Will Veggies Make You Live Longer?

Some scientific studies show that in communities where elders live the longest—they eat less meat than the rest. It’s hard to say if it’s their greens or their genes. But, there’s no question that  we as a people and our planet would be healthier by eating  more veggies and less red meat, generally.


Growing livestock for meat production and processing requires an immense amount of water and land—more than any other form of food. To produce 1 pound of feedlot beef requires about 2,400 gallons of water and 7 pounds of grain. Cornell University scientists estimate that the U.S. could feed 800 million people with the grain that livestock eat.
Meat production is also one of the top contributors to our most serious environmental challenges—from deforestation to air and water pollution.

Last year, even the World Bank scientists came out against the meat industry, estimating that meat production is responsible for at least 51% of greenhouse gases.
If you're still looking for ways to go green for 2010, doing the veggie thing once a week may be a great next step. Find your local Farmers Market and support a few local organic farmers. You'll be making better choices for our planet. And, you might even live longer. :)

The Agricultural Bill HR 2749 had passed in the House in July 2009, but has yet to pass in the Senate under a different name, "Food Safety Enhancement Act."



The Obama government and others, including John McCain, are trying to enact this bill to micromanage every bite of food you take, lower dosages for vitamins and minerals, prosecute anyone who grows or sells Rosemary and Thyme, hand over all pharmaceutical business to the global players such as Monsanto (for one) and basically disallow anyone who holds a pen of chickens in their yard to provide eggs for their family. The "organic" label in the market will disappear and be unlawful to produce.

There is much more to this bill so please research it for yourself and consider what this means for ourselves , our children and quality of life.

Please write your Senators and Congressman regarding this Agricultural Bill. If we do not speak out now then when??

Thank you for your research Cheryl

Here is more information on HR2749:

* HR 2749 would impose an annual registration fee of $500 on any “facility” that holds, processes, or manufactures food. (Hmmm...I think I am storing and processing food in my home kitchen. I occasionally make my own bread or jam or salads. Guess I'd better register with the Federal government and hand over $500 buckaroos.)



* HR 2749 would empower FDA to regulate how crops are raised and harvested. It puts the federal government right on the farm, dictating to our farmers. ( I think the Feds have already been doing this to some extent. This just hands the FDA more power on steroids....instead of at the point of market, it is on the private property of the farm.)


* HR 2749 would give FDA the power to order a quarantine of a geographic area, including “prohibiting or restricting the movement of food or of any vehicle being used or that has been used to transport or hold such food within the geographic area.” (You better not drive your SUV to the Farmer's Market to transport that food to your home...the food police are on your tail. Martial law for Farmer's Markets)


* HR 2749 would empower FDA to make random warrantless searches of the business records of small farmers and local food producers, without any evidence whatsoever that there has been a violation. ( You're screwed. Don't even think about taking that pie to the wake of your friend's dead relative.)


* HR 2749 charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services with establishing a tracing system for food. Each “person who produces, manufactures, processes, packs, transports, or holds such food” [Is this not every home in the US?] would have to “maintain the full pedigree of the origin and previous distribution history of the food,” and “establish and maintain a system for tracing the food that is interoperable with the systems established and maintained by other such persons.” 

* HR 2749 creates severe criminal and civil penalties, including prison terms of up to 10 years and/or fines of up to $100,000 for each violation for individuals. (Punishment by fiat? Who enforces this? The FDA now assumes the right to implement fines and penalties without judicial review? Are we having fun yet?)

Please  Make your calls to your Congressman but most relevent  to your Senators.

**Make Your Call Now**

For contact information use this link:


http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=NY