Many people don't know of a state with more than one community using 100-percent renewable electricity, but one state has nearly 100 of them.
Illinois has 91 communities that have achieved 100-percent renewable energy, according to "Leading from the Middle: How Illinois Communities Unleashed Renewable Energy," a report released Friday by the Environmental Law & Policy Center, Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, LEAN Energy US, the Illinois Solar Energy Association and George Washington University Solar Institute. Each of the communities used group buying power to purchase electricity with renewable energy credits.
Illinois is one of six states in the country that allows community choice aggregation (CCA), a system where residents can use their bulk purchasing to solicit bids from energy providers.
“We look at community aggregation as a way to get our city a great price on electricity, and we see it as a way to advance our sustainability goals,” said Chris Koos, mayor of Normal, Ill. “We are proud that Normal and almost 100 other Illinois cities and towns are model for the nation in having those two goals go hand-in-hand.”
Graphic credit: "Leading from the Middle: How Illinois Communities Unleashed Renewable Energy."
The 91 municipalities, villages and communities represent about 1.7 million people.
According to the reporting agencies, bid requests can demand a mix of energy sources. In Illinois, the 91 communities stipulated that all electricity is offset by renewable energy credits, or energy that comes from the likes of wind, solar and geothermal sources. New Jersey, Ohio, California, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are the other states that allow CCA.
Graphic credit: "Leading from the Middle: How Illinois Communities Unleashed Renewable Energy"
“The findings of today’s report are an example of Illinois leading our country’s movement to a more sustainable future from the community level,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “Communities up and down the state have banded together to pursue renewable electricity, reducing both their utility costs and the state’s environmental footprint. Illinois is showing what can happen when change at the local level is harnessed to create a collective movement, and I hope other states take notice.”
The report includes individual stories about various Illinois communities and how they used purchasing power to go green, including Oak Park Village, known as the first U.S. city to secure 100-percent renewable energy for its residents via CCA.
“We saw [municipal] aggregation as not just being about the best price, but about responding to the idea of preparing for climate change and a smart community future,” said K.C. Doyle, Oak Park’s
sustainability manager.
“In the process, it went from being a dialogue about devastation to a conversation about hope.”
Visit EcoWatch’s RENEWABLES page for more related news on this topic.
The Bond Fire, started by a structure fire that extended into nearby vegetation on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 in Silverado, CA. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images
Hot, dry and windy conditions fueled a wildfire southeast of Los Angeles Thursday that injured two firefighters and forced 25,000 to flee their homes.
<p>As of Thursday evening, the Bond Fire had spread to 6,400 acres and was only 10 percent contained, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/OCFA_PIO/status/1334707425090289667" target="_blank">tweeted</a>. It comes as <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/california" target="_self">California</a> has already experienced its worst year for wildfires, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-california-fires-a73ac9314c83900cf0b252ec1b26eb5c" target="_blank">The Associated Press reported</a>. The Bond Fire is also burning close to where the Silverado Fire forced tens of thousands to evacuate in October. Among them was Kolbi Winters, who had to evacuate again Thursday.</p><p>"I had one month literally to enjoy myself before another fire happened," Winters told The Associated Press. "If this continues happening, and we don't take care of this, one day, I'm not going to have a home."</p><p>California's worsening fires have been linked to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>, as warmer temperatures make the state and its vegetation drier, fueling the flames.</p>
<p>The Bond Fire began in a house before 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night, <a href="https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/12/03/bond-fire-firefighters-hurt-irvine-silverado/" target="_blank">CBSLA reported</a>. However, three factors influenced its spread, according to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/03/weather/southern-california-edison-power-outage/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>. A combination of Santa Ana winds up to 70 miles per hour, humidity as low as four percent and the hottest temperatures across the continental U.S. created a "particularly dangerous situation" for fires in the region, the National Weather Service Los Angeles said. These factors prompted utilities to shut off power to 123,000 customers as a preventative measure and sparked several fires, of which the Bond Fire was the largest, according to The Associated Press. High winds helped turn the house fire into a wildfire.</p><p>"When crews arrived it was a fully engulfed house and the winds were extremely strong and they pushed flames into the vegetation," OCFA spokeswoman Colleen Windsor told The Associated Press.</p><p>The blaze then damaged other structures.</p>
<p>"We know that a number of houses have been damaged, potentially destroyed," OCFA chief Brian Fennessy said at a press conference, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/us/bond-fire-california.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> reported.</p><p>Fennessy also said that more than 500 firefighters from more than 30 agencies were helping to battle the flames. Two of those firefighters, who were with the U.S. Forest Service, were injured sometime Thursday afternoon, according to CBSLA. They were treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital, where their condition was not known. However, their injuries were not life-threatening, according to The New York Times.</p><p>The fire forced 25,000 to evacuate, though some evacuation orders were lifted, CNN reported. Evacuations were complicated by the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic. Because of the contagious disease, authorities could not set up an overnight shelter and <a href="https://twitter.com/OCFA_PIO/status/1334486964922249216" target="_blank">advised</a> people to stay with family or in a hotel.</p>
<p>The Red Cross set up an evacuation point and said it had provided hotel rooms for 170 people, The New York Times reported.</p><p>The combination of back-to-back fires and the pandemic have taken a toll on the local community and its small businesses.</p><p>"Because of the fire, the quality of the air is very bad," 47-year-old Mohadeseh Sadollahi, who owns the Bellaria Coffee House in the evacuated community of Foothill Ranch, told The New York Times. "People can't sit outside, and they can't sit inside. As a small-business owner paying all my bills and rent, I can't fix it very easily."</p>
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Hospital workers evacuate patients from the Feather River Hospital during the Camp Fire on Nov. 8, 2018 in Paradise, California. People in 128 countries have experienced an increased exposure to wildfires, a new Lancet report finds. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
The climate crisis already has a death toll, and it will get worse if we don't act to reduce emissions.
<p>That's the warning from the latest Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, an annual <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/public-health" target="_self">public health</a> report <a href="http://www.thelancet-press.com/embargo/climatecountdown.pdf?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=101740057&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_a4k1xKrc4iQK5UG0pgWB-t3pa1Jt2r8ygJQx_Q6eEw3Ex7v3n470_GZ8yKLSRc2lhjD2LJgE8M4eWcjcjuKrnzya4hg&utm_content=101740057&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">released Wednesday</a>.</p><p>"This past year, we have seen the harms of our converging crises — COVID-19, climate disasters, and systemic racism; it's been a preview of what lies ahead if we fail to urgently make the necessary investments to protect health," <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/19364/Renee-Salas" target="_blank">Renee Salas</a>, lead author of the U.S. Lancet Countdown Policy Brief, said in a statement reported by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/02/2020-just-a-preview-if-we-dont-fix-climate-change-the-lancet.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=101740057&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_q0ii1o9A1XUEYGGfwsCbUnhzEoZ6MBWNMdhJ193M2NK1JOwrCCsu5fPc_zFsIiNkpX8vNt1nCVdmDLwxSUdNcYH4qjg&utm_content=101740057&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNBC</a>.</p>
<p>Wednesday's report was the work of more than 100 experts from 35 institutions or universities including the World Health Organization and University College London (UCL). The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change has been running since 2015, when the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement" target="_self">Paris agreement</a> was negotiated, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/02/covid-pandemic-offers-chance-to-act-on-climate-report-says?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=101740057&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--gcNgs9GFu8_wOcYinzepbFuzmlWytO9wqVQ9TJbowk-QSdSkvXnqxsWJnJQMGgx7gloJpBKi2AaTqqwHblzUgtfnz7g&utm_content=101740057&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Guardian pointed out</a>. However, this year, the health impacts of climate change were their "most worrying" since the report began. All 16 health indicators monitored in the report are worsening, according to <a href="https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2261184-health-impacts-of-climate-change-have-reached-worrying-levels/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=101740057&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ZcLh0Q6ozgSQetEAzToko4gEB-3DVWhTRKmSRTvlnd07ArL3U2Pa99bp1XsUAqWlnjJ47GXG-oTk9ykBE_eywbIHiMw&utm_content=101740057&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Scientist</a>.</p><p>"Climate change-induced shocks are claiming lives, damaging health and disrupting livelihoods in all parts of the world right now. That means no continent or community remains untouched," Ian Hamilton of UCL told New Scientist.</p><p>For example, the number of people over 65 who died prematurely because of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/heat-waves" target="_self">heat waves</a> increased by almost 54 percent between 2000 and 2018 to reach 296,000, mostly in Japan, China, India and Europe.</p><p>The number of people exposed to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires" target="_self">wildfire</a> risk also increased in 128 countries when 2016 to 2019 were compared with 2001 to 2004.</p>
<div id="97b40" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bd1b9e4c781bce94f654197bd26031cf"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1334439131938762756" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The #COVID19 pandemic and #ClimateChange represent converging crises. Wildfires and tropical storms in 2020 have tr… https://t.co/LbZRp9te5i</div> — The Lancet (@The Lancet)<a href="https://twitter.com/TheLancet/statuses/1334439131938762756">1606990056.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The report found that the health impacts of the climate crisis were unevenly distributed and disproportionately impacted the people who had done the least to contribute to the crisis. However, this does not mean that wealthier countries are immune.</p><p>"A nation's wealth offers no protection against the health impacts of even a 1.2C global average temperature rise," Hugh Montgomery, Lancet Countdown co-chairman and a UCL intensive care medicine professor, said in a statement reported by the <a href="https://news.trust.org/item/20201202230439-fiytx/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=101740057&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_rNCyinSosAHluXOeDjnopyyWWrdIJKs_cH4rHOLV7Zd96HJjRSmO37Meums4COi3x8dvAzdmFsjHhHw9aRlhrb8KrQA&utm_content=101740057&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Thomson Reuters Foundation</a>. "Flames, floods and famine do not respect national borders or bank accounts."</p><p>In the U.S., for example, heat waves killed 19,000 people over 65 and pollution claimed more than 68,000 lives, according to CNBC.</p><p>However, these effects were also distributed unequally within the U.S. itself.</p><p>"In the U.S., we see clear evidence of how certain communities are more burdened by pre-existing inequities," Dr. Jeremy Hess, author on both the global report and the U.S. breakout, told CNBC.</p>
<p>The report authors put forward specific policy recommendations for the incoming Biden administration, including an end to subsidies for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuel" target="_self">fossil fuels</a>, supporting public transportation and reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/climate/climate-change-health-risks.html" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>"The overarching theme I stress to the incoming administration is making health central," Salas told reporters. "Climate action is a prescription for health."</p><p>Globally, the report authors recommended that governments use the recovery from the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic as an opportunity to also fight climate change and meet the goals of the Paris agreement.</p><p>"The only way you can meet the Paris agreement is by taking advantage of this moment … by combining the recovery from COVID-19 with the response to climate change," report coauthor and chief sustainability officer for the UK's National Health Service Dr. Nick Watts told The Guardian.</p>
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Workers harvest asparagus in a field by the Niederaussem lignite coal power plant in Cologne, Germany. Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning are reaching new highs. Henning Kaiser / picture alliance via Getty Images
By Stuart Braun
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the dire threat of climate change Wednesday in a speech on the state of the planet delivered at Columbia University in New York.
<p>"The state of the planet is broken, humanity is waging war on nature," he said. "Nature always strikes back, and is doing so with gathering force and fury."</p><p>Referring to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) provisional report, <a href="https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/climate/wmo-statement-state-of-global-climate" target="_blank">The State of the Global Climate 2020</a>, that was released Wednesday, he reiterated that the last decade was the hottest on record, and that ice sheet decline, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/siberia-heatwave-climate-change/a-54192654" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">permafrost melting</a>, vast climate fires and unprecedented hurricanes were just some of the consequences.</p><p>"Stop the plunder," Guterres added, referring to the ongoing <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-amazon-deforestation-races-to-12-year-high-under-bolsonaro/a-55779726" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deforestation</a> that is also fueling climate change. "And start the healing."</p><p>Climate policies have failed to rise to the challenge, Guterres said, noting that emissions in 2020 are 60% higher than in 1990. "We are heading for a temperature rise of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius (by 2100)."</p><p>Yet the secretary-general sees hope for 2021, saying it's time to "build a truly global coalition towards carbon neutrality."</p><p>This goal will require net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. More than 110 countries are already committed to carbon neutrality by this date, he noted, representing more than 65% of emissions. Central to achieving this goal will be to encourage renewable energy by instituting a carbon price and phasing out fossil fuel financing and subsidies.</p><p>"There is no vaccine for the planet," he said regarding the need to build a global climate action movement.</p>
<h2>Last Six Years Are Six Hottest on Record</h2><p>The WMO state of climate report referenced by Guterres confirms that 2020 is currently placed as the second warmest for the year-to-date when compared to equivalent periods in the past.</p><p>The annual climate scorecard details a litany of symptoms of a heating planet: a high frequency of severe droughts, unparalleled major hurricanes, retreating sea ice, heavy rain and flooding across Asia and Africa and extensive marine heat waves.</p><p>Headlining the global climate report is confirmation in 2020 that global heating is accelerating. Though 2016 remains the warmest year on record to date, it kicked off with a very strong El Niño warm phase, via which hotter oceans elevate global temperatures.</p><p>Four years later, these <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/global-heating-could-pass-key-mark-in-5-years-un/a-54116525" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">peak temperatures</a> have continued, despite a cooler La Niña weather phase that started in September, and comparatively weak El Niño conditions. The global mean temperature for January to October 2020 was around 1.2°C above the 1850–1900 baseline.</p><p>"With 2020 on course to be one of the three warmest years on record, the past six years, 2015–2020, are likely to be the six warmest on record," states the WMO climate report.</p><p>In the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/siberia-heatwave-climate-change/a-54120019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Siberian</a> Arctic, temperatures were more than 5 degrees Celsius above average in 2020, reaching as high as 38 Celsius at Verkhoyansk in late June, provisionally the highest known temperature anywhere north of the Arctic Circle.</p><p>"We saw new extreme temperatures on land, sea and especially in the Arctic," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. "Wildfires consumed vast areas in Australia, Siberia, the U.S. West Coast and South America, sending plumes of smoke circumnavigating the globe."</p>
<h2>Despite Pandemic, Greenhouse Gases Still Rising</h2><p>The lockdowns implemented to slow the coronavirus pandemic have only resulted in a "temporary reduction in emissions" in 2020, according to the report. As a result, there will be a "practically indistinguishable" slowing of the fast-increasing CO2 concentrations recorded in 2019.</p><p>Greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations generated largely by fossil fuel burning reached new highs in 2019, with carbon dioxide (CO2), <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/why-we-should-be-worried-about-methane/a-55241028" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">methane (CH4)</a> and nitrous oxide (N2O) levels rising to a larger degree from 2018 (2.6 parts per million) than the increases from the previous two years.</p><p>"Real-time data from specific locations, including Mauna Loa (Hawaii) and Cape Grim (Tasmania) indicate that levels of CO2, CH4 and N2O continued to increase in 2020," stated the report.</p><p> This increase comes at a time when there should be rapid cuts in emissions in line with the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C.</p>
<h2>Global Heating Symptoms Getting Worse</h2><p>The report also notes that sea levels have risen at a higher rate year-on-year due partly to increased melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.</p><p>Meanwhile, over 80% of the ocean area has experienced at least one marine heat wave in 2020. In addition, 43% of the ocean experienced marine heat waves that were classified as "strong."</p><p>2019 also saw the highest ocean heat content on record.</p><p>Heavy rain and extensive flooding affected large parts of Africa and Asia in 2020, especially across much of the Sahel, the Greater Horn of Africa, the India subcontinent and neighboring areas, China, Korea and Japan. With 30 named storms (as of November 17, 2020), the north Atlantic hurricane season recorded the highest ever number of named storms.</p><p>Moreover, severe drought affected much of the interior of South America in 2020, with the badly affected areas including northern Argentina, Paraguay and western border areas of Brazil.</p><p>"Climate and weather events have triggered significant population movements and have severely affected vulnerable people on the move, including in the Pacific region and Central America," the climate report said.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/un-chief-antonio-guterres-theres-no-vaccine-for-the-planet/a-55796224?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">DW</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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If you've been wanting to try CBD oil but have been concerned about the price, know that not only can you purchase affordable CBD oil, but you also can purchase high quality CBD oil at those affordable prices.
<p><br/></p>
<p>It's been proven time and again that CBD is rapidly growing in popularity among people who want to try an alternative treatment to boost their general health or help treat their difficult health issues. Sadly, a great number of people hold off on purchasing CBD oil because of high prices that could potentially put a strain on an already stretched budget.</p>
<p>Our guide to the most affordable CBD oils will help you purchase the best quality products from the most reputable and affordable brands. Moreover, you will learn how and why we chose our top three brands as well as how CBD oil can best benefit your life. </p>
<p>But first, take a moment to learn about how we came up with our guidelines for selecting our top three brands. Not only will this criteria work great in helping you in your own research, it will also give you a jumping off point for knowing which brands to purchase from first. </p>
<h2>The Guidelines For Our List</h2><p>Today, there are countless brands that sell CBD products. Therefore, if you've never purchased CBD online before, there's a good chance that you might feel overwhelmed and frustrated with both trying to find the best brand as well as the best product. And if you're like most people, you will want to take some time to look into each brand that you're interested in. However, doing this might cause some undue stress and confusion as to where to start.</p>
<p>In researching brands, you'll want to look closely at the brand's reputation, the effectiveness of the products, the brand's ability to be transparent, and whether it used a third-party lab to frequently test all of its products, among other things. The good news is we've done most of the hard work. We've taken the time and put in the research so that you don't have a great path to begin your journey with CBD on. </p>
<p>The top three brands that we've selected based on our strict guidelines are the cleanest, most effective, potent, and most reputable and transparent brands out on the market today. </p>
<p>In our search to find the most affordable CBD oil, we looked closely at: </p>
<ul><li>How long the brand has been operating for</li><li>The ingredients in the CBD oil</li><li>Verified customer reviews</li><li>If a third-party laboratory was used to regularly test all products</li><li>Did the brand make those lab results easy for customers to find</li><li>Where the hemp was sourced from</li><li>Published articles by respected CBD journalists and niche experts</li><li>The overall cleanness, potency, and purity of the oils</li><li>The brand's reputation</li><li>Product prices</li></ul>
<p>In looking at all of these guidelines, we weren't surprised when our list began to get out of control. Therefore, we reset our focus and whittled our list down even further until we were left with our top picks for the most affordable CBD oils that you will find down below.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg2NjgxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTU1MzUwOX0.hgCnraFRo46bxmQmaqARbmxlP6lA272aErFFjaxlGTU/img.jpg?width=980" id="ab6c2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e569388f36b6eb0d33cef10a0099d18" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><h2>Top 3 Most Affordable CBD Oils</h2><h3>#1 <a href="https://canfightbac.org/fab-cbd-eco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">FAB CBD Oil</a> — Best Quality And Affordable</h3><p>FAB CBD has been in the business of creating top-shelf, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-cbd-oil-2020-2647428611.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">best CBD oils</a> since 2017. The FAB CBD team has previous experience working in the health and wellness industries. Together, the team knows the very best ways to create clean, affordable, effective, high-quality oils without cutting any corners or skipping any steps along the way. FAB CBD is involved in the complete creation process from seed to sale, the brand also believes in transparency. As such FAB CBD uses an independent third-party laboratory to routinely test all of its products. </p><p>In order to confirm that its oils are potent and clean, FAB CBD uses innovation, science, and strict methods to bring its customers products that are pesticide-free, herbicide-free, chemical-free and free from other harmful substances. FAB CBD sources all of its organic hemp from Colorado.</p><p>Along with having top-quality products at affordable prices, FAB CBD frequently offers discounts through special sales throughout the year. Many customers have taken advantage of FAB CBD's sales by purchasing lots of their favorite products at reduced prices through either a special coupon code or through a set sale price. </p><p><a href="https://canfightbac.org/fab-cbd-eco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">FAB CBD</a> is extremely transparent with its customers, has an affordable line of top-notch products, and runs a top-rated customer service department because the team at FAB CBD understands that happy, satisfied customers are an important key to the survival of the brand. Along with a stellar product line that continues to grow and evolve, FAB CBD offers a highly popular line of CBD oils in strengths of 300mg, 600mg, 1200mg, and 2400mg in mint, citrus, berry, vanilla, and natural flavors. In order to ensure that every product is high-quality, safe, and not laden with dangerous chemicals, uses ProVerde Labs to regularly test all of its products. Customers can then easily find those test results on the FAB CBD's website. </p>
<h2>Selecting The Most Affordable CBD Oils</h2><p>When we searched for the most affordable oils we looked closely at:</p>
<ul><li>Where The Hemp Was Sourced From — All of FAB CBD's organic hemp from Colorado. All of the hemp is pesticide-free, herbicide-free, and devoid of harmful chemicals. FAB CBD uses the extremely clean Co2 extraction process to acquire its hemp extracts. </li><li>Brand Reputation — FAB CBD has a strong reputation for being a solid brand. All of FAB CBD's products are extremely affordable, clean, potent, and effective. A host of verified customer reviews solidify our conclusions and also listed as #1 on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-cbd-oil-for-pain-2648230505.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">best CBD oil for pain</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-cbd-gummies-2020-2647537750.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">best CBD gummies</a>. </li><li>Reasonable Product Pricing — Even with all of the hard work, top quality ingredients, and cutting-edge technology that goes into the creation of its products, FAB CBD's full-spectrum oils are still reasonably priced. Customers are sure to get both an affordable and top-quality full-spectrum product when they purchase any one of FAB CBD's high-quality offerings. Moreover, FAB CBD regularly has special sales with coupon codes or established sale prices. </li><li>Effectiveness — FAB CBD's products are both potent and effective. The team at FAB CBD works extremely hard to ensure that. </li><li>Our Final Thoughts — Not only are FAB CBD's products affordable, but the brand is also our number one pick because its products are extremely clean, potent, and effective. The FAB CBD team is involved in every step of the creation process. The brand is also extremely transparent and also makes the results of its third-party lab tests easy for customers to find on its website.</li></ul>
<p>==> <a href="https://canfightbac.org/fab-cbd-eco" target="_blank">Shop FAB CBD's Affordable line here</a>.</p>
<h3>#2 PureKana</h3><p>PureKana's mission is to simply bring customers high-quality CBD-based hemp products while informing the world about hemp's benefits. The brand, based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, dedicates itself to providing customers with the best quality and most affordable CBD hemp products on the market. </p>
<p>PureKana's line of CBD products includes oils, capsules, edibles, a topical cream, bath bombs, and more. The brand's CBD-rich hemp oil is GMO-free and is devoid of pesticides, solvents, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. PureKana uses a third-party lab to frequently test every product.</p>
<p>PureKana has a strong knowledge of CBD manufacturing. To that end, every product is full-spectrum, non-GMO, and crafted from hemp that is organic and clean. The oils range in strengths from 300mg to 5,000mg of CBD and come in flavors of mint, vanilla, citrus, fruity, and natural. The brand also has oils a Sleep Aid Tincture and an Immune Boost Oil.</p><h3>PureKana CBD Oils</h3><p>PureKana's oils are affordable and are also of high quality. The brand strives to create potent, clean, affordable oils.</p>
<ul><li>Where The Hemp Was Sourced From — PureKana's organic hemp is grown in Kentucky. It is free from pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. </li><li>Brand Reputation — PureKana is known for its affordable, high quality CBD products. </li><li>Product Pricing — While PureKana's prices do fall into our category of affordable CBD oils, their products might be more expensive than those of other brands. </li><li>Effectiveness — According to verified customer reviews, PureKana does craft an effective line of full-spectrum oils. </li><li>Our Final Thoughts — PureKana works hard to craft clean, potent, and affordable full-spectrum oils in a selection of flavors and strengths. The brand uses an independent lab to test all of its products. Customers can easily find those results on the brand's website. Overall, PureKana is a solid pick for our second brand. </li></ul>
<h3>#3 Medterra</h3><p>Medterra is a relatively new brand on the market today. The founders of Medterra are on a mission to innovate in the field of CBD products. The brand is involved in the creation process from seed to sale. All of its industrial hemp is cultivated according to the guidelines of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Every product that Medterra creates is tested by a third-party laboratory. All reports can be found on the brand's website. </p>
<p>Medterra is in a partnership with the Hemp Pilot Research Program. Because of this, the brand can bring high quality products to all of its customers. According to the brand's website, the Medterra team has focused their lives to industrial farming methodologies, food-grade compound extraction, vegetable genetics, and quality control. </p><ul><li><h3>Medterra Broad Spectrum CBD Oils </h3></li></ul><p>Medterra creates a line of THC-free broad spectrum oils. The brand's broad spectrum tinctures utilize the full-plant hemp extract without any THC. The broad spectrum tinctures contain CBD along with other compounds such as CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDV, and natural terpenes. The brand also crafts a line of CBD oils in strengths of 500mg, 1,000mg, and 3,000mg. </p>
<ul><li>Where The Hemp Was Sourced From — As stated earlier, all of Medterra's organic hemp hails from Kentucky. The brand is also in a partnership with the Hemp Pilot Research Program in that state. </li><li>Brand Reputation — Medterra is well-known for making organic, clean, affordable products that customers enjoy. </li><li>Product Pricing — The brand's products appear to be extremely affordable. </li><li>Effectiveness — Even though broad spectrum products are beneficial, it's been documented that more benefits can be obtained from full-spectrum CBD products. So, while Medterra's products are effective in their own way, the products might not be as effective as the full-spectrum products offered by other brands. </li><li>Our Final Thoughts — Medterra is a solid brand that crafts quality CBD oils at affordable prices. The team at Medterra are involved in the creation process from seed to sale and do their best to ensure that customers know exactly what it is they are putting into their body. The brand uses an independent lab to test its products. All lab test results can be found on Medterra's website. While there are benefits to broad spectrum oils, it's been documented that there are more benefits with full-spectrum oils. To that end, Medterra only offers broad spectrum oil options. </li></ul>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg2NjgzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzgzMTIxNH0.DqFsNaokgHnsoVQv51DfuovHCY7o92mQr1gOXc_tFwI/img.jpg?width=980" id="f7b95" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ec8150a9b7347f831f667ebe6857fbcb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><h2>What Are Affordable CBD Oils?</h2><p>With all the CBD brands that are out on the market today, it's guaranteed that the prices of oils will vary between them all. Most people are mistakenly under the assumption that affordable oils are inferior oils. This simply is not true. It is possible to purchase affordable CBD oils that are also of superior quality and that are clean, organic, potent, and effective. </p>
<p>There are certain criteria that help to decide both the quality as well as the price of CBD oils. Those are potency, extraction method, hemp source, and independent third-party lab testing. </p>
<p>Potency — How much CBD is in a tincture will determine how strong it is. The more CBD there is per milliliter in a product, the more potent the tincture will be. The strength and potency of the product you choose should be determined by what you are trying to accomplish with it. For example, if you have extreme pain from a chronic health condition, you will want a stronger, more potent CBD oil. Conversely, if you're only wanting to support your general health, then you will want to go with a lower strength. </p>
<p>Extraction Method — There are a few methods in which CBD is extracted out of the hemp plant. Those methods include steam distillation, ethanol (solvent) extraction, Co2 extraction, and hydrocarbon extraction. Out of all of these methods, Co2 extraction is the cleanest and most effective because it pulls out higher levels of CBD from the hemp plant. Lastly, of all the methods mentioned, hydrocarbon extraction is the least preferred because it deposits dangerous toxins in the final product.</p>
<p>Hemp Sources — CBD comes from the hemp and marijuana plants. The overall quality of the hemp will have a large role in determining how much a product costs. Organic hemp that is clean and pesticide-free, herbicide-free, and chemical-free produces the highest quality CBD oils. CBD brands that use organic hemp will have products that are slightly more expensive than brands that use hemp that is not carefully crafted to be of the best quality. </p>
<p>Independent Third-Party Lab Testing — Before you purchase any type of CBD product, you should look on the brand's website to see if you can find independent third-party lab test reports. Even though you are purchasing affordable CBD, you should still know what you are putting into your body. The lab tests will confirm the safety and potency of the products you are purchasing.</p>
<h2>Is It Safe To Purchase Affordable CBD Oils?</h2><p>Even though it's quite simple to shop online and purchase CBD oil, you should consider the safety, potency, and effectiveness of the oil before spending money on any products. One way to find out more about the products you wish to purchase is read through independent lab reports. These reports offer a host of valuable information about the product that will help you make an informed decision before buying. Only in taking the time to do the proper research will you know if it is safe to purchase an affordable oil from any particular brand. </p>
<p>The extraction process that the brand uses is also key to oil safety. Full-spectrum CBD products contain beneficial cannabinoid compounds. Two of the main compounds are cannabidiol, or CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. While CBD will not cause any feelings of euphoria, THC will. All full-spectrum CBD oils must legally contain less than 0.3% THC. Therefore, full-spectrum oils do not have any euphoric side effects. There are many ways to extract CBD from hemp and marijuana plants. It's important to know how the oil was extracted in order to ensure that you do not purchase a CBD oil that is laden with toxins. </p>
<p>So while it might be tempting to purchase cheap CBD oils, it's better to buy affordable oils from reputable brands instead of cheap oils from brands that potentially cut corners and use inferior ingredients as well as less preferred extraction methods that leave toxins in the extracts. </p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg2Njg0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MDY1MDYxNX0.OV9KsCMg5adZzDmlg1vy1NyVbY-Z0-Uvd2YPjdIGhLA/img.jpg?width=980" id="cce03" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8df94201e2c7cbf3adc461684a79122c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><h2>Guidelines For Buying Affordable CBD Oils</h2>
<p>Before you purchase affordable CBD oils, there are a few guidelines that you should follow in order to ensure that you are getting a clean, potent, top-notch product. Some of those guidelines are as follows: </p>
<ul><li>Only purchase CBD oils from a respected brand. If you find a brand that piques your interest, spend some time researching the brand. Learn how the brand started, who founded it, what the brand's mission is, how the products are made, whether an independent lab was used to test products, whether the lab reports are easy for customers to find, and if the brand has a solid customer service department, among other things. </li><li>Look to the internet as a resource to help you find a reputable brand with high-quality, affordable products. Any reputable brand will have a trustworthy e-commerce system and will also ship your purchase directly to you. A brand's website is a wonderful place to read about CBD, learn more about the company, read up on its oils, and possibly find out how much of the brand's oil you can take to start. </li></ul>Pour through independent third-party lab reports. In order to prove the safety, effectiveness, and purity of its products, many reputable brands use a third-party lab to test its products. Those results should be easy for customers to find on the brand's website. Before purchasing anything from any brand, locate the lab testing of a product that you are interested in. Take some time to pour over those results. It's important to know exactly what you will be putting inside of your body.
<h2>CBD, The Endocannabinoid System, And The Entourage Effect</h2><h3>The Entourage Effect</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/sponsored/2020/08/full-spectrum-cbd-oil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Full-spectrum CBD oils</a> contain a host of beneficial compounds, phytonutrients, and terpenes. Two of the main cannabinoid compounds are cannabidiol, or CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. When these compounds combine with each other, they produce an <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2018.01969/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">entourage effect</a>. In the entourage effect, the compounds bring down each other's negative side effects while elevating each other's positive side effects. For example, sometimes too much THC causes nausea. Since it's legally required to have less than 0.3% THC in all full-spectrum products, the cannabidiol in the tincture is able to effectively work with the THC to decrease or eliminate that side effect. Therefore, you will be able to have effective pain relief without any worry about getting nauseous. </p>
<h3>The Endocannabinoid System</h3><p>Every human has an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4789136/" target="_blank">endocannabinoid system</a> that works to regulate bodily functions and sensations. In that endocannabinoid system are two receptors, CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors that are found throughout the body work to regulate pain, emotion, movement, thinking, appetite, memories, and other functions. The CB2 receptors that are located within the immune system work to regulate inflammation and pain. When a full-spectrum oil enters into the body, THC will latch onto the CB1 receptors while CBD will attach itself to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors to help the body create its own endocannabinoids.</p>
<h2>Benefits, Dosing, And Safety</h2><h3>Benefits</h3>
<p>Multiple research studies have effectively proven that CBD can help with issues such as: </p>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091305718306464" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Anxiety</a></li><li>Depression</li><li>Sleep issues</li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Chronic pain</a></li><li>Nerve pain</li><li>Arthritis</li><li>Muscle aches</li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6597308/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Epilepsy</a></li><li>Fibromyalgia</li><li>Parkinson's Disease</li><li>PTSD</li></ul>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg2NjgyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDA1NjYyOH0.ceaQp85-cl6fJJwL0e65H4iaYlLsSbV8_JJcVT69QJw/img.jpg?width=980" id="94ae3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0a183bce4dc7466957e46cdadc2e9341" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><h3>Dosage</h3><p>When it comes to figuring out the best dose to take, it's important to understand that there is not one set dose that will work the best for everyone. Everybody is different, therefore everyone's body responds differently to CBD. </p><p>Lower strength oils such as 300mg and 500mg work well for general health and minor issues. However, higher strengths such as 1200mg and 2400mg work best for more difficult health issues and more intense symptoms. </p><p>When you're ready to take your first dose, always remember to start low and go slow. The best guidelines to follow are to begin with 5ml, or half a dropper full once a day for one week. After a week has elapsed, do a full-body check-in to see how you're feeling. If you aren't achieving your desired effect, then bump up the dosage to 5ml, or half a dropper full twice a day for one week. This comes to 10mg a day. After one week, increase again if needed. Remember, your body needs time to adjust to both the CBD as well as the dosage. </p><h3>Safety</h3><p>When compared to prescription medications, CBD comes with very few side effects. Moreover, those side effects are extremely mild. If you have concerns about how CBD will interact with your medications or other holistic supplements, then please call your doctor, specialist, or pharmacist. </p><p>Some common side effects of CBD are: </p><ul><li>Drowsiness</li><li>Dizziness</li><li>Diarrhea</li><li>Changes in Appetite</li><li>Mild nausea</li></ul><p>If you're taking prescription medication, then you might be familiar with the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/food-and-nutrition/faq-20057918" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">Grapefruit Rule</a>. Put simply, the rule states that some medications cannot be taken with grapefruit or other citrus fruits and juices. CBD functions in very much the same way. Some medications, when combined with grapefruit, other citrus fruits, or CBD will cause a dramatic change in the way that your body metabolizes medications. Medication will either be metabolized too slowly, where you will not receive enough of the medication into your system, or too quickly, where you will receive too much medication into your system. Too much medication in your system is dangerous and has the potential to cause extreme side effects or even an overdose. Not enough medication in your system will cause health conditions to not be treated effectively.<br></p><p>If you're not able to take CBD oil, there are other options. Keep in mind that CBD salves, lotions, and other topical creams are another great alternative. However, in thinking about all of the dangerous side effects that stem from long-term use of prescription medication, CBD is a wonderful alternative treatment overall. As stated before, numerous studies confirm CBD's effectiveness in helping to treat anxiety, depression, chronic pain, nerve issues, insomnia, and many other health/medical conditions.</p>
<h2>Our Final Thoughts On Our Most Affordable CBD Oils List</h2><p>There is a huge difference between purchasing an affordable CBD oil and purchasing a cheap CBD oil. While cheap CBD oils may feel better to your wallet, there's no guarantee that they will be clean, safe, or effective. You can still purchase high-quality, affordable, top-shelf oils from reputable brands. </p>
<p>Before you purchase any products, remember to take some time to do your research. If you find a brand that you're interested in, dig deeply on the brand's website for its backstory, independent third-party lab test results, and verified customer reviews. Only then will you know if you will be putting the best, purest, most effective oil into your body. </p>
<p>Growing, harvesting, and extraction methods make a huge difference as well. If an oil is not extracted from hemp that's organic, pesticide free, chemical-free, and herbicide-free, then you run the risk of putting dangerous chemicals into your body. Likewise, if an oil is not made with the clean, industry-preferred Co2 extraction process, then chances are, there might be chemicals lingering around inside the final product. </p>
<p>Always read through independent third-party lab tests for any and every product that you're interested in. Only then will you know how safe, potent, and clean the product is. Furthermore, the brand you are interested in should make it easy for customers to find those lab results on its website. A huge red flag should raise for you if you find a brand that does not use an independent laboratory to frequently test every product. Likewise, if you have a difficult time locating the lab results, that might be another issue to consider.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg2NjgzNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NTQ1NDEyOX0.PYhfHPigTPZX9wqrk2A9zdw-l8ROyuH5oRLubQQnUVk/img.jpg?width=980" id="59f19" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4f7047e23e445fe7910996194a3956c0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Also, as with any business, word of mouth is pure gold. Reading through verified customer reviews will allow you to get a feel for the brand, its customer services, and overall opinions on the brand's products.</p><p>Brand transparency is also key. A reputable brand will not try to hide anything from you and will post a wealth of information on its website for anyone and everyone to read. The simple act of reading through a brand's website should give you most all of the information you need to know so that you can make a well-informed decision about purchasing products from them. </p><p>Remember, not all brands are created equal. Just because a product is cheap, does not mean that it is of high quality. Affordable is the best option over cheap every time. If you're feeling overwhelmed and confused as to where to begin your research for the most affordable CBD oils, then our article is a great place to start. As previously stated, <a href="https://canfightbac.org/fab-cbd-eco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">FAB CBD is our top pick for affordable CBD oils</a> because not only is the brand transparent, it's products are also top-shelf, clean, potent, and extremely affordable. In fact, FAB CBD regularly has sales offering its customers a specified percentage off its products. All of FAB's products are routinely tested by ProVerde Lab, an independent third-party laboratory. All lab results are then posted on the brand's website where customers can easily access them.. </p><p>Lastly, if you are still on the fence about purchasing an affordable CBD oil, don't ever hesitate to call your doctor, specialist, or pharmacist to discuss your questions and concerns. CBD oil has the potential to greatly boost up your holistic supplement regimen. The only thing left to do is to check out our top three brands to get started on your CBD oil journey. </p>
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Tyson Exploits Consumers Just Like Its Animals and the Workers Who Raise Them
23h
Insights + Opinion
The miserable ones: Young broiler chickens at a feeder. The poor treatment of the chickens within its supply chain has made Tyson the target of public campaigns urging the company to make meaningful changes. U.S. Department of Agriculture / Flickr
By David Coman-Hidy
The actions of the U.S. meat industry throughout the pandemic have brought to light the true corruption and waste that are inherent within our food system. Despite a new wave of rising COVID-19 cases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently submitted a proposal to further increase "the maximum slaughter line speed by 25 percent," which was already far too fast and highly dangerous. It has been made evident that the industry will exploit its workers and animals all to boost its profit.
<p>The revelations continued when Tyson Foods, the world's second-largest producer of chicken, beef and pork, cooperated with the Department of Justice to avoid scrutiny into the company's role in the monopolization of the industry to <a href="https://www.fooddive.com/news/new-chicken-price-fixing-indictment-charges-6-more-with-conspiracy/586595/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fix prices</a> of chicken for both consumers and retailers. This news comes at a time when Tyson has already been <a href="https://talkbusiness.net/2020/06/tyson-foods-reports-199-positive-covid-19-cases-at-springdale-plant/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">under fire</a> for <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/17/tyson-foods-officials-call-plant-close-over-coronavirus-cases/5158361002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">exposing</a> its workers to an enormous risk of contracting COVID-19. We can now add competitors and consumers to the ever-growing list of those victimized by the corporate giant. This is further evidence that it's time for our nation's food supply chain to change in a big way.</p>
<p>Tyson Foods former CEO Noel White, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/03/tyson-foods-names-new-ceo-as-coronavirus-raises-costs.html" target="_blank">replaced</a> by Dean Banks in October, rushed to cooperate under the Department of Justice's antitrust leniency program, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/5ee39382ebfb13423b279658" target="_blank">stating</a>, "I am proud to lead a company that took appropriate and immediate actions in reporting the wrongdoing we discovered to the Department of Justice." What White failed to mention is that cooperating will afford Tyson protection from public scrutiny and legal fines, at the expense of its competitors.</p><p>Unethical business practices seem to be the norm for Tyson Foods. Due to a lack of proper safety measures and harsh attendance policies, <a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/news/10000-tyson-employees-positive-covid-19" target="_blank">more than 10,000 Tyson plant workers</a> tested positive for the virus, substantially more than any other U.S. meat company. Before the pandemic, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/04/interview-how-us-making-meatpacking-jobs-even-more-dangerous" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">working on a meat processing line was one of the most dangerous jobs</a> in the United States. Now, with the constant threat of COVID-19 looming over these elbow-to-elbow assembly lines, meat processing may be among the <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/why-meatpacking-plants-have-become-covid-19-hot-spots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">most deadly</a> jobs in the world. <a href="https://thehumaneleague.org/article/whats-more-essential-workers-lives-or-meat-on-the-table" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Workers</a> are not just getting sick from this virus—they're dying.</p><p>The pandemic has led to <a href="https://www.inddist.com/supply-chain/article/21131454/keough-pandemic-has-caused-supply-chain-disruptions-for-80-of-us-businesses" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major disruptions in the supply chain</a>. While Tyson has not yet engaged in the mass "<a href="https://thehumaneleague.org/article/emergency-legal-petition-filed-with-usda-to-end-depopulation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">depopulation</a>" of animals that other producers resorted to, in a typical week, the company slaughters an estimated <a href="https://sentientmedia.org/tyson-foods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">37 million chickens</a>. The poor treatment of the chickens within its supply chain—including <a href="https://thehumaneleague.org/article/study-reveals-the-chicken-we-eat-live-in-agony" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">breeding</a> birds to grow at such an unnaturally fast rate that they can't even hold up their own bodies—has made Tyson the target of <a href="https://www.change.org/p/tyson-stop-neglecting-workers-animals-and-public-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">public campaigns</a> urging the company to make meaningful changes.</p><p>More than 120 labor, food justice, animal welfare and environmental organizations have banded together to <a href="https://thehumaneleague.org/article/120-organizations-target-tyson-foods-for-failing-to-protect-workers-covid19" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">take action against</a> the company. Tyson must take immediate action to protect the safety and well-being of its workers, make improvements to support animal welfare and reduce its harsh impact on the <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/01/commission-report-great-food-transformation-plant-diet-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">environment</a>.</p><p>For too long, the unethical, avaricious practices of the meat industry have been hidden from view. The scandals surrounding Tyson and other major producers are making clear that vulnerable workers, abused animals and a rigged system are the foundation of an unethical and destructive business model.</p><p>Tyson had a role in creating the industrialized system, and it must step up its role in fixing it. The meat giant has had one singular focus since its inception: profit. The company's greed has caused it to exploit anyone in its path. Tyson's disregard for human and animal life extends to its workers, animals killed in its plants, consumers and now its competitors. Tyson took ownership for rigging the system using price-fixing. It's time for Tyson to take ownership for exploiting and endangering its more vulnerable victims as well.</p><p><a href="https://www.change.org/p/tyson-stop-neglecting-workers-animals-and-public-health" target="_blank"><em>Sign the petition</em></a><em> urging Tyson to stop neglecting workers, animals and public health.</em></p><p><a href="https://actnow.thehumaneleague.org/live-shackle-slaughter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Sign the petition</em></a><em> urging the U.S. chicken meat industry to end the cruel practice of boiling birds alive.</em></p><p><em> David Coman-Hidy is president of <a href="https://thehumaneleague.org/broken-food-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Humane League</a>, a global nonprofit working to fix our broken food system and end the abuse of animals raised for food.</em></p><em><p><em>This article first appeared on </em><a href="https://truthout.org/articles/tyson-exploits-consumers-just-like-its-animals-and-the-workers-who-raise-them/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Truthout</em></a><em> and was produced in partnership with </em><a href="https://independentmediainstitute.org/earth-food-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Earth | Food | Life</em></a><em>, a project of the Independent Media Institute.</em></p></em>
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