I saw this video yesterday about what happens to male chickens (chicks) in the poultry industry as was thoroughly surprised to say the least. I had *assumed* (a very bad word and set of ideas) that, like cows and other animals, they were fattened-up for slaughter like their female counterparts. It still isn’t pretty, but this is how our food supply is grown. Nope, these baby male chicks, a few minutes after being “hatched” by a machine get their beaks cut and then are ground-up alive.
Does this video convince me to become a Vegan or Vegetarian? Nope, but I can’t say I eat much chicken anyhow as, although healthy, it just doesn’t taste good in my opinion. Salmon or tuna are far healthier in every way than chicken.
At least the females get to live right? Well, give this video to watch their fate. I’m not sure if it’s much better then that of male chickens. If I had a choice, I would ask to be born as a male chicken to be honest.
Symptom of a larger problem
Alright, that was disturbing wasn’t it! Well, this is nothing compared to what humans are doing on a daily basis across various fields, from open pit mining activities to the incredible waste involved with clear cutting entire forests or deep ocean trawling. The reason why our species has done so well on Earth is because we are very good at controlling information (preventing others from seeing the truth), gathering once a resource is found (exploiting it with little regard as to the consequences that may happen to others) and continuing this myth regarding the importance of ourselves above all other creatures.
We have a serious Napolean complex, species wide, when it comes to the rest of the natural world. I sure hope that if aliens ever come to visit us, they don’t treat us the same way we treated Earth or its other living citizens.
What is the solution?
I think videos like this, and there are no lack of them relating to just about every intensive industry out there, should be used as a warning. I don’t believe in God nor any type of higher being but I do believe that what you sow, you will reap. As such, treating life no different than if it was a rock has and will catch-up to us big time in the future. What can we do to solve this situation? I think the first is a return to community based farming practices. For instance, it makes no sense why eggs need to be shipped all around the country (or world for that matter)… setting-up small regional co-ops for plant and other nutritional requirements needs to go away from this industrial scale enterprise back into small ones where children can learn about the food they eat and the real work involved with traditional farming.
I have no problem eating chicken or other animals, I am not nor will I ever become a vegetarian, but this senseless, unnecessary cruelty we are so well at perpetrating really needs to stop.
Humans are worse!
Considering the trillions of dollars spent every year on technologies that are dedicated towards the destruction and killing of other people (the military), humans may treat other animals badly but we also invest in the capabilities of spreading this ability onto others of our own race! I don’t know of any other animal that, on a daily basis, tries to develop weapons that will more “easily” kill another of its species. Nature is cruel, but because of our evolved consciousness, instead of trying to reduce the amount happening around us, we seem hell-bent on bringing it up to a whole new level due to insecurities, failures and unfounded fears.
The Bottom Line
When humans lose touch with nature, industrial farming practices are able to thrive.
I decided to do a little research online regarding my (so far), two cease and desist orders originating from Mannatech’s legal department and guess what, they sent the same identical letter to others as well! Each time, to people who disprove or question the validity for their sales people’s claims that their products cure diseases and illness. Same situation, the blogger writes that their products are essentially a scam, a Mannatech representative says the opposite and voila, Mannatech’s legal department springs into action against, no, not the Mannatech representative telling their lies but the person who put into question their products. I am seeing a pattern here.
Background story regarding my joy of Mannatech here:
First question, am I legally liable for comments posted on my blog?
Technically you are not liable for blog comments/forum posts on your site posted by others. You are responsible and liable for comments that you make, but it is very difficult to prosecute or pursue, primarily because of jurisdiction. The Internet is global and there is not one single governing force. Not only is the location of the blogger/poster a factor but the location of the web host and the laws that govern their locations are a factor.
Now I know where the idea for Cease and Desist Orders comes from… the SEC! It seems that the seeds they have sowed all these years are finally starting to sprout weeds!
Mannatech’s SEC problems are on top of a complaint filed by the Texas attorney general’s office last year. In July 2007, the attorney general filed a lawsuit accusing Mannatech of exaggerating the therapeutic benefits of its products for people with cancer, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis and other serious conditions. That suit is pending in Travis County District Court. Mannatech CEO Wayne Badovinus acknowledged last quarter that dealing with the attorney general’s complaint, as well as related shareholder lawsuits, was taking a financial toll on the company.
This is starting to make sense, they are covering their ass as much as possible with these legal orders as they face an increasing amount of lawsuits based on the practices of their distribution channel.
Deja vue?
Here is a great link to somebody who had exactly the same situation happen to them! Mannatech lawyers go after him instead of commentators working for Mannatech and accuse him of something he never did! I sent his response to Mannatech as well, it’s fantastic! Peter’s response is a very good read – well worth it!
I thought I had made this clear last year when I received a similar complaint from you. I do wish that you would actually take the time to read the page you are complaining about, but just in case you can’t do that I will reiterate what I said last time (and which appears on that page).
At no place on my site do I state, suggest or imply that Mannatech nutritional products prevent, treat or cure disease, or state, suggest or imply that Mannatech nutritional products are a substitute for a doctor’s standard of care. I would not do either of these things because I do not believe that such statements would be true. I do not care what Mannatech’s policies are with regard to such statements because I am not a Mannatech distributor.
Before you write to me again with complaints about things I do not do please try to read my clearly expressed opinions about Mannatech. You only make yourself look foolish by displaying a total lack of comprehension.
Again, I would like to thank you for implicitly informing me that Mannatech products have no role in the prevention, treatment or cure of any disease and that they do not provide an alternative to professional medical care. I will cite this to Mannatech distributors who contact me with anecdotes suggesting otherwise.
As is my usual policy, your email and this reply will be published on my web site.
I have a wish
I wish that Mannatech would spend a few million dollars and perform a clinical, double-blind study relating the the effectiveness of their products… so far, they have a legal department that is unable to comprehend their mother tongue and sales people who must believe their own lies in order to sustain their financial health. I see nothing positive nor progressive coming out of Mannatech. Please perform this completely unbiased study so you can implode.
Apparently Mannatech’s lawyers still do not know how to read English, think that their web compliance policy applies internet-wide and freedom of speech is as worthless as their own products . I wrote repeatedly that Mannatech’s products have never been proven to work but Mannatech’s own sales people write that it cures everything known to man. They go after the guy speaking the truth in order to maintain their web of lies.
Now, let me prove my point, first a little background, this is not me but outlines how Mannatech works.
Using the term nutraceutical implies that the product has a demonstrated physiological benefit or provide protection against a chronic disease without having to PROVE nor back-up this statement with fact (in other words, it’s marketing BS). Demonstrated isn’t fact, it’s a very subjective and “blurry” word.
Mannatech’s products are sold around the world, they are A BIG COMPANY
Mannatech is a MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) company, not a pharmaceutical one
Sales people only profit by recruiting others to sell their products, something that sales people selling REAL health products such as drugs wouldn’t be able to do unless they had a license and education to back them up.
90% of the distributors in a MLM scam leave within the first 90 days
Interesting video huh? Here is what happens, one person says something bad about the company
my mother got involved with this crap!…it’s insane…It was all she talked about for about 2 years..she thought she was going to be making 6 figures while doing something good…..she ran herself ragged and made nothing after expenses
… and you guessed it, somebody from Mannatech says that it cures diseases etc.
(from arch571332 (2 weeks ago)
I never got involved in the sales end of mannatech for that very reason, there is no guarantee you will make money, I only used the products. However they do work, taking the glycential tablets took away the headaches and allergies I had, these problems were probably due to vitamin deficiencies. Its evil that the Texas Attorney General has cracked down on mannatech for saying that their vitamin can cure and prevent disease, because they can.
Alright, let’s hear from a Mannatech distributor
She has seen the Mannatech fallout after Texas Attorney General and ABC News Interview about how much bullshit Mannatech’s sales people where shoveling in the name of religion in order to sell their products, promising that it would cure AIDS, Cancer and everything else under the sun
“The rules have changed, this can happen to any company.” What she doesn’t say is that you cannot make a health claim without backing it up with FACTS which Mannatech hasn’t been able to do. They were also caught red handed lying to sell their products, so yes, if you run a company based on lies, I sure as hell hope that the government cracks down onto you!
“Don’t lead with the company, don’t lead with the product, lead with yourself”… so in other words, put your own reputation on the line because Mannatech’s products can’t hold water (Tensa Water no less) on their own, no scientific data, no scientific work, just a MLM scheme that works on ignorance and greed.
“People don’t buy companies or the product until they buy you”, I sure hope she doesn’t work for Nike, Fiat or any other company out there. When the company you stand behind has no value and depends on YOUR PERSONAL VALUE for a sale, you know you are in big trouble!
I completely tuned-out after 4 minutes of her babble filled with MLM and “get rich quick” keywords
Now, let’s look at the comments
(from flygirlhandm (9 months ago))
“People don’t buy companies… they don’t necessarily even buy the product.. until they buy you”
That is one of the silliest things I have ever heard. Mannatech and those associated with it are very disturbing and seem to be either brain washed or are trying to do the brain washing.
I’m sorry I tried this product and the end result was there was no result. This is a nice pyramid scheme with sugar pills. Just drink your Kool-Aid and follow like sheep for your placebo.
Juli you are now coming into your light and becoming the person who you are meant to be. If you just watched this video and you need help with your business, Juli is the person who will be there for you. She is a true leader with passion flowing out of her veins. check her out…..
-Devin-
(comment from me)
…I didn’t see any passion, I saw a deer looking into headlights having trouble speaking English that I could understand
Glyconutrients and Breast Cancer
The field of glycobiology is a marketing word and field created by Mannatech. It has no roots in science and essentially means the biological study of sugar (nutritionally speaking, carbohydrates), which we all get more than enough of even with a very unhealthy diet.
Another word for Saccharides is CARBOHYDRATES, what they are saying is without THEIR carbohydrates, which even on a strict diet is very hard NOT to eat, cells have trouble communicating and cancer develops
Mannatech’s carbohydrates pills which, by the way, is identical to every other carbohydrate out there, sugar IS sugar except for the artifical sweetners being sold, help improve the efficiency of cell to cell communication. Where is the study proving that THEIR sugar is better than any other sugar? Don’t hold your breath as it doesn’t exist.
What this video is saying is that Mannatech’s sugar pills which are NOT proven to work, have no scientific merit beyond a placebo pill are able to cure cancer. FALSE! Not only that, the video says that if you begin taking the pills after you have cancer, then it will go away. Proven scientifically? Nope, just more lies.
They keep using the term “saccharides supplementation” to sound scientific but what they are saying is that THEIR sugar cures cancer, and hell, not just breast cancer but every other cancer known to man.
100% of people taking a placebo developed cancer again while only 7-8% did so taking Mannatech’s Glyconutrients. Glyconutrients is a term created by Mannatech so this is the only company that can sell these things. They don’t make specific reference to Mannatech but as the only source, this is a nice way around the laws governing pharmaceuticals.
Notice how skimpy they are on the facts that their products do anything beyond a placebo pill but time and again, sell “wealth” to potential clients. They are a MLM, not a pharmaceutical company that is normally bound by a huge amount of regulation. The revolutionary technologies they keep talking about? Sugar pills and water. WOW! There is, by the way, no such thing as a “wellness industry”, that’s code for “we can’t prove scientifically that our products work so let’s use emotion instead of logic to sell them”.
——————
5/5/2009
TO: Jonathan
RE: Impermissible Use of Health Claims Attributed to Mannatech Products
This is a final reminder concerning a critical issue about your website which
requires your immediate attention. We have previously asked you to permanently
remove any statements which are or could be construed to be unauthorized health
claims. The statements made on your website are contrary to Mannatech policy.
Demand is hereby made that you immediately remove from your website any
statement or reference which (i) states, suggests or implies that Mannatech
nutritional products prevent, treat or cure disease, (ii) states, suggests or
implies that Mannatech nutritional products are a substitute for a doctor?s
standard of care, and/or (iii) is in any manner in contradiction with
Mannatech?s existing policies and procedures. Demand is further made that you
refrain from engaging in this activity in the future.
If you have not already done so, you have three (3) days from the receipt of
this letter to send the undersigned written confirmation stating such statements
and/or references have been removed from your website and that you will refrain
from engaging in this activity in the future.
This issue is very important to us, and we are sure you understand our
concerns. We are monitoring your website, and failure to fully comply may result
in legal and compliance action up to and including litigation in which Mannatech
will seek injunctive relief, damages, attorney?s fees and costs as allowable
under Texas law. Mannatech will undertake all actions necessary to secure your
compliance.
We thank you for your assistance if you have already complied with this
demand. If you have yet to fully comply, please take advantage of this final
opportunity to comply and avoid further action being taken by Mannatech.
Nothing herein shall be construed as a waiver of any rights Mannatech has at law
or in equity, all of which are expressly reserved.
Your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter are greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Mannatech Legal, Ethics & Compliance Department
I just watched this and I can’t help but think of zombie movies. If a virulent form of the H1N1 flu strikes, buy lots of ammo and a shovel as the government will stick its head in the sand (protecting itself of course) and everybody else around you will freak-out and die in short order. Societies around the world fall one by one over the course of a year or two as wave after wave goes around the world. Masks don’t work against viruses unless you know how to put one one and take it off properly.
Not a nice picture is it, ah well, time for a trip to the local hardware store, I hear they have a big discount on shovels! Alternatively, you can build a log cabin in the bush and stay there the rest of your life, hoping the duck you eat doesn’t get infected and caught its last breath onto you.
Here is a possible solution to confirm your upcoming bout with mortality… It’s always nice to know ahead of time that you are about to die and there is nothing you can do about it right?
Before you pre-emptively go out there on a binge of population control, there is some hope.
Fell all better? Yes? No? Well, that’s life… it will end one day, it isn’t a choice. Time to live everyday as if it was your last and stop procrastinating!
Well, it has been one month now since I completely stopped using toothpaste, my oral hygiene regimen of rinsing my mouth with baking soda / salt twice a day followed by brushing my teeth with plain water twice a day seems to have actually IMPROVED things!
Stumbling upon a far more effective alternative to mouthwash
I use to use mouthwash but it seems that, after a few hours, the “ickiness” would always return and overnight, well, in the morning I felt like I had drank from a swamp the night before. All those chemicals moving around in my mouth also don’t inspire much confidence considering all the health issues people are having later in life due to environmental and lifestyle choices followed over a lifetime. There HAD to be alternatives, I read a few online articles a few years back and stumbled upon the “salt” rinsing. It’s quite easy, fill a 1/2 cup of hot water and mix in about a tablespoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda. The result? Well, the best damn mouthwash you can ever have at a fraction of the price of what is being “marketed” as the best. Throw the rest into an oral irrigator and your mouth will be as clean as an emergency room floor (before the patient comes in of course).
Toothpaste, for all it’s wonders, is actually rather useless
I was brought-up being “marketed” by dentists and businesses that if I don’t use toothpaste, my teeth would fall-out and gingivitis was just around the corner… what a bunch of BS! Standing-up to commercial forces even in the face of conventional wisdom is actually a fantastic habit to have! Most of toothpaste ingredients are geared towards polishing, considering it’s thrown-out a few seconds after being “applied”, it makes you realize how either incredibly potent (ei: dangerous) or useless it really is. Consider toothpaste is a rather recent invention, I can safely say that it isn’t worth the status it has been given.
Results after one month
After one month of the no-toothpaste lifestyle, my gums have went from a slight redness along the gum-line to pink! My mouth always feels fresh and clean even after a meal or a few hours of heavy exercise. Even better… “tartar build-up” is gone and my teeth are actually WHITTER! What can I conclude? Well, I wish I started this regimen 30 years ago! It has saved me money and proven incredibly effective! Before you ask your dentist about following this regimen, realize that he or she, although a professional, is still being marketed rather heavily by companies that want you to use their oral products. Try this regimen for a month, go see your dentist, ask them if they see (or you feel) a difference THEN tell them what you have done!
Is Listerine environmentally friendly?
I have nothing against Listerine or other products but when a far more effective (and cheap) method exists that is environmentally friendly, why are we being marketed bogus junk? Just think of the chemical and logistical footprint that a simple product like Listerine has on the environment? A lot of wasted energy to produce an inferior product… that is mass-produced and marketed as THE BEST when it really falls rather short. I have no qualms about the “chemicals” in my salt/baking-soda mouthwash but who knows the long-term ramifications of the chemicals found in most toothpastes and mouthwashes these days. I think our governments have truly failed us on so many levels, it’s astonishing how much of our daily lives are influenced on a subconscious level by marketing whose focus is on profits rather than co-existing within our environment.
The Bigger Issue: The government doesn’t care
If the government really cared about our health, things such as alcohol, junk food (including TV diners), tobacco products… the list goes on, would simply not be available for consumption much less marketed to us on a daily basis. If the government really cared about the environment, mass-production of useless products when environmentally friendly alternatives existed wouldn’t be profitable. If the government really cared about it’s citizens, it would put a higher priority on physical education (government run gyms, school programs etc) instead of promoting a lifestyle of stagnation. Governments are there to help guide a population regardless of economic considerations but this sadly has changed where financial considerations have a higher priority than of the people it “should” be representing.
The Bottom Line
Only by standing-up against conventional wisdom can truth be discovered.
The LegendaryLife.com Blog is all about making not only the most out of your life but making it a successful one. Be warned though, it may cause you to think about things that others do not want you to.
Mannatech is barking-up the wrong tree, their threats are as empty as their distributor’s promises.
Well, it has been one month now since I completely stopped using toothpaste, my oral hygiene regimen of rinsing my mouth with baking soda / salt twice a day followed by brushing my teeth with plain water twice a day seems to have actually IMPROVED things!
