Tag Archives: Minnesota

~ Live green Promote green Business/Political Action

Toxic plastic found in the world’s favorite fish ~ repost reminder


Mediterranean Sea Tuna. Photo: PBS / Elena Grecucci

By John R. Platt
7 May 2015

(Takepart) – For the first time, plastic particles have been found in the stomachs of tuna and other fish that are a staple of the human diet.

More than 18 percent of sampled bluefin, albacore, and swordfish caught in the Mediterranean Sea and tested in 2012 and 2013 carried levels of plastic pollution in their bodies, according to a study published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin.

All three species migrate between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, so these plastic particles could make their way onto the plates of American consumers. The plastics found in the fish contained phthalates, nonylphenol, bisphenol A, brominated flame retardants, and other chemicals that previous research has linked to endocrine disruption, low reproductive rates, and other health risks.

A 2010 study by French and Belgian marine biologists estimated that 250 billion pieces of microscopic plastic were floating in the Mediterranean. A 2014 expedition by Gabriel Gorsky of Pierre-et-Marie Curie University found that “there is not one parcel of the Mediterranean Sea that is devoid of plastic or plastic fragments.” Another study published last year estimated that all of the world’s oceans combined carry more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic pollution.

The current study of large pelagic fish (which live in the open sea, away from the shores or the bottom of the ocean) examined 56 swordfish, 36 bluefin, and 31 albacore that had been caught in the Mediterranean. Of those fish, seven swordfish, 11 bluefin, and four albacore contained plastics in their stomachs.

The plastics varied in size from large pieces more than 25 millimeters wide to microplastics smaller than 5 millimeters. The swordfish were more likely to have ingested large fragments of plastic, while the albacore ingested mostly microplastics.

Most of the pieces were white or transparent, while some “yellowish” plastics were found in the stomachs of the swordfish and bluefin.

As large, “top of the food chain” predators, the fish could have picked up plastic that had first been eaten by smaller fish; a study published last year found that Mediterranean bogue, an important prey species for swordfish, ingest large quantities of microplastics. The researchers, from the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research in Italy, wrote that other plastics could have been ingested while the tuna chased schools of prey fish into shallow waters, where floating plastics are more abundant. [more]

Toxic Plastic Found in the World’s Favorite Fish

ABSTRACT: This study focuses, for the first time, on the presence of plastic debris in the stomach contents of large pelagic fish (Xiphias gladius, Thunnus thynnus and Thunnus alalunga) caught in the Mediterranean Sea between 2012 and 2013. Results highlighted the ingestion of plastics in the 18.2% of samples. The plastics ingested were microplastics (<5 mm), mesoplastics (5–25 mm) and macroplastics (>25 mm).

These preliminary results represent an important initial phase in exploring two main ecotoxicological aspects: (a) the assessment of the presence and impact of plastic debris on these large pelagic fish, and (b) the potential effects related to the transfer of contaminants on human health.

First evidence of presence of plastic debris in stomach of large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea

Source: http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2015/05/toxic-plastic-found-in-worlds-favorite.html

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety

USDA-FSIS Recall Cases, – Update – Aug Sept and October


Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico is a fede...
Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico is a federal aid program of the US Department of Agriculture. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~ the Senate ~ Congress ~Republican led House

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/10 ~~ the House


matthew 25

The Senate stands adjourned under the provisions of S.Res.267 as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota until 10:30am on Thursday, October 10, 2013.

  Following any Leader remarks, it is expected that the Majority Leader will move to proceed to S.1569, a bill to ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until December 31, 2014.

The time until 1:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 1:00pm, the Senate will recess subject to the call of the Chair to allow for special caucus meeting with the President.

This morning Senator Reid moved to proceed to Calendar #211, S.1569, a bill to ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until December 31, 2014. The time until 1:00pm is equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. As a reminder, the Senate will recess at 1:00pm subject to the call of the Chair.

By unanimous consent, the Senate passed H.J.Res.91, Making continuing appropriations for death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2014.

The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the Chair.

The Senate has reconvened and has resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1569, Default Prevention Act of 2013. The time until 6pm is equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees, and with senators on the majority side limited to 10 minutes each.

The time until 7pm on the motion to proceed to S.1569, Default Prevention Act of 2013, is equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

This evening Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1569, the Default Prevention Act of 2013. Unless an agreement is reached, the cloture vote would occur 1 hour after the Senate convenes on Saturday, October 12.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.J.Res.91, Making continuing appropriations for death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

Passed S.1276, a bill to increase oversight of the Revolving Fund of the Office of Personnel Management with a committee-reported substitute amendment and a Carper title amendment.

Adopted H.Con.Res.58, Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations with Levin amendments to the resolution and the preamble.

Completed the Rule 14 process of:

–          H.J.Res.84, Head Start Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014;

–          H.J.Res.89, Making appropriations for the salaries and related expenses of certain Federal employees during a lapse in funding authority for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes;

–          H.J.Res.90, Federal Aviation Administration Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014; and

–          H.J.Res.91, Making continuing appropriations for death gratuities and related survivor benefits for survivors of deceased military service members of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

*************************************************************

Last Floor Action:
5:09:47 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

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~ politics petitions pollution &pop culture

Fed up with Cargill, taking our demands to its customers


Rainforest Action Network

It has begun!

I’m here in Minnesota today to kick off The Power Is In Your Palm Tour, a traveling roadshow that will visit a dozen of the Snack Food 20—companies using conflict palm oil in their popular snack food products—at their US headquarters. I’ll be working with the dedicated activists on the Palm Oil Action Team to deliver our demands to each of these companies: Take conflict palm oil tied to rainforest destruction, orangutan extinction, and human rights violations out of your snack foods!

Fittingly, we started the tour at the world headquarters of Cargill, the #1 importer of conflict palm oil into the US. We just hand-delivered over 100,000 petitions calling on Cargill to commit to transparency and safeguards that will eliminate the conflict palm oil that is driving orangutans to the brink of extinction from its global supply chain.

Cargill petition delivery

After years of making similar demands, though, we’re tired of waiting. Cargill has had its chance to do the right thing. After today, we’re taking our demands directly to Cargill’s customers—many of whom are amongst the Snack Food 20.
The Power Is In Your Palm Tour will travel across the US to deliver the message far and wide that you and me can change how these companies do business. When we take action, the Snack Food 20 will have to remove conflict palm oil from their products. And to do that, the Snack Food 20 will have to tell Cargill that it’s time to remove conflict palm oil from its supply chain.
Here’s how you can help:
1. Sign up for the Palm Oil Action Team—you’ll get all the latest calls to action and will make a huge contribution to The Power Is In Your Palm Tour. Together, we’ll pressure the Snack Food 20 to change their ways.
2. Chip in $5 to keep the tour rolling! We can’t do any of this without your support. Just $5 will go a long way.
It’s so important that you get involved now because we have truly reached The Last Stand of the Orangutan. Best estimates place the population of orangutans in the wilds of Sumatra and Borneo at just 60,600. We really have no time to waste in convincing the Snack Food 20 and Cargill to make sure the products they sell aren’t destroying precious habitat for these great red apes.
Thanks for all you do! And stay tuned, because the next event of The Power Is In Your Palm Tour is going down this Thursday, and we’ll finally be naming the Snack Food 20 and publicly calling on them to clean up their act. You’ll have a big role to play in making that call as loud and clear as possible!

For the great red ape,
Jess Serrante             National Agribusiness Organizer             Twitter: @Jess_Serrante
~ politics petitions pollution &pop culture

a message from Al Franken & Rachel Maddow


Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota

Carmen —
Got a minute? Then click here.
Al was on Rachel Maddow’s show the other night, talking about his provision in health care reform that’s already saving Americans billions of dollars.
Oh, and Will Ferrell’s in the video, too — you’ll see when you watch it.
It’s an important video because it highlights one of the many benefits of Obamacare that a lot of people don’t know about.
But it’s also important because it highlights the reason why my job rocks — it’s Al at his best.
Click here to watch the video — and then take action to help Al keep making progress (we’re almost at our $100,000 July goal with just 2 days to go!).

If we work hard to elect leaders like Al, we really can make a difference. We can bring down the cost of health care. We can hold insurance companies accountable. We can keep racking up more great accomplishments like the one Al talks about in the video.
So watch this clip, share it with your friends, and make sure to take action to help Al keep fighting for us!
Thanks,
Matt
Matt Burgess Campaign Manager TeamFranken
P.S.: We only have 2 days left until we hit our July fundraising deadline — and we could really use YOUR help to hit our $100,000 goal. Please click here to take action today!