| SUBSCRIBE & Read Past Issues | OCA Homepage | Can You Imagine a World Without Antibiotics?  Last week the New York Times published an article applauding the FDA for regulating antibiotic use on livestock in an attempt to curb the increasing bacterial resistance to common antimicrobial drugs used to treat a host of human illnesses including pneumonia, strep, bronchial and urinary tract infections. This left us scratching our heads, as just the week before, the Guardian in the UK published an article reporting that during the holiday season, while no one was paying attention, the FDA quietly scaled back its regulations on antibiotics in animal feed.
So which is it? Well, if you know anything about the FDA, you would probably guess that the Guardian article was correct, and, you'd be right. The FDA's decision was to continue to regulate one class of antibiotics called cephalosporins (which constitute a mere .3% of antibiotics used in animal feed), but to scale back its controlled use of all other drugs in hopes that industry would do the right thing and chaperone itself. Sound familiar? How often, in recent years, have government agencies such as the FDA, USDA, and EPA deferred to corporations to police themselves? (See OCA alert: Stop USDA's Plans for Monsanto to Police Itself! as just one example.) Tell the FDA to do their job and regulate the reckless and irresponsible use of antibiotics on factory farms. Otherwise we might find ourselves in a time warp back to the 1920s, when simple things like cuts and minor infections could be deadly. Learn more Urgent Action Needed on the State Level  Are you among the nine out of ten people in the U.S. who believe we have the right to know whether our food has been genetically engineered or not?
Your state legislature needs you! Urgent action is needed now to pass state laws to label genetically modified foods. Several states have bills pending that need your support and the remainder need constituents like you to demand legislation to label GMOs. Click through to OCA's map, then click on your state to take action Make Monsanto Pay! January 24: Protest at Monsanto's Annual Shareholders Meeting  Following up on two actions at Monsanto's headquarters in 2011, we return to St. Louis for the 2012 Monsanto shareholders meeting on January 24!
Please RSVP if you plan to attend the OCA picket line at Monsanto's headquarters! [please email mikedvegan AT gmail.com] Monsanto is consistently ranked among the most evil of all corporations on Earth, wreaking havoc on public health and the environment with its deadly chemicals, but under U.S. law, people and living things don't matter to a corporation, only profits for its shareholders. So, we've teamed up with a group of ethical shareholders led by Harrington Investments, a socially responsible investment advisory firm, that wants to change how Monsanto operates. What if Monsanto had to pay for its corporate crimes? If it were to be held liable for costs associated with its products, shareholders would see their accounts dramatically reduced. We intend to inform them of this. Please join us in St. Louis to support a shareholder resolution to study the financial risks associated with genetically engineered crops. While an OCA representative is speaking inside the shareholders meeting, another group of us will be outside, peacefully picketing. Come to St. Louis to Make Monsanto Pay! Contact OCA Organizer Mike Durschmid [mikedvegan AT gmail.com] to join in. Take action! Support the OCA and the OCF  The nationwide food fight for safe food and sustainability is escalating.
In 2012, whether we're talking about getting antibiotics out of animal feed or labeling GMOs, we're fighting harder than ever. With the 2012 California ballot initiative, and GMO labeling legislation gaining momentum in Vermont, Washington, Connecticut and other states, we have a real chance to hit Monsanto with the skull and crossbones they fear so much - mandatory labels on genetically engineered food. We also plan to step up our efforts to strengthen organic standards and significantly expand the market for organic food and products, especially those produced locally and regionally. Please be as generous as you can this post-holiday season. Donate to the Organic Consumers Association (tax-deductible) Donate to the Organic Consumers Fund (non-tax-deductible, but necessary for our efforts in California) Featured Essay of the Week  "Corporate Personhood Worse, Ending It Easier than You Think" by David Swanson
The root of all of our current problems, whether we're talking about health, justice, sustainability, or the alarming state of our food and farming system, is corporate control, the dictatorship of Monsanto and other billion dollar corporations over our government and economy. It's time to get to the root of the problem and overthrow the Corporatocracy. Here's how we can do it Little Bytes: Top Stories of the Week  Time to Stop Being Cynical About Corporate Money in Politics and Start Being Angry
Dr. Joe Mercola's Health Recommendations, Pt 1 Wall Street Versus Human Survival: The "Profound Contradiction" Between Science and Markets on the Road to 10F Warming U.S. Judge OKs Alfalfa Strain Made by Monsanto Co. Homeopathic Alternatives to Antidepressant Drugs Sponsored Message Eden Foods Offers OCA Customers 15% Discount Eden Foods is one of the few national organic food producers who goes beyond the USDA Organic Standards. Although Eden Foods is USDA certified, their products do not bear the USDA seal, because they say the USDA standard really represents a "minimum standard" that Eden Foods goes far beyond. As a subscriber to Organic Bytes, you can enjoy a 15% discount rate on any Eden Foods products by going here. Learn More Connect With OCA! | 
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