For Those Who Want To Avoid GMO Foods, There's An App For That

The Buycott app will tell you if a product was made by a company associated with the opposition to labeling genetically modified foods.

Mmm … lunchtime. These Beanfields Nacho Bean and Rice Chips sure are tasty. They also happen to be made by a company that hasn't fueled opposition to labeling genetically modified foods – according to the Buycott app I tried out today.

Another app, the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, tells me that these chips have been verified as fully compliant with the Non-GMO Product Standard (more on that later).

The same is not true for the Nature Valley bars my co-worker keeps at his desk for snacking.

I was curious about these apps I'd been hearing about that supposedly tell you whether the food you're eating was made by a company that opposes GMO product labeling.

This seemed especially relevant in light of the recent failure of Washington Initiative 522, which would have required companies to label foods that contain genetically modified organisms. Washington voters rejected the measure with about 55 percent opposed and 45 percent in favor. A similar measure in California, Proposition 37, failed last year by a similar margin.

Many argue one of the reasons the measures failed is because of the millions of dollars companies contributed to opposition campaigns. In Washington, opponents of Initiative 522 vastly outspent supporters nearly three to one. In California, the opposition campaign raised a whopping $44 million compared with just $7.3 million raised by supporters.

The Buycott app tracks which companies are associated with that spending. If you join GMO labeling campaigns, it allows you to scan the bar code of a product you're thinking about buying. It then checks to see whether the company that made that product opposed GMO labeling campaigns. I joined the "Buy Organic Brands That Support Your Right To Know" campaign to learn how the app worked.

My co-worker's Nature Valley granola bars are made by General Mills, which is a member of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. When I scanned the bar code on the box, I was told that I am avoiding General Mills because the association gave $1.2 million to the campaign that fought against California's GMO labeling measure Proposition 37. And because the app says, the association donated "illegally" to the campaign opposing the GMO labeling initiative 522 in Washington.

You can see here that the grocery association spent millions fighting Initiative 522. And you can see here that General Mills is a member of the association.

There was also a lawsuit filed against the association accusing it of concealing the names of retailers that gave money to the opposition campaign but didn't want their names to be released.

So, the Buycott app helps people choose not to buy food from companies that opposed GMO labeling through campaign contributions.

The Non-GMO Product Shopping Guide takes a different tack. It offers offers tips for avoiding GMO foods and provides a list of foods that meet a non-GMO product standard. It was created by The Non-GMO Project, which claims to be the only independent verification system that checks for genetically modified foods. It offers a seal of approval to products that meet its standard, though the group admits that label doesn't guarantee a product is GMO-free because of testing limitations.

OODLES of links here!

Veteran now receives aid for Agent Orange cancer after claim was denied

St. Louis County, MN (NNCNOW.com) - Red tape threatened the life of a Northland Vietnam veteran, but his life may hopefully be easier. It is all thanks to the help of a red tape cutting veterans’ advocate.

Americans who answered the nation's call during the Vietnam War had to face a determined enemy overseas, and a less than stellar welcome home stateside.

In between, many tangled with the poisonous defoliant, Agent Orange. Recently, a Vietnam vet suffering from an Agent Orange derived cancer visited St. Louis County Veterans Service Officer, Brian Rulifson.

He told Rulifson about his difficulties filing a claim with the Veterans Administration.
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He said that he had a few years ago and it got denied," Rulifson, said.

Rulifson is a retired Navy veteran himself. He contacted the Vietnam Veterans of America in the Twin Cities.

"Together, we presented the VA with what they call a clear and unmistakable error," Rulifson said.

Because of that effort, the Vietnam vet, who prefers to remain anonymous, is now considered 100% disabled and will receive monthly aid plus reimbursement going back to the original claim made in 2004.

For his work, Rulifson was honored by the St. Louis County Board on Tuesday at their board meeting in Fredenburg Township.

"What he accomplished was he cut through the bureaucratic process and truly helped one of our nation's heroes,” a member of the St. Louis County Board, Keith Nelson, said.

For Rulifson, it was just another day at work.

"We do this for all vets that come to us. I would have done the same thing for anybody," Rulifson said.

He encourages anybody and everybody who has served and needs help to seek it.

"Other veterans that either haven't been in the office before or have had claims denied before, if there are any questions, come see your veterans service officer," Rulifson said.

Rulifson is a veterans' services officer based in Virginia, Minn.

LINK

Emerald Coast Cruizin' 2013

We planned our condo visit this month around this particular event.  This was our 3rd straight year at the event, as well as the 3rd location for it.

The new venue was WONDERFUL.  It was located right next to Pier Park.  No more porta-potties, nice sidewalks, oldies music, cold beer and plenty of food.

There were over 3000 cars there.  Dom was in heaven.  We had a very pleasant time.

EMERALD COAST CRUIZIN

We also spent time at Beach Bar and Package across the street, as well as Dee's Hangout for dinner one night.

I was able to spend 2 days lounging on the beach.  The water was crystal clear, but a very chilly 72 degrees.  Air temp was almost 80.  Nice.

We saw plenty of dolphins and stingrays.

We pigged out on Veteran's Day.  Went to Hooters for a pitcher of beer and 10 free wings for lunch.  Then later, went to Applebee's for a free dinner for Dom. He had a nice steak, and I ordered myself a great sandwich.

Fun times!

My Little Masked Bandits

Dom and I went to PCB for 5 nights last week.  When we got home, the first thing I did was dump alot of corn, bread and doughnut-holes from their "Aunt Wendy". (the doughnut holes were the first things they devoured.  Who'da thunk it?)

My best pal, Wendy, has been saving expired bakery goods, fruits and veggies from her grocery store.

They do NOT like vegetables.... went nuts over bananas and grapes, though!

I sat down in the grass, worried that they were mad at us for leaving them.  Nope! Didn't take 'em long to greet me.... they still love me!

Agent Orange Continues to have Huge Impact on Vietnam Veterans

More than 40 years after it was last used in the Vietnam War, Agent Orange continues to have a major impact on veterans.

Agent Orange is a plant-killing chemical that was sprayed over large areas of jungle and brush to clear them.    

It's known to cause several deadly health problems. Channel Three's Joe Douglass has more on its continuing impact.. In a story that, for him, is very personal.

People like me who've lost a family member because of Agent Orange, know its victims often go unseen.     Their names are not included on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. And they're not included here on Wall South in Pensacola.

Wall South is a replica of the DC Memorial. It shows only the names of troops who've died directly from combat-related wounds.    

It's estimated that it would take another two or more entire walls to include the names of Agent Orange victims and of those with Post-traumatic stress disorder who've committed suicide. 

Thurston Mosley, a Vietnam veteran and Agent Orange victim, said, "I wish you could put all the names on the wall that died from it." Mosley and his canine companion Tarzan are a popular pair at the American Legion Hall in Foley.    

Tarzan helps the former Platoon Commander with a lot of everyday activities. "He retrieves things for me," Mosley said about Tarzan, "He can open up doors, turn on and off lights." Mosley was shot through the heart while out on patrol in Vietnam.    
He says his exposure to Agent Orange has only complicated his heart problems.

"In Vietnam, I died three times on the operating table," Mosley said, "I died once here in Foley."

Dan Kirkpatrick, another victim, said, "The Agent Orange is a different issue.  I don't think the names should be added to the Vietnam wall."     Kirkpatrick revved up his Harley outside his home in Milton before talking with us. It's one of the few activities the Vietnam veteran and lifelong rider can still enjoy.    

"I can't walk all the way up and down the street. I can't ride my bicycle with my granddaughter," Kirkpatrick said, "I just don't have the stamina."    

For more than a dozen years Kirkpatrick says he's been treated for heart disease associated with his exposure to Agent Orange while in the Army. "At the time, we were told, 'Don't worry about it...It won't bother you','' Kirkpatrick said. The 63-year-old is retired now and taking a number of medications, some with serious side effects. Just last year he had bypass surgery. "I got to a point where I couldn't hardly work and my work was sitting behind a computer desk all day," Kirkpatrick said.    

Doctor Mary Brawn, of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Superclinic in Pensacola says the facility treats hundreds of veterans with Agent Orange-related conditions each month.    Brawn said the conditions include, "Diabetes, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer."    

Three years ago, the VA increased the number of conditions it associated with Agent Orange, allowing many more veterans to apply for and receive benefits.     Those applications make up a large part of the backlog of more than 400-thousand overdue disability claims that remain unprocessed. "It's gonna grow because most of those conditions again are conditions of aging," Brawn said.    

This story is extremely personal for me. My father, a Vietnam Veteran, died nine years ago from cancer that was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange. He was just 57 years-old.

In 2011, my mother spoke during an event near the  wall in Washington, DC commemorating my dad and other victims.  "I had a five-and-a-half-year battle with the VA," my mother told the crowd,  "They finally did the right thing last year and recognized my husband for dying from exposure to Agent Orange. His name is George Orville Douglass.  Please someone answer this, why are these wonderful veterans not on the wall?"

Although my father was obviously not happy about what happened to him, he still loved his country deeply. The two veterans I spoke with say they feel the same.

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