Health Journalist Blog

Why Safe Regulation of Fracking is a Fiction

By Alison Rose Levy | Monday, February 18th, 2013

A New York State commissioned Health Review is central to the debate over whether fracking can be done safely in New York. The long awaited release of the Review findings, commissioned in September by the state Department of Health (DOH) at Governor Andrew Cuomo’s behest, will inform the Governor’s impending decision about whether or not to go forward with proposed fracking guidelines, the prelude to permits to frack New York State.

Listen to Fracking: NY Reprieve for Health with Larysa Dyrszka MD and Roger Downs of the Sierra Club on Connect the Dots on the Progressive Radio Network.

The the perennial promises of safer regulations fail to account for fracking as the next in an ever-growing and ever more toxic series of health-damaging industrial outputs that people inhale, eat, or absorb into their skin, guts, and brains. When industry has blocked the EPA from studying or regulating 70,000 chemicals, (from BPA and flame retardants to potent neurotoxins), since 1975, why would regulating fracking be possible? Read More →

Categories : Environment and Health, Environment and Health Action, Environment and Health Community, Health + Environment, Uncategorized, Water

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Why 911 Survivors Fear Next Explosion

By Alison Rose Levy | Friday, January 18th, 2013

When some 9/11 responders–many with health issues from that crisis–sought to regain their health, many settled in the small town of “Guns and Hoses,” the nickname of Minisink, N.Y. The many police and firemen who live there (in keeping with residency parameters imposed on NYC emergency service employees) never could have foreseen that within a few years, Minisink (located north of NYC) would become a high-risk zone for gas explosions and contamination, thanks to a plan to build a major compressor station for a gas pipeline–smack in the center of town.

Listen to Pramilla Malick of StopMCS and Tanyette Colon of MUST discuss Minisink on Connect the Dots on Progressive Radio.

Categories : Environment and Health, Environment and Health Action, Environment and Health Community, Health + Environment

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Unfounded Fears About GMO Labeling

By Alison Rose Levy | Monday, November 5th, 2012

But the insidiousness of much paid-for-by-vested-interest advertising is that it makes people second guess their own gut level instincts–often by making things more complicated than they really need to be. Take the California Labeling Initiative–Proposition 37–which over a million California’s petitioned to get on the ballot for a statewide vote.

This political season it should come as no surprise to anyone that paid television advertisements don’t necessarily contain (ahem) the truth. Although deep pocketed industries spend millions to win our vote, our loyalties, our buy-in’s to their agendas, more and more people have developed the ability to think critically and avoid succumbing to their influence.

Listen to John Robbins, author Diet for a Small Planet discuss GMO Labeling on Connect the Dots radio.

Categories : Connect the Dots, Connecting the Dots, Food, Food Safety, Radio Shows

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Which Politician Can Face Up to “Weather on Steroids?”

By Alison Rose Levy | Sunday, November 4th, 2012

This week climate change went from political taboo to lead endorsement criteria for at least one elected official—New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg, who endorsed Barack Obama in a BloombergView entitled “A Vote for a President to Lead on Climate Change.”

Listen to Jason Kowalski, Policy Director of 350.org on Connect the Dots on Progressive Radio

In his editorial, Bloomberg wrote that, “Our climate is changing. And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it might be — given this week’s devastation — should compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.” Read More →

Categories : Environment and Health, Environment and Health Action, Environment and Health Community

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What Time is It? Time to Know Better

By Alison Rose Levy | Sunday, March 11th, 2012

What time is it? Where are we? And how do we face up to the demands of this time? Here’s a quote to contemplate

“A civilization the proves incapable of solving the problems it creates is a decadent civilization.
“A civilization that chooses to close its eyes to its most crucial problems is a stricken civilization.

“A civilization that uses its principles for trickery and deceit is a dying civilization.”
– Aimè Cèsaire, 1955,

Categories : Uncategorized

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Dylan Ratigan, Arianna Huffington, and Deepak Chopra Say: Get Money Out of Politics

By Alison Rose Levy | Sunday, March 11th, 2012

“We are being bamboozled by lobbyists, it’s time for democracy to be restored,” Deepak Chopra told his guests, Arianna Huffington and Dylan Ratigan at a DeepakHomeBase (DHB) event this week. The topic? Getting money out of politics and ending corporate personhood, a theme central to Ratigan’s new book, Greedy Bastards: How We Can Stop Corporate Communists, Banksters, and Other Vampires from Sucking America Dry. (To watch their conversation on livestream, go here.) Read More →

Categories : Activism

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Tar Sands Keystone XL Pipeline: Nay Vote Delivers a Win for the Environment

By Alison Rose Levy | Sunday, March 11th, 2012

Now that the Senate turned thumbs down on the Keystone XL Pipeline, it’s time to celebrate a big win for the environment. It was just last fall that Bil MCKibben warned that, “It’s game over for slowing climate change, if we proceed with the Tar Sands XL Keystone Pipeline.” So says Bill McKibben of 350.org quoting NASA scientist James Hansen. Back in November, McKibben invited people to join him at the White House for the Tar Sands action, calling it “the flashpoint for environmental protection.”
Read More →

Categories : Activism, Environment and Health, Environment and Health Action, Environment and Health Community

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Don’t Frack With Mark Ruffalo, Josh Fox (or the Delaware)

By Alison Rose Levy | Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Josh Fox and Mark Ruffalo have a message– the people don’t want fracking. According to a recent Forbes magazine article, Aubrey McClendon, the CEO of Chesapeake Gas, and the chief proponent for fracking, consumes $20,000 bottles of wine. Like many CEO’s, he travels by corporate jet. Yet in an employee memo, McClendon felt himself bested by the citizens calling for water and health protection. He warned his employees that “Our opponents are extremely well-funded.”

But on Monday when hundreds of people from all parts of the Mid-Atlantic region converged on Trenton, N.J. for a rally to protect the Delaware River from fracking, McClendon’s “well-funded” opponents traveled by bus, carrying their signs and their bag lunches with them. And yet in a time of economic crisis, this dedicated citizenry is making itself heard over the better funded corporate P.R. and advertising campaigns.

With a surprise setback to fracking occurring late last week, the rally on the steps of the War Memorial, and the walk to the State legislature was one part cautious victory celebration, one part rededication rally. Read More →

Categories : Activism, Connect the Dots, Connecting the Dots, Environment and Health, Environment and Health Action, Fracking, Gas Drilling, Gasland, Uncategorized, Water

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Mehmet Oz and Mark Hyman Boost Integrative Health Care for Vets

By Alison Rose Levy | Monday, December 19th, 2011

Will the military become the newest home to integrative medicine? Some people think this unlikely match is a winning strategy. Right now, veterans and their families are bearing the burden of the health impacts of a decade of war,” Lt Col. Windy Hendrick, Air Force fighter pilot told the group gathered for the day-long seminar on Integrative Medicine in Action hosted by the Bravewell Collaborative. Working with the Wing Fitness program for the Arizona National Guard, Hendrick, a certified health coach, exemplifies the new face of integrative medicine in military settings. She blends physical fitness, mindfulness and coaching to support veterans addressing an array of health challenges. Read More →

Categories : Uncategorized

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Oh, No! GMOs? What the Heck Are You Eating?

By Alison Rose Levy | Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Back when President Obama was a Senator, he promised to label GMO foods, to support the consumer right to know “where their food comes from. Americans should know what they are buying,” he said (see video here.) But despite these promises, it hasn’t happened. Family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations filed suit against Monsanto in New York court over six months ago, but still no action from the President. According to the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) which filed on their behalf, the plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from future accusations of patent infringement when Monsanto’s genetically modified seed contaminates their crops, something which cannot be prevented once GM seeds are released. Read More →

Categories : Activism, Environment and Health, Environment and Health Action, Environment and Health Community, Food, Food Safety, Health + Environment, Organic

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Why Safe Regulation of Fracking is a Fiction

Why 911 Survivors Fear Next Explosion

Unfounded Fears About GMO Labeling

Which Politician Can Face Up to “Weather on Steroids?”

What Time is It? Time to Know Better

Dylan Ratigan, Arianna Huffington, and Deepak Chopra Say: Get Money Out of Politics

Tar Sands Keystone XL Pipeline: Nay Vote Delivers a Win for the Environment

Don’t Frack With Mark Ruffalo, Josh Fox (or the Delaware)

Mehmet Oz and Mark Hyman Boost Integrative Health Care for Vets

Oh, No! GMOs? What the Heck Are You Eating?

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