The Deindustrialist Newsletter : [Issue 7 - Week of November 27th, 2023]
The 'DARK' Act, pesticides double risk of ALS, Instagram exploits children <13 years old for profit, USDA nutrition guidelines fuel cancer, and much more
Hello, Deindustrialists,
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind with all the trips and events going on that I felt like I barely was staying on top of everything here and over at my other pub, “Cello Acres.” So, thank you for bearing with me on the slightly erratic posting.
But with the on-time posting of my Weekly Essay on Tuesday 👊💥, I felt empowered to finally get the newsletter out this Friday AM, my desired release date to give me the whole weekend to read, think, write prepare for the next week’s essay, and enjoy time with my family and friends (but also to go hunting 😄).
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On the continuously changing format of this newsletter, unfortunately, this habit may persist as I’m constantly trying to figure out the best way to inform you all of what’s really going on in the world around us while not taking much of your time, while also making the time you spend here truly worth it.
If I had one request, it would be feedback on the format: what you like, don’t like, etc. It can be like working in a silo over here, and thus, you can easily miss obvious ways to make improvements. Anything you have to suggest, even if you think it may hurt my feelings (it will), I’ll take it wholeheartedly.
With that said, let’s see how this one goes!
This Week’s News Narrative
In weeks past, I’ve harped on Big Industry’s attempts to push legislation (such as the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act) to supersede local authorities’ attempts at regulating them (California regulating pesticide application).
Well, this week, we have another one coming out of the woodwork called the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act, or in the more ominous short-form, the DARK Act, by consumer advocates. This bill was introduced in Congress on behalf of leading household cleaning product producers, like S.C. Johnson and Reckitt, which would deny consumers peace of mind and block California's 2017 law that required them to disclose the numerous, often toxic, chemicals used in their household cleaning products.
Not only is this a reminder that these companies have no concern over your health when it comes to profit, but that we need to be cautious when using any of these cleaners regardless, especially around our children, who are most susceptible to them.
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As the drumbeats of war grow louder, so do the efforts to fill the ranks of the military. Unfortunately, this may not have been needed if the government hadn’t (1) excommunicated thousands of COVID-19 vaccine dissenters, (2) made Americans too fat and unhealthy to recruit, and (3) focused heavily on DE&I in their recruitment efforts.
They’re obviously seeing the error in their ways with a recent letter coming out…
…allowing involuntarily separated service members to not only apply to have the records corrected pertaining to their vaccine refusal but also request to return to service - no back pay authorized, though.
Even more significantly, the military could owe billions to these involuntarily separated service members based on three class-action lawsuits revealed this week. These class-action lawsuits allege over 100,000 U.S. service members were wrongfully discharged or affected for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, seeking back pay and legal redress, amidst unclear discharge numbers and a military recruitment crisis.
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In the ongoing issue of pesticide use, two significant reports were released this week.
The first report found that high exposure to pesticides substantially increases the risk of developing shingles.
The second report revealed that exposure to these persistent environmental toxins is linked to a doubling of the risk for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This finding underscores a vital environmental factor in both the prognosis and incidence of the disease. Additionally, a new blood test may now be able to detect such exposures.
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Back on the COVID-19 front, a recently published Norwegian study suggests a potential increase in COVID-19 infections among frequent mask wearers, prompting calls for further research to clarify masks' effectiveness in virus transmission. This study is just another addition to the growing skepticism about the effectiveness of widespread mask mandates.
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Another week and another round of Big Pharma lawsuits. One coming from the state of Texas and the other from Washington.
1️⃣ The Texas Attorney General has sued Pfizer and Tris Pharma, along with Tris CEO Ketan Mehta, for defrauding Texas Medicaid by distributing adulterated ADHD medication, Quillivant XR, to children. Allegedly, the drug failed quality tests due to poor manufacturing, with results manipulated to meet standards. This led to Medicaid reimbursements under false pretenses, despite reports of the drug's ineffectiveness from 2012 to 2018. The lawsuit, which was initially sealed, seeks to hold the companies accountable for endangering children's health and defrauding the state. Love to see it.
2️⃣ A Washington jury has mandated Bayer to pay $165 million to Sky Valley Education Center employees for health damages caused by PCBs from Monsanto, a Bayer subsidiary. This is part of Monsanto's larger legal burden, with nearly $870 million in verdicts for similar PCB exposure cases. Monsanto faces numerous lawsuits for PCB hazards in aging buildings. Concurrently, the Monroe School District settled for $34 million with 195 plaintiffs over PCB contamination. These legal challenges, including those related to Bayer's Roundup weedkiller, have significantly diminished Bayer's market value by about $8.3 billion - their largest drop ever.
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In a digital age marked by manipulation and overreach, two disturbing narratives have emerged this past week: Meta Platforms Inc.'s alleged exploitation of children for profit, where they knowingly allowed millions of children under age 13 to use Instagram but 'zealously' hid that fact from the public, violating privacy laws and exacerbating mental health issues; and the CTI League's collaboration with government agencies in a clandestine censorship network, potentially undermining First Amendment rights.
These cases, though distinct, share a chilling theme of powerful entities exerting control over the vulnerable, highlighting a pressing need for vigilance and advocacy in protecting digital sovereignty. This scenario underscores the urgent call for families and communities to reclaim digital spaces, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the safeguarding of individual freedoms against corporate and governmental intrusions.
Recommended Reads, Listens, & Watches
📰 Articles
I felt the two articles below deserve a special shoutout for their implications on one of America’s most destructive diseases: cancer.
🚨 How Sugar Fuels Cancer in the Body 🚨
High sugar intake, particularly in liquid form, significantly increases the risk of cancer by nourishing cancer cells, altering metabolism, and contributing to obesity-related complications, with studies highlighting the especially harmful effects of fructose on tumor growth and progression.
“Every 5 grams of added sugar per day is linked to an 8% increase in cancer incidence.”
If that doesn’t immediately stop you from eating processed and ultra-processed sugar products, I honestly don’t know what will.
With that said, I highly recommend reading this article.
🚨 Nutrient From Beef and Milk Found to Potentially Kill Cancer Cells 🚨
This nutrient, called trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), found in meat and dairy products from grazing animals, can enhance the ability of CD8+ T cells to infiltrate tumors and kill cancer cells, suggesting its potential as a nutritional supplement in cancer treatment.
It would also suggest a role in preventing diseases like cancer if incorporated into one's diet.
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What's remarkable about these two articles is when compared to American nutritional dogma: it vilifies red meat while simultaneously promoting sugar. Yet the former is shown to fight cancer while the latter fuels it. Do you recognize the stark dichotomy here? Is it then any wonder that the rates of non-communicable diseases like cancer are skyrocketing in this country?
🎙 Podcasts
Shawn Baker is an OG carnivore dieter. He does a great job in this episode discussing meat-based diets and the deleterious effects of eating ultra-processed foods.
📺 Videos
The Earthing Movie: The Remarkable Science of Grounding (full documentary)
My sister-in-law recently recommended this documentary to me, and I couldn’t have imagined a more vivid representation of the 'deindustrialist' theme. It’s literally about reconnecting with the ground, the soil, THE Earth – something our industrialized world has, inadvertently or not, tried every conceivable way to prevent. Although I discovered the art of grounding last summer, this documentary has truly lit the soil under my bare feet.
🕵️♂️ This Week’s Edition of Exposing Industry-Funded Science
A prevalent issue in today's scientific academia is the influence of Big Industry (Food, Ag, Pharm, Med, Chem, Tech, etc.), where studies backed by corporate funding are often covertly concealed from public scrutiny and meant to bolster profit-seeking ventures.
This week, I came across two studies that caught my eye. After delving deeply into both, I discovered significant biases at play.
1️⃣ New research finds that ultra-processed foods taste no better than less processed foods - The moment I saw this article and the associated study, my Deindustrialist sensors went off 🚨🚨🚨. I immediately began investigating any conflicts of interest (none were reported in the study itself) and discovered some interesting grant funders for the lead author, Peter Rogers.
It turns out all his listed studies have been funded by the following entities.:
BBSRC DRINC, a Big Food research coalition in the UK, consisting of the following Industrial members
Campden BRI
Coca-Cola
Dupont
Marks and Spencer
Mondelez International
Nabim
Nestle
Pepsico
Sainsbury’s
Unilever
Sugar Nutrition UK
GlaxoSmithKline, and,
Nestlé
FASCINATING. Although the paper in question may have validity, the fact that it also aligns with the interests of the funding sources casts serious doubt on the study design and intent. A stark reminder of how much influence Big Food has on scientific research.
2️⃣ Want school kids to eat more vegetables? Don’t forget about the power of potatoes on the plate - says the study funded by the Alliance for Potato Research & Education, a not-for-profit organization funded by the potato industry!
You honestly can’t make this stuff up.
💡 Most Interesting Find of the Week
New Hampshire Man Who Lived In A Trailer Park For Decades Leaves $3.8 Million To His Town After His Death
From the article:
Back in 2001, he decided that he wanted to leave his money to Hinsdale. He approached the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, giving instructions on how to distribute the money after his death, explaining that he wanted it to be used to fund education, health, recreation, and culture.
“We have a number of people who will set up funds during their lifetime to do something after a lifetime,” said Melinda Mosier, an executive with the organization. “The unique part is that he kept it quiet. He was very unassuming. He just really wanted to give back in a way that was truly about making the community better without any fanfare or recognition on his part.”
Talk about a man who loved his community!
Conclusion
Throughout this week’s newsletter, I've covered a variety of critical issues, from the influence of big industry in legislation, like the DARK Act, to the health risks associated with pesticides and processed foods. I've discussed the military's recruitment and legal challenges, as well as the ongoing debates around COVID-19 policies. Legal battles against pharmaceutical companies continue to highlight the need for accountability. Amidst these challenges, I emphasize the benefits of natural foods, like grass-fed red meat and dairy, and the importance of reconnecting with nature through grounding. Exposing bias in industry-funded science is key to my mission, teaching you not to trust every headline you see or study/article you read. Ultimately, my focus remains strong on empowering and enlightening our community towards a healthier, more natural way of life.
And as always,
Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay free.
-Greg
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