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The Bureau of Land Management is proposing a study of wild mares, in which they would undergo invasive sterilization surgery, to control the wild horse population.
According to our first guest, Attorney Bruce Wagman, the proposed procedure is especially risky when employed in the wild, and there are other safer sterilization methods. Bruce is a long-time horse advocate and represents Front Range Equine Rescue. Fortunately, it seems that BLM has reconsidered its plan, at least for now.
Lori then updates us on the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos. A federal appeals court just ordered the EPA to ban the sale of the chemical within 60 days, holding that former EPA head Scott Pruitt violated federal law when he disregarded the conclusions of EPA scientists regarding the health risks of the chemical.
Peter then tells us about the huge sum a court awarded to a former groundskeeper who developed lymphoma after using Monsanto’s weedkiller, Roundup (glyphosate). Pending appeals, he’ll receive 39 million dollars, and Bayer, which now owns Monsanto, will have to part with an additional 250 million dollars in punitive damages. As there are hundred of additional plaintiffs claiming harm from the chemical, Bayer faces huge losses.
Due to the established health risks of trans fatty acids in the diet, a requirement to indicate the amount of trans fats in packaged foods went into effect more than a decade ago. Consequently, its use in packaged foods and restaurants gradually declined, and a full trans fat ban in the US went into effect this year. However, palm oil, another unhealthful fat, has largely taken its place. And, palm oil cultivation is destroying the natural habitats of orangutans. Lori explains how we got here and makes recommendations for healthier eating.
Lori concludes with Angela Grimes, Director of Development and Operations at Born Free USA. Circus Pages, a small family run traveling circus, recently ceased operations, and their two elephants ended up as residents of the Memphis Zoo. Details of the transfer are scant, but Angela explains why it would have been preferable to provide a new home for Daisy and Bambi at an elephant sanctuary.
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