TiLTNews Network: Earth Watch - Freedom is defined by the ability of citizens to live without government interference, not by safety. It is easy to clamor for government security when terrible things happen; but liberty is given true meaning when we support it without exception, and we will be safer for it ~ Dr. Ron Paul
Monday, July 14, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
OCA Asks Consumers to Call Starbucks on Monday, July 7
OCA Asks Consumers to Call Starbucks on Monday, July 7.
Asking the largest coffee chain in the world to convert to certified organic milk
Organic Consumers Association, July 7, 2014
For related articles and more information, please visit OCA's Factory Farm page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2014
CONTACT: Katherine Paul katherine@organicconsumers.org
207.653.3090, Organic Consumers Association
FINLAND, Minn. – The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has joined other concerned groups in asking consumers to call Starbucks today, Monday, July 7, at (800)-782-7282 and ask CEO Howard Schultz to convert the company’s milk purchases to certified organic milk.
“Starbucks is perpetuating the unsustainable model of industrial and GMO agriculture,” said Ronnie Cummins, OCA’s national director. “A huge percentage of GMO crops are used to feed livestock, including dairy cows. By switching to organic milk, Starbucks could set the industry standard while at the same time contributing to the growth of a more sustainable, and more humane, dairy industry model.”
Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the world, with 20,100 stores, and annual sales of $14.9 billion. Starbucks uses more than 93 million gallons (2011 figures) annually of non-organic milk from factory farms.
That makes it one of the biggest supporters of Big Dairy factory farms. And, there’s a lot wrong with the Big Dairy factory farm model. Animals are abused. Food safety is compromised. And diary CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) support Monsanto’s toxic, unsustainable GMO corn, soy and alfalfa.
The OCA has been pressuring Starbucks for 12 years to change its policies and practices around organics and fair trade. Yet apart from one victory—in 2007, when in response to consumer pressure Starbucks agreed to stop using milk containing Monsanto's Bovine Growth Hormone—Starbucks has ignored consumers’ demands.
A switch to certified organic milk would have a huge impact on the organic milk industry. That’s why OCA has called on its million-plus network to ask CEO Howard Schultz to switch to organic milk.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The Organic Consumers Fund is a 501(c)4 allied organization of the Organic Consumers Association, focused on grassroots lobbying and legislative action.
Asking the largest coffee chain in the world to convert to certified organic milk
Organic Consumers Association, July 7, 2014
For related articles and more information, please visit OCA's Factory Farm page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2014
CONTACT: Katherine Paul katherine@organicconsumers.org
207.653.3090, Organic Consumers Association
FINLAND, Minn. – The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has joined other concerned groups in asking consumers to call Starbucks today, Monday, July 7, at (800)-782-7282 and ask CEO Howard Schultz to convert the company’s milk purchases to certified organic milk.
“Starbucks is perpetuating the unsustainable model of industrial and GMO agriculture,” said Ronnie Cummins, OCA’s national director. “A huge percentage of GMO crops are used to feed livestock, including dairy cows. By switching to organic milk, Starbucks could set the industry standard while at the same time contributing to the growth of a more sustainable, and more humane, dairy industry model.”
Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the world, with 20,100 stores, and annual sales of $14.9 billion. Starbucks uses more than 93 million gallons (2011 figures) annually of non-organic milk from factory farms.
That makes it one of the biggest supporters of Big Dairy factory farms. And, there’s a lot wrong with the Big Dairy factory farm model. Animals are abused. Food safety is compromised. And diary CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) support Monsanto’s toxic, unsustainable GMO corn, soy and alfalfa.
The OCA has been pressuring Starbucks for 12 years to change its policies and practices around organics and fair trade. Yet apart from one victory—in 2007, when in response to consumer pressure Starbucks agreed to stop using milk containing Monsanto's Bovine Growth Hormone—Starbucks has ignored consumers’ demands.
A switch to certified organic milk would have a huge impact on the organic milk industry. That’s why OCA has called on its million-plus network to ask CEO Howard Schultz to switch to organic milk.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The Organic Consumers Fund is a 501(c)4 allied organization of the Organic Consumers Association, focused on grassroots lobbying and legislative action.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Michelle Obama Faces School Board Fury: Food Nutrition Best Decided at Local Level | Fix This Nation .com
Michelle Obama Faces School Board Fury: Food Nutrition Best Decided at Local Level | Fix This Nation .com.
There was a time when conservatives had to be wary about liberals pushing their greedy government fingers into our taxes, our religion, and our right to bear arms. All of that remains true, but we must also now have to beware of them putting their hands all over our food! What could be nastier?
Well, it appears that the Muskego, Wisconsin School District is telling Michelle Obama to back off. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the school board president said, “We believe that proper food nutrition and meal portion guidelines are best decided at a local level.” The president, Rick Petfalski, goes on to say that the district will be opting out of the federal school lunch program regulations. While this means they will not be able to receive federal funds for the meals, it also means they will be free to serve the type of menu they want. Even with the federal funds, the district was projected to lose $54,000 this year under the regulations. Petfalski expects to turn that around by opting out and serving a menu that kids will actually buy.
Petfaski closed his comments by noting that Michelle Obama was the catalyst behind the difficult guidelines, pointing out that she had not been elected to any office that he was aware of. He makes a good point that tends to get missed by plenty of Presidents and their First Ladies, though Michelle Obama has been more active than most. One of the worst things we can do is assume that politicians have some secret fountain of wisdom on a wide variety of topics, because this is almost never the case. They have their handlers, they have their strengths, but they are mostly successful because they are good at public speaking and playing the game. That’s all. Michelle Obama is even worse, because she isn’t even an elected representative.
In the desire to have something to do, she campaigned against this national obesity epidemic we’re dealing with. That’s not a terrible thing for the first lady to throw her support behind – I mean, American kids are fat. As usual, though, liberals overextend themselves. While Bloomberg is busy trying to ban sodas in New York, Michelle took her fight to the schools. Take away the tacos, she said. Take away the chocolate milk, she cried.
What school boards and principals and lunch ladies have long known – and what the lefties are just now learning – is that when children aren’t presented with edible options, they don’t eat. That might be fine and well; after all, the point of all this is to get them to shed some pounds. Except that without eating a proper lunch, these children can’t learn. A hungry kid = a non-learning kid. And to think, the liberals have been pointing their fingers at Republicans for slashing programs and starving poor children. Clean up your own house, liberal windbags. Oh, and have a corn dog for the children’s sake.
- See more at: http://www.fixthisnation.com/conservative-breaking-news/michelle-obama-faces-school-board-fury-food-nutrition-best-decided-at-local-level/#sthash.kjbSMBAz.dpuf
There was a time when conservatives had to be wary about liberals pushing their greedy government fingers into our taxes, our religion, and our right to bear arms. All of that remains true, but we must also now have to beware of them putting their hands all over our food! What could be nastier?
Well, it appears that the Muskego, Wisconsin School District is telling Michelle Obama to back off. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the school board president said, “We believe that proper food nutrition and meal portion guidelines are best decided at a local level.” The president, Rick Petfalski, goes on to say that the district will be opting out of the federal school lunch program regulations. While this means they will not be able to receive federal funds for the meals, it also means they will be free to serve the type of menu they want. Even with the federal funds, the district was projected to lose $54,000 this year under the regulations. Petfalski expects to turn that around by opting out and serving a menu that kids will actually buy.
Petfaski closed his comments by noting that Michelle Obama was the catalyst behind the difficult guidelines, pointing out that she had not been elected to any office that he was aware of. He makes a good point that tends to get missed by plenty of Presidents and their First Ladies, though Michelle Obama has been more active than most. One of the worst things we can do is assume that politicians have some secret fountain of wisdom on a wide variety of topics, because this is almost never the case. They have their handlers, they have their strengths, but they are mostly successful because they are good at public speaking and playing the game. That’s all. Michelle Obama is even worse, because she isn’t even an elected representative.
In the desire to have something to do, she campaigned against this national obesity epidemic we’re dealing with. That’s not a terrible thing for the first lady to throw her support behind – I mean, American kids are fat. As usual, though, liberals overextend themselves. While Bloomberg is busy trying to ban sodas in New York, Michelle took her fight to the schools. Take away the tacos, she said. Take away the chocolate milk, she cried.
What school boards and principals and lunch ladies have long known – and what the lefties are just now learning – is that when children aren’t presented with edible options, they don’t eat. That might be fine and well; after all, the point of all this is to get them to shed some pounds. Except that without eating a proper lunch, these children can’t learn. A hungry kid = a non-learning kid. And to think, the liberals have been pointing their fingers at Republicans for slashing programs and starving poor children. Clean up your own house, liberal windbags. Oh, and have a corn dog for the children’s sake.
- See more at: http://www.fixthisnation.com/conservative-breaking-news/michelle-obama-faces-school-board-fury-food-nutrition-best-decided-at-local-level/#sthash.kjbSMBAz.dpuf
BOMBSHELL: Congressman makes bold claim about an email from White House officials | Young Conservatives
BOMBSHELL: Congressman makes bold claim about an email from White House officials | Young Conservatives
BOMBSHELL: Congressman makes bold claim about an email from White House officials
by David Rufful on July 3, 2014 in News & Politics
At a Town Hall in South Carolina, Congressman Mick Mulvaney made a startlingclaim:
According to Congressman Mulvaney, there is believed to be an email from officials inside the White House, exclaiming, “The VA scandal is killing us and we need to move on the Bergdahl trade without going through Congress.” If this email exist and can be brought forward as evidence it will certainly eliminate the President’s claim that he acted in the event of an emergency. Given the bi-partisan furor which ensued after he took such unilateral action, it seems clear that this would be the best path for impeachment.
I’m sure White House officials are trying to destroy emails and hard drives, just as they did with their IRS collaborator Lois Lerner.
BOMBSHELL: Congressman makes bold claim about an email from White House officials
by David Rufful on July 3, 2014 in News & Politics
At a Town Hall in South Carolina, Congressman Mick Mulvaney made a startlingclaim:
According to Congressman Mulvaney, there is believed to be an email from officials inside the White House, exclaiming, “The VA scandal is killing us and we need to move on the Bergdahl trade without going through Congress.” If this email exist and can be brought forward as evidence it will certainly eliminate the President’s claim that he acted in the event of an emergency. Given the bi-partisan furor which ensued after he took such unilateral action, it seems clear that this would be the best path for impeachment.
I’m sure White House officials are trying to destroy emails and hard drives, just as they did with their IRS collaborator Lois Lerner.
Woman in class-action lawsuit against Xerox dies | Las Vegas Review-Journal
Woman in class-action lawsuit against Xerox dies | Las Vegas Review-Journal
Woman in class-action lawsuit against Xerox dies
Deatils of the Xerox Hearing
Xerox Hearing
KOLO RENO/NDN
Details of Xerox hearing in March in Carson City.
Linda Rolain. (Courtesy, Facebook)
Matthew Callister, with the law firm of Callister, Immerman and Associates, is one of those working on a class-action lawsuit against Xerox, the contractor for Nevada Health Link. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal file)
BUY PHOTO
By JENNIFER ROBISON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Time ran out for Linda Rolain.
The Las Vegas woman died Monday, less than two weeks after her family went public with details about Nevada Health Link insurance exchange enrollment troubles that kept her from treatment in January for an aggressive brain tumor.
Rolain was one of about 150 Nevadans suing Nevada Health Link contractor Xerox for enrollment mix-ups that left them without the health insurance they paid for.
Rolain is the first to die of complications from an illness said to have gone untreated for lack of coverage. But observers close to her case say she may not be the last.
“We are worried that this is the first of many Nevadans who have life-threatening issues that may end up in such tragic circumstances. We urge all Nevadans to verify that their insurance is active and in place in light of the many problems that hundreds, if not thousands, of Nevadans have gone through,” Rolain’s law firm, Callister, Immerman and Associates, said in a statement.
Local insurance broker Pat Casale, who in May began to help Rolain with her enrollment issues, said he wouldn’t be surprised if there were at least another 100 Nevadans facing both coverage problems and “urgent and emergent” health care needs.
“I know a few that I have right now (are) in serious need of care — people who have actually paid premiums and have not received care,” Casale said.
Rolain’s husband, Robert, said the couple began trying to sign up in November, well ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline for January coverage. After wrestling with repeated sign-up problems, the Rolains bought a plan that took effect in March. But they said Xerox staffers miscommunicated the policy’s effective date, so they didn’t know until May that they had coverage.
Linda Rolain was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2014, after a seizure in late 2013. Robert Rolain said in a June 19 news conference at the downtown Las Vegas offices of Callister, Immerman and Associates that his wife’s care was delayed for months because of their insurance troubles.
Robert Rolain alleges his wife’s tumor went from treatable in winter to fatal in spring as the couple fought for coverage.
Linda Rolain was admitted to hospice care in early June.
A Xerox spokesman said in a statement that the company would not “be able to comment on this tragic development.” A spokesman for Nevada Health Link was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
Casale blamed the coverage mishap on Xerox’s “ineptitude” and “inability to get paperwork and to process things through to” the Rolains’ insurer, Nevada Health CO-OP.
“This poor lady was told in January that she needed immediate attention,” Casale said. “Her doctor said if she had begun treatment in March, he might been able to give her quality of care, and she might have lived longer. She had no chance because of the delay.
“Ms. Rolain should have had coverage in January. (The Rolains) did everything they could to facilitate the acquisition of a health plan,” Casale added. “She suffered and she died all because of the negligence of a vendor who should not even be in the industry.”
The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange signed a $72 million contract with Xerox in 2012 to build Nevada Health Link. But software glitches kept legions of consumers from enrolling in plans when the health link opened on Oct. 1. The exchange enrolled just a third of the 118,000 sign-ups it targeted in its first year.
The exchange’s board decided in May to replace Xerox as the health link’s contractor. The exchange will borrow federal eligibility and enrollment functions in November while it looks for a permanent replacement system for 2015’s enrollment session.
Callister, Immerman and Associates filed its class action lawsuit on April 1 after Las Vegan Larry Basich ran up $407,000 in uncovered medical bills despite paying several months’ worth of premiums through Nevada Health Link.
Attorney Matthew Callister said on June 19 that he would seek faster legal action for gravely ill patients, including Linda Rolain.
“Some of our clients are so ill that if their needs are not addressed now, it is a matter of life and death,” Callister said.
Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @J_Robison1 on Twitter.
Woman in class-action lawsuit against Xerox dies
Deatils of the Xerox Hearing
Xerox Hearing
KOLO RENO/NDN
Details of Xerox hearing in March in Carson City.
Linda Rolain. (Courtesy, Facebook)
Matthew Callister, with the law firm of Callister, Immerman and Associates, is one of those working on a class-action lawsuit against Xerox, the contractor for Nevada Health Link. (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal file)
BUY PHOTO
By JENNIFER ROBISON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Time ran out for Linda Rolain.
The Las Vegas woman died Monday, less than two weeks after her family went public with details about Nevada Health Link insurance exchange enrollment troubles that kept her from treatment in January for an aggressive brain tumor.
Rolain was one of about 150 Nevadans suing Nevada Health Link contractor Xerox for enrollment mix-ups that left them without the health insurance they paid for.
Rolain is the first to die of complications from an illness said to have gone untreated for lack of coverage. But observers close to her case say she may not be the last.
“We are worried that this is the first of many Nevadans who have life-threatening issues that may end up in such tragic circumstances. We urge all Nevadans to verify that their insurance is active and in place in light of the many problems that hundreds, if not thousands, of Nevadans have gone through,” Rolain’s law firm, Callister, Immerman and Associates, said in a statement.
Local insurance broker Pat Casale, who in May began to help Rolain with her enrollment issues, said he wouldn’t be surprised if there were at least another 100 Nevadans facing both coverage problems and “urgent and emergent” health care needs.
“I know a few that I have right now (are) in serious need of care — people who have actually paid premiums and have not received care,” Casale said.
Rolain’s husband, Robert, said the couple began trying to sign up in November, well ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline for January coverage. After wrestling with repeated sign-up problems, the Rolains bought a plan that took effect in March. But they said Xerox staffers miscommunicated the policy’s effective date, so they didn’t know until May that they had coverage.
Linda Rolain was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2014, after a seizure in late 2013. Robert Rolain said in a June 19 news conference at the downtown Las Vegas offices of Callister, Immerman and Associates that his wife’s care was delayed for months because of their insurance troubles.
Robert Rolain alleges his wife’s tumor went from treatable in winter to fatal in spring as the couple fought for coverage.
Linda Rolain was admitted to hospice care in early June.
A Xerox spokesman said in a statement that the company would not “be able to comment on this tragic development.” A spokesman for Nevada Health Link was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.
Casale blamed the coverage mishap on Xerox’s “ineptitude” and “inability to get paperwork and to process things through to” the Rolains’ insurer, Nevada Health CO-OP.
“This poor lady was told in January that she needed immediate attention,” Casale said. “Her doctor said if she had begun treatment in March, he might been able to give her quality of care, and she might have lived longer. She had no chance because of the delay.
“Ms. Rolain should have had coverage in January. (The Rolains) did everything they could to facilitate the acquisition of a health plan,” Casale added. “She suffered and she died all because of the negligence of a vendor who should not even be in the industry.”
The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange signed a $72 million contract with Xerox in 2012 to build Nevada Health Link. But software glitches kept legions of consumers from enrolling in plans when the health link opened on Oct. 1. The exchange enrolled just a third of the 118,000 sign-ups it targeted in its first year.
The exchange’s board decided in May to replace Xerox as the health link’s contractor. The exchange will borrow federal eligibility and enrollment functions in November while it looks for a permanent replacement system for 2015’s enrollment session.
Callister, Immerman and Associates filed its class action lawsuit on April 1 after Las Vegan Larry Basich ran up $407,000 in uncovered medical bills despite paying several months’ worth of premiums through Nevada Health Link.
Attorney Matthew Callister said on June 19 that he would seek faster legal action for gravely ill patients, including Linda Rolain.
“Some of our clients are so ill that if their needs are not addressed now, it is a matter of life and death,” Callister said.
Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @J_Robison1 on Twitter.
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