GcMAF witch hunt continues

Their crime? Developing a potentially life-saving natural medicine containing Gc-MAF. Despite having been exonerated of all charges in the UK, Lyn Thyer is being held in solitary confinement in Bronzefield prison awaiting extradition to France. She is currently on hunger strike while she awaits a habeas corpus hearing. The persecution of her partner David Noakes (former CEO of Immuno Biotech) continues with yet another court hearing on Friday 2nd August designed to strip him of everything. The problem is GcMAF is a powerful immune modulator. One that can benefit a range of health conditions including cancer and autism but crucially cannot be patented by Big Pharma as it is a naturally occurring molecule. Watch Ian Crane’s latest video for an update on this unbelievable tragedy unfolding behind a curtain of media silence. This is a witch hunt that’s deprived hundreds of seriously ill people a treatment that may just have helped them find health again when all else had failed. What it wouldn’t do is put money into Pharma profits. If that’s not a crime against humanity, what is?

Biotech bullies EU to deregulate GM tech

Big Biotech is gathering itself to pressurise the EU into changing its stance on the use of GM technologies. Citing the oft used arguments that biotechnologies are the silver bullet needed to feed the world, promote biodiversity and fight climate change, they’re claiming that regulatory limits should be removed. The push follows last year’s ruling by the European Court of Justice that new GM techniques such as CRISPR should be regulated in the same way as older GM techniques. The EU has also been pressurised by the US to abandon its cautionary approach to GMOs. In his first speech as UK prime-minister, Boris Johnson, indicated his support for the introduction of GM crops to the UK pledging to “liberate” the UK from anti-GM rules. Without the protection afforded by the EU’s 'precautionary principle' it will be up to UK citizens to vote with their wallets to mitigate the very serious risks posed to human health and the environment. The recent appointment of long-term environmental campaigner, Zac Goldsmith, as environment minister will hopefully help to dampen a little of Boris’ GM ardour.

Brazil’s pesticide regulations

Pesticide approvals in Brazil have continued to soar since the change of government in January 2019. An Unearthed investigation shows more than 1,200 pesticides and weedkillers, including products banned in their countries of origin, have been approved in the last three years. The report also highlights moves by the new Brazilian government to scrap the body overseeing environmental policy as well as removing protection for indigenous lands. Disturbingly, ANVISA (the Brazilian regulatory agency for public health) has approved new rules establishing risk of death as the only required criteria to classify a pesticide as ‘extremely toxic’. At the same time new data from the Brazilian government’s satellite monitoring agency highlights the accelerated destruction of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

CBD markets under attack

The grey regulatory environment surrounding cannabis-based products continues to cause confusion and problems for suppliers and manufacturers. A UK-based company, Hempen, has been forced to destroy its hemp crop after its licence was revoked by the Home Office. This follows a UK Home Office dictat last year stating that farmers can grow hemp for its seed and stalk, but not harvest the flowers for oil. Pressure on CBD suppliers took a dramatic turn earlier this year when Paypal stopped accepting payments for companies selling CBD oil. Following Italy’s ruling earlier this year, the Swedish Supreme Court has also outlawed the sale of CBD products containing THC. As in Italy, industrial hemp is exempt from narcotic control laws, but THC remained undefined therefore the court ruled that products containing THC are not exempt. As the noose tightens around the supply of CBD products, unsurprisingly, Big Pharma continues to ready itself to take control of what has become an extremely valuable market.

You really are what you eat!

New research from the University of Minnesota published in Cell Host & Microbe draws attention to the different effects of similar foods on individual microbiomes. Researchers took 34 healthy volunteers, recording everything they ate over a 17-day period which they mapped against the diversity of microbes in daily stool samples. They found that whilst they could predict changes in one person’s microbiome based on what they’d eaten in previous days, those changes couldn’t be extrapolated to someone else. Often the same food had opposite effects in different individuals. In a bid to standardise effects, two participants consumed mostly meal replacement drinks. Despite this commonality their microbial communities changed daily, in the same way as those consuming a more varied diet. Researchers noted changes were associated with specific food types such as leafy green vegetables or yogurt, rather than relating to nutrition labels on food. In another recent study published in Frontiers in Microbiology, researchers from Graz University of Technology, found a more diverse and balanced range of bacteria on organic apples versus conventionally grown apples. They also found the majority of the bacteria are in the seeds of the apple – a part that most people throw away. The results of the two studies underpin the undeniable health benefits of eating a diverse diet that includes organic produce where possible. It also underpins our individuality and the individuality and changeable nature of our microbiomes.

DNA testing on the NHS

Five million Brits are set to be offered free DNA testing on the NHS in collaboration with a range of charities and businesses. The news comes following calls by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for their increased use to predict risk of developing chronic disease. As with so much in this world, you don’t get something for nothing. The return on this particular investment is that data generated by the genetic tests will be anonymised and used to develop new personalised treatments and targeted medications. The proposed tests will seek to identify disease-risk genetic markers/polymorphisms. Whilst the results will hopefully allow for non-drug interventions to also be developed, the reality is likely to be more of Pharma’s ‘pill for an ill’ drug-based profit model. We trust that the tests will not be limited to high penetration genes (disease-risk you can’t do much about) to also include low penetration genes (many modifiable by diet and lifestyle). Low penetration genetic tests can be extremely empowering, as well as wholly personalised allowing the individual to follow a diet and lifestyle plan to avoid potential genetic vulnerabilities, and hence lower future disease risk. We include such low penetration genetic tests in our health system sustainability blueprint as the first health domain of health in our ‘Ecological Terrain’.

5G harms reported in Geneva

The first reports of potential harms from 5G are starting to surface. Residents in Geneva are reporting various health problems, which are being linked to the installation of new 5G antennas. Common symptoms include insomnia, tinnitus and headaches. The problems apparently started in April following the installation of 5G systems in the area. One resident reported feeling like he’s in a microwave and all report feeling fine one day with symptoms starting the next. Two residents commented, “We feel like guinea pigs”. Have your say on 5G - If you haven't done so already, sign the International Appeal to Stop 5G on Earth and in Space now.