Another Reason to Eat Organic – The Water Supply in the Midwest is Becoming a Serious Health Risk

Written by Max Goldberg on May 16, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

I got a comment from someone the other day who said “Why should we care about GMOs (genetically-modified organisms)? Let them grow what they want. It doesn’t impact the people who eat organic.”

Unfortunately, this individual could not have been more wrong.

GMOs impact everyone, including people who eat 100% organic, and a recent study from the Pesticide Action Network confirms this.

Water sampling results from communities across four Midwestern states — Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota — indicate Atrazine is present in drinking water at levels well above those linked to birth defects and low birth weight.

WHAT IS ATRAZINE AND WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT

Present in 94% of our water supply, Atrazine is a toxic weed killer and 76 million pounds of it is dumped onto our farms each year, mostly for corn.

And the health effects of Atrazine?

- The Pesticide Action Network reports that it has been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, and cancer. Read More »

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New Movie: LAST CALL AT THE OASIS Opens Today

Written by Max Goldberg on May 4, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

I just found out about a new documentary about water that opens today and wanted to let you know about it as soon as I could.

The movie is called LAST CALL AT THE OASIS and has been developed, financed and executive produced by the same people who brought us FOOD, INC.

As you may very well know, I write a good amount about water on livingmaxwell because it is an extremely serious issue that does not get nearly enough attention as it should, and another documentary on this subject is always very welcome. Read More »

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Final Reflections on Costa Rica, What the Heck is a Biodigester, What Noni Looks Like

Written by Max Goldberg on March 1, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

Before heading down to Costa Rica, I had no idea that it would be one of the best trips that I would ever take and that it would impact me so greatly.

Now back in New York City, I have been trying to wrap my arms around why I loved it so much. Three main things come to mind:

1) First and foremost, it was a phenomenal group of people on the trip. Despite the fact that almost none of us had ever met before, we all got along really, really well. No drama, very easy, and everyone was extremely likeable.

Additionally, the individuals from EARTH University who hosted and took us around Costa Rica were beyond gracious. Their warmth and concern for our well-being was just truly amazing. Read More »

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Being Political, What I Try To Do Here

Written by Max Goldberg on February 7, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

I was at a Super Bowl party on Sunday and ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen in quite a while.

We started talking and he mentioned someone’s name to me, a former Wall Street professional who is now an organic foods chef.

The first thing that he said about this individual is “He’s very political.”

Without hesitation, I responded “So am I. When you see what is going on, how can you not be?”

Given my background, it is hard to believe that these words now come out of my mouth.

Even though my college was a hotbed for political activism, I avoided that scene altogether and never had any strong opinions, about politics or otherwise. Read More »

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The USDA is Set to Approve a GM-Corn Resistant to 2,4-D, a Primary Ingredient in Agent Orange

Written by Max Goldberg on January 9, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

Does our government have any interest in putting the health of its citizens ahead of corporate profits of the chemical industry?

Based on recent news, it doesn’t appear that this is the case.

The USDA is poised to approve Dow Chemical’s genetically-modified corn that is resistant to 2,4-D, a primary ingredient in Agent Orange.

In case you’re not familiar with Agent Orange, it was the code name for one of the chemicals used in Vietnam as part of a broad herbicidal warfare program.

Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children were born with birth defects as a result of this lethal strategy.

But it wasn’t just the Vietnamese who suffered greatly. U.S. soldiers came back from the war and realized that exposure to Agent Orange had greatly impacted them as well. Read More »

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