Newsletter September
Our Health Tip:
A tip from Mr. E. B. from H., from his childhood. It works great:
Gargle as soon as possible when you feel a throat infection coming on:
Add 1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide to a glass of water. Gargle vigorously, and spit out. Don’t swallow it! You can buy hydrogen peroxide in the pharmacy.
Genetically Engineered Food – Once in circulation, impossible to control
A recent article in Newsweek talked about the distribution of genetically modified rice. The GM rice that is now making headlines was developed in China. A protein was inserted to make the rice more resistant to certain harmful insects. Officially, this kind of rice may not be sold, but may be worked only under severe research conditions. Nevertheless, the rice was illegally sold to farmers who cultivated it. After this became known, Chinese authorities destroyed some of these fields in April 2005. Over a year later, this variety of rice was found in 5 of 29 products, even in an Asia-noodle variety sold by a Dutch importer.
The bureaucrats in the office of consumer protection have little interest in this problem.
A speaker for the environmental protection organization “Friends of the Earth”:
“Once in circulation, GM foods are almost impossible to control. It seems to be a widespread problem.”
And, recently GM rice was found in an American rice variety.
Our commentary:
Officials are always ready to lull critical consumers into a false sense of security. They say, on the one hand, that GM food is not harmful and on the other hand, they want to allay doubts about experimental cultivation with the argument that the fields and plants are under strict control.
It is very clear to every thinking person that it is illusory to think that in the cultivation of genetically modified plants, the spread of genetic material can be prevented by strictly monitoring fields and plants. The bees alone spread the pollen of these GM plants; one can find genetic fragments in honey. By the way, declaration requirements have led to a crisis for the future of beekeepers. But we also see that with every GM cultivation, be it ever so monitored, a Pandora’s box is being opened and the distribution of these plants cannot be stopped.
Meanwhile, there are many studies that indicate definitive harmful effects of GM food.
But consumers can do a lot against this. We can, for example, see to it that the food we buy is guaranteed gene free.
However, we can do this only when we know where the products and the ingredients come from. That is why whenever possible at HG Naturklinik Michelrieth, we use food that was grown under peaceable cultivation conditions, from “Lebe Gesund.”
And there is another way to give value to food. As long as we see our food merely as means to an end, in order to somehow survive or satisfy ourselves for a short while, as long as we want to pay less and less for our groceries, and are not willing to attach value to them in our life, commercial interests will win out in foodstuff production. Just think of the many scandals concerning food.
Perhaps the following figures will give food for thought. Presently only 14% of disposable personal income is spent on food in Germany (10% in USA in 2001). Several decades ago it was still 60%. However, few curtail themselves when it comes to vacations, leisure-time activities, amusement or technical equipment. Need we then wonder when rotten meat, spoiled products, deceit and exploitation occur?
With every bite we decide whether life, nature, Mother Earth, is despised and exploited or whether it will get better in the world, because we respect and cherish life, of which we are also a part.
By the way: GM rice was recently discovered in Aldi stores in northern Germany, a large discount food chain in Germany and other European countries, and it is now in USA and Australia as well.
