Press Releases

GREENFIELD, Mass., July 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and its members are organic advocates. We believe in, support, and advocate for the integrity of the organic label and strict enforcement of federal organic standards because this is fundamental to living up to the contract with consumers who choose or who are considering choosing organic products.

At the June 17, annual meeting of the OTA membership, Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture announced "the new era of equivalence and enforcement of organic standards." She was met with a standing ovation from the packed house.

It is unfortunate the Washington Post article, "Purity of Federal 'Organic' Label Is Questioned", July 3, 2009, focused on old news and urban legends. The article also chose to reinforce rhetoric that is not only inaccurate but serves a narrow agenda whose motivations go unquestioned in the article.

OTA, on behalf of its members, would like to correct some inaccuracies and try to move the debate beyond narrow rhetoric and toward a more fact-based perspective.

From the article: "Relaxation of the federal standards, and an explosion of consumer demand, have helped push the organics market into a $23 billion-a-year business, the fastest growing segment of the food industry."

The federal organic standards have not been "relaxed." Rigorously enforced standards can and do go hand-in-hand with growth. The author and those pitching this story have generously borrowed the rhetorical technique of setting up a false choice. The industry and OTA pushed for national organic regulations that consumers could rely on. Organic agriculture and products remain the most strictly regulated, as well as the fastest growing, food system in the United States today.

From the article: "But the USDA program's shortcomings mean that consumers, who at times must pay twice as much for organic products, are not always getting what they expect: foods without pesticides and other chemicals, produced in a way that is gentle to the environment."

In fact, if this is what someone expects from food, his or her best bet is to purchase organic.

Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the environment by reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supply, and that are associated with health consequences from asthma to cancer.

Extensive pesticide residue testing by the U.S.D.A. has found that conventionally produced fruits and vegetables are, on average, three to more than four times more likely to contain residues than organic produce, eight to eleven times more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues, and contain residues at levels three to ten times higher than corresponding residues in organic samples.

From the article: "Several groups have filed complaints with the USDA saying they think the inclusion of fatty acids in organic products violates federal rules and laws 'This is illegal rulemaking -- a complete violation of the process that is supposed to protect the public,' said Gary Cox, a lawyer with the Cornucopia Institute."

The accusations are unfounded and reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the process by which organic regulations are made. Contrary to what is implied here, there is a very specific process that materials must go through before they are permitted for inclusion in organic products. In regards to fatty acids, the USDA regulators followed the recommendation of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).

NOSB, a citizen advisory board, consists of four farmer/growers, two handlers/processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public interest advocates, three environmentalists, and one USDA-accredited certifying agent. These volunteers assist the Secretary of Agriculture with the overall implementation of the National Organic Program (NOP).

NOSB conducts an extensive review of materials that are petitioned for inclusion in organic, solicits public comment, and makes a recommendation to NOP as to whether a material should be allowed. The NOP implements NOSB's recommendation.

This process ensures that materials are NOT haphazardly permitted for use in organic production and reinforces the principles of transparency and integrity around which the organic system was built.

Because the position of the reporters' sources did not 'carry the day' in this public review by no means makes the process illegal, and to characterize it as such is a great disservice to the public.

From the article: "Consumer groups and organics advocates are hopeful that the Obama administration will bolster the program. In his proposed budget, the president has doubled resources devoted to organics and installed USDA leaders who support change."

The organic industry itself has long advocated for increased resources to support USDA's National Organic Program and for parity for organic farmers within US agricultural policy. OTA and its members are thankful to have this support and are pleased by the important gains and intentions of USDA.

OTA members on March 26 called on 34 Senate and House offices advocating for OTA-endorsed FY2010 appropriations requests.

What exactly did OTA and the organic industry ask for?

    --  $6 million for NOP to better fund enforcement of the NOP regulations and
        strengthen certifier accreditation and training.

    --  $5 million for USDA Extension farming research; geared towards increase
        transition of acreage in the U.S. to organic production for the
        betterment of the environment.

This is consistent with OTA's agenda since the NOP was fully implemented in 2002. OTA has always supported a strong NOP capable of clarifying, developing, and strictly enforcing the organic rule.

OTA and its members are pleased that the Obama administration, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan are supporters of organic agriculture and have expressed a commitment to ensuring the integrity of the USDA organic label.

Despite the misleading portrait painted in the article, organic agriculture and products offer lasting hope for better environmental and personal health.

Who we are:

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.

Two-thirds of OTA members are small businesses with under $1 million dollars in annual organic sales. Nearly half of OTA members report under $100,000 in annual organic sales. All trade members have one vote, regardless of size.

SOURCE Organic Trade Association

WASHINGTON, July 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Specialty Hospitals of America (SHA) announced today the official opening of a new 50 bed Critical Care Hospital at United Medical Center, located at 1310 Southern Ave, in SE Washington. The new hospital, named The Specialty Hospital of Washington at United Medical Center will ultimately provide care to residents of SE DC and the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as provide upward of 400 new jobs to the SE community.

"The new hospital will fill a long-standing and vital need in this neighborhood," says said Chad Eichelberger, Chief Operating Officer of Specialty Hospital of Washington. "We employ new, state-of-the-art equipment that is among the best the country, so doctors can feel comfortable discharging appropriate patients into this long term critical care hospital, freeing up beds in the short term critical care unit." He adds, "The new hospital is an essential component in the continuum of care, and allows patients with a wide range of needs to be treated in one location."

The vision of Specialty Hospitals of America, the owner of SHW, is to develop centers of healthcare excellence in order to build a healthy community. "We are proud to serve this community and it is our mission to help critically ill patients recover faster and more fully with the new hospital at UMC," said Eric Rieseberg, President of Specialty Hospitals of America (SHA). "There are over 200,000 residents in our service area who now have access to the highest level of medical care available in the District."

The Specialty Hospital of Washington is a full service hospital with 24 hour In-House Physician, Nursing and Respiratory Therapy coverage that serves adult patients who still require close monitoring and a high level of specialized care. Specific services and conditions for which admission to The SHW should be considered can be found on their website, www.specialtyhospitalofwashington.com.

Additionally, SHW offers four focused programs of medical of excellence, including Cardio-Pulmonary Care, Wound Care, Medically Complex Patient Management and Rehabilitation Services. The community can reach the Admission Department at the Specialty Hospital of Washington Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at (202) 574-5780.

About Specialty Hospitals of America and Specialty Hospital of Washington:

SHA operates and develops focused, high acuity long and short term acute care hospitals and nursing facilities. The company's vision is to provide focused centers of medical excellence (FCME's) in its managed and owned hospitals and nursing facilities. The Specialty Hospital of Washington specializes in long-term intensive care and is licensed as a specialty hospital and a skilled nursing facility, respectively. SHW was established in the District of Columbia in July, 1995 to provide a comprehensive, cost-effective alternative to long term stays in an intensive care or critical care units of a short-term general acute care hospital.

SOURCE Specialty Hospitals of America

WASHINGTON, July 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer on July 4th said that reports of Sarah Palin's political demise were "premature and reflect more the hopes and dreams of liberal analysts than actual reality."

The chairman of the Campaign for Working Families made the following statement:

"No Republican can get the GOP nomination for president or win the White House without the Values wing of the party. Given that reality, I have no doubt that between now and 2012 a leader will emerge.

"For the media, the race is clearly in full swing, especially in regards to Sarah Palin. Reports of Sarah Palin's political death are highly exaggerated and reflect more the biases of the prophets, soothsayers and media talking heads than it does the political reality. Sarah Palin is a force in the GOP and one of the most promising figures in American politics whether she is governor of Alaska or not. It is totally premature to interpret Sarah Palin's announcement as a withdraw from American politics. A year from now, a lot of pundits may be eating their words."

SOURCE Campaign for Working Families

CARLETON PLACE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 4, 2009) - Workers at Community Living Association Lanark, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have been pushed by their employer to go out on strike for a fair deal.

"Management and the board did nothing to prevent this strike," said Karen Bowes, CUPE 1521-02 unit chair. "We've done everything possible to find a deal that would have prevented this strike. Management refused every no-cost proposal to start a pension plan. We don't understand why they would refuse a plan that would not cost the agency a single penny."

The lack of a pension and concession demands by the agency pushed the workers to the picket line. While other Association for Community Living (ACL) agencies across the province achieved fair settlements with their workers, Community Living Association Lanark focused on "saying no to every proposal put to them to address the issue of a pension plan", said Bowes. "Other ACL workers in Ontario already have pension plans, so there is no reason why this agency should not offer the same plan, after all ACL agencies are all funded the same way."

The 90 social service workers provide care to people with intellectual disabilities. Their last contract expired on March 31, 2009. "This is an issue of respect and fairness," continued Bowes. "Management's actions show a complete lack of respect for our members and the services we provide to people with intellectual challenges. What kind of leadership is this?"

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        CUPE
        Karen Bowes
        CUPE 1521-02 Unit Chair
        613-264-7890

        CUPE
        Doreen Beath
        CUPE National Representative
        613-552-6826

        CUPE
        James Chai
        CUPE Communications
        416-292-3999

Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

HONG KONG, July 4 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The bankruptcy of Chrysler and GM has shocked the entire auto industry chain in America. The falling of giants has set off a chain of bankruptcies of related enterprises on the up and down-stream. Auto-part makers, such as Hayes Lemmerz, the world-famous maker of automobile wheels and braking systems, and Lear, the world's biggest auto-seat maker, are dying off. The U.S. auto industry is on the verge of a complete collapse.

While on the other hand, China's auto market is taking on a completely different look. According to statistics in the first quarter of 2009, sales in China's auto market surpassed that of the U.S. market for the first time. The whole auto market is growing rapidly, with an expected 18% increase. China's automobile enterprises have withstood the impact of financial crisis, thanks to its domestic market. Holding in hand a robustly growing domestic market, these enterprises are marching into the North American auto industries with a rich financial basis, and are acquiring automobile companies there as well as up and down-stream auto-part makers at a very low price.

According to statistics collected by Fairtheworld.com, a handful of consulting companies are now playing an active role between Chinese and U.S. automobile companies, aimed at finding Chinese buyers for those mired American automakers and auto-part makers. This cross-board acquisition move is epitomized by the recent hot-topic of China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company buying GM's Hummer Brand.

In response to the latest trend in the international auto industry, Fairtheworld.com has specially designed an Automobile Hall and opened it in its "Fair N Fair" 3D Virtual Expo, which is a global e-commerce platform. Various automobile enterprises are to be arranged at different floors for exhibition according to their characteristics on the industry chain. While the U.S. auto companies, at this critical juncture, can talk business with thousands of high-end auto enterprises around the globe by entering "Fair N Fair", so as to achieve high-efficient and cost-effective cooperation.

    For more information, please contact:
    Dodona Song
    Cell:  +86-159-1626-1151
    Email: news@fairtheworld.com

SOURCE Fairtheworld