89% of Chinese herbal medicines purchased abroad contained 3 or more … – AMERICAblog (blog) [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

As part of our exposé on the poison that China calls “merchandise,” today we take a closer look at Chinese herbal medicine, which is often laden with deadly pesticides.

(Don’t miss our earlier coverage of the most recent Chinese pet treat scare.)

Greenpeace collected 65 samples of traditional Chinese herbal products from nine retail chains in nine different cities across China. 74% of the samples tested positive for pesticides. 

They also purchased 36 made-in-China medicinal herbs in seven major export markets in seven countries, including Virginia (Washington, DC suburbs), London, Toronto, Vancouver, Paris, Hamburg, Milan and Amsterdam. 89% of the samples contained three or more pesticides.

Among the products they tested were wolfberries, angelica, honeysuckle, Sanqi flowers and chrysanthemum.

Here are more details, it’s pretty horrifying.

A farmer from the Miao minority pours a cocktail of pesticides into a sprayer to prepare for spraying his pseudo-ginseng farm. (© Simon Lim / Greenpeace)

Chinese herbs purchased in China

• 74% of the samples bought in China tested positive for pesticides.
• 50% of the samples contained traces of three or more pesticides.
• 40% of the samples contained the residue of pesticides that have been banned in China.  The World Health Organization has classified some of the pesticides as “extremely” or “highly” hazardous.
• 32% of the samples contained 11 to 40 pesticides each.
• Some of the poison residue was 100 to 500 times the maximum European residue limit.

Chinese herb exports to western markets

• 89% of the made-in-China medicinal herbs bought in western countries contained three or more kinds of pesticides.
• 72% of the samples tested exceeded the safety levels set by European authorities. (Seven samples couldn’t be tested, so the percentage could be even higher.)
• 47% of the samples showed residues of pesticides classified as “highly or extremely hazardous” by the World Health Organization.

Radio Free Asia reports that while China has excellent environmental laws, they’re rarely enforced because of the country’s endemic culture of corruption:

Campaigners say that China has an exemplary set of environmental protection legislation, but that close ties between business and officials mean that it is rarely enforced at a local level.

Beijing University of Science and Technology economics professor Hu Xingdou said there are few incentives for Chinese farmers to stick to the law when raising lucrative crops, however.

Chinese officials are either apathetic about enforcing the rules on pesticides, or they form part of corrupt protection networks that shield their members from the law, he said.

“The punishments for this sort of thing aren’t very severe in China,” Hu said. “Also, 99.9 percent of people are being protected from them.”

“It costs a lot to stick to the law, and very little to break it. There is very little enforcement capability.”…

“Often, they will produce fake or shoddy goods, or foodstuffs and medicines that are actually poisonous, and it’s very hard to trace who was responsible,” Hu said.

And get ready for chicken processed in China coming to a store near you.

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Tags: China, Chinese herbal medicine, exports, food, medicine, pesticides, poison, safety

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Don’t Leave Me! Why Do Dogs Have Separation Anxiety? [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

Does your dog have tendencies to destruction? Are you always worried of what you'll find when you get back home from work? Pee on the floor or worse, chewed furniture and shoes… Have your neighbors ever complained about your pooch's incessant barking, howling and whimpering? Though these signs can indicate bad training and a lack of education, they can also be symptoms of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is triggered when the dog is upset because of separation from the people they're attached too. If your pup shows major distress when you are preparing to leave the house, this is not a sign of bad training, this is a sign that your pet is terrified by the idea of your absence.

Symptoms of separation anxiety can be: bad bathroom manners, barking and howling, chewing, digging and destruction, escaping, pacing and even coprophagia. When trying to escape at all cost, a dog can end up severely injured, particularly if he tries to get out from the windows.

There is no conclusive evidence showing exactly why dogs develop separation anxiety. However, because far more dogs who have been adopted from shelters have this behavior problem than those kept by a single family since puppyhood, it is believed that loss of an important person or group of people in a dog's life can lead to separation anxiety. Other less dramatic changes can also trigger the disorder. It can be a change of lifestyle, schedule, or residence and so on.

How to keep your dog from suffering of separation anxiety?

The first mistake to avoid is to scold or punish your dog, it will make him even more upset and worsen the problem.

If your dog suffers from mild separation anxiety, you can try to "counter-condition" your pet. The concept is the same as positive reinforcement. Your dog has to associate his fear with a good upcoming. You can for example give your pooch a puzzle toy stuffed with food that will take him a while to finish. Your dog can now associate your departure with treats, and won't be as distressed. Be sure to remove these special toys as soon as you return home so that your dog only has access to them and the high-value food inside when he's by himself.

If your dog suffers a higher level of separation anxiety, you may need to set up a more complex counterconditioning program. If your dog shows signs of anxiety as soon as you get ready to leave, you have to teach him that grabbing your keys or your jacket doesn't necessarily mean that you are leaving. For example, take your keys in your hand, and sit down on the couch for a while. Just like a cat who only see the cage for the annual visit to the vet, your dog has to unlearn the signs of your imminent departure. The second step is to start with very short departure. The idea is that your absences have to be shorter than the time it takes for your dog to become upset. You can, for example, teach your dog to sit or down and stay while you go to the other side of a door. Gradually increase the length of time you wait behind that door, out of your dog's sight. You can also work on getting your dog used to pre-departure cues as you practice the stay. For example, ask your dog to stay and then put on your coat, pick up your purse and go in the other room while your dog continues to stay. You can then gradually increase your absences. Remember to always remain calm and to congratulate your dog when he does well!

If, in spite of your training sessions, your dog cannot be left alone at all you can still consider various solutions. If possible, take your dog to work with you.  If you can't, arrange for someone to take care of him when you're away or take your pet to doggy daycare.

Another solution is the use of a crate which can be helpful for some dogs if they learn that the crate is their safe place to go when left alone. However, for other dogs, the crate can add to stress and anxiety. If putting your pooch in a crate is not possible, try to confine him in a part of a room using a doggy-gate.

Keep your dog busy! A lot of physical and mental stimulation is a major part of treating behavioral issues. Exercising your dog's mind and body can greatly enrich his life, decrease stress and provide appropriate outlets for normal dog behaviors. Additionally, a physically and mentally tired dog doesn't have much excess energy to expend when he's left alone.

And finally, when everything else has failed, medication might help. Consult with your veterinarian. Anti-anxiety medications with no habituation have recently been developed and can help your pet.

For the Best that Pet Lifestyle has to offer follow Wendy Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and right here at AnimalFair.com!

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Tags: dog, pet, separation anxiety, training, treatment

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Texas women turned away at abortion clinics after court ruling [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

By Karen Brooks and Lisa Maria Garza

AUSTIN/DALLAS, Texas (Reuters) – Women seeking to terminate their pregnancies were turned away at clinics across Texas on Friday, providers said, after strict new regulations for physicians who perform abortions prompted a dozen facilities to stop offering them.

Facilities that continue to perform abortions were flooded with calls from women trying to find alternatives, clinic officials said.

“They’re calling from all over – Fort Worth, West Texas, all over Dallas, Oklahoma, everywhere,” said Betty Pettigrew, director at Routh Street Women’s Clinic in downtown Dallas, which has offered abortion services since 1978.

Offices were inundated with calls after a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that a provision of a new Texas law that requires all doctors performing abortions to have an agreement with a local hospital to admit patients could go into immediate effect.

The provision was part of a sweeping anti-abortion law, passed in July by the Republican-led Texas Legislature, that also requires abortion clinics to meet heightened building standards, bans abortion after 20 weeks and requires strict adherence to federal guidelines in prescribing the so-called abortion pill.

Hours after the decision from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, managers or employees of 12 clinics from El Paso to Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley said their facilities would either drastically reduce the number of procedures, or stop providing abortions altogether.

Opponents had warned before the court decision that abortion services at nearly one-third of the state’s 32 clinics and an additional half dozen ambulatory centers that also offer the procedure could immediately halt as soon as the law went into effect because many doctors have not been able to gain admitting privileges.

“Unfortunately, we are having to close today and tomorrow, but we will be open next week seeing patients as normal,” said Tenesha Duncan, administrator at Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center in Dallas. The doctor on duty Friday and Saturday does not have admitting privileges, she said.

Anti-abortion groups who support that law questioned why some clinics had been able to meet the new requirements and not others. They said the requirement that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges was enacted to enhance safety for women.

“We have to make sure that abortions are done in a manner which is consistent with accepted safety standards,” said Joe Pojmann of the Texas Alliance for Life in Austin.

Some 45 women were denied their previously scheduled abortions at Whole Woman’s Health clinics in Fort Worth, San Antonio and McAllen, Texas, on Friday, said Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive officer and founder of Whole Woman’s Health, which operates four clinics and one ambulatory surgery center in Texas.

“They were all in tears,” Miller said. Some of Whole Woman’s clinics are open for now because they still must do required follow-up appointments for women who have already had abortions.

Two of that network’s facilities will have to shut down completely in a matter of weeks – staff let go, buildings sold – if they cannot gain admitting privileges because abortions comprise 90 percent of their services and the company cannot afford to run those offices without that revenue, Miller said.

“We specialize in abortion care because in most communities, there are plenty of family planning and ob-gyn services, and it’s really abortion care that’s underserved,” she said.

The group’s clinic in San Antonio, which is currently open five days a week, will have to reduce its hours to once or twice a month because the only physician with admitting privileges at that facility lives on the East Coast and is flown in for procedures, Miller said.

Harlingen Reproductive Services in South Texas halted abortions but remained open for other women’s health services, said Angie Tristan, clinic administrator said.

At Reproductive Services in El Paso, officials are hopeful that they can soon gain admitting privileges for its physician.

“We hope to be back up and running with abortion services next week,” administrator Gerri Laster told Reuters.

Some of the clinics that are closing or discontinuing the procedure may resume if their doctors can gain admitting privileges, clinic officials cautioned, though many hospitals are reluctant to do so for religious or business reasons.

No clinic had reported any official closings to the Texas Department of State Health Services, which tracks licensed abortion facilities, by Friday, said agency spokeswoman Carrie Williams.

(Additional reporting by Lisa Maria Garza in Dallas; editing by Gunna Dickson)

• OBGYN
• Pregnancy Termination Services
• Texas
• abortion clinics

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Star Fragrance Rundown: The Olsen Twins’ New Scents, Jay Z’s ” Gold” Perfume Launch [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

von






Nicole Adlman






| Übersetzt von Nicole Adlman

1. November 2013 – 15:08

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are adding a new feature to their growing lifestyle brand: fragrance.

The perfume duo, which the twins named Nirvana, will be associated with their Elizabeth and James line and sold exclusively at Sephora stores starting in January.

“We always knew we wanted to have a fragrance for this brand, because it’s very lifestyle,” Ashley told Women’s Wear Daily. “We felt that between the brand Elizabeth and James and Sephora that we were really speaking together directly to our customer. We felt that was a really good place to start exploring the world of fragrance and beauty.” 

The twins chose Nirvana because, as Ashley explained to WWD, “to us, this was really about a moment—and what’s that one word that’s going to define that one moment where you feel comfortable, sexy and at ease with yourself?”

Nirvana Black features notes of violet, sandalwood, and vanilla, while Nirvana White is a mesh of peony, muguet, and musk.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana eaux de parfum will be available in three sizes: 50 ml. for $ 75, 30 ml. for $ 55 and $ 22 for a rollerball applicator.

NEWS: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen learned everything they needed to know about fashion from Full House

Meanwhile, Jay Z is also taking the fragrance industry by storm: The rap mogul will launch his first men’s eau de toilette, “Gold Jay Z” on Black Friday at major department stores across the U.S. 

The men’s fragrance will be packaged in a gold-topped white bottle and coordinating box. The cap features engraved terms that inspired the cologne: “Power,” “Pride,” “Confidence,” “Strength,” “Success,” and “Courage.” 

What do you think of these new celeb fragrances?

NEWS: See more celebrity fragrances

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China to end use of prisoners’ organs for transplants in mid-2014 [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) – China plans to end its controversial practice of using the organs of executed prisoners for transplants by around the middle of next year, a senior official told Reuters on Saturday.

China is the only country that still systematically takes organs from executed prisoners for use in transplant operations, a decades-long practice that has drawn widespread international criticism.

Beijing said in August it would begin to phase out the practice this month, and health officials have previously said China must stop using dead inmates’ organs to “build a positive image that benefits the country.”

By mid-2014, all hospitals licensed for organ transplants will be required to stop using organs from executed prisoners and only use those voluntarily donated and allocated through a fledging national system, said Huang Jiefu, former deputy health minister who heads the organ transplant reform.

Huang would not give an exact date except that it will be following the end of a separate campaign by the ruling Communist Party designed to get officials closer to the people, which is expected to end between May and July.

Details of the plan will be announced at a meeting of health officials and hospitals in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou later on Saturday.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMES

To cut back on its dependency on prisoners’ organs, China has launched pilot volunteer organ donor programs in 25 provinces and municipalities since February, with the aim of creating a nationwide voluntary scheme by the end of this year.

The number of transplants using donated organs has jumped to more than 900 cases in the first seven months of this year from 245 in 2011, but is still less than half the number of organs from death-row inmates, according to data provided by Huang.

Rights groups say many organs are taken from prisoners without their consent or their family’s knowledge, something the government denies.

A decrease in organ supply as a result of the ban on using death-row inmates’ organs will put more pressure on China’s nascent donation system.

Organ supply still falls far short of demand due in part to the traditional Chinese belief that bodies should be buried or cremated intact. An estimated 300,000 patients are wait-listed every year for organ transplants, and only about one in 30 ultimately receives a transplant.

The shortage has driven a trade in illegal organ trafficking, and in 2007 the government banned transplants from living donors, except spouses, blood relatives and step- or adopted family members.

(Reporting by Hui Li and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

• organ transplants
• China

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Obama says ‘concerned’ about Los Angeles airport shooting [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Friday that he is concerned about a shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday that killed one person and wounded at least six other people.

“We’re concerned about it, but I’ll let law enforcement folks talk about it directly,” Obama told reporters in the Oval Office after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton; editing by Jackie Frank)

• Politics & Government
• Barack Obama

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Weekend Rock Question: What Is Stevie Wonder’s Best Song? [ Bus1nessN3wz ]

Cast your vote in our weekly poll

This week, Stevie Wonder announced plans to perform his 1976 masterpiece Songs in the Key of Life at a Los Angeles benefit gig on December 21st. “The album has just inspired me,” he told Rolling Stone. “I listen to [it to] measure how I feel and how I see the world – how it is now as to how it was then, how much has or hasn’t changed.” 

Find Out Where Stevie Wonder Ranks in Our List of the 100 Greatest Artists

Now we have a question for you: What is Stevie Wonder’s single greatest song? There are a ton to choose from, going all the way back to “Fingertips (Parts 1 & 2)” in 1963 through his incredible run of 1970s hits like “Higher Ground” and “Superstition” to MTV-era jams like “Part-Time Lover” and “Ribbon in the Sky.” Vote for whatever Stevie Wonder song you want, but please only vote once and only for a single song. 

You can vote here in the comments, on facebook.com/rollingstone or on Twitter using the hashtag #weekend rock.

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