4 posts tagged “china imports”
The continental U.S. has oceans on three sides and within its borders America is teeming with lakes, rivers and streams. The entire U.S. and its territories (Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have more access to the worlds oceans than any other nation and the most sophisticated food production capability of any agricultural producing country. Why do we have this problem?
Many Americans would be surprised to learn that 80 percent of seafood
sold in the country is imported. The FDA inspects and tests less than 1 percent
of it. When the FDA does inspect, it frequently finds the fish is unhealthy and
filled with banned chemicals, making it unhealthy for consumers. -Food Democracy
Recently, tests in Alabama found traces of
the antibiotic fluoroquinolone in 13 of 20 samples of imported fish from
China. This led Alabama’s Agriculture Department to place an official ban
on the sale of all fish labeled as catfish imported from China.
Subsequently, Wal-Mart stores nationwide have removed the entire stock of frozen
Chinese fish sold under the guise of catfish fillets. -U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-04)
The problems with Chinese seafood are evident in a database of products that the FDA stops at the border. In May, for instance, the
F.D.A. turned away 165 shipments from China, 49 of which were seafood. Monk fish
was rejected for being filthy. Frozen catfish nuggets were turned away
because they contained veterinary drugs. Tilapia fillets were
contaminated with salmonella. The problems were even worse in
April, when 257 shipments from China were rejected, including 68 of
seafood. Frozen eel contained pesticides, frozen channel catfish had
salmonella and frozen yellow fin steaks were filthy, the records show. -NY Times
So far in 2007, veterinary drug refusals have made up 19.5 percent of all seafood import refusals, compared to 8 percent in 2006, 3 percent in 2005, 6 percent in 2004, and 2 percent in 2003 - Food and Water Watch.
| Sharp Increase in Import Refusals for Veterinary Drug Residues | Jan | Feb | March | April | 2007 Total (through April) | 2006 Total (Jan-Dec) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import Refusals for Veterinary Drug Residues---> | 14 | 20 | 15 | 64 | 113 | 125 |
| Chinese Import Refusals for Veterinary Drug Residues--> | 12 | 18 | 4 | 44 | 78 | 78 |
| Catfish | 10 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 29 | 9 |
| Shrimp | 8 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 3 |
America we have to get off our duffs and return to the global dominance in all areas not just entertainment and self-indulgence. This is a continued attack on the ability to sustain our own needs. We (The U.S.A.) have got to be more self-sufficient!!
a concerned seafood lover,
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
The end game is the build up of the most sophisticated military force on the face of the Earth. China has held this
position before (B.C.E). They have access to our secrets (i.e. Navy EP-3) when they sent that spy plane back in boxes. 'A Chinese sub was apparently able to slip past at least a dozen U.S. warships, two U.S. submarines and a vast array of advanced technology, which failed to detect it'. according to the National Terror Alert Response Center. Is that our stealth technology they used to sneak up on the U.S.S Kitty Hawk, which by the way was refused entry into Hong Kong along with a nuclear sub and members of its strike group for Thanksgiving; but then spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Liu Jianchao reversed the decision hours after the ship had turned around (China's upset about the medal awarded to the Dalai Lama and U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan). With their build up of new military weapons such as the anti-satellite missile, the Chinese defense budget will increase by 17.8% over the previous year to $45 billion. The Pentagon believes it to be up to three times that amount ($135 billion). Yes it is dwarfed by Washington's budget of more than $440 billion; but we (Department of Defense) contract with the highest bidder and then subsequently they (Defense Industry) sub-contract with the lowest bidder (China) for production of some of the most advanced and vital components of our strategic systems. So the PRC Military doesn't need to spend as much in R&D. We give it to them along with a paycheck.An energy devouring country, with an ambitious space program, seeking to go to the moon, awash in cash, and in support of Iranian nuclear prodution China is a National Security Threat. This does not mean regime change as my Republican friends seem so often to use as a battle cry; but it does warrant some changes at the core of our social (China Part 1), economic (China Part 2) and military (China Part 3) strategies. We need strong leadership that stands somewhere between protectionism and globalism. The strength to turn away from what is cheap to what is good. I was told that "freedom ain't free"; but I know it's not "made in china" either. America what is our priority?
A No Limit Solider,
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
Hooray for the holidays!! ( I'm trying to get in the holiday spirit.) Sale's on everything, I just read the best deal of the day. A laptop for less than $300.00 at Fry's Electronics. I remember when they cost over $3000.00. We will spend our time thinking of others (hopefully) as others (China) spends their time thinking of US (hope you get the pun). This is not China bashing as for 75% of the things I own are produced there (the other 25% are in my fridge and gas tank). I could bore you with their currency manipulation, or unfair trade practices or their worldwide oil grab; but lets not talk about the obvious. Lets not talk about the ability to have the creature comforts available to us for pennies on the dollar. It's the U.S. vs the E.U. vs Russia; 'play them against each other'. China will buy 160 jets from Airbus for $14.8 billion and Boeing gets $0. The PRC will spend $11.9 billion with the French company Areva to build two advanced nuclear plants; while U.S. engineers at G.E. get tainted dog food, toxic toothpaste and lead toys for their tots. Yes the U.S. and Russia will get their turn to sell; with China planning to build as many as 33 nuclear plants by 2020 and soon to be the second largest airline market in the world (America's #1), Boeing will eventually sell a 777 or two.
They (China) have what is guaranteed in a global economy. When competition is abound; But at the consumer level we (individuals) have none. It's all made (most of it anyway) in China. It is a tool (cheap imports) that has eroded our economy. 'Drag them down, make them slaves to the very things they desire. Give them so much that a generation forgets how to produce and labor for themselves'. Please take the time to explore the hyper-text links to get a macro view of the economic bomb that's being unleashed. America we need our manufacturing back; new and improved since the USD is at a low its time to make the fine, quality products that were accustomed too and SELL! SELL! SELL!
The Salesman,
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
The Peoples Republic of China
, a billion people strong and growing has been a closed
society to much of the world.
I recently purchased a Skype phone for my computer, with hopes of having live video conversations with other users so I could eventually get my family involved and offer a unique way for us to keep in touch. I'm not one who spends much time in chat rooms or even seeks to fill my buddy list with endless entries of creative (I'm being nice) screen names. So my quest began with the usual; seeking anyone-with-a-pulse mode ( gotta make sure it works). Then I queried a real human being. She was from Germany. We had intelligent discussions, shared music, uploaded pictures of each other (she was cute), I had my climax; beta testing was over. In between our trans-Atlantic liaison a flurry of introductions from mainly Chinese users, some personal, others wanting to sell services and products they manufactured started to consume my bandwidth.
I responded to inquires, viewed product lists, and helped some young Chinese college student who was eager to learn English; major in international business and generate clients. The more I Skyped, the more I saw of China's citizenry. I shared this new weapon of mass communication with my older brother (a real techno-phile and phone jockey) He has single-handedly taken U.S.- China relations to a new plateau. Then I stepped back and looked at the macro view. China is not an open society, their media is tightly controlled, information filtered, and they have severe restrictions on free speech. Such as the case with journalist Shi Tao and the Internet writer Wang Xiaoning. They received 10-year sentences after
being identified with the help of information from Jerry Yang, Yahoo Inc.'s CEO (pooh-pooh on you Jerry).
Thus some of the pros and cons of China's experiment with changes in the structure of their society. We are at war America not just against terrorism; but for the ideals of our society, our culture/multi-culture and our wealth. Every smiling face cut-and-pasted on the web is not a free-thinking individual, some are willingly and/or unwittingly used to further geo-political ideologies. I am not trying rant about the unseen forces of the dark-side; just taking a broad view of the world beyond my life, the Oakland Raiders (retire Al, I love you; but it's time) and what's for dinner. Mindless (Godless) living, oblivious to an overt attack can be devastating and has repeatedly conquered many thriving, vibrant societies throughout history. We (America) are at the pinnacle; loved and hated in the same breath.
The Patriot,
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
