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| OHIOANS: DON'T BE DECEIVED - ISSUE 2 NOT AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS
By, now you've heard about Ohio Constitution Issue 2. You've gotten the robo calls, received the glossy postcard, and heard the radio ads, all telling you that Issue 2 is about "safe, local food." On the surface, Issue 2 sounds great-creating a Livestock Care Standards Board that will oversee and livestock care in Ohio and protect local foods. However, Issue 2 will have the opposite effect. Here are the real facts:
- Issue 2 AMENDS the state constitution to create a Livestock Care Standards Board, stacked with Big Ag and factory farm supporters, which would have sweeping authority to make decisions related to farms and food in Ohio that would have the force of law. The Board would have largely unchecked power to override any act by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Assembly.
- While Issue 2 requires the membership of several "family farmers" on the Board, this is not a safeguard to prevent the panel from being overtaken by corporate agribusiness and factory farming interests. While there is no legal definition for a family farmer in the U.S., the USDA has stated that 98% of all factory farms are operated through what would be considered "family farms."
- Issue 2 serves the economic interests of factory farms, opening the door for the proliferation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in Ohio.
- Issue 2 emphasizes the need of the livestock industry to provide "affordable food," yet ignores its hidden costs, including environmental contamination, human health impacts, and the loss of rural communities.
This is an abuse of Ohio's constitution and our liberty. The issue is backed by major agri-business interests seeking protection from national animal welfare groups working to phase out problematic animal production practices like battery cages for chickens. The newly proposed board would give 13 political appointees absolute power to decide rules on animal welfare, potentially reshaping regulations on how animals are raised, tracked and traced. Currently, animal agriculture is regulated by the Ohio Dept of Agriculture, which makes rules through a formal process that requires public input. This new board would make decisions independent of public input, with no review, no forum for public comment, and no avenue for appeal. The board's decision is final!! They will be the ones to determine proper and "humane" animal care - we do not want a board that supports CAFOs being able to dictate their version of animal care (confinement, hormones, antibiotics, genetically modified feed, expensive animal ID systems) to the local farmers we know and trust. We fear that passage of issue 2 would eventually put small local farmers out of business due to expensive regulations imposed on them by the Livestock Care board.
The argument most commonly used in support of Issue 2 is California's 2007 passage of Proposition 2, Standards for Confining Farm Animals, which requires by January 2015 that certain farm animals be confined only in ways that allow them to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs, and turn around freely. Florida, Arizona, Oregon and Colorado have passed similar legislation. Issue 2 supporters are using this as a scare tactic, claiming that if Ohio doesn't pass Issue 2, the Humane Society of the United States will "come in and attempt to outlaw meat production and make everyone vegans." The people of Ohio would not tolerate that. Ohio already has an alarming number of factory farms-and that number will increase if this Board eases regulations on animal production. According to the Ohio EPA, the state has close to 200 factory farms, including four beef operations with more than 3000 animals, 29 dairy operations with more than 1000 animals, and a staggering 98 poultry and egg-laying operations with more than 100,000 birds each, including 9 with more than a million birds. Consumers are discovering the real costs of cheap food (Time Magazine Aug 31, 2009) and it is dangerous to use government to silence "WE THE PEOPLE." A vote for issue to is a vote to silence the people!
Abusing the Ohio Constitution to include the board would set a dangerous precedent by creating a permanent place for special interests in the constitution. Agricultural policy should be determined through an open, democratic process, not through a politically appointed board heavily influenced by big industry. The editorial boards of Ohio's major newspapers-including the Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, and Dayton Daily News-all oppose this effort to enshrine the agribusiness lobby's favored oversight system in the state's constitution. Ohioans should reject this proposal to safeguard Ohio's constitution and keep Agri-business accountable. If we abuse the Constitution, we become part of our nation's problem, not the solution. For more info www.ohioact.org (Ohio Against Constitutional Takeover) and http://www.oeffa.org/alerts.php (Ohio Ecological Farm and Food Association).
To help defeat Issue 2, please take a few minutes to forward this email to all your contacts in Ohio, and urge them to VOTE NO on 2!
Thank you,
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| There's so much "information" on the internet, true or not, about vaccines, and this is one thing I heard that I need help evaluating. Has anyone else any knowledge of whether or not some vaccines include aborted fetuses in the ingredients? It sounds far fetched to me, but - ? Anyone know anything about Children of God for Life? If it's even real?
Here's the article I read, by the "Children of God for Life" organization, found at this link: http://www.cogforlife.org/
(gotta click on the "prove it" tab on the left)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PROVE IT!
Has anyone told you they didn't believe we could possibly have vaccines produced right here in America from aborted fetal cell lines? Did anyone tell you it was a hoax? Children of God for Life gives you the full truth and the resources you need to prove it!
The fact that the Chickenpox, Hepatitis-A and MMR vaccines were developed using aborted fetal cell lines, MRC-5 and WI-38 has never been hidden from the public. The problem is that when parents go to their family doctors for vaccinations, who asks to see the product insert? Most parents want to know the risks and possible side effects. Like their doctors, parents are mostly concerned with the health of their children. And doctors, who have been administering the vaccines for years have never checked into the ingredients, although it has always been right at their fingertips. And what would happen if they did? They would read that the vaccine contains "residual DNA and proteins" and "components" of "MRC-5", "WI-38" (or both) "human diploid cell lines".
Click here for the Manufacturer's package insert portion describing the fetal cell lines.
But that statement alone does not mean "aborted fetal tissue". Diploid cells are defined as "having twice the number of chromosomes normally occurring in a mature germ cell". Deceptive footwork on the part of the pharmaceutical companies; legal, without disclosing what would have surely led to a public outcry and a demand for immediate change.
Next, most doctors have at their disposal a book called a PDR (Physician's Desk Reference). The same information, listing the WI-38 and MRC-5 cell lines can be found there as well.
But what happens when the information still does not prove that MRC-5 or WI-38 are aborted fetal cell lines? There are several references to document this including a few which are listed below. But finding the resource material yourself can be time consuming and cumbersome. Taken from the Coriell Cell Repository, a company that actually sells fetal (and other) tissue cell lines, is a complete scientific description of the cell lines and the information on the original abortions:
MRC-5 Aborted Fetal Cell Line WI-38 Aborted Fetal Cell Line
More Aborted Fetal Cell Lines Used in Products and Product Testing
PER C6 IMR-90 and IMR-91 HEK-293
Physicians In the Know
In addition, the Catholic Medical Association has a written resolution, to provide vaccines not derived from aborted fetal tissue where alternatives exist and supporting our effort to demand changes for those not offering any other source. The Catholic Medical Association and the American Association of Pro-Life Pediatricians have put their stamp of approval on our Campaign. They would certainly not risk their reputation on a frivolous effort that had no scientific evidence to back it! Read their latest statement.
In addition, the Christian Medical Association has issued their own statement on aborted fetal vaccines. Click here!
In Their Own Words
Read one of the letters Merck has written in response to our request that they cease and desist!
Or how about this from Merck's own website? http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf
Under the Description in the opening paragraph, note the reference to Footnote 1,2. Scroll down to page 9 and read the first footnote under References.
Or click here if their link is not active.
The Church
Do you think the Vatican would lie about such a thing?
Read their statement!
The Facts
Or if you would like to read an in-depth article detailing the history of the abortions, the cell lines used and new ones under development -
and the direct involvement by the pharmaceutical industry, click here.
In addition, we have provided information from some of these references for those who would have no way of accessing this information otherwise. Here are some excerpts from medical journals which provided specifics about the cell cultures for the Rubella vaccine:
Gamma Globulin Prophylaxis; Inactivated Rubella Virus; Production and Biological Control of Live Attenuated Rubella Virus Vaccines ; Amer J Dis Child Vol 118 Aug 1969
Dr. K McCarthy: It seems to me that there are two things that we worry about in regards to WI-38 cell substrate. First of all, presence of extraneous viral agents; secondly, the possibility of there being human genetic material passed over into the vaccine. I wonder if there is any information about the reasons for aborting that particular embryo that gave rise to WI-38; and if it was from a family, whether we have any information about siblings from the family and whether they are normal?
Dr.S Plotkin, Philadelphia: I should like to answer Dr. McCarthy's question. This fetus was chosen by Dr. Sven Gard, specifically for this purpose. Both parents are known, and unfortunately for the story, they are married to each other, still alive and well, and living in Stockholm, presumably. The abortion was done because they felt they had too many children. There were no familial diseases in the history of either parent, and no history of cancer specifically in the families; I believe this answers Dr. McCarthy's question.
Attenuation Of RA 27/3 Rubella Virus in WI-38 Human Diploid Cells; Amer J Dis Child vol 118 Aug 1969
Explant cultures were made of the dissected organs of a particular fetus aborted because of rubella, the 27th in our series of fetuses aborted during the 1964 epidemic. The third explant, which happened to be from kidney, was selected arbitrarily for further study.
Studies of Immunization With Living Rubella Virus ; Arch J Dis Child vol 110 Oct 1965
"This fetus was from a 25-year-old mother exposed to rubella 8 days after last menstrual period. 16 days later she developed rubella. The fetus was surgically aborted 17 days after maternal illness and dissected immediately. Explants from several organs were cultured and successful cell growth was achieved from lung, skin, and kidney. It was then grown on WI-38. This new vaccine was tested on orphans in Philadelphia".
Further references:
Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov
In the search engine, type the name of vaccine you wish to access. Children of God for Life has already printed these documents, taken from the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports), which are documented by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and are quite lengthy. If you need specific copies, please contact us for help.
Text References:
* L. Hayflick and P.S. Moorhead, The Serial Cultivation of Human Diploid Cell Strains, Experimental Cell Research Vol 25, pp 585-621, 1961
* L. Hayflick, The Limited In Vitro Lifetime of Human Diploid Cell Strains, Experimental Cell Research, Vol 37, pp 614-636 1964
* Plotkin et al, Human Diploid Cell Strains (HDCS) Viral Vaccines, Safety of biological products prepared from mamalian cell cultures, Dev. Biol. Stand; Vol 93, pp 97-107, 1998
* Plotkin et al, Studies of Immunization with living rubella virus; Trials in Children With a Strain Cultured From an Aborted Fetus, American Journal Diseases in Children, Vol 110, pg 381-389, 1965
* Jerry W. Shay and Woodring E.Wright, Hayflick, his limit, and cellular ageing, Nature, Vol. 1, pp72-76, Oct. 2000
* Jacobs et al, Nature, Vol 227, pp 168 -170, 1970 Characteristics of a human diploid cell designated MRC-5.
* G. Sven, S. Plotkin and K. McCarthy, Gamma Globulin Prophylaxis; Inactivated Rubella Virus Production and Biological Control of Live Attenuated Rubella Virus Vaccines, American Journal Diseases in Children, Vol.. 118 Aug 1969
* Plotkin et al, Attenuation of RA 2713 Rubella Virus in WI-38 Human Diploid Cell, American Journal of Diseases of Children, Vol. 118, pp 178-179, August 1969
* Hoskins, J.M. and Plotkin, S.A. Behaviour of rubella virus in human diploid cell strains, Growth of Virus, Archiv f Virusforschung, Bd. 21, H. 3-4: 283-295 (Received for publication January 16, 1967).
* MMWR 39 (RR-15),11/23/90,citing Cochi etal, Am J Epidem 129: 349-361,1989).
* Centers for Disease Control, Varicella: Morbidity & Mortality Reports: (Vol. 45/No.RR-11)
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| Thank you all for your kind words. As a sort of "part 2" on grief and comfort, I need to share an important point God impressed upon me during the loss of our baby - especially following a blog about the role of grief and how others are able to either supportively participate in it (Romans 12:15) or put it down with their words (Proverbs 12:18).
Immediately following the news that our three-month-old unborn baby had died, I went through an age-old little spiritual battle (it's a daily thing in my heart, really, perhaps you can relate!). When driving home from the hospital, I decided we shouldn't voluntarily discuss this news to anyone. Didn't want to talk to or see anybody. Why? For good reasons? Well, ignoring the truth that others could bring great comfort, my focus went right to others' potential imperfections - as they related to me, that is. Me. I didn't want to have to deal with their judgments, their questions, being overbearing in their offerings, overbearing in their words, their potentially ridiculous comments. My feeling comfortable was, in that moment, more important to me than the people around me. I was in a bit of shock seeing the baby had died, and I just knew I deserved my comfort . . .
But - thank you, Holy Spirit. :)
God graciously reminded me that this situation was, first of all, not all about me. Certainly not about my comfort! He reminded me that people do not exist to serve me. God didn't create them to say all the "right" things to me - especially when there is not always a "right" thing to say when the intention is good. It was, however, yet another opportunity to be gracious and loving to those around me. Would I allow others to deal with this in the ways they needed to, or would I complain that they were inconsiderate? Would I thank God for their obedience to His calling to reach out to me with words of love, or would I be critical that they didn't say the "right" things? Would I value and appreciate the unique ways others might provide support, or would I roll my eyes and sigh at their desiring to do, do, do, when all I maybe wanted was a listening ear? Most of all, would I consider my own need for the grace of others at times when roles are reversed?
See how selfish and wicked? Aren't I awful?!!! Those kinds of evil feelings creep deep inside from time to time, they sneak around so quick and begin so quietly . . .
Can we all say God is amazingly gracious???!!! I need Him, I want to obey Him (Psalm 103:8; Matthew 5:48). Thank God for Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!
I did have a difficult time with the loss of our baby. But God was quick to provide healing, quick to bless me with the opportunity to be gracious to others and be humbled by their love, especially considering who I truly am: no one outdoes me in being inconsiderate, judgmental, speaking foolishly, embarrassing moments, awkward situations . . . I need the love, forgiveness and grace of others desperately!
I'll always miss that baby, and I'll continue from time to time to discuss the loss and things I experienced in it. But I'm glad to be beyond the mourning. I wasn't ready to "move on" immediately, of course, I needed time to grieve, to be sad. I'm thankful for that time, and despite my being undeserving, I received great joy and comfort having others share in it with me. I love you!!!!!! Thank you again for your love, prayers, kind words and acts of support! I really mean that. | | |
| As I've thought about grief since losing our last baby, I've tried to figure out how to articulate the distinction between a truly comforting comment from someone (such as, "This is God's good and perfect plan, He is fulfilling His purpose.") and what is, at least for me, an anger-inducing comment (such as, "God has something better for you; now you can do [such-and-such] that you'd been wanting to do.")
There is a difference. A person needs hope in the Lord amidst the grief to provide comfort, but he/she still needs to grieve. In other words, knowing God and being reminded who He is and his higher-than-our-own ways is a true comfort, though He has us walk with pain at the same time. But a comment such as, "Since God is in control, hey, you can/should be happy," and/or, "Remember, be excited about what else God has in store for you," are both a slap in the face. They imply a person doesn't need to feel bad. They either ignore or belittle the grief a person feels and do not recognize the importance of feeling it.
Following our miscarriage, I remember being reminded by scripture that God held my baby in His hand, He completed His perfect purpose for that person, He loved him/her and He was in complete control of the whole thing - no other outcome would have been perfect. Though in extreme pain, I was comforted. At one point, however, a friend said to me, "Well, I guess you can enjoy not being pregnant now, like you wanted," and, "Hey, now you can get back into running." When I snapped back at this person, I was asked with confusion, "I thought you wanted to hear the good things in situations?" Well, that's true. But the good thing is God, not the measly things that I did or didn't "want" to do. And what did I really want? I wanted a healthy baby. Beyond that, I wanted God's Will, and THAT is what I got - that is what I needed to hear, that I received God's Will, and that despite this truth being a comfort, it's okay and good to be sad and grieve the loss.
Soon after, I began following the story of missionary friends who's teenage son, Ian, was battling cancer in his brain. He recently died, and their grief has been excruciating. At one point, David, Ian's father, wrote, "The Chinese have a word for endurance that pictures a man walking around with a knife in his chest. We're learning what this means." He has written several journal entries since then and puts life well into words. His most recent entry was especially meaningful to me. He explains the need for grief and pain and how comfort doesn't (and isn't meant to) remove pain:
"Let’s talk about the pain.
We’ll talk about comfort soon enough. And we’re experiencing much comfort. We’ll talk about the hard questions soon enough. And there are plenty of those. Soon enough we’ll talk about getting to know God as He really is. We’re being introduced in new ways.
But for now let’s talk about the pain. Some Christian sympathy cards brush by the pain so easily, as if spiritual Christians don’t dwell there. But even Jesus wept. And I suspect that Americans especially are quick to treat our pain like an inconvenient and unwanted guest. We want to get it over with and return to our insulated pain-free lives. But I think that we can learn from our Middle Eastern friends who throw dust in the air and tear their clothes and wail and express their grief with their whole heart.
We do not grieve as those without hope. But we do grieve. We do not grieve for Ian. But we grieve for ourselves. We grieve our losses. Death comes as a vile intruder. Death stabs us with a dagger of ice.
Yes, Ian is enjoying the delights of heaven. And the comfort in that is a wonderful balm. Knowing that takes the edge off half the grief we could have known. But the remaining half still attacks our heart like a grizzly bear. Losing your son is like pulling flesh from the bone. Samuel Rutherford wrote to a grieving mother, “Your daughter was a part of yourself, and therefore being as it were torn in half you will be grieved.”
In From Grief to Glory James Bruce says, “Real grief is not easily comforted. It comes like ocean waves rushing up the sand, subsiding back, only to roll in again. These waves vary in size, frequency, and intensity. Some are small, lapping up around the feet. Others are stronger; they foam the water around you and cause you to stagger. Then there are the overwhelming waves with an undertow that can turn your world upside down and drag you out into deep waters. In times such as those, the mourner desperately needs an anchor…. Hope is the anchor of the soul, and it is sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19).”
Our children gave to Renee a beautiful digital photo frame for Mother’s Day. So last night I ransacked my computer for photos of Ian back through the years. It is good to remind ourselves of the Ian we knew before cancer attacked his brain. We savor every photo. But we are savoring something we can no longer taste. We’re like beggar children peering through the window at savory meals that are beyond their reach. Each photo reminds us of joys that are locked in the past. So I loaded memories into the digital photo frame, and Renee and I lay in bed watching and weeping.
And it was good. Proverbs 14:10 says, “Each heart knows its own bitterness and no one else can share its joy.” And that is generally true. No one else can enter into this as Renee and I can. But there is real comfort in knowing that others are truly feeling our loss with us.
And there is profound comfort in getting to know others who have walked this painful path before us. J. Bruce has introduced us to many of our spiritual ancestors who have grieved the death of their children: Abraham Lincoln, Jonathan Edwards, John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, George Whitfield, Fanny Crosby, George Mueller, Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, John Sebastian Bach, Fredrick Douglas, Daniel Webster, and many others. These friends from the past were much more eloquent than we are. They clothe grief with words that place our pain in noble company. As we read what they have written in their grief, we are like pilgrims making our way through the desert and finding wells that others have dug for our refreshment. And we are drinking deeply.
More later: more comfort… more questions… more Life-giving perspective"
- David Lyons
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ianlyons
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| Technically, Lily needs prayer. She's 4 months old. I received this email this morning:
"Hello,
Please pray for our 4 month old daughter, Lily Jane. She has some very serious issues with her brain development, possible metabolic disorders, breathing problems, and perhaps lack of vision and hearing. She's been having seizures and is in Pediatric ICU. In the morning (Friday), around 7:30, she is scheduled to have a shunt put in to drain excess fluid from her brain. Please, please pray for her. Her seizures are of a nature that are very difficult to treat and it is so hard to watch her struggle with them. It is a very trying time, but we know the Lord still has power to help her as He healed so many while He was here on earth.He is the same God. He has given us great strength so far, but it looks like we have just begun our journey. Please keep us in your prayers,
Andy, Suzie, and children"
Suzie and I were in the same hall together our Freshman year of college. I can't believe she's going through this now. This is their fourth child. They lost a baby prior to their third, he lived to about 20 weeks (before birth), if I remember correctly? He was stillborn. Gabrielle. I believe his name was Gabrielle. They have been through some difficult things. I can't imagine how this must be now. I know how it is just to obsess about safety each day over my children even when they are healthy! How difficult when they experience health issues. How scary. And sorrowful. And exhausting. And with other children to take care of. If you might offer up a tiny word or two to God on their behalf, I would be forever in your debt. | | |
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