Wei&Shu(Joe)

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they'll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies -- including Wal-Mart.

In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.

According to about a dozen Wal-Mart employees who attended such meetings in seven states, Wal-Mart executives claim that employees at unionized stores would have to pay hefty union dues while getting nothing in return, and may have to go on strike without compensation. Also, unionization could mean fewer jobs as labor costs rise.

The actions by Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest private employer -- reflect a growing concern among big business that a reinvigorated labor movement could reverse years of declining union membership.

...

"The meeting leader said, 'I am not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill will pass and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union,'" said a Wal-Mart customer-service supervisor from Missouri. "I am not a stupid person. They were telling me how to vote," she said.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121...9066303381.html

Next meeting: If the Democrats win you'll probably end up with health insurance. Then you'll have to go have that prostate exam you've been dreading! They'll even tell you to have a colonoscopy! The only way to keep your butt safe from intrusion is to vote republican!

So guess what my friends?

Got an email this morning, I was RFE'd.

Now to find out what the heck I did wrong, if I call will they tell me?

So sorry. Hope it's simple and quick!

Joe

(Hope you April folks don't mind me crashing the party and sharing this with you)

I got an email this morning and we were approved!!! On July 31st. YAY!! We are soo very happy!!

Stephanie

Way to go Stephanie!

Yay!

Lovely to see all those April approvals...Means us may filers can get in there

So if you remaining peeps could please get approved and cleared out of VSC, we May-ers would greatly appreciate!

hehe, but seriously Congrats to all the new approvals, and I hope to see the rest of you with that lovely timeline marker dated very soon

<3 <3

Jen

Yes, we May filers are waiting on you guys! Did you bring 50 items to the 10 item line?

Let's get another cashier up here and get the line moving!

I think they're sitting around up in Vermont watching Kim's DVD and not working on our petitions!

Joe

I don't think it is normal.

Nor a good sign of things to come.

I have never had an argument with my fiance.

Some people like to argue and bicker, as for me I have no time for it.

Hope you can work things out.

This is abnormal, if you never argue, then one of you has no mind of their own, a little arguing is normal and healthy. To the OP yes arguing is normal, we're all human.

This disagreement may just be semantics. I can think of a wide range of ways that people might argue or disagree. This poster may merely be saying that their style of working out differences is calm and comfortable, not that they never disagree. Every couple has disagreements. Most couples work to resolve their differences. Some do that with anger, some without. Some have noted they become angry over insignificant things; A sure sign that the anger is about something other than what's being discussed.

One thing to consider when there is a difference between talking and chat is that the person who is angry may feel that her partner isn't listening, or acknowledging the things on her mind when they talk. In chat, you can't interrupt or sigh in the middle of her telling you what is important to her. She can get it all out. Personally, if I had this situation, I would practice my listening skills when on the phone. Mayber I'd be wrong, but it is the first thing I'd try to improve the situation. Tell her that if something is on her mind, good or bad, you'd like to hear it, then let her talk as long as she needs to, just say OH or Hmmm every once in a while to let her know you are paying attention. When she is done talking let her know you understand by saying, "So if I hear correctly, what bothers you most is..." and summarize what you think you heard. First, she needs to know that you understand and you need to know that you've heard her correctly. Whether you agree or disagree is really not that important. Once you get it right ask her what she would like to see that would make her feel more comfortable. Then honestly let her know if you can do that for her. Maybe you will say that you can't but you can do something else. Let her know calmly what you feel you can do.

Many times, as men, we want to solve the problem and move on. For many women, it is more important that their feelings be acknowledged, then they can listen to the solving part. Sometimes, as men, we have to practice this acknowledging feelings. It often doesn't come naturally. If you start practicing now, you'll have an easier time when she arrives.

So the person who said he and his fiancee don't argue may not be abnormal. He might be a good listener and he and his fiancee may resolve all of their differences in a way that doesn't involve anger or raised voices and includes lots of mutual respect. He may not consider that "arguing", but I'm sure they still have and resolve their differences.

What makes a woman feel like she has a mind of her own? A partner who listens and makes it clear that her thoughts and feelings are important so she doesn't need to raise her voice to be heard or a partner who engages in arguments over petty things?

To the OP: I don't know your situation and I'm not saying you have this problem. I'm only talking about one possible problem to think about and addressing the notion that it's abnormal not to "argue". There will always be disagreements. It's a matter of you and your SO developing an acceptable (to both of you) style for resolving them so they don't lead to accumulating anger.

Probably not the right place for this, but you guys are all so helpful and knowledgeable .

I got a new job and get to fill out a W-2 next week. I never understand what to put though, what to claim I guess. It's just me and my husband and he has his own job. No kids. I want them to take out enough taxes so that we don't have to pay come tax time. A huge refund isn't ideal either though, because then you are lending the government money interest free.

Anyone?

Thanks!!

A W-2 is what your employer gives you at the end of the year. I think what you give your employer is a W-3. It is accompanied by a very clear worksheet that walks you through what to claim but it sounds like, if it is just you and your husband, you would put "married" and "2"

Didn't understand if you were both working or just your husband. And dealing with the number of exemptions to claim that determines how much your employer will withhold from each paycheck. Can't ever be more than what you legally have, but can be less, and in theory, if you claim the exact number of exemptions you will be claiming on your tax returns, should be close to zero for either amount due or a refund. So if both working, each claim 1 or if your husband is just working, he can claim 2. I personally prefer to owe the government at tax time, stick some money in a savings account and earn a couple of bucks of interest on it.

They charge 1% interest per month on past due taxes, but don't give you a cent if you pay in advance. Not fair.

I don't believe you'd split the exemptions among them if they both work. If they file one return all their income would be taxed at married with 2 exemptions. If they each put one, all their income will have withholdings based on married one and they'd end up with a refund when the second exemption is applied when they file.

Probably not the right place for this, but you guys are all so helpful and knowledgeable .

I got a new job and get to fill out a W-2 next week. I never understand what to put though, what to claim I guess. It's just me and my husband and he has his own job. No kids. I want them to take out enough taxes so that we don't have to pay come tax time. A huge refund isn't ideal either though, because then you are lending the government money interest free.

Anyone?

Thanks!!

A W-2 is what your employer gives you at the end of the year. I think what you give your employer is a W-3. It is accompanied by a very clear worksheet that walks you through what to claim but it sounds like, if it is just you and your husband, you would put "married" and "2"

Actually it is a W-4 you have to fill out. What you put down depends if you will have any deductions at the end of the year that will cause you to have a big refund. For example if you will claim a lot of interest on your house, you could add 1 more to the total number, or if you will drive a lot of miles for your job (not to and from work) then you could add 1. If you will not have many deductions then just put down 2.

Oh, yes. W3 is the summary the employer sends to the feds. Sorry

A Temp EAD stamp on your I-94 is valid for 90 days, it does not end when you get married. If you have a temp EAD stamp then you can work upto the expiry date on the I-94 then you should stop work until you have a approved EAD that you applied for along with your AOS.

If you do not have a temp EAD stamp then you can not work until you have been approved for EAD that you filled for along with your AOS.

Jon

How did you got a TEMP STAMP FOR I-94???? THE ONLY STAMP I HAVE IN MY I-94 is the DHS customs and boarder protection which is valid until SEPT. 16..... IS IT THE SAME???

It is my understanding that the EAD stamp is meaningless. It is a 90 day EAD. All K1 visa holders are work authorized for 90 days, mainly so they can get the SSN.

The problem is that, EAD stamp or not, you'd have to stop working at 90 days until you receive your green card.

You're half right.

All K1 visa holders are authorized to work incident to their status as K1 visa holders. This is defined in Title 8 CFR §274a.(12).(a) and §274a.(12).(a).(6).

However, as the same section states:

"Any alien who is within a class of aliens described in paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(6)-(a)(8), (a)(10)-(a)(15), or (a)(20) of this section, and who seeks to be employed in the United States, must apply to U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a document evidencing such employment authorization."

Paragraph (a)(6) is K1 visa holders. So they are authorized to work, but they also have to have documentary proof of this authorization to have a job. This documentary proof comes in the form of an EAD stamp, or a category (a)(6) EAD card (which it isn't worth applying for). So if you have the stamp you can legally work, if you don't you can't (unless you have a card).

You have to stop working when your EAD expires (be it a stamp or a card) until you get another piece of documentary evidence stating you're authorized to work, either your [c][9] category EAD card, or the green card itself.

Yes, that is because the 90 day EAD is not intended as a viable work permit. It is included so that K1s can get an SSN, which some states require to obtain a marriage license. Without it K1s in certain jurisdictions would be in a situation where they were required to marry in 90 days but unable to obtain a marriage license until they married and adjusted staus.

The intent is obviously not for K1s to all find <90 day employment then have to quit. Yes, they must have documentary evidence. So if you go and get a job with a 90 day authorization the employer should correctly ask what documentation will you be able to show me in 90 days? Will you have work authorization documents beyond then? The above law makes it clear to employers that unless they are hiring for under 90 days their employee will be illegal at that time and they will have no documentation and you'll both be in violation of the law.

If you've found a great 89 day job in the US, more power to you. I'm not knockin' it. A K1 visa is documentary evidence that by law you are work authorized for 90 days because by law, you are work authorized. It can therefore be presented at SS office to obtain SSN.

I'm not a lawyer but I've seen these discussed extensively here and on candleforlove.com and the relevant laws seem to back this up. That is why POEs stopped routinely giving the stamp.

How did you got a TEMP STAMP FOR I-94???? THE ONLY STAMP I HAVE IN MY I-94 is the DHS customs and boarder protection which is valid until SEPT. 16..... IS IT THE SAME???

Certain points of entry into the US give out this stamp. The most commonly cited one is JFK airport. It is a different stamp to the entry stamp on the I-94. It's a red stamp on the back of the I-94 which says "EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED UNTIL" and then a hand written date (at least that's what I got from JFK airport). Without this stamp (the stamp itself is an category (a)(6) EAD), or an actual EAD card of category (a)(6), it's not legal for a K1 visa holder to accept employment.

Again, I think this is incorrect information. All K1's are work authorized for 90 days. Why is JFK the only place that gives the stamp? New Yorkers are impatient practical people. Try to convince every K1 coming through that they've misunderstood the law or use the old stamp they have around and move you along, happily thinking that you're one of the few work authorized K1's? Fuggetaboutit! Here you go. You got a stamp! Get's a free hot dog at Nathans too! Next!

A Temp EAD stamp on your I-94 is valid for 90 days, it does not end when you get married. If you have a temp EAD stamp then you can work upto the expiry date on the I-94 then you should stop work until you have a approved EAD that you applied for along with your AOS.

If you do not have a temp EAD stamp then you can not work until you have been approved for EAD that you filled for along with your AOS.

Jon

How did you got a TEMP STAMP FOR I-94???? THE ONLY STAMP I HAVE IN MY I-94 is the DHS customs and boarder protection which is valid until SEPT. 16..... IS IT THE SAME???

It is my understanding that the EAD stamp is meaningless. It is a 90 day EAD. All K1 visa holders are work authorized for 90 days, mainly so they can get the SSN.

The problem is that, EAD stamp or not, you'd have to stop working at 90 days until you receive your green card.

Just wanted to share the good news! Received notice that VSC approved my petition today. I am so excited. I called Maricar in the Philippines and woke her from a sound sleep and I think she woke up the neighborhood with her shouts of joy!

Congratulations! You had a very long wait and I'm glad that it's over. (this part at least!)

Hi Everyone

We're new to VisaJourney.Com and were delighted to find such positive reinforcement in the pursuit of K1 Visas. My dear USC friend and I (his Aussie lady) are waiting on final divorce papers before we can file our K1 and were at first overwhelmingly discouraged by everything we had read and heard about getting a K1 Visa. However this site has provided us both with a renewed optimism.

We met over 26 years ago in Australia. We reunited in February 2008. We have waited a long time and I guess another 6-12 months isn't going to matter a whole lot. The information we've found on your site is invaluable. Thanks so much and we hope to share our Visa Journey with you all as it progresses.

LadyYang

Had to come see because my fiance is a Yang lady. Yang ladies are the best! Welcome to VJ.

Joe

You're too mature for that stuff

Ummm errrr ahhhh .... not really!

congrats on the mid-term!

Kim,

First of all, I thought I recognized that picture in your signature. then I pulled out my copy of "Naughty New Zealand Nighttime Nookie" and there it is on the DVD cover! (that's a joke everyone, Kim didn't sell any of her naughty home movies... that I know of)

Can I ask a technical question? On Igor's page and the K1 stats page. Some couples have no link to a profile or timeline. Some have a profile link but it takes you to the VJ home page and not a profile. Does that have any meaning? Are these people who have removed their profiles?

Thank, and please put me on the mailing list for NNZNN 2. B)

Joe

Probably not the right place for this, but you guys are all so helpful and knowledgeable .

I got a new job and get to fill out a W-2 next week. I never understand what to put though, what to claim I guess. It's just me and my husband and he has his own job. No kids. I want them to take out enough taxes so that we don't have to pay come tax time. A huge refund isn't ideal either though, because then you are lending the government money interest free.

Anyone?

Thanks!!

A W-2 is what your employer gives you at the end of the year. I think what you give your employer is a W-3. It is accompanied by a very clear worksheet that walks you through what to claim but it sounds like, if it is just you and your husband, you would put "married" and "2"

Wow this is a tough one!

You have decided to cancel the petition witch is your full right but dont you think you should talk to her first? You said that she is doing it for money so why do you think that she is chaeting on you? I am not taking her side but i will surely not judge anybody for trying to make a living as long as that person is not harming anyone. What i am trying to say is that i dont believe that anybody will do such things just for fun. I dont know where she comes from and i dont know her financial situation but maybe to her thats the only way to support herself and her family. I can understand that you are disappointed because you found out by mistake and not from her but still there must be a reason why she is doing it. You will surely feel better about your decision when you know WHY she has been doing that typ of WORK, yes i call it WORK because once again, i can't imagine such thing to be fun. You also said that you had never been happier befor so i guess she felt the same way about you or she is a good actor but only you can tell. After all you decided to file the petition because you thought she loves you the way you love her so why don't you take your time and think back befor taking any action?

I wish you good luck and may God help you to make the right decision!

She has put the O/P's life in danger (AIDS).

You're doing the right thing, as long as you are sure it is her. IMHO

Come on now, how many people put their partner's life in danger (AIDS) everyday without doing what she is doing?

I like this logic. Putting your SO's life in danger is OK as long as some other person is doing it too. If he was the only person in the world whose life was put in danger by an SO then it would be wrong. Correct?

Is your SO aware of your philosophy? Well honey, as long as someone else is abusing someone somewhere, I don't see why I should have to stop!

To the OP: Glad you found out sooner rather than later. Hope the lessons learned will allow you to find a really great woman really soon! Good luck!

Wow this is a tough one!

You have decided to cancel the petition witch is your full right but dont you think you should talk to her first? You said that she is doing it for money so why do you think that she is chaeting on you? I am not taking her side but i will surely not judge anybody for trying to make a living as long as that person is not harming anyone. What i am trying to say is that i dont believe that anybody will do such things just for fun. I dont know where she comes from and i dont know her financial situation but maybe to her thats the only way to support herself and her family. I can understand that you are disappointed because you found out by mistake and not from her but still there must be a reason why she is doing it. You will surely feel better about your decision when you know WHY she has been doing that typ of WORK, yes i call it WORK because once again, i can't imagine such thing to be fun. You also said that you had never been happier befor so i guess she felt the same way about you or she is a good actor but only you can tell. After all you decided to file the petition because you thought she loves you the way you love her so why don't you take your time and think back befor taking any action?

I wish you good luck and may God help you to make the right decision!

She has put the O/P's life in danger (AIDS).

You're doing the right thing, as long as you are sure it is her. IMHO

Come on now, how many people put their partner's life in danger (AIDS) everyday without doing what she is doing?

I like this logic. Putting your SO's life in danger is OK as long as some other person is doing it too. If he was the only person in the world whose life was put in danger by an SO then it would be wrong. Correct?

Is your SO aware of your philosophy? Well honey, as long as someone else is abusing someone somewhere, I don't see why I should have to stop!

NOA 2 approved!

I had an RFE on 7/7/08 that was replied to on 7/22/08

I had to request a waiver due to the new IMBRA law of 2006 that stated that if I had more than 2 previous K1's approved or (as in my case) had an approved K1 within the last 2 years, you must request a waiver.

Off to NVC

Good luck all!

Congratulations!

Don't forget to update your timeline so everyone can share your joy on the stats pages!

Hello VJ's.

My fiance sent the k-1 forms 03/05/2008 and 1 month later he called USCIS and asked about the forms and the only thing they could say they received the forms 03/12/2008.

We don't have the NOA1, NO2...nothing!!!!!!!!

What can we do? Will we send the forms again?

Thanks

Your timeline says you received NOA1 on 3/12/2008. Is this incorrect? Your post above says you have no NOA1.

Joe

I have my I129F visa approved from Vermont office and NVC and was sent to the embassy. The embassy contacted my fiance and told her to fill out all the paper work and do her medical examination and once she is done...send an email to the embassy and they will make an appointement.

Question: when I sent the paper work to Vermont, I sent more documents such as I134 "affidivit of support", bunch of photos, my fiance police and indivisual recorded translated. I knew what they are going to ask for and I had them done earlier ...so I decided to send them with my application to Vermont. Now they gave her a list of documents that she needs to have for the interview and some of these documents have been sent with the application.

Do I need to redo them? When u send a file to vermont or any office...do they send or transfer the whole file to the right embassy? I really don't want to take a chance for them to ask my fiance for more documentation.

Anyone gone through this situation?????/

please let me know

Congratulations on your progress! It's always good for your fiance to have everything, even if they claim to have it. Better safe than sorry!

Could you update your timeline so everyone checking the statistics can share your joy?

Thanks!

Joe

I don't think I've ever read so much right wing filth in the once place before. If the right wingers had a brain they'd take a long walk off a short cliff and give the rest of us some piece and quite for a change.

Well aren't you a happy person!

Haha! I think I'd like to nominate this for "Best Comedy Thread"!

Conservatives are smart because they accept the "truth", no matter how far from reality the propaganda veers. As one poster says in their defense, they can impose absolutes on a world that contains none and consider it a talent. The legend of St. Ronny always outdoes the man. He cut taxes and put more money in the military, thereby destroying the USSR, aligning the planets, and causing starving children everywhere to spontaneously sing his praises. Can I get an amen?! Did Gorbachov have something to do with change in the USSR? No! It was all St. Ronny, blessed be his name!

And Liberals are dumb because they think reality should be be considered in running the country. How stupid can one get?! Reality?

You know you laugh and you cry all at once.

I think neither Conservatives or Liberals are stupid because of this label. There are some stupid people on both sides. Most liberals can make a statement of truth, that some conservatives are stupid. Many conservatives see this a "shying away from absolutes". Having met maybe 0.001% of liberals in the world they can with confidence announce that all Liberals are stupid.

The publisher quoted above is talking about a very well documented cognitive style of people who label themselves "conservative". It is called "seize and freeze". Those with this cognitive style tend to seize on the first explanation offered and freeze there, defending that position strongly against the intrusion of truth. The conservative politicians are aware of this research and they have used it very well, knowing that planting the right message in their base is essential and once planted it will freeze there. Therefore, no matter how bad the economy gets any good conservative will still tell you that cutting taxes to the rich while they suffer is still a good idea and they're just waiting for the big trickle down like one waits for the second coming. While rich conservatives, knowing exactly what they are doing, head out to buy that second yacht they can now afford! As the conservative leadership knows, the publisher has to accept this fact, Liberals will read books that chjallenge their concepts of the world. Conservatives won't. Once the message is frozen they seek only reinforcing stimuli. They pay homage no matter how great the suffering. Like any other religion where the people suffer while the clergy are showered with luxury...but don't worry your reward is coming!

I think the only stupid people are those who don't realize that this piece is a religious diatribe. It isn't a factual expression of reality, obviously. It is what every religion does. Here are our myths, which we assert to be true against evidence to the contrary, these are our saints and these are the noble stories we tell of them. Anyone who doesn't abandon reality for the absolutes of our myths is an apostate, stupid, lost. Only by following the one true way can one be saved.

Oh and the evil perpetrated in the name of our religion, you liberals don't understand that for our religion to prosper we must break the law, must kill, must support evil people. It is just a fact of life that liberals don't understand. In fact, it is another of this religion's myths.

Strong evidence that it is a religion? They call Liberalism a religion despite Liberals being quite pliable in changing their approach when reality proves them wrong. It's called projection. It happens when they call terrorists Islamunofascists as well. Their is no way that this group fits any of the definitions of fascism. Nationalism? Corporatism, which Mussolini claimed as the central tenet of Fascism? Yet these people who refer to terrorists as fascist without any factual basis, will complain about being called fascist when they practice it's central concepts. Nationalism? Corpaoratism? Consolidation of power using real and contrived threats? Yes, all fascism and all a part of this movement but don't call them fascist just because they practice fascism! Call the terrorists fascist! And that would be which corporations that they've created a state with?

Liberals shy away from absolutes because, in general, they don't see Liberalism as religion. They look for govt that addresses reality and not one that creates mythical economic theories and demands you buy in to their "bible". Liberals and conservatives definitely have different cognitive approaches to the world. There is no doubt about that.

What, it seems, most conservatives who write things like this don't understand is that their are other people on this planet who agree wholeheartedly with their approach. Extremist Muslims believe all the same things. When asked what about that World Trade Center thing they will use the exact same reasoning used above to defend Iran-Contra. You just don't understand what is necessary to promote our beliefs to the rest of the world. You are just a pansy who doesn't understand what is necessary to win this war. Most conservatives will tell you that they are strong on terror, then as this post demonstrates they will feed you all the same religious, violence justifying irrational arguments as radical Islam and call you stupid if you don't think like the terrorists as well.

Comedy to the nth degree. Thank you for demonstrating so clearly, for those without frozen minds, just what this movement is all about.

*In using the term Muslim and Islam, it should be noted that I precede it with radical or extremist. I am speaking of a very small part of this faith and in no way suggest that Islam is any worse than any of the other major religions.

Hi folks

i am going everyday on the USCIS website and i remark that they use green and yellow colors for each case form in the processing times table and i really wanna know what the use of these colors ? are they touching it when its green ??

anybody please who can help?

thanks in advice for sharing ur ideas

that is just a static file....it only changes once every month...they are just putting colors to make it easier for u to read...if u notice in the top it says its updated on july 15. it only gets updated on the 15th of each month and the colors dont change with their touches..

thanks for the answers!!

u r right the update is once a month from 15th of this month to the next 15th of the next month but i am not agree with u about the colors because i am remarking they change the colors once every two days or three !!!!!

i wonder why!!!!!!

Yes, I've wondered about the colors myself. They are definitely NOT for ease of reading as they don't alternate regularly. There may be 10 or 20 consecutive with a yellow background then 2 green. They also don't demarcate visa types, so they must be there for some other reason but I've read the info there carefully and can't figure it out. Actually, I just looked and now its lots of green with a few yellows.

There is this rather cryptic statement in the heading. "When applications and petitions are complted within our target timeframe, that goal will be shown in the data display. " My best guess is that the green are petitions completed within their timeframe.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5001021,00.html

FORMER NASA astronaut and moonwalker Dr Edgar Mitchell - a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission - has stunningly claimed aliens do exist.

And he says extra-terrestrials have visited Earth on several occasions - but the alien contact has been repeatedly covered up by governments for six decades.

How long did it take for their visas to be approved?

oh and i forgot to mention that we have proof of ongoing relationship through our emails, letters, phone calls, e-cards and sype calls/chats. I plan to submit a letter explaining why I haven't been back since August 2008 and my school transcripts to prove I have been in school the whole time and therefore unable to go to China. Any suggestions for other materials to submit?

Come on over to www.candleforlove.com and you'll find all the China people are partying over there.

It doesn't sound like you have a problem.

Joe

I'm not for the animal testing of them one bit.

I also disagree with testing sunglasses on animals!

http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pdf/x3800748694.pdf

The Environmental Working Group

Peddlers of Fear

Junk Science Specialists Foment Public Health Scares

Summary: The Environmental Working

Group specializes in using unsound science

to foment health scares about various

foods, pesticides and other products.

...

“This omission,” she pointed out, “is

consistent with the fact that the EWG

president once conceded to the Weekly

Standard that the Environmental Working

Group does not have a single doctor or

scientist on staff.”

...

By now, the EWG modus operandi is

predictable. The group releases a “study,”

which concludes that exposure to an everyday

item—baby food, cosmetics,

mother’s milk, tap water, fruit and vegetables—

poses a risk to human health.

The study then follows the model that the

NRDC and Fenton Communications developed

for the 1989 Alar scare: EWG “findings” typically show that children are most

at risk by exposure to the substance in

question. The study is then released at a

press conference, often arranged by

Fenton Communications, with all the trappings

of a major scientific breakthrough.

The truth is far different. In fact, EWG

avoids conducting peer-reviewed studies,

the kind published in scientific periodicals

such as Nature, Science or the

New England Journal of Medicine. Instead,

as Tom and Gretchen Randall note

in the December 2003 Foundation Watch,

EWG studies “are associative in nature,

rather than causal.” “Causal studies, which

are used in clinical medical research,” they

point out, “demonstrate the degree to

which a particular pathogen or other agent

affects people. Associative studies simply

indicate a correlation. If activists were

to use associative research and the precautionary

principle together, they might well prohibit the use of beds, since most

people who die were lying in them.”

I'm not for the animal testing of them one bit.

I also disagree with testing sunglasses on animals!