Save Organic Standards

A proposed amendment to the Organic Food Production Act is attempting to weaken organic standards. With the organic market becoming a multi-billion dollar industry, corporate agribusinesses have been lobbying the government in favor of easier-to-maintain standards. This will invite companies to lower the quality of the foods that they produce while still being able to certify their products as organic. To learn more and take action, please visit the Organic Consumers Association site by clicking on the link above.

Help Rebuild

Following Hurricane Katrina’s catastrophic strike on the Gulf Coast, Habitat for Humanity International announced an emergency appeal for funds to help low-income families in the affected areas recover and rebuild. As conditions on the ground allow, Habitat teams will move to assist those who lived in the storm’s destructive path and provide whatever immediate assistance possible. Long-term assistance will involve Habitat affiliates and volunteers working together with those impacted by the storm in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Visit the link above to learn more about how you can help.

The Power of a Placebo

Researchers at the University of Michigan have shown that the placebo effect is not "just in our heads," but has a real physiological basis. In a study where scientists gave placebos masking as pain-killers to people suffering from jaw discomfort, the subjects showed an increase in endorphins, which in turn helped to alleviate their pain. This research offers new hope for the development of pain treatments that are similar to the cognitive techniques that are frequently used to help people overcome anxiety and depression.