Organic Food Not Nutritionally Better Than Conventionally-produced Food, Review Of Literature Shows

There is no evidence that organically produced foods are nutritionally superior to conventionally produced foodstuffs, according to a study published July 29 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.



(Credit: iStockphoto/Jack Puccio)

Consumers appear willing to pay higher prices for organic foods based on their perceived health and nutrition benefits, and the global organic food market was estimated in 2007 to be worth £29 billion (£2 billion in the UK alone). Some previous reviews have concluded that organically produced food has a superior nutrient composition to conventional food, but there has to-date been no systematic review of the available published literature.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have now completed the most extensive systematic review of the available published literature on nutrient content of organic food ever conducted. The review focussed on nutritional content and did not include a review of the content of contaminants or chemical residues in foods from different agricultural production regimens.

Full article; ScienceDaily (July 30, 2009)

More Evidence In Favor Of Healthy Lifestyle In Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease

As the ESC Congress 2009 draws ever closer, the evidence in favour of a healthy lifestyle for the prevention of cardiovascular disease grows ever stronger. Prevention is the highlight theme of this year's event, which will take place in Barcelona from 29 August to 2 September. Lifestyle factors are heavily on the agenda.

Full article: ScienceDaily (July 27, 2009)

Sra. Pura Peris is NOT an MEP

In my article Los Verdes Continue to Mislead I referred to the claim by Los Verdes de Orihuela that "We commit to monitor the work at the European level of our Spanish (based in Valencia) MEP Pura Peris during the legislative period 2009 - 2014." and my rejection of their claim.

I pointed out that - 'Los Verdes de Orihuela is a member of the Los Verdes de Pais Valencia region which in turn is a member of the Confederation of Los Verdes in Spain. In the European elections campaign the Confederation joined the Europa de Pueblos – Verdes coalition.' - and that - 'The coalition received sufficient votes on the 7th June 2009 to elect ONE and only one MEP and that automatically in a “closed list” is the first candidate Sr. Oriol Junqueras. He is the MEP not Pura Peris as stated by Los Verdes.'

On the European Parliament website is published the current list of the 50 MEPs for Spain for the 2009 to 2014 parliament period.

The list clearly shows that there is only one MEP elected for the Europa de los Pueblos - Verdes coalition and that is Oriol Junqueras Vies .

No where on the list of Spanish MEPs is Pura Peris as claimed by Los Verdes de Orihuela.

Sra. Peris is not an MEP.

This I believe clearly justifies my point that Los Verdes have a tendency to be economical with the truth when it serves their purpose; thereby misleading the public. They are very quick to criticise other political parties for doing the same.

"If you want to find a solution, you need Los Verdes" !!!

In my article Los Verdes should read what I've actually written I made the comment that "as at 13.30hrs 3rd July 2009 Mr Wally Stewartson, Chairman of the Community of Owners R6B, confirmed that he still has not received any communication from Los Verdes about the recycling collection depot since the meeting on the 4th May 2009.

This situation changed when on the 5th July 2009 he received an email (quoted in green) from Mr & Mrs Perret the Orihuela Costa Working Group of Los Verdes. A two months delay after the only meeting they have had with the residents.

"Hola Wally, Please find enclosed the Los Verdes press release about the Council Plenary meeting on th 30th of June 2009

In the press release Los Verdes state that "On the 27th of May, the responsible Councillor, Mr. Abadía, undertook to hold an informative meeting regarding the illegal transfer plant of rubbish and the Eco-park, with those affected residents, allowing a period of fifteen days to elaborate on the project that will be presented to those affected." It is worth noting that this alleged meeting was reported to me by my erstwhile Los Verdes colleagues as having been discussed during a telephone conversation on that day between Los Verdes Councillor Monserrate Guillén and PP Councillor Abadía. As I understand it there was no written confirmation given by Clr Abadía to Los Verdes of a proposed meeting.

Is it just a wishful aspiration of Los Verdes or will it become a reality?

"The ruling PP, with the company of rubbish collection, has not yet prepared the project for the meeting with the affected residents. After rumours from the Townhall, the PP is not in a hurry to take a decision about this matter."

On the 4th May 2009 Los Verdes told the residents of Entre Golf that a decision had been made.

"NEVER EVER Los Verdes have accepted the possibility to put an ILLEGAL TRANSFER PLANT OF RUBBISH (PLANTA DE TRANSFERENCIA) nor that trucks with rubbish are allowed to enter in the area, nor are they going to allow it; and you know it, because we informed about it in our last meeting on the 4th of May 2009."

This clearly indicates naivety on the part of Los Verdes. Their experience of the workings of the PP government in Orihuela has shown them time and time again that the PP are capable of anything.

"Please contact with us if you want the brand-new information from the Townhall (and not unchecked information from anywhere)".

Shouldn't it be the responsibility of Los Verdes to report back to the residents? Certainly they (residents and property owners) don't want "unchecked information from anywhere" such as they received from Los Verdes on the 4th May!

"Don't forget that PSOE, Centro Liberal Renovador or CLARO never bothered about this matter and if you want to find a solution, you need Los Verdes who are inside the Townhall".

The PSOE party has 7 Councillors on the Town Council, the CLR has 1, CLARO has none, and LV have 3. The PSOE and CLR are "inside the Townhall".

So only Los Verdes can find a solution, is that true? Delusions of grandeur by Los Verdes or arrogance?

"We don't have your telefon number. If you want to contact us, please call : 686 717273 Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa".

Mr & Mrs Perret know where Mr Stewartson lives, having been to his home on the 4th May, so wouldn't it be courteous of them to visit him at his home? Or are they too embarrassed as a result of the unfounded assurances they gave during the meeting on the 4th May and their actions, or should I say lack of, since then?

"Best regards, ............, Working Group in Orihuela Costa"

It doesn't seem to me that Los Verdes have had the "Best regards" for the residents up to this date!

• No consultation with the residents before submitting the Los Verdes proposal.
• Misleading the residents at the meeting on the 4th May 2009 with unconfirmed assurances reportedly of decisions made by the PP government.
• No contact between the 4th May and the 5th July to update the residentes with current information of changing situations.
• No mention in the email of the 5th July to say they are sorry to tell the residentes that the information they gave during the one and only meeting with them was unconfirmed and now looks almost certainly to be incorrect.

If the residents of the area hope to find as best a solution as possible to the problem, of the location of the recycling collection depot and the rubbish transfer dump, I believe they should look for help, as they currently are, from other sources and political parties as alternatives to, or additions to (which LV could have no objection to), Los Verdes.

Los Verdes should read what I've actually written

Los Verdes have published an article on the Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa blog entitled CONTESTACIÓN AL SR. ELLIOT SAMPFORD in reply to my recent articles about the proposed recycling collection depot, in the main article Recycling Collection Depot - Entre Golf/PAU26 and mention of it in Resignation from Los Verdes de Pais Valencia and Los Verdes Continue to Mislead.

In reply to Los Verdes let me first of all clarify that I stand by my opinions expressed in the articles and the facts and supportive documents that I have included in them.

I suggest that Los Verdes read in full detail what I have actually written.

News stories have appeared in the local English press as a result of the content of the articles on this blog and comments made to the reporters by myself and other residents. I have no control over the editorial content and interpretation of the situation given in any of the newspaper articles.

One of the major claims made by Los Verdes is that I stated that they proposed, or agreed, or will agree, to the continuation of the functioning of the illegal 'rubbish transfer depot' (illegal tip) on the PAU 26 plot of land.

I have made no such claims or statements.

In fact on several occasions I make reference to the fact that Los Verdes, naively in my opinion, believed or hoped that the PP would remove the illegal rubbish transit depot from the PAU 26 plot.

I use the term 'naively' because in their article CONTESTACIÓN AL SR. ELLIOT SAMPFORD Los Verdes say; "Nunca, jamás, este Grupo Municipal ha contemplado la posibilidad de que se instale allí una Planta de Transferencia, ni que se consienta que allí entren camiones con residuos," which I translate as meaning 'Never, not ever has this Municipal Group contemplated the possibility of the installation there of a transfer depot, nor that there was consent for lorries with rubbish'. In paragraph two of the article Los Verdes say "Desde Los Verdes de Orihuela hemos intentado, sin éxito por la actitud del P.P., que se devolviera la zona verde a su anterior estado" which I translate as ' Los Verdes have tried without success, because of the attitude of the PP, to get the green zone returned to it's previous state'. Did Los Verdes really believe that the PP were going to suddenly stop allowing the use of the PAU 26 plot of land, that had been illegally used for many years, as a convenient rubbish transfer depot?

As an aside it's worth a mention that in neither the press release issued by Los Verdes on the 22nd April 2009, and the article OTRA BARBARIDAD MEDIOAMBIENTAL DEL PP on the 'Los Verdes de Orihuela' blog or the article Another Environmental Barbarity by the PP on the 'Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa' blog (a translation by me and approved by my erstwhile colleagues) is there any mention of a proposal for the rubbish transfer depot to go from the site. (This was an oversight I'm sure)

In the article Recycling Collection Depot - Entre Golf/PAU26 I added a note to the copy of the minutes of the meeting held with the residents on the 4th May 2009 as follows; "(Note: The reference to domestic and garden rubbish was based on the unsubstantiated assumption that the illegal refuse transitional dump being carried out on the PAU 26 plot of land would cease and be moved to another location)". Further on in the article I quote an email I sent to my erstwhile colleagues in the Orihuela Costa Working Group it reads as follows; "Hi, Is Monserrate going to issue a press release about the change of location of the ecoparque and the removal of the illegal tip to a new site, or are you going to write something for me to put on the blog? Elliot". In the closing paragraphs of the article I ask; Is the intended action of the PP Council to locate the rubbish transfer dump and the recycling collection depot on this site the thin end of the wedge?

If Los Verdes believe I have said that they proposed or agreed to the continuation of the functioning of the 'illegal transfer depot' (illegal tip) on the PAU 26 plot of land, I would suggest they quote the extracts from my articles, on this blog, where I have stated that I believe it to be Los Verdes policy.

On the matter of the assurances given by Mr Perret to the residents during the meeting on the 4th May 2009 my point is that those given were unconfirmed and Los Verdes knowing how the PP work should have known not to give them without confirmed proof.

In my article Recycling Collection Depot - Entre Golf/PAU26 I quote my email of the 15th May to Los Verdes and the reply on the 16th May from Clr. Guillén which said "No. No hemos tenido todavía esa reunión. El Sr. Abadía es un concejal muy "ocupado" y no me ha recibido aún. Espero que el lunes podamos tener la reunión. Hasta que no sepamos cuáles son sus verdaderas intenciones no heré un comunicado de prensa; quizás es lo que él está esperando, pero no podemos caer en su juego". with a translation of 'No. We still have not had that meeting yet. Sr. Abadia is a very 'busy' Councillor and he still hasn't met with me. I hope that on Monday we can have the meeting. Until then we don't know what their true intentions are, we will not issue a press release, perhaps that is what he is waiting for, but we cannot fall into their game."

If Los Verdes supposedly knew on the 4th May what the PP's intentions were how is it that on the 16th May they didn't?

( Additional note: I would make the point that as at 13.30hrs 3rd July 2009 Mr Wally Stewartson, Chairman of the Community of Owners R6B, confirmed that he still has not received any communication from Los Verdes about the recycling collection depot since the meeting on the 4th May 2009.)

In their article CONTESTACIÓN AL SR. ELLIOT SAMPFORD Los Verdes say "Otra cosa muy distinta es que quienes gobiernan este Ayuntamiento cambien de opinión de un día para otro" which I understand to mean 'Another very clear thing is that those who govern this Town Council change their opinion from one day to another'. In that case why state something to the residents, as 'fact', that had not been confirmed in writing?

In conclusion; I reiterate my opening statement that I stand by my opinions expressed, and the facts and supportive documents that I have included, in my articles on this blog mentioned above.

It's time to move on now because the important battle has to be to stop the recycling collection depot, and/or the rubbish transfer depot, and whatever else, to do with rubbish collection, the governing PP have planned for the PAU 26 and I-EG-1 plots of land within this residential area.