Plant-based foods may prevent flu by preserving lung health

Although many cases of swine flu have been relatively mild, for some people, the disease is severe and deadly. Researchers have found that those losing their lives to the flu typically have faced respiratory complications and difficulty absorbing oxygen. According to scientists in Alabama, USA, flu viruses damage the lungs through a component of their M2 protein that prevents fluid from being removed from the lungs, thus creating conditions for pneumonia.

However, when the researchers injected the M2 protein into human lung cells along with a substance known to remove oxidants, the M2 protein no longer damaged the lungs. Study co-author Sadis Matalon stated, “The recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza and the rapid spread of this strain across the world highlights the need to better understand how this virus damages the lungs and to find new treatments.

Additionally, our research shows that antioxidants may prove beneficial in the treatment of flu.” Antioxidants are found in plant foods and are known to help fight disease. Researchers at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA stated that red beans, pinto beans and black beans are some of the most antioxidant-rich foods, followed by many vegetables such as artichoke hearts, sweet potatoes, spinach and eggplant.
These new findings may offer hope for US citizens amidst a shortage of vaccines in the country.

In additional findings, US researchers discovered the first cases of a Tamiflu-resistant version of swine flu jumping person-to-person, which could make the anti-viral medication less useful, while another study found that some children continue to spread the virus a full two weeks after the first appearance of symptoms.

Swine flu deaths continue to grow around the globe, as the confirmed global death toll has risen to over 6,051. The countries with the highest number of reported fatalities areBrazil at 1,368 deaths, followed by the United States with 1,004 and Argentina at 585 lives lost to swine flu. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that since the pandemic began, 114 children have perished with 19 of these deaths occurring in the past week alone.

From China to France, swine flu vaccination programs have begun in countries worldwide, but infections are still far more widespread than can be officially counted. We sorrow for growing number of families and nations in grief and fear of this tragic pandemic. We appreciate the researchers for their findings on the potential protection from antioxidants and pray that people turn more and more to the wholesome plant-based diet for protection, along with the elimination of virus-breeding facilities, namely the animal farms.

Reference
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/antioxidant-superstars-vegetables-and-beans http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029125538.htm
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/flu-/632578.html
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-swine-flu31-2009oct31,0,7651765.story http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_printcontent/0,,4842380,00.html
http://en.newspeg.com/German-swine-flu-death-toll-jumps-49344728.html

Dutch pigs test positive for antibiotic-resistant MRSA

Researchers in the Netherlands have found that 39 percent of Dutch pigs and 20 percent of pig farmers are infected with an antibiotic resistant bacteria strain known as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).

This particular new strain has infected humans in several other European countries as well as Canada and Singapore.

Scientists fear that an MRSA epidemic in livestock may be inevitable, with animal farms a major source of MRSA infections among humans. Variants of the bug have also been found in pig and cow meats.

New serious contagions like MRSA could impose added burden to health and disease control systems already struggling with the current swine flu pandemic.

Official counts of swine flu pandemic cases in at least 168 countries and territories have reached 219,681 with 1,882 deaths, though the real tally is many times higher.

Cases in Asia have been rising relentlessly, with Macau reporting 300, China 2,350, and Indonesia 812.
Nearby Australia reported 5 more fatalities in adults.

Upon being diagnosed with swine flu on Tuesday, Nobel Peace Laureate and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias stated, “The pandemic makes no distinctions. I am one more case in this country and I am being submitted to the recommendations that health authorities have established for the entire population.”

Meanwhile, the widely applied remedy Tamiflu is raising concerns in the United Kingdom, where so far 418 reports have been filed reporting adverse side effects including allergic reactions and nausea.

We send our prayers for a safe recovery, Your Excellency President Arias and all others suffering from the swine flu virus as well as MRSA.

Our condolences to the loved ones of those who have succumbed to these diseases.
May we prevent such grave ailments through greater compassion shown toward our mistreated animal co-inhabitants.
Reference
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18325034
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE57A0JR20090811?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=691879
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2019060&Language=en
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/11/content_11862295.htm
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=161320
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25908602-5006784,00.html

Antiviral vaccine side effects may overshadow benefits

A recent report in the British Medical Journal revealed that the most widely distributed antiviral medicines for the swine flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, rarely prevent problems in children ages 1 through 12. Moreover, unpleasant side effects such as vomiting have been reported in youngsters, and for all ages, widespread use of these antivirals increases the chance of developing resistance.

Globally, the official count of those who have lost their lives to swine flu so far are 1,735, from 215,090 confirmed cases in at least 168 countries and territories.

However, the World Health Organization has stated that these do not even approach real numbers due to the rapidity with which the virus is spreading.

In Hong Kong, another person has succumbed to the disease, while 191 new cases have been confirmed, bringing the total to 5,809 afflicted, with 69 hospitalized. Romania has reported a nearly 30 percent increase in cases with now a total of 222, and Âu Lạc (Vietnam) saw 115 new cases over the weekend, bringing the total to 1,158.

The Maharashtra state government in India is closing schools, malls, and cinemas in the Pune-Pimpri-Chinchwad region to protect public health from the rapid spread of the swine flu.

So far, India has reported 800 infected people, 10 of whom have passed away.

Our thanks, British researchers, Maharashtra state government, and others for your actions to inform and protect lives from this animal-borne disease. We sorrow to learn of these tragic new developments, and urge all to adopt a healthy plant-based diet for the best immunity from such illnesses.
Reference
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8193012.stm
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=691634
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=691601
http://www.romaniantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-08-10/2234/Number_of_confirmed_swine_flu_cases_rises_to_222_in_Romania
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/10/content_11858662.htm

Canadian man resistant to swine flu antiviral medicine

A 60-year-old Quebec gentleman is now the fifth person believed to have contracted
swine flu prior to being given a precautionary dose of the antiviral medication Tamiflu, after which he developed a resistance. He is one of five people as far apart as Japan, Denmark and Hong Kong, who developed an antiviral resistance, leading experts to fear the implications for protecting public health from swine flu.

A new mother became Tonga’s first fatality after undergoing an emergency delivery to save her baby, while Laos and Hungary also reported their first fatalities. The number of cases in Egypt has swelled to 145, raising further public health concerns during the upcoming Muslim Hajj pilgrimage. Countries with the highest numbers of confirmed cases include Australia at 14,037, Mexico at 14,229 and the United States at 40,617, as well as United Kingdom, Chile and Canada, all at more than 10,000 confirmed illnesses in their nations. The official global number is 151,656with 868 fatalities across 139 countries.

However, health ministries and the World Health Organization indicate that actual numbers are at least 10 times higher.This past week alone, new swine flu cases in England doubled to 100,000, with 840 people hospitalized, 63 of whom are in critical condition.

To help relieve some ofthe pressure on doctors, the UK’s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has partnered with the Health Protection Agency to provide swine flu information as well as collect it through a website called flusurvey.org.uk. Emulating an approach being successfully used by four other European nations, the website describes latest treatment medicines along with showing the spread of the illness and symptoms so that people can obtain tentative diagnoses for themselves.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and British Health Protection Agency, we appreciate this helpful tool for keeping people better protected and informed. It sorrows us to seethe deplorable state and devastating effect of factory farms, which virtually breed such pandemics, causing grief to countless families. We envision the day when all animals are free and all humans liberated from disease through the most healthful organic vegan diet.

Reference:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Swine-Flu-Scientists-Launch-Website-Survey-To-Track-
Virus-H1N1-Numbers-And-Spread/Article/200907315342137?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15342137_Swine_Flu%3A_Scientists_Launch_Website_Survey_To_Track_Virus_H1N1
_Numbers_And_Spread http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20135408.htm
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=686144

Hog farm owners ordered to pay for revolting smell.

A court in Missouri, USA has ruled that the factory hog farm owners have to pay Ed and Ruth McEowen US$1.1 million for the debilitating effects of its air and water pollution on their neighbors’ lives. The couple had been living in the home for 40 years when their peace was disturbed by the establishment of a pig farm nearby.

Mr. McEowen explained, “Night was always the worst. It's like the monsters come out at night. The sickening stench just lays down here in the valley once the sun goes down. You could never invite anybody over because you never knew how bad the stench was going to be.”

One of their attorneys, Mr. Charlie Speer, is involved in 350 other cases across the state regarding offensive air and water pollution created by factory farms. Besides the terrible stench, the atrocious filth of pig factory farms has triggered the deadly worldwide swine flu pandemic.

In France, 64 summer school students were quarantined after being confirmed with the virus, 47 at a school in Issy-les-Moulineaux and another 17 in a language academy west of the capital. British researchers now recommend against closing schools, saying that even this would not halt the spread of the illness, while South Korean health authorities have raised the national swine flu warning to the second highest level. The number of cases in Wales jumped from 500 to over 2,300 in just the past week, and Panama announced her first death.

Officially, the tally of people infected is 143,841 from 138 countries, with 813 fatalities, although the
World Health Organization has acknowledged that the actual numbers are too high to calculate.

We are grateful to Mr. Charlie Speer and all the advocates striving to ensure clean air and water for people like the McEowens who are coping with loss of health and quality of life due to the disgusting effects of factory farms. We sorrow for those who have lost loved ones to the swine flu and pray for the quick and full recovery of persons who have fallen ill.
May the grace of the divine quickly lead us to a vegan world free of the inhumane meat industry for the vibrant health and safety of all.

Reference:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20109372.htm
http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/1723575/smelly_pig_farm_yields_11m_settlement/index.html
http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1333592.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8161219.stm
http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2009/07/21/hoy/panorama/1861029.asp
http://www.midiario.com/article.asp?art=3223&edit=213
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=2&ContentID=157025

WHO traces antiviral resistant swine flu.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has begun investigating the potential spread of what appears to be a new form of the swine flu that is resistant to the antiviral medication Tamiflu. A woman arriving in Hong Kong, China from California, USA is now the third person known to have been confirmed with this antiviral-resistant form.

At least 124 countries globally have now been affected by the illness as Macedonia reports her first two cases ever, with afflicted persons that have surpassed 94,500 in number and over 425 lives lost to the disease as reported officially.

However, British Health Secretary Andy Burnham has stated he expects swine flu cases could reach 100,000 per day in the United Kingdom alone by the end of August. In Asia, cases have been growing by dozens in places such as Hong Kong and Âu Lạc (Vietnam). The Philippines’ Department of Health announced that nearly half of the country’s confirmed 1,709swine flu victims are between the ages of 10 and 19.

Concerns are also being raised in Muslim countries about the November Hajj pilgrimage, which is forecast to bring three million people to the Saudi city of Mecca from 160 countries. Meanwhile, Tunisia’s health officials have forbidden all but the main Hajj pilgrimage this year, to help reduce the risk of swine flu.

Our continued thankfulness for the myriad governments, organizations and individuals cooperating to further understand and prevent the spread of the swine flu. It saddens us to know of the most recent losses and pray for the recovery of sufferers. We look forward to the day when all animal agriculture as the source of this illness has been eliminated, and the vitality-building organic vegan diet is the norm for all.

Sources:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6638225.ece
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/07/856405/http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20090704T195904ZMYN78
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090704-213836/50-of-flu-victims-in-their-teens-pre-teens
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=99796§ionid=3510212
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=681236
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=681258
http://www.france24.com/en/20090704-canada-reports-four-more-swine-flu-deaths
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10582782
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=a9GPdD61pf30

Swine flu update and factory farm connection.

About 90,000 cases of the swine flu have been confirmed across approximately 122 countries, with a first-ever case being diagnosed in Syria. More than 380 people have lost their lives to the virus, three of which were the first fatalities for New Zealand. With over 5,000 cases confirmed and sometimes hundreds of new afflictions that appear overnight, Australia has the highest number of people stricken in the Asia-Pacific region along with nine swine flu-related deaths.

Also of concern are countries in the southern hemisphere where the flu season has just set in, such as Argentina with at least 44 who have perished and Chile’s 19 fatalities with approximately 7,400 cases confirmed.

Meanwhile, two recent US-based Huffington Post articles by Deirdre Imus and Nicolette Hahn Niman highlighted the need for more government and media attention to swine flu’s suspected origin in industrial-scale animal farms.

In her June 15 story titled “Reaping What We Sow: How Industrial Animal Farming is Contributing to the Risk of a Swine Flu Pandemic,” Ms. Niman wrote “…this pandemic reminds us that the current method of raising farm animals is fraught with risks to human health… As part of its efforts to mitigate the risk of a catastrophic flu pandemic, Congress should adopt a national moratorium on industrial animal operations.” Ms. Imus also urged for investigations into what she called “these toxic disease breeding grounds.”

Thank you, caring journalists Ms. Imus and Ms. Niman for helping bring a greater awareness of the real pandemic risks we face today. We also pray for the swine flu patients and loved ones, and send our sympathies for those who have been lost, as victims of today’s animal raising system. May we hasten to prevent a worse situation by ending all livestock raising practices and choosing health and happiness through the organic vegan diet.

Source:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aaNctHUHaVL0
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hVoGSwV_jPgg6J6Aoz8wSQiGyosg
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/world/americas/04argentina.html?ref=world
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deirdre-imus/beyond-swine-flu---could_b_219887.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicolette-hahn-niman/reaping-what-we-sow-how-i_b_215730.html

Swine flu continues its rapid spread

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed cases of swine flu are now approaching 90,000 across approximately 121 countries, with 382 people who have lost their lives to the illness.

During a forum in Mexico on Thursday, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan stated, 『As we see today, with well over 100 countries reporting cases, once a fully fit pandemic virus emerges, its further international spread is unstoppable.” Indeed, Kenya, Uganda, and Croatia this week reported their first cases of the disease. In the United Kingdom, more than 1,000 people have reported swine flu symptoms in London’s East End, while in the Philippines, confirmed cases have more than doubled to over 1,700.

Our hearts continue to be saddened by the rising incidence of this pervasive illness. We send our sympathies to those who have lost a loved one to the grip of the swine flu as we pray for the protection of the afflicted. May humanity quickly awaken to the freedom that can be found in the considerate vegan lifestyle, which restores wholesome health to all.

Source:
http://www.newser.com/article/d9971h980/whos-tally-of-swine-flu-cases-nears-90000.html
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_07_03/en/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/２/hi/americas/8130196.stm
http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200907010725DOWJONESDJONLINE000367_univ.xml
http://www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSL36980844
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5610G520090702
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i46oeYP９RtskmU4CNoPNU08B5R_wD997B4FO0
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/content/towerhamlets/advertiser/news/story.aspx?brand=ELAOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsela&itemid=WeED03%20Jul%202009%2016%3A58%3A33%3A553

Swine flu develops resistance to Tamiflu

The World Health Organization reported that the number of confirmed cases has surpassed ７７,2００, with at least ３３2 known fatalities. After an alarming surge in lives lost this past week in Argentina, with １４ new fatalities over a two-day period, the nation’s government is closing schools in an attempt to protect millions of children from the swine flu virus.

Meanwhile, recent fatalities include a 2９-year-old Brazilian man,a 2０-year-old expectant Moroccan mother in Spain and a nine-year-old child who became the third loss in the UK, where swine flu numbers jumped in a few days to about 6,５００.

Pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG has also announced the first known swine flu case for which the antiviral medication Tamiflu was ineffective.

Although the patient was able to recover with another medicine, this indicates that the virus is developing resistance by mutating its form, which could lead to a deadlier version of the swine flu. Virology experts say that this evolution has been occurring through the accomplice role of pig factory farms.

We thank all health officials, governments, and healthcare groups for your efforts to alert the public to the persistence of the swine flu problem and safeguard health.

Our heart goes out to all those afflicted or suffering due to loss of loved ones. As we pray for the virus to diminish, we know that the root solution remains in the adoption of an organic vegan lifestyle, to eliminate the risk of animal-related infections and restore the vitality of all humanity.

Reference
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WEA8７９2.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2００９/０6/３０/health/３０glob.html?hpw
Buenos Aires mayor declares emergency
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN３０３９82１３2００９０6３０
http://www.examiner.com /x-３１22-Chicago-International-Travel-Examiner~y2００９m6d2９-Swine-flu- claims-first-victim-in-England-shows-resistance-to-Tamiflu, http://www.examiner.com/x-３１22-Chicago-International-Travel- Examiner~y2００９m6d26-Swine-flu-takes-a-deadly-turn-in-Argentina-１2- deaths-in-Illinois
http://www.france2４.com/en/2００９０62９-global-swine-flu-cases-leap-past-７００００-who
http://edition.cnn.com/2００９/HEALTH/０6/2９/swine.flu.death.uk/index.html?iref=2４hours
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8１26１１９.stm
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2００９_０6_2９/en/index.html
http://www.france2４.com/en/2００９０6３０-spanish-flu-created-viral-dynasty-study

Swine flu on the rise in Asia-Pacific

The fatal strain is proving its virulence as it now has spread across 94 countries and sickened more than 52,000 people while causing the loss of over 230 lives.

Two more countries, Brunei and Iran, have diagnosed their first-ever occurrences of the swine flu.In the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand reported 258 new cases within the past week, and health officials said they expect a large increase in the coming months with currently an additional 728 suspected cases
needing evaluation.

Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand each have approximately 300-some confirmed cases, while China and the Philippines have around 420 each. Even the South Pacific islands of Samoa, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea are affected. Like many other first-ever cases, travel to and from another country seem to be a factor
of swine flu infection.

Meanwhile, Australia now has more than 2,400 confirmed cases after seeing over the weekend its first swine flu-related fatality, the second outside the Americas, of an Aboriginal artist.

Concerns have been raised as to whether the virus could be more fatal for such remote communities with relatively high rates of other health problems.

We continue to be saddened by the reality of this distressing and costly trend.

Our sympathies for those who have suffered loss as we pray for the quick recovery of persons stricken by the swine flu. Meanwhile, may governments worldwide implement the best policy to protect public health, by putting an end to raising animal operations and promoting the organic plant-based diet to fulfill a promise of
vitality and well-being for all.

Reference
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124561706314035211.html
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/world/world/general/asia-to-battle-rise-in-flu-cases/1546754.aspx
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/city-journalist-has-swine-flu-after-trip-to-australia/479595/

Swine flu cases too many to test in Australia

Only a fraction of potential swine flu cases are being tested in Victoria, Australia, because the significant increase in cases has overwhelmed the public healthcare system’s ability to test all of them.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr. Rosemary Lester stated that although only 1,210 cases have been confirmed, the actual number of infected people is higher.

The Victoria healthcare system has moved to testing only those most at risk, including the elderly, expecting women, and people with underlying medical conditions.

Because 40% of those admitted to the hospital with swine flu in New York, USA also had asthma, the National Asthma Council of Australia is encouraging asthmatics especially to be careful and seek testing.

Supreme Master Television interviewed by phone Dr. Anne Marie Kimball, MD, a leading epidemiologist at the University of Washington’s Department of Health Services in the US.

Dr. Kimball highlighted her concern about the significant increase in swine flu cases in southern hemisphere locations such as Australia, which has also entered its regular flu season.

Dr. Anne Marie Kimball – Epidemiologist, University of Washington Department of Health Services, USA (F): We are a global community, we are really interconnected with one another, not only in terms of travel but also in terms of trade. And that is a trend that makes us more vulnerable, as we are basically as safe as the weakest public health system in the world, in terms of flu.

VOICE: The swine flu has taken more than 170 lives in the past few months, as infections worldwide are surpassing 36,000 in 81 countries. Meanwhile, companies such as Baxter and Novartis have developed and begun to produce swine flu vaccines, although it still remains for countries to decide which group should receive the limited supply of vaccinations first.

Dr. Kimball we thank you for your insights, and offer our sincere gratitude to healthcare workers and officials across the globe for helping to protect and treat people for the swine flu. As we pray for those suffering and in mourning at this time, may all of us shield ourselves and one another by enhancing our immunity through the balanced, nutritious vegan diet.

REFERENCES
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25643335-5006785,00.html

Swine flu cases too many to test in Australia

Only a fraction of potential swine flu cases are being tested in Victoria, Australia, because the significant increase in cases has overwhelmed the public healthcare system’s ability to test all of them.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr. Rosemary Lester stated that although only 1,210 cases have been confirmed, the actual number of infected people is higher.

The Victoria healthcare system has moved to testing only those most at risk, including the elderly, expecting women, and people with underlying medical conditions.

Because 40% of those admitted to the hospital with swine flu in New York, USA also had asthma, the National Asthma Council of Australia is encouraging asthmatics especially to be careful and seek testing.

Supreme Master Television interviewed by phone Dr. Anne Marie Kimball, MD, a leading epidemiologist at the University of Washington’s Department of Health Services in the US.

Dr. Kimball highlighted her concern about the significant increase in swine flu cases in southern hemisphere locations such as Australia, which has also entered its regular flu season.

Dr. Anne Marie Kimball – Epidemiologist, University of Washington Department of Health Services, USA (F): We are a global community, we are really interconnected with one another, not only in terms of travel but also in terms of trade. And that is a trend that makes us more vulnerable, as we are basically as safe as the weakest public health system in the world, in terms of flu.

VOICE: The swine flu has taken more than 170 lives in the past few months, as infections worldwide are surpassing 36,000 in 81 countries. Meanwhile, companies such as Baxter and Novartis have developed and begun to produce swine flu vaccines, although it still remains for countries to decide which group should receive the limited supply of vaccinations first.

Dr. Kimball we thank you for your insights, and offer our sincere gratitude to healthcare workers and officials across the globe for helping to protect and treat people for the swine flu. As we pray for those suffering and in mourning at this time, may all of us shield ourselves and one another by enhancing our immunity through the balanced, nutritious vegan diet.

REFERENCES
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25643335-5006785,00.html

Water use by factory farms threatens local community

Numerous confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) on and near the Yakama Reservation in Washington, USA have left the Native American community chronically short of water.

With decreased water supplies an ever-growing threat in a warming world, many organizations, including the Stockholm International Water Institute and Waterfootprint.org have reported that animal products require significant water stores, while a plant-based diet is highly water efficient.
During a visit with Supreme Master Television, a member of the Yakama tribe shared her community’s experiences and concerns.

Resident of Yakama Reservation, Washington, USA (F): We also know that one of the local dairies, who has 12-14,000 cows, uses approximately 33,000 gallons of drinking water a day. And these often, in our area, don’t have permits to do it.

They’re getting the waterfor free. And what we’re saying is that our water is not here for these factory farms to come in to destroy.

These factory farms are ruining our air, our water, and consuming the water that’s here, with total disregard to the people or the animals involved.

We’ve been told by one of the local experts along the hills south of here, the water table has dropped a hundred feet.

If we have no water, I would like to quote one of the Yakama elders; he said, “With no water there will be no Yakama people.”

VOICE: Understanding the enormous water requirements of meat production is just one way of grasping the comprehensive societal costs of consuming animal products, including pork. Pig factory farms have been linked to the current swine flu outbreak, which represents another social cost. The swine flu has now caused a total of about 36,000 illnesses across 81 countries, with more than 170 fatalities.

First-ever cases have just been announced in Sri Lanka, Yemen, Jordan, and Qatar. So far, the most vulnerable groups have been overweight individuals, expectant mothers and those with underlying asthma or diabetic conditions.We thank those community members who have courageously spoken about the impact of factory farms on their quality of life.

Our sorrow for the victims of the swine flu and their loved ones, as we pray that all humans join in the humane action of choosing a plant-based diet for the good of public health and sustainability of countless communities.

References
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124502116646013713.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_06_15/en/index.html

Swine flu reaches pandemic level

During an emergency meeting held on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the escalation of the swine flu to the highest epidemic level 6, of global pandemic proportions. Speaking during a press briefing, WHO Assistant Director-General of Health, Security and Environment, Dr. Keiji Fukuda stated, “In terms of what we are seeing right now, we continue to see the spread of this virus evolve and we continue to see new countries report the virus, and we continue to see evolution of activity within countries.” Nations worldwide are now urged to gear themselves for widespread infection.

Currently, a total of more than 27,700 27,735 cases have been confirmed across 74 countries, with Colombia’s first declared fatality joining the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and Dominican Republic in raising the deaths from this illness to 141. Along with the sometimes deadly consequences of consuming animal products, which occur from bacterial infections as well as viruses like the swine flu, is the emotional toll that can be seen in people who live near large livestock operations.

Dr. Kendall Thu, an associate professor of anthropology at Northern Illinois University in the US recently spoke with Supreme Master Television about some of these less obvious consequences of meat and dairy consumption, which can include an increased sense of hopelessness leading to stress, tension and even humiliation.

Professor Kendall Thu – Associate Professor of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, USA (M): I know of cases where children who board school buses from standing on the rural street corner waiting for the school bus to come, absorb the smell, and they're taunted on the bus once they get there because they smell terribly.

VOICE: Factory farm odors are more than just unpleasant; they can disrupt an entire town’s activities. Not only that, as Dr. Thu points out, consumers anywhere in the world buying the farms’ products are also implicated in the problem.

Professor Kendall Thu (M): I remember interviewing a pastor in North Carolina who lives next to a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) and she was giving her sermon in church and then she suddenly realized she smelled something and it was herself. She absorbed the hog smell and she was so embarrassed within the church setting that she went home to change in order to continue with the sermon. So many of the social impacts are invisible to so many people who buy meat in the grocery store and don't realize that eating meat of this sort and being connected to this pathological system of meat production impacts directly the lives of people who work inside of them and who live near them.

VOICE: Professor Thu, we appreciate your research on the debilitating emotional toll of industrial farmed animal operations. We are thankful for the World Health Organization's careful monitoring and commitment to safeguarding public health. Our heartfelt sympathies for the minimizing of this illness and for those who have been afflicted by the swine flu, as we pray for the recovery of dignity and health to humans and animals alike through the life-sparing vegan diet.

Reference:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_06_10a/en/index.html http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jTkkEKE5LtPih_5Jcc-3MpD0gOYQD98O1NF80

Sentient beings how experience a wide range of feelings, including joy and grief

Through his extensive study of the emotional lives of animals, University of Colorado ethology professor Dr. Mark Bekoff has concluded they are sentient beings who experience a wide range of feelings, including joy and grief.

Dr. Bekoff spoke with Supreme Master Television about how animal emotions compare to those of humans, highlighting that when we acknowledge the emotions of animal companion pets, we can’t deny that animals raised for food also have the same range of emotions.

Dr. Marc Bekoff – Ethologist and author of “The Emotional Lives of Animals” (M): and The simple notion is that the differences among species, the differences in degree rather than differences in kind. It means there are differences in kind of shades of gray, not absolute differences. So if you’re a good biologist, if you say a human feels joy then you can’t deny joy to other animals. And if you think dogs feel joy, then you can’t deny joy, or grief, or other emotions to cows, or sheep, or chickens. And that’s one of the big messages and it seems to be very, very compelling, that if you think your dog feels emotions, then you’re being inconsistent to say that cows don’t.

SupremeMasterTV (F): So you’re vegetarian?

Dr. Bekoff (M): Yeah, I’m pretty much a vegan.

VOICE: The fact that animals, and especially farmed animals are sentient beings with a wide range of emotions highlights the lack of ethics involved in raising and killing animals for food. Swine flu, which originated and evolved on pig farms, is yet another external indicator that the practice of consuming animal products has taken us out of balance with our values.

Over this past weekend swine flu fatalities rose in the US and Dominican Republic, adding to about 130 losses of life across North and South America. Many victims have been children or younger adults. Total cases that have been identified are around 22,000 in 71 countries. However, these do not include cases that have not been medically tested and identified. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated the actual number of cases in the country is closer to 200,000, almost 20 times the current tally of 13,000.Our deep appreciation,

Dr. Bekoff, for your compassionate research demonstrating the sentience of our animal co-inhabitants. We send our prayers and condolences to those individuals, families, and communities affected by the swine flu, and look forward to a widespread shift toward wellness through a life-affirming vegan diet.

Porcine companions show the incredible intelligence of pigs

After falling in love with a pig as a child, Priscilla Valentine later brought two potbellied pigs into her life as animal companions. She soon began teaching them tricks, and proved what scientists have been telling us for some time: that pigs are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet.

Today, Ms. Valentine and her partner have introduced their beloved pigs to the public through many venues as well as US television, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Animal Planet, and the Late Show with David Letterman.

SupremeMasterTV(F): What is it that the audiences love the most about these charming animals?

Priscilla (F): I think it is the humanness of the animals. That they can look into their eyes and can see that they are bright animals – that they can just look in there, and that the animals have personalities. Each pig has a different personality. We want to make people respect pigs. They are cleaner than dogs and cats,they are all potty trained and they are so intelligent; we want people to respect pigs, and give them that respect and treat them with respect.

VOICE: As we learn more about pigs, it becomes increasingly clear that consuming them as food is both inhumane and unnecessary. In particular, pigs raised through intensive farming systems have played a key role in the evolution of viruses, making swine flu for example, a perhaps avoidable source of human suffering, and loss of life. Experts say the number of people affected is probably many times more than the official count, which now has reached around 22,000 in 71 countries, including those newly afflicted, such as the island nations of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, health authorities warn that children and adults over the age 60 are at greater risk, especially as many of the approximately 125 fatalities have been younger aged persons.

Thank you, Ms. Valentine and your valued porcine friends, for helping us better appreciate their wonderful nature. We pray for all persons who have been adversely affected by the swine flu and convey our sympathies for those who have suffered loss. Surely our world will
improve in manifold ways as all turn to the plant-based diet to respect and save lives.

Reference:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxkl-bfeN-nUlN5MczlLHpVHhdmAD98K4VTO0

[CAFO INVESTIGATION] Firsthand experience of factory farms turns farmer vegetarian

Although she was raised in a meat-eating environment, Ms. Helen Reddout, cherry farmer and president of the Community Association for Restoration of the Environment (CARE) of Yakima Valley in Washington, USA explains that seeing the damage and abuse on industrial farms made her decide she could no longer support them, even in her daily life.

Helen Reddout – President of the Community Association for Restoration of the Environment (CARE) (F): I was definitely a “meat and potatoes” person, until on my trip to the market in Sunny Side, I had to pass by a dairy lot and a beef feedlot. By the time you drove the two miles down there, looking at how the animals were treated, and smelling the smells, and seeing the dust…sometimes so bad, coming off of those yards, that you had to actually turn your lights on in the middle of the day, it was that heavy. After a year or so of that, I began to think, being a part of buying these commodities is encouraging their operation.

VOICE: Ms. Reddout has not eaten any meat nor dairy for 20 years, and is still glad of her choice.

Helen Reddout (F): And to my surprise, it wasn’t very difficult at all. In fact my body kind of responded positively to it.

VOICE: Helen Reddout is part of a growing trend of people who, once confronted with the disturbing reality of raising animals, have decided that the best approach is a humane, more eco-friendly plant-based diet. Meanwhile, the swine flu, another byproduct of animal agriculture, has spread to such an extent that the World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to declare a pandemic within days.

With cases approaching 20,000 worldwide in 67 countries, some 120 people have lost their lives, with the more than 870 who have fallen ill fallen ill in Australia being the highest number outside of North America.

We thank you, Ms. Reddout and the Community Association for Restoration of the Environment, for your compassionate and intelligent choice of a meat-free existence. Our sorrow for those who have suffered loss through the swine flu and the devastating effects of animal farming operations as we also pray that people everywhere realize the health and mental security that comes from consuming a plant-based diet.

Reference:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1524225764500964289
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/03/Woman-may-be-Vas-first-swine-flu-death/UPI-17451244070506/

Animal agriculture ruins dreams for indigenous Americans

The Yakama reservation in Washington, USA has been the ancestral home of the Native American Yakama tribe for hundreds of years. However, the recent nearby construction of a factory farm complex has turned their homeland and homes into prisons.

To understand the more widespread effects of animal farming operations on the people living nearby, Supreme Master Television recently met some of the residents who are forced to live with the reality of a factory farm environment.

(Interview in English)
Resident living near dairy factory farm (F): I live a fourth of a mile from a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) and it’s really affected my family. I’ve been there a little over 20 years. It’s the flies, the smell, the dust, everything. We’re just trapped inside of our house. In days it stinks, we don’t turn the air conditioner on because the air comes in, we can’t open the windows.

VOICE: As is common for many people living near concentrated farming operations, when measurements were taken over the course of a week for the presence of ammonia from waste and other air pollutants at this resident’s home, the particle levels were so high that the measurements were off the scale.

Interviewee (F): Then the trucks, pulling that manure out, and then when they drive by they don’t cover it. So it’s on our road and when the cars drive by, it picks it up, and it is in the air. My kids only go outside once in a while when it’s nice. I always wanted to have a nice yard and have my kids outside, playing. But it’s not like that.

VOICE: As the animal farming operations take away the happiness from their neighbors, the most recent virus to have passed from farmed animals to humans continues to gain a foothold across the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed cases of swine flu have risen close to 20,000 people who are now afflicted, including a first-ever case in Saudi Arabia, with 117 who have lost their lives, most recently in the countries of Mexico, US, Canada, and Chile. WHO interim assistant director-general for health security and environment, Keiji Fukuda, stated that if cases continue to spread, the agency may declare a pandemic, the highest alert level.

We thank the World Health Organization and all other organizations working to alleviate the swine flu as we pray for the victims of this worrying trend, especially loved ones in mourning.

Our sorrow too for the unwilling neighbors of factory farms as well, and pray that the practice of animal farming will soon cease altogether, so that all may enjoy health and life to the fullest.