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Index

Introduction
Genetic Engineering - a danger to YOU
AIM Just Carrots and AIM Redibeets™
Recipe of the month
Website update

Introduction

Welcome, if this is your first "Health Tips".

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Genetic Engineering - a danger to YOU

Genetic engineering is a technology like no other ever developed. It can create new organises or "modify" existing ones with genes from totally different species. It can use viruses to carry new genetic information into living cells.

Like other technologies GE has the potential for both good or evil. In fact, knowledge of this technology is expanding so fast no one can predict where it will end.

GE is used every day by many research scientists. When GE experiments are kept in totally contained laboratories, the effects of moving genes from one species to another can be studied without their spreading. But it is impossible to know what the impact will be of GE organisms released into the natural environment.

Genes are designed to copy themselves. GE organisms therefore will spread and contaminate natural systems.

Why should we care?

A successful push for unrestricted GE will impact on everything and everyone. And sooner rather than later, some really nasty events are going to start happening here if we let GE loose on NZ.

In fact, we may already be seeing an increase in new foodborne illnesses, as well as the appearance of strange new viral diseases. Of great concern are the reports of GE organisms already escaping from supposedly "secure" labs.

The risks posed by GE are new and completely unpredictable. This unproven technology is being tested now. ON YOU.

GE Contamination

Some GE organisms can contaminate natural crops and other life forms through pollen, some through "horizontal gene transfer." Both can transfer new genetic characteristics to plants (and animals). This GE contamination then can be passed on to their offspring.

GE can create "new species" never seen before on earth. Their health and environmental risks are unknown.

This is why eminent scientists like Dr Mae Wan-Ho are warning that GE poses similar dangers to those of bioterrorism and biowarfare.

The failure of "corporate science"

Many people admire bio-scientists these days. They are the leading edge of the fashionable "knowledge wave" and get massive funding from big business and governments to carry on their work.

However, don't believe that all will be well, if only we let the biotech companies and the science establishment have their way.

Corporate scientists go to great lengths to appear "objective," enhancing their image to impress you with their importance. Biotech industries spend millions of dollars on "public relations" designed to make you believe that they are in business "to make the world a better place."

Their PR is designed to help you forget the huge profits that these companies are expecting as a reward for their risky investments. They're designed to help you forget the colossal failures of "science" and "technology."

Failures like bio-warfare, Thalidomide, DDT. Dioxin, chemical pollution, ozone depletion, Mad Cow Disease and nuclear waste, to name but a few.

Remember: Just because scientists and technical people CAN do something doesn't mean they SHOULD do it.

Like you and I, scientists must be held accountable for their work. Everything we do has an effect on others, but biotech companies often forget that, putting profits ahead of health. We should have learned by now that Science without Ethics can ruin the planet.

What about Government protection?

Won't the government protect us from the possibilities of GE organisms going astray? Doesn't government have a responsibility to shield the country from "biosecurity" threats?

Unfortunately, the government can only protect the country from the biohazards of Genetic Engineering by not letting GE happen here or by restricting it to very, very secure labs.

Thus far the government has chosen to ignore the will of the people, bowing instead to the will of corporations and universities that have a big financial stake in GE.

The Task Ahead

With an election coming next month, we have little time to create a GE-FREE New Zealand. Otherwise the government plans to permit the commercial release of GE from 2003. Next year.

Do we want a truly clean, green New Zealand where cancer no longer comes from our food and water? Do we want a safe place to live and work? Do we want good health back in our life, not more allergies to unknown ingredients in our food? If so, we will have to work for them, as we worked to ensure a nuclear-free NZ.

If we allow the government to permit the commercial release of GE into the environment and one of the more dangerous of these organisms gets loose, no apology or resignation from any government minister is going to solve the problem. By then it will be too late.

The only solution to GE contamination is prevention. Don't let it happen. Tell your MP how you feel. Tell them how you are going to vote.

Some websites to check out

www.gefree.org.nz

www.greenpeace.org.nz

www.geneticfoodalert.org.uk

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AIM JUST CARROTS™
& AIM REDIBEETS™

Carrots

AIM Just Carrots ™ is just carrot juice, and contains many important nutrients - beta carotene, vitamin c, and the minerals calcium and potassium.

AIM Just Carrots™ has one of the highest sources of natural beta carotene - a 2 tablespoon serving contains up to 720 % of the US government's Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).

Drinking one glass of AIM Just Carrots ™ provides you with some 35,000 International Units of beta carotene.

learn more about AIM Just Carrots ™

Beets

What do beets provide us? One cup of raw beets is high in carbohydrates and low in fat.

It contains phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium, as well as vitamins A and C, niacin, folic acid, and biotin.

Beet juice may not be well know in NZ, but in European countries, it is often used for health maintenance and found as part of the diet in health institution.

learn more about AIM Redibeets™

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Recipe of the month

JUST CARROTS MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS

2 cups organic white flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup sunflower cold pressed oil

2 eggs
1/4 cup purified water
1/2 cup honey
2 cups grated carrot
1 tblsp AIM Just Carrots™
1 tsp orange extract

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Sift together flour, soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
Add oil and mix well. Combine eggs (beaten) with water and honey, beat all together.
Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture.
Add the grated carrots, Just Carrots, and orange extract.
Mix with electric beater on low speed until well blended.
Spoon into greased muffin tins.
Bake at 180 degrees C for 20 - 25 minutes.

COMMENTS

The "Just Carrots" is optional but it does give a lovely carrot favour. Makes 1 dozen.

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Health Seekers Website

We have added an Index for our recipes.

Check out the Recipe Introduction and print the index out.
We have done it this way to enable you to print out your own Recipe book of your favours from our site.

Next month we have another addition to our recipes. This will help you understand what some of the main ingredients are. We will let you know as soon as this is ready.