While Tuesday, November 8th, may have been a night of torment for many progressives in the United States, there were a few initiatives which show that some part of America upholds health and well-being. Sonoma county voters banned genetically modified crops last Tuesday, and are the sixth California county to do so. The initiative passed with a12 percent margin. Also, organic farmer Linda Hopkins was elected to the District Five Board of Supervisors seat – this will be the first time in history that the board is ran by a female majority.
More good news this election season, four more U.S. cities voted to add taxes on soda this next year. Albany, Oakland, and San Francisco in California, will all initiate a penny-an-ounce tax on on soda. Boulder, Colorado will tax residents who wish to drink soda a 2-cent tax per ounce. Colorado also passed theEnd of life options act,will allows for doctors to assist with consciously ending suffering in terminally ill patients.
Also, Marijuana was legalized in Nevada, California, Massachusetts, and Maine for recreational use, and North Dakota, Florida, Montana, and Arkansas passed legislation for medical use.
California kept their ban/tax on plastic bags. This fundamental legislation shows that the majority of people still actually care about our environment, and are willing to bring their own bag to the grocery store. California also raised their tobacco tax to two dollars, supporting the idea that the west coast, truly cares about the well being of itself, and the planet. Have a wonderful week, and be hopeful that in times of turmoil even roses continue to bloom.
Node Smith, associate editor for NDNR, is a fifth year naturopathic medical student at NUNM, where he has been instrumental in maintaining a firm connection to the philosophy and heritage of naturopathic medicine amongst the next generation of docs. He helped found the first multi-generational experiential retreat, which brings elders, alumni, and students together for a weekend campout where naturopathic medicine and medical philosophy are experienced in nature. Three years ago he helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic ReVitalization (ANR), for which he serves as the board chairman. ANR has a mission to inspire health practitioners to embody the naturopathic principles through experiential education. Node also has a firm belief that the next era of naturopathic medicine will see a resurgence of in-patient facilities which use fasting, earthing, hydrotherapy and homeopathy to bring people back from chronic diseases of modern living; he is involved in numerous conversations and projects to bring about this vision.
America’s beverage companies agree that children and adults should be mindful of the calories they consume from added sugar. We are committed to being part of real solutions to public health challenges with initiatives like Balance Calories, which aims to reduce beverage calories in the American diet by 20 percent by 2025 through innovation, reformulation and smaller package sizes. We also support clear and understandable nutrition facts about foods and beverages and have voluntarily placed clear calorie labels on the front of the bottles and cans we produce.
While we may disagree with some on discriminatory taxes, our work with public health and civic groups to actually reduce calories and sugar consumption is a stronger way forward to bring about lasting change. We will remain engaged in public health issues because we, too, want a healthy, America.