Eagle Rodeo Provides Thrills

NEW THIS YEAR: The famous eagle Rodeo added a royalty court. For more information click here.

The Eagle Rodeo Committee with the support of the Idaho Cowboys Association (ICA), also co-sanctioned with Northwest Professional Rodeo Association (NPRA), Intermountain Professional Rodeo Association (IMPRA) and Professional Western Rodeo Association (Pro-West)  presented the 11th Annual Eagle Rodeo. The rodeo ran Jun. 7 - 9 in conjunction with Eagle Fun Days. Click here for a detailed map.

The rodeo gives thrills to fans of all ages. Again this year, the all-popular Mutton Busting and Calf & Steer Riding was  held for local youth. For more information click here.

Due to popular demand, the 2012 Eagle Rodeo was again be a 3-day ICA sanctioned rodeo. Slack was  after the rodeo on Thursday and Friday night.

This was a great opportunity for the entire family to come out and experience what an Idaho rodeo is all about. After each performance, all rodeo fans were invited to hang around and meet the cowboys and cowgirls at the After Rodeo Party.

Are genetically modified foods safe for humans?

There have never been any human safety studies on GMOs due to the FDA’s position that GMOs are not substantially different than their natural counterparts. Animal studies have shown potential dangers such as cancer, diabetes, intestinal disease, low birth weight, reproductive problems and other health risks, according to GMO Free Idaho.

Genetically modified foods (GM foods, or biotech foods) are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding; plant breeding, and animal breeding, and somaclonal variation. Since genetically modified food has been introduced into supermarkets, there has been much controversy as to whether it is actually safe.

Genetically modified foods were first put on the market in 1996. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, rice, and cotton seed oil. Animal products have also been developed, although as of July 2010 none are currently on the market. In 2006 a pig was engineered to produce omega-3 fatty acids through the expression of a roundworm gene. Researchers have also developed a genetically modified breed of pigs that are able to absorb plant phosphorus more efficiently, and as a consequence the phosphorus content of their manure is reduced by as much as 60%.

Critics, sometimes referring to genetically modified foods as "frankenfood", have objected to GM foods on several grounds, including safety issues, ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact these organisms are subject to intellectual property law.

GMO Free Idaho says that 80% of Americans don’t know that we have been eating genetically modified foods since 1996. the organization is dedicated to teaching consumers everything they need to know about GMOs so they can become part of the growing movement to label and or/ban GM foods.

The group educates the public about the impacts of genetically modified organisms, promoting local, organic, and non-GMO food producers, and works to eliminate GMOs from our food supply. There are so many things we can all do to affect change to our food supply.

From volunteering with a local action group or joining an online community to buying non-GMO foods, we can do our part to ensure that we have the right to know what we are consuming and eliminate harmful chemicals and substances from our food. Here are several things you can do to get involved:

Host or attend GMO Free Idaho presentation. Here is their events calendar. Pick a date and contact us if you want to host a presentation at your home, or attend our next presentation. To learn more about their presentations click here.

Write your Representatives. You can find out who your representatives are here, or find Idaho legislators here. Tell your reps how you feel about genetically modified foods and ask them to support labeling laws.

Write a letter to your newspaper editor. This is a great way to spread awareness and make a call to action.

Help us take action with Dennis Kucinich and the bills he has introduced that will mandate GMO labeling laws and ban the open air growth of GMOs. The bills are H.R. 3554: Genetically  Engineered Safety Act and H.R. 3553: Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act.

Join the Organic Consumers Association and the Institute for Responsible Technology to get regular updates about GMOs.

Support local, organic, and non-GMO food producers. Every dollar you spent on these types of foods and products is a vote that says no to genetically modified foods. If enough consumers reject GMO foods, food manufacturers and producers will have no choice but to appeal to consumer demand.

Book a GMO Free Idaho presentation for your school or organization. Here are some of the topics they cover:

The process of creating genetically modified seed.
What crops and ingredients are genetically modified.
Corporate crimes against humanity.
The Monsanto monopoly of our seed supply.
The FDA’s policy of “substantial equivalence.”
 Concerns over GMO patents and cross contamination.
Animal studies and human health concerns.
GMO impacts on our environment.
GMOs and the rest of the world.
The political revolving doors and local pro-GMO legislators.
How you can take action and eliminate GMOs from your pantry and our food supply.
GMO Free Idaho can tailor their presentation to fit your needs and also offer in home presentations and can provide non-GMO snacks under certain circumstances.

Contact GMO Idaho if you want to host a presentation or attend to their next event.

Provided Materials: GMO Frequently Asked Questions Health Risks Brochure Non-GMO Shopping Guide Dirty Dozen Guide Audio CD’s by Jeffery Smith Buy Local Guide

Building Global Stability One International Scholar at a Time

By Donna Emert

U-Idaho Student/Boren Scholar is International Diplomat in Training

 Effective international relations require a distinct skill set, including mastery of a foreign language, enough cultural experience to foster insight, and strong diplomacy skills.

University of Idaho International Studies student Ana Reed is already cultivating those skills. With the recent award of an up to $20,000 David L. Boren Scholarship, the National Security Education Program and the Institute of International Education have formally invested in strengthening that skill set, providing a year-long opportunity for Reed to study language and culture at Peking University in Beijing, China.

The NSEP is a federal initiative designed to build a broader and more qualified pool of U.S. citizens with foreign language and international skills, with the ultimate goal of bolstering national and global security.

“The National Security Education Program represents an essential component of a comprehensive national security strategy to address serious and long-time deficiencies in critical language expertise,” explains Michael A. Nugent, director of NSEP.

As a Boren Scholar, Reed hopes to help the United States meet its need for culturally astute, bilingual diplomats. Following her year of study in Beijing, she will fulfill a one-year service requirement with the U.S. government.

Reed completed two years of Chinese language study while at U-Idaho and will continue to study Mandarin language and culture in Beijing.

“I think the significance of this kind of immersive study of Asia and China will help me prepare in my career areas that contribute toward fostering gateways to U.S.-China relations and the many avenues necessary in areas of diplomatic associations, issues of co-existence and economic cooperation,” said Reed. “My goals while studying in China are to develop a greater understanding of the Chinese people and their government and to grasp their values and their perspective toward the Western world.”

As a U-Idaho student, Reed’s diplomatic training has been ongoing. She has researched several facets of Chinese culture and government, including China’s economic policies. She was recently selected to participate in an International Studies research program in which she elected to study the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, compiling national positions on APEC initiatives.

“Ana was looking for programs and ideas related to such diverse topics as enhancement of regional efforts to respond to natural disasters, and global health epidemics,” said Bill Smith, director of the Martin Institute and Program in International Studies. “That work has led to interesting reflections upon U.S. sovereignty as it is balanced with cooperation across the region. 

“It was not an easy research project; I judged Ana’s work to be tops amongst the 54 people in the class,” said Smith. “Ana is among the very first people I would turn to in a situation where I wanted to put forth the best of who we are at the university.”   

Congressman Raul Labrador: More Taxes, Less Liberty

 Click here for the original version of this from Congressman Labrador's website.

The decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that Obamacare is constitutional undermines the concept of limited government embodied by the Tenth Amendment.  It is one more example of James Madison’s observation*,

"There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."*  Our Founding Fathers would be appalled that their vision of a limited government no longer exists.

The court has declared that Congress has the ability to regulate Americans’ behavior by using taxes to force them to act. This should frighten all Americans who believe in freedom and liberty.  It is now more clear than ever American people need leaders committed to limited government.

It is a disappointment that the Court has failed to recognize the Constitution defines the role of a *limited *central government in this nation and that the Tenth Amendment in our Bill of Rights reserves all other powers to the States or to the People.

The underlying philosophy of Obamacare was always about more than just health care.  The The fundamental grievance that I have with this law, and in particular the individual mandate component, is that no government should ever be powerful enough to compel its citizens to purchase a product or a service under penalty of law.  What is there now to prevent the federal government, or one of its agencies, from taxing us to compel the purchase of life insurance, a cell phone or any other product Washington deems is necessary for us all?

In Idaho, we recognized these principles immediately when the concept Obamacare was first raised.  I was a proud sponsor of the Idaho Health Care Freedom Act when I was in the Idaho Legislature.   That law stood up to the federal government on behalf of Idaho’s citizens and protected our rights to make our own decisions for ourselves with respect to health care.  One of the first votes I cast as your Congressman was to repeal this massive government takeover of our nation’s health care.  We were right then in opposing Obamacare and we are still right now.

While the Supreme Court has ruled Obamacare is constitutional, it does not mean that Obamacare is good law or policy.  I, along with the majority of Americans believe it is not.   

 I call on my colleagues in Washington, both Republicans and Democrats alike to listen to the will of the American people and repeal Obamacare.  We can then sit together and begin a new, honest and open dialogue about how we can reform our nation’s health care system.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats have a monopoly on all of the right ideas, but if we listen to each other and the American people, I am convinced that we can make long term improvements to health care that expands access and controls our costs.

I want families to be able to make their own choices in health care, visit the doctor of their choosing, and receive the health care they and their doctor feel is best.  Those decisions shouldn’t be made by Washington, as Obamacare will do.  I am optimistic that Congress can and will do better.