5G legal challenge launched in UK

A legal action, led by Michael Mansfield QC, to challenge the UK’s government’s failure to heed warnings of the potential health effects of 5G, has been launched. The campaign states, “We are not opposed to technology, we are opposed to untested tech. We want safe technology”. It seeks to represent not only all UK citizens but people across the globe. We have reported previously on the lack of safety studies for 5G technology and its rollout regardless of the harm that may be done to all life on earth. Not to mention the 20,000+ satellites being launched into orbit around the planet currently. Find out more about the campaign and how you can support its calls to stop the bulldozer rollout of 5G not only in the UK, but across the globe.

Devastation of German ecosystems

A new report from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) spells out the devastating loss of natural ecosystems in Germany. Nearly 46% of the species studied were found to be under threat, extremely rare or to have completely died out over the last 3 years, with Insects and invetebrates particularly hard hit. This comes at a time when the EU has just launched its new biodiversity strategy, which sets out a plan for the protection of ecosystems and nature in the EU over the next 10 years. Setting ambitious targets, the EU seeks to deal with the impacts of climate change, fight the illegal wildlife trade, tackle forest fires and food insecurity and limit the use of chemical pesticides to protect vital pollinators. The plan states that, “Nature is as important for our mental and physical wellbeing as it is for our society’s ability to cope with global change, health threats and disasters.” Legally binding targets will not be set until 2021 though. The continued good health of nature and the environment is not only essential for our health and wellbeing, but also the continued survival of the planet we rely on.

Conventional plants and animals can’t be patented in EU

The highest legal body of the European Patent Office (EPO), the Enlarged Board of Appeal, has ruled that animals created using conventional breeding techniques cannot be patented. In its response welcoming the news, No Patents on Seeds, said there is still reason for concern, highlighting the need for clear definitions to prevent the patenting of random mutations that could be claimed as ‘inventions’. This is good news for conventional breeders as they struggle to resist the increasing strangleholds that Big Corporates such as Bayer, DowDuPont and Syngenta have on farming practices, which risk farmers’ livelihoods along with the health of the planet and people.

The benefits of exercise

People who walk or cycle to work are healthier than car drivers. That’s the conclusion of a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health. As lockdowns around the world continue to lift many people are now seeking alternatives to public transport due to fears over coronavirus infections. Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge used Census data to track over 300,000 commuters over a 25-year period. Compared to car drivers, those who cycled to work had a 24% reduction in death from cardiovascular disease, 11% reduced rate of cancer diagnosis along with a 16% reduced rate of death from cancer. Those who walked had a 7% reduced rate of cancer diagnosis. In a bid to encourage cycling and walking in London, plans have been unveiled to create “…one of the largest car-free zones in any capital city in the world” by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The good news for those choosing to walk or cycle to work is that exercise improves your memory by boosting blood flow to the brain. Publishing in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, researchers compared two groups of people over the age of 60 with memory problems. Half took up aerobic exercise, while the other group stretched regularly. The group who undertook aerobic exercise showed a 47% improvement in their memory scores after one year along with increased blood flow to the brain. Whether you choose to walk, run, cycle, scooter or even rollerskate to work the benefits to your health will be numerous!

Spice up your life

Not only will adding spices to your food make it tastier, it could add to its health benefits. Research published in The Journal of Nutrition found that adding 6 grams of a spice blend to a meal, lowered inflammatory markers in those who ate it, compared to meals with less or no spice. Herbs and spices have long been used as medicine in traditional medicine systems which is just one reason why they’re a key component of the ANH Food4Health guidelines. Not only do they create more dietary diversity they’re packed with health giving phytonutrients, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential in helping us achieve and maintain optimal health.

Bayer settles lawsuits

As it seeks to protect itself from the massive number of lawsuits against Monsanto, Monsanto’s parent company Bayer, is said to have reached verbal agreements to settle a substantial number of the outstanding actions. None of the deals have been signed as yet, but they’re expected to be approved in June. Once again money talks, sweeping dirty dealings and shady practices under the carpet so normal service can be resumed regardless of the cost to human and environmental health. A glimmer of good news has come as UK retailer B&Q announced it will be delisting Roundup, once its stocks have been sold, given its links to cancer. There’s still a long way to go before such chemicals are removed entirely being as every time one such product is removed another, often more damaging product, pops up to take its place.