PETA Protester Confronts Pharrell Williams During Film Premiere

Image
A protester from the organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), disrupted a speech being given by Pharrell Williams at a Biopic Premiere in Toronto.  She rushed the stage with a white sign in her hand that read:  Pharrell: Stop Supporting Killing Animals for Fashion.  Pharrell was in Toronto to support his LEGO biopic entitled, Piece by Piece.   The protester directed a number of statements towards Pharrell and the audience concerning his role as men's creative director at Louis Vuitton.   "Your Louis Vuitton collection … Pharrell’s collection is made from their blood,” the protester shouted to the audience. “Pharrell stop torturing animals! Ostriches are being hung upside down, electrocuted with their necks slit.”   PETA is petitioning Louis Vuitton to stop abusing animals and using their bodily materials for the purpose of fashion creation.  During the protest, Pharrell made a pause during his speech and outrightly agreed with the protester.  "Ok.
Post a Comment

Dark Chocolate Contains Heavy Metals Cadmium and Lead

Dark chocolate has frequently been lauded by health fanatics for its numerous benefits.  It’s classified as a source of antioxidants and has been even said to help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  It's even been claimed to help with weight loss.



 
A  New York based non-profit named Consumer Reports tested heavy metal levels of 28 different brands of chocolate including Hershey’s, Godiva, Tony’s, Lindt, Endangered Species and Trader Joe’s.  Consumer Reports measured levels of cadmium and lead against standards set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).  According to OEHHA, human exposure to cadmium should not be more than 4.1 mcg per day and their exposure to lead should not be more than 0.5 mcg per day.

Many of the dark chocolate bars contained more lead than they should have.  Ten bars contained more than the OEHHA recommended level of lead while eight contained more than the recommended level for cadmium.  Hershey’s dark chocolate contained the highest level of lead.  It was 165% over the recommended level.  Chocolave, Hu and Endangered Species followed closely behind.  Pasha, Alter Ego and Beyond Good contained the highest levels of cadmium.  Trader Joe’s, Lily’s & Green & Blacks dark chocolate was included in the list of chocolates with the highest levels of both lead and cadmium.




Excessive exposure to lead can lead to brain damage, hearing problems, delayed growth, memory loss and abdominal pain.  Cadmium exposure can lead to diseases of the kidney, bones and cancer.  Consuming dark chocolate bars on a daily basis may not be the best choice for good health after all.  There isn’t a clear understanding why certain dark chocolate brands have higher levels of heavy metals than others but it could be attributed to the soil and industrial matter from emissions that happen to be near the chocolate manufacturing plants.  Soil contains cadmium and as a result, the cocoa beans may be absorbing the metals.  Since the tests were only completed on dark chocolate bars, it’s possible that these levels of heavy metals may extend to other chocolate containing products such as cereal and drink.

A man from Nassau County in New York is suing Hershey’s chocolate for 5 million dollars in a class action lawsuit stating that if he had known the content of metals in the bars, he would not have purchased them.  Trader Joe’s is also facing a class action lawsuit after failing to disclose the levels of metals inherent in their dark chocolates.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Madagascar President to WHO: “Endorse COVID Organics!”

Image
Madagascar developed an herbal drink and introduced it on April 20th. It is being hailed as a cure for COVID-19 in Africa. WHO has licensed many herbal medicines for the treatment of various illnesses. The president, Andry Rajeolina, became irate because WHO made no mention of the herbal drink. Matshidiso Moeti, regional director of WHO office in Africa, stated “We have offered to support the design of a study to look into this product. We are in discussion to sort out the way forward,'' Covid Organics was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) and the drink has been shipped to various African countries such as Chad, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria. The Covid Organics drink is produced from the Artemisia plant, an ingredient used in the treatment of Malaria and ravensara. Artemisinin is a recognized component of pharmaceutical antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. Studies have been completed with the drug hydroxychlorquine and it h
Read more

Leave the Sea Turtles Alone: Nine Die from Consuming Marine Turtle Meat

Image
Nine individuals passed away from consumption of endangered marine turtles in Pemba Island, Zanzibar last month.  A total of eight children and one adult died due to chelonitoxism or food poisoning from the contaminated turtle meat.  Death from chelonitoxication is thought to be a rare happening and is mostly associated with consuming marine turtles such as Green sea turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles.    Consumption of sea turtles is considered a delicacy in remote places and African countries such as Tanzania and Madagascar, French Polynesia and Indo-Pacific regions.  The sea meat is usually consumed at celebratory gatherings.  The individuals who cook and consume marine turtles are unable to decipher if the meat is toxic because the marine turtles appear healthy and do not display any symptoms.  The chelonitoxins cannot be destroyed through heat or cooking.  The chelonitoxism that occurs in marine turtles are due to environmental factors which may include
Read more

Octavia Spencer plays Mother Earth in Apple Commercial. Keeping Apple in Check!

Image
Apple premiered their yearly Apple Event introducing the new Apple Series 9 Apple Watch and the iPhone 15 standard, plus and pro models.  During the event, a commercial was premiered featuring Octavia Spencer, Tim Cook (CEO of Apple), Lisa Jackson (VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.  This funny commercial saw Octavia present herself as “Mother Nature,” a stern yet comical corporate responsibility officer.  Before Octavia entered the scene, all the officers and workers at the meeting were shuffling around looking nervous and anxious while drinks shook on the table.   We even saw Tim Cook rehearsing the lines that he would repeat to Mother Nature when she entered.   After Mother Nature arrives, Tim Cook, asks her “how was the weather getting in?” Mother Nature then says, “the weather was however I wanted it to be!”   Mother nature reminds Mr. Cook of his promise in 2020—which is to bring Apple’s carbon footprint to zero by 2030. As the commercial ensued, the viewer learns
Read more