Roundup: Birth Defects Caused By World's Top-Selling Weedkiller, Scientists Say

[drokhole]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- The chemical at the heart of the planet’s most widely used herbicide -- Roundup weedkiller, used in farms and gardens across the U.S. -- is coming under more intense scrutiny following the release of a new report calling for a heightened regulatory response around its use.

Critics have argued for decades that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup and other herbicides used around the globe, poses a serious threat to public health. Industry regulators, however, appear to have consistently overlooked their concerns.

A comprehensive review of existing data released this month by Earth Open Source, an organization that uses open-source collaboration to advance sustainable food production, suggests that industry regulators in Europe have known for years that glyphosate, originally introduced by American agricultural biotechnology giant Monsanto in 1976, causes birth defects in the embryos of laboratory animals.
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After studying the bacteria, Huber wrote Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in February warning that the "pathogen appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings."

more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/24/roundup-scientists-birth-defects_n_883578.html

[ShockediSay]

1. Cheese, regulation would only

limit freedom (for our Big Corporate Masters)to exploit us and kill jobs (for indertakers).

[Fearless]

10. +1

[BeFree]

2. Finally

I sure as hell shy away from anybody who likes their roundup. No use becoming friends with them. Not only are they stupid but they will die an early death is what I figure.

[Blue Owl]

3. RoundUp?

More like RoundDown, IMO...

[libodem]

4. Probiotics

Sales are up because our gut bacteria is taking a beating, too.

[Scuba]

5. If it brings Monsanto down it may have been worth it.

[Eddie Rek]

6. monsanto is evil

someone or something will eventually bring that company down, afterall they do control the survival of us humans

[felix_numinous]

7. Thom Hartman's book Last hours of Ancient Sunlight

has a chapter on insecticides, which is another source of groundwater pollution (estrogent pollution). Insecticides, and herbicides like Roundup are really toxic to children and pregnant women. Because this research has been repressed by these criminal companies, I see people still using Roundup everywhere--instead of pulling weeds by hand they just spray.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Hours-Ancient-Sunlight-Revised/dp/1400051576

It is no wonder that anything that kills plants and insects eventually harms us since we are higher on the food chain. (Roundup is also linked with lymphoma, the cancer I have)

K&R for a post against Monsanto--may they be indicted some day for crimes against the Earth and humanity.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/roundup.cfm

[Alcibiades]

9. I wish you well

in your struggle against lymphoma.

[felix_numinous]

13. Thank you so much

I think being ornery helps in healing :)

[drokhole]

11. Thanks for the heads up, felix_numinous!

Sounds like an interesting book, I'll have to give it a read! :thumbsup:

It most certainly is an absolute travesty the effects these chemicals have on us and our environment, and the continual failure for the dots to be connected - through either unwitting indifference, lack of study, or outright suppression of the facts. It really has dawned on me lately just how mindlessly we spread these chemicals over our environment in our everyday, relying mainly on the "word" of the corporation itself (I believe there was a quote in the article from Monsanto once claiming RoundUp to be "as safe as table salt"...lets see those assholes sprinkle it on their food), coupled with our basic trustworthy nature.

For example, during the first sign of Spring this season, every single one of my neighbors spread some type of fertilizer/weed-killer seed on their lawn. Now, obviously, people understand these mixes are toxic and don't go around tossing handfuls into their mouth...but how is that really any less absurd than spreading it on our lawns? Where you may want to walk barefoot. Where children and pets play and roll around. Where birds and insects eat and live. When it rains, just how much does that affect the run-off? Does this tainted water enter our sewage/water treatment centers? Does it enter the atmosphere when that water evaporates? Are we breathing this stuff in? Are all of these potential hazards really worth it for the perfectly manicured (re: chemically treated) lawn? Not to mention the effects on plant-life itself...

I can't help but think this all affects our health in ways we remain unaware of to this day (no matter how slow-moving or subtle). I'm truly sorry to hear about your condition. It seems to me that a myriad of health problems can be attributed to the now pervasive chemicals in our environment - through either direct contact or indirect exposure/ingestion - but it's hardly an avenue explored after diagnosis of now "common" cancers, and might well be impossible to trace because of pure ubiquity. And, you're right, it truly is a massive crime against humanity.

I send you my best!

[felix_numinous]

14. Thanks!!

Here are some links of non toxic insect control alternatives for this thread :)

http://www.noahsnotes.com/naturalpest.html --has some great suggestions.

http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/organic-garden-pest-control.html

http://www.thebeneficialinsectco.com/beneficial-nematodes.htm --This link is about beneficial nemotodes as an alternative in lawns to cut down on fleas, flies and japanese beetles.

I think the 21st Century will be spent cleaning up--and like every gigantic mess, as much as we hate it, we have to start somewhere!

[drokhole]

15. Fantastic!! Another great addition to the thread! Bookmarking for future reference.

Here's a video you might be interested in that, in part, deals with Entomopathogenic fungi (fungi that kill insects):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY
(starts around the 13:00 minute mark, but the whole video is worth a watch)


More info on Entomopathogenic fungi - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomopathogenic_fungus

The guy in the video (mycologist Paul Stamets) says he's been told it's the "most destructive technology" (insect-wise, not environmentally) by executives in the pesticide business, and could totally revamp the industry around the world. Thing is, that's only one of many environmentally safe/beneficial things he covers in the video.

[felix_numinous]

16. Paul Stamets!

Is he awesome or what--this is the way to cheer up after pondering Monsanto poisoning--fungus may save us yet.


Fungi to the rescue in Japan (in case you missed it)

http://sierrapermaculture.com/?p=266

[drokhole]

17. Wow, I was unaware of his proposal - sounds promising! Thanks!! nt

[KT2000]

8. Perfect example

of why healthcare should be a right. These companies are allowd to sicken people for their own profit but yet everyone is on their own to find their own high priced health insurance. When someone is born with birth defects that are life altering, capitalist America just says tough luck - corporate profits are more important.

[Alcibiades]

12. Read the comments, too

"Poison is bad for you." We've known this for a long time, but too many profit by keeping this secret.

It would also go a long way to explaining some of the increased incidence of birth defects for babies conceived in spring and summer.

http://www.livescience.com/5386-birth-defects-tied-season-conception.html

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Someone recommended that I use this product recently...

for a serious vine problem in our yard. I'm glad I didn't buy it, after reading this.
Can anyone recommend a safer product that will take care of the problem?