly throughout the globe.

Monsanto makes seeds for soy, corn, canola, cotton, alfalfa and sugar beets that are genetically engineered to be tolerant to Roundup. The seeds are marketed in 120 countries. Throughout the world, Roundup is sprayed heavily as a weed killer without fear of damaging the cash crops, which have been engineered to survive the herbicide's effects.

Roundup seemed, at first, to be the perfect herbicide. It blocks the ESPS synthase enzyme, which prevents the synthesis of amino acids that plants need for growth. Since animals don't have this enzyme, it was initially hypothesized that they would be safe from Roundup's effects.

Unfortunately, Roundup has now been shown to affect much more than the EPSP synthase enzyme. The herbicide has been proven to cause birth defects in vertebrates, including in humans, and it may also be the cause of a fatal kidney disease epidemic.

An increasing number of studies are now linking the herbicide to cancer.

Comment: More information on Monsanto's Roundup numerous links to cancer:

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Whistle

Whistleblowers tell the truth about vaccine safety and effectiveness

Dr. Mercola
Mercola.com
Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:58 UTC
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© beforeitsnews.com
In 2010, two Merck virologists filed a federal lawsuit under the False Claims Act against their former employer, alleging the vaccine maker lied about the effectiveness of their mumps vaccine (which is part of the trivalent measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine).

The whistleblowers, Stephen Krahling and Joan Wlochowski, claimed they witnessed "firsthand the improper testing and data falsification in which Merck engaged to artificially inflate the vaccine's efficacy findings."

They charged that Merck used improper testing techniques; manipulated testing methodology; abandoned undesirable test results; falsified test data; and failed to adequately investigate and report the diminished efficacy of its mumps vaccine.

They also claim Merck falsely verified that each manufacturing lot of mumps vaccine would be as effective as identified in the labeling; falsely certified the accuracy of applications filed with the FDA; falsely certified compliance with the terms of the CDC purchase contract; and mislabeled, misbranded and falsely certified its mumps vaccine, among other violations.

Merck allegedly falsified the data to hide the fact that the mumps vaccine in the MMR shot has significantly declined in effectiveness.1
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Ambulance

Pesticide use linked to high rates of depression and suicides among farmers

Brian Bienkowski
environmentalhealthnews.org
Mon, 06 Oct 2014 22:27 UTC
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© Ginnie PetersMatt Peters, a fourth-generation farmer in Dallas County, Iowa, took his own life in May 2011. The Peters family lives on this farm surrounded by 1,500 acres of fields.
On his farm in Iowa, Matt Peters worked from dawn to dusk planting his 1,500 acres of fields with pesticide-treated seeds. "Every spring I worried about him," said his wife, Ginnie. "Every spring I was glad when we were done."

In the spring of 2011, Ginnie Peters' "calm, rational, loving" husband suddenly became depressed and agitated. "He told me 'I feel paralyzed'," she said. "He couldn't sleep or think. Out of nowhere he was depressed."

A clinical psychologist spoke to him on the phone and urged him to get medical help. "He said he had work to do, and I told him if it's too wet in the morning to plant beans come see me," Mike Rossman said. "And the next day I got the call."

Peters took his own life. He was 55 years old.

No one knows what triggered Peters' sudden shift in mood and behavior. But since her husband's death, Ginnie Peters has been on a mission to not only raise suicide awareness in farm families but also draw attention to the growing evidence that pesticides may alter farmers' mental health.
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Nuke

Most foods labeled "natural" in U.S. actually contain GMO ingredients


The Guardian
Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:17 UTC
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© AlamyThree tomatoes grown from genetically modified seeds
Non-profit finds that while 'organic' products lack GM ingredients, many cereals, chips and infant formula contain them

A majority of US packaged foods labeled as "natural" and tested by Consumer Reports actually contained a substantial level of genetically modified ingredients, according to a report issued Tuesday by the non-profit product testing group.

Consumers are being misled by the "natural" label, said Urvashi Rangan, executive director of Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability.

Consumer Reports said it had conducted a survey of more than 80 different processed foods containing corn or soy, the two most widely grown genetically engineered crops in the United States, to determine whether labeling claims for GMO presence were accurate.

While foods labeled as "non-GMO", or "organic" were found to be free of genetically modified corn and soy, virtually all of the foods labeled as "natural" or not labeled with any claim related to GMO content contained substantial amounts of GMO ingredients, Consumer Reports said.

GMOs were present in breakfast cereals, chips and infant formula, the group said.

Comment: There is plenty of evidence that GMO crops are unsafe for consumption and should be avoided:

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Pills

Big Pharma rip off: Why do Americans allow it?

Robert Reich
Common Dreams
Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:55 UTC
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© David K/flickr/ccAmerica spends a fortune on drugs, more per person than any other nation on earth, even though Americans are no healthier than the citizens of other advanced nations.
According to a new federal database put online last week, pharmaceutical companies and device makers paid doctors some $380 million in speaking and consulting fees over a five-month period in 2013.

Some doctors received over half a million dollars each, and others got millions of dollars in royalties from products they helped develop.

Doctors claim these payments have no effect on what they prescribe. But why would drug companies shell out all this money if it didn't provide them a healthy return on their investment?

Comment: Additional articles about how Big Pharma rips off Americans:

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Cow

The irony: Life long vegetarian Morrissey reveals he's being treated for cancer

Jess Wilson
The Mirror
Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:30 UTC
Vegan Morrissey
The former Smiths singer has been hospitalised on several occasions over the last 18 months

Morrissey is being treated for cancer.

The former Smiths singer has been in hospital on several occasions over the last 18 months and he has now revealed that doctors have also been dealing with cancerous tissue in his body.

Despite his diagnosis, the 55-year-old songwriter insists he isn't afraid of death and accepts it is something that comes to us all.

Although he did not reveal what type of cancer he has, Morrissey confessed to Spanish newspaper El Mundo: "They have scraped cancerous tissues four times already, but whatever. If I die, then I die. And if I don't, then I don't.

"Right now I feel good. I am aware that in some of my recent photos I look somewhat unhealthy, but that's what illness can do. I'm not going to worry about that, I'll rest when I'm dead."

Morrissey's health issues have included a bleeding ulcer in early 2013, a double bout of pneumonia in March 2013, food poisoning in July 2013 and a respiratory infection in June 2014 which forced him to cancel his US tour.

Comment: Though it's sad to hear of a talented musician being diagnosed with cancer, it is hard to ignore the irony of a situation in which a strong proponent of a supposedly "healthy" vegetarian lifestyle should develop such a myriad of illnesses at such a relatively young age. One can't help but wonder if his dietary choices are what's most responsible for his present state of poor health.

The Vegetarian Myth

Study: Vegetarians are less healthy and have a lower quality of life than meat-eaters

Burying The Vegetarian Hypothesis

The Naive Vegetarian

One must also wonder, if Morrissey had been Keto-adapted or had even been following a Paleo diet, whether he might be in such robust health as to grace us with his talent for many years to come.

No stranger to controversy, Morrissey has gone on record to say that 'eating meat is as bad as paedophilia' and there is 'no difference' between the abattoir and supporting Auschwitz. Just last week he launched a new brand of t-shirt with the slogan 'Be kind to animals or I'll kill you'

Viva Hate, indeed.

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