CS>DON'T MISS IT --Mon 3/ 26 at 9:00 pm
THSI IS *VERY IMPORTANT*! IF YOU CAN WATCH THIS, DON'T MISS IT, MARCH 26th at 9:00 pm Subject: Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report on PBS - March 26th at 9:00 pm In TRADE SECRETS: A MOYERS REPORT, correspondent Bill Moyers and producer Sherry Jones uncover how our health and safety have been put at risk and why powerful forces don't want the truth to be known. This investigative report, accompanied by a PBS.org Web site, is based on a massive archive of secret industry documents as shocking as the "tobacco papers." TRADE SECRETS provides everyone working on toxic chemicals and environmental health issues a tremendous education and outreach opportunity. To help maximize that opportunity, the Environmental Health Fund, the Environmental Working Group, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice and Women's Voices For the Earth are launching Coming Clean, a project aimed at cleaning up the chemical industry's contamination of our food, our bodies and our environment. Coming Clean is working with groups across the country to organize local communities. TRADE SECRETS viewing events. For more information about how you can organize a viewing event in your community, please contact Ann Long at annl...@shentel.net, Charlotte Brody at cbr...@chej.org, Bryony Schwan at s...@wildrockies.org or Monica Rohde at mro...@chej.org or visit http://www.comeclean.org Whatever you do, make sure you're watching PBS on March 26th. And make sure everyone you know is watching with you. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Thanks to Bill Moyers, we're about to get one of our biggest and best weapons yet in the fight against a poisoned planet.
CS>Cost-cutting drug plan struck down
Cost-cutting drug plan struck down Law that would import cheaper drugs wont be implemented ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 A new law aimed at cutting prescription drug prices by allowing them to be reimported from Canada wont be implemented by Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala IN A LETTER Tuesday to President Clinton, Shalala said the law had serious flaws and loopholes. Those concerns make it impossible for me to demonstrate that it is safe and cost effective, she wrote. As such, I cannot sanction the allocation of taxpayer dollars to implement such a system. Signed by President Clinton before Election Day, the law was an attempt to address the clamor for cheaper prescription drugs particularly among the elderly. Lawmakers were unable to agree on a more sweeping plan to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare. Drugs manufactured in the United States can be purchased for much less in Canada, principally because the government regulates prices, a solution fiercely resisted here. For example, the allergy-sinus medication Flonase Nasal costs $46 in the United States, but just $23 in Canada. Likewise, 45 pills of the anti-depressant Prozac can cost about $106 in the United States and $43 in Canada. The law was vigorously opposed by the pharmaceutical industry and Democratic critics called it a Band-Aid fix for the countrys troubles with prescription drug prices, manufactured to give political cover to those who opposed broader solutions. Advertisement The Presidential Election and Other Cool Facts No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin Other books by Doris Kearns Goodwin Shalala was directed by the legislation to review the law and determine whether it was cost effective and safe. Shalala said she would not request $23 million available to establish a system for overseeing the importation of drugs from Canada. She argued that the law raises safety issues because theres no guarantee that imported drugs will carry labels approved by the Food and Drug Administration. And she complained that the law did nothing to keep drug manufacturers from strong-arming distributors into raising prices on imported drugs. But Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., a co-author of the legislation, said the administration simply chickened out. The best approach would have been to say, well pass a law that does something and then we will wait and see how the drug companies react, Dorgan said. If they start playing games then at least well all know who the villain is. But this makes no sense at all. Now we know the drug companies will do nothing because were doing nothing. Chris Jennings, Clintons top health policy aide, said Shalalas stinging assessment was on target. We have an obligation not to raise hopes with false promises, he said. There are loopholes that allow the intent of the legislation to be completely thwarted.
CS>Gateways and Publications
Here is a comprehensive list of govt health web sites which may benefit everyone in some way..be well.. Bill D 1. Gateways and Publications Healthfinder.gov http://www.healthfinder.gov/ This comprehensive site is the federal government`s gateway to consumer health and human services information MEDLINE Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ With over 9 million biomedical journal article abstracts, Medline is highly regarded by medical professionals. Plus links for health topics, dictionaries, organizations, news, and more The Surgeon General http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/sgoffice.htm Visit the virtual office of the Surgeon General of the United States Reports of the Surgeon General http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports.htm Reports on smoking, suicide, nutrition, physical activity and health, and HIV/AIDS, to name a few National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov Easy access to the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) 25 institutions and research trials (an NIH site specifically devoted to cancer trials is cancertrials.nci.nih.gov) Health Topics A to Z http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm Health Topics A to Z from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a listing of disease and health topics found on the agency's Web site Links to State and Local Health Departments http://www.cdc.gov/other.htm Click on your state or selected counties Health Web Links http://www.consumer.gov/health.htm Health consumer information from the Federal government Government and Consumer Publications on Health http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/health.htm General health information from the Federal Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project http://www.ahrq.gov/data/hcup/hcupnet.htm Identify, track, analyze, and compare statistics on hospitals at the national, regional, and state level 2. Food and Nutrition Food Information Gateway http://www.consumer.gov/food.htm Consumer information on food from the Federal government Interactive Healthy Eating Index http://www.usda.gov/cnpp Provides a quick assessment of the quality of your diet, including nutrition information targeted to your specific score FoodSafety.Gov http://www.foodsafety.gov Gateway to government food safety information Nutrition Navigator http://navigator.tufts.edu/ A rating guide to nutrition Web sites Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/list.html Food and nutrition information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Recommended Dietary Allowances http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dga/rda.html >From the National Academy of Sciences Local Farmers Markets http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm Click on your state to find a local farmers market Dietary Guidelines for Americans http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines Online access to the fifth edition of Nutrition & Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a joint publication of the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Agriculture 3. Specific Topics or Concerns Healthfinder Hot Topics http://www.healthfinder.gov/hottopics.htm Healthfinder's monthly top search topics and perennial favorites are highlighted here for quick and easy searches. Topics include AIDS, diabetes, allergies, depression, pregnancy and alternative medicine Help with Substance Abuse or Mental Health Problems http://www.samhsa.gov/look3.htm This site has resources to help you with a mental health or substance abuse problem, including directories of service providers, referral hotlines, and mental health/consumer survival resources Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/index.html A look at mental illness as a critical public health problem Help with Stress and Anxiety http://www.mentalhealth.org/ Review the publications or use the search function to find information on dealing with stress and anxiety and other issues Asthma and Indoor Environments http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma Basic information about asthma and reducing common asthma triggers in your home Diet, Health and Fitness http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-health.htm Consumer education publications in English and Spanish on topics such as dieting, indoor tanning, vision correction procedures, and infertility services to name a few My Medicines http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/my-medicines/meds_eng.html Advice for women on using medicines wisely Special Collection: Health and Literacy http://hub1.worlded.org/health/curric.htm Links to easy-to-read publications on HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, alcohol, pregnancy, infant care and more, including information in Spanish Travelers' Health http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ How to protect yourself from disease when traveling outside the U.S. and alerts about disease outbreaks CancerNet http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/ Gateway to the most recent and accurate cancer information from the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials http://www.clini
CS>Hydrazine sulfate
Dec. 4 A controversial compound favored by some cancer patients and available for purchase on the Internet has been blamed for causing the death of a 55-year-old man. BUT ONE of the compounds proponents is highly critical of the report, which is igniting a new dispute over whether the substance is harmful, and rehashing the discussion of whether it even works. Hydrazine sulfate, a component of rocket fuel thats available in pill form, has been embroiled in controversy since its application against cancer in the 1960s. Supporters cite medical studies that show it counters both cancer and the wasting caused by the disease, called cachexia. But opponents, including the National Cancer Institute, insist there is no evidence of effectiveness, pointing to three NCI-sponsored studies. This latest report, which appears in Tuesdays issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, is unlikely to quell the controversy. In the journal, Dr. Mark I. Hainer of Moncrief Community Army Hospital in Fort Jackson, S.C., and colleagues describe the case of a 55-year-old cancer patient who died of liver failure at the hospital. The man had been diagnosed with cancer of the left sinus cavity. He declined conventional therapies, including radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Instead, he selected the alternative therapy hydrazine sulfate, which he reportedly obtained on the Internet, and took about 180 milligrams per day for four months after his diagnosis. When he arrived at Moncrief Community Army Hospital, he had a rash, itching, progressive malaise and jaundice for two weeks. As soon as the rash had appeared, the patient stopped taking the hydrazine sulfate. Hainer noted in the case report that he could not obtain samples of the compound the man had taken, nor did he test his blood for the presence of hydrazine sulfate. The man was admitted to the hospital for liver and kidney failure, and later died. An autopsy revealed destruction of the kidney and liver tissue. But, wrote Hainer, No evidence showed tumor metastasis or preexisting liver disease. Hainer concluded the mans liver and kidney failure most likely were caused by the ingestion of hydrazine sulfate. He based this on direct and indirect evidence, namely that versions of hydrazine have been linked to liver damage. Also, Hainer wrote that the autopsy descriptions of the patients liver and kidney damage are consistent with direct kidney and liver injury from the ingestion of a toxin. But Dr. Joseph Gold, director of Syracuse Cancer Research Institute, Inc. in New York (not affiliated with Syracuse University), isnt convinced. He first proposed using hydrazine sulfate to treat cancer patients in the 1960s. Theres never been a report of liver failure or death since its inception in clinical use in 1973, he said. Gold faulted the case report on several grounds: No samples of the compound were analyzed, the mans blood was not tested, and the form of hydrazine Hainer said was toxic to the liver is different from the hydrazine used in the hydrazine sulfate alternative therapy. Theres no direct or indirect evidence [that hydrazine sulfate caused the death], he said. They didnt even do the blood studies. In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Martin Black of Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, noted that reports of hydrazine toxicity to the liver and kidneys in humans are scant. He said that hydrazine is considered to be free of toxic effects in humans. In some ways, this is a fluke, he said. But Hainer and Black used this case as a warning against patients self-medicating with drugs, especially those that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Taking this drug without supervision thats not a wise thing to do, Black said. Gold agreed with this point. We dont believe in any patient taking the drug other than under a doctors supervision, he said. Anybody who purchases the drug on the Internet is crazy, Gold added, recommending people instead obtain hydrazine sulfate from compounding pharmacists. Gold asserted this wouldnt be an issue if it were not for resistance by the National Cancer Institute. That hydrazine sulfate has been forced to [resort to] the Internet is the fault of the NCI and the FDA, he said. Gold pointed to clinical trials that he said support the ability of hydrazine sulfate to either arrest the growth of cancer and/or limit the effects of cancer-linked cachexia. But three NCI-sponsored clinical trials reportedly showed no significant survival or anti-cachectic benefits. All three were negative, said Mary McCabe, director of the NCIs office of education and special initiatives. Three randomized studies have been done. Those studies were negative. Advertisement In the continuing back-and-forth of this debate, Gold criticized the design of these studies, which h
CS>BRITISH MALPRACTICE
Healthy Limbs Amputated, Wrong Kidney Removed: UKs Medical Victims By Margareta-Erminia Cassani http://www.moonbowmedia.com 11-20-00 LONDON (AFP) - Twenty-seven year old Vicki Gilbert has one leg. Doctors in the northern English city of Birmingham amputated her other leg for a bone cancer she never had. Horror stories like Vicki's, where British patients are left permanently scarred through medical error, are slowly but surely filtering into the news here, with associations springing up to fight for the rights of the victims. There's the case of Jennifer Cormack, a 63-year old nurse who underwent a double masectomy -- for breast cancer she never had. In another much-publicised accident, 70-year old Graham Reeves died in January after doctors at a hospital in Wales removed his one healthy kidney, and left him with the one they were supposed to take out. "It's been very much a hidden problem," says Liz Thomas, policy and research manager at Action for the Victims of Medical Accidents (AVMA). "Until this year there really has been no acknowledgement that it is a real problem within the NHS, that adverse events happen in every (hospital) trust across the country every day." Now, Thomas says: "We have had a first step. They have recognised that mistakes are being made." What is hard is getting the health authorities here to tackle the problem, she says. Last year the National Health Service (NHS) was forced to pay out 400 million pounds (570 million dollars) to compensate the victims of medical accidents. Officials estimate it could be liable for another 2.4 billion pounds (3.4 billion dollars) from existing claims. Vicki has been awarded 1.2 million pounds (1.7 million dollars) in compensation. She is not the only one to get some form of financial recognition of her fate. Since the beginning of this year, the courts here have ruled in favour of three other victims of medical error. The authorities here are only too aware of what effect medical error horror stories have on public confidence in the NHS, the country's biggest employer with a workforce of one million. Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson decided to play it clean -- and hopefully regain trust -- in June when he had a report published detailing medical error. The report was called an "Organisation with a Memory" -- and memory was precisely what it said hospitals did not have. It said reports on medical accidents were sent out to so many different bodies that the information hardly ever got to those on the frontline, the hospital staff, and vital lessons are not learnt. When an accident happens, the authorities want a quick scapegoat -- a doctor or a medical officer to blame -- but not enough attention is paid to the conditions in which the accident took place and which could have caused it, the report said. It said there was a "blame culture" which could "encourage people to cover up errors for fear of retribution and act against the identification of the true causes of failure." Many here point to understaffing problems in the health service and the fact that doctors and nurses are often overworked and exhausted. Thomas agrees. "The evidence will suggest that if you are running wards with fewer staff... there are chances you are going to get more accidents taking place." There are currently vacancies for 15,000 nurses in the British health service. Emma and Ed Fogg have experienced the tragic consequences of staff tiredness firsthand. The couple recently recounted in the British press the night they took their 22-month old son Jacob to hospital in London. He was running a temperature and appeared lethargic. They were seen by a doctor so tired "he was blinking to stay awake and had tiredness blotches under his eyes." The doctor said their son had a simple case of influenza. A few hours later, Jacob was dead. He was in fact suffering from meningococcal meningitis -- an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord which has fever as one of its early symptoms. MainPage http://www.rense.com
CS>EMPIRE STRIKES AGAIN
"In the court of common sense, Kimball was convicted in federal court for helping people to overcome degenerative disease without federal approval." Abused in custody: Jay Kimball needs your help now See links and contact information below. By The Idaho Observer http://proliberty.com/observer TAMPA-- After his October 19, 2000 conviction for violating U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling laws, Liquid Deprenyl Citrate (LDC) developer Jay Kimball, 60, while in the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service, was handcuffed, waist-chained, leg-ironed and, for no apparent reason, transported 150 miles from the Hillsborough County Jail (HCJ) here to the Hendry County Jail in LaBelle. Kimball was returned to HCJ Nov. 20 with numerous injuries. An HCJ employee reportedly stated that Kimball must have been transported in error as, considering his age and the nature of his conviction, he should never have been sent to LaBelle. LaBelle is a facility that has been described as a deplorable, inhumane and bacteria-infested hell hole. Kimball was sentenced by Florida District Federal Judge Richard Lazzara to serve 13 years for "misbranding" LDC-a crime which would ordinarily earn a three-year prison stay. On one hand the judge said to the prosecutors, "you had thousands of names and phone numbers, you failed to produce one complaint of harm or loss, to the contrary I have seen testimony and received letters about how good the product is. NO HARM DONE." Then on the other hand he states "Mr. Kimball does not respect authority, he does not respect the law. " Lazzara also stated that Kimball's actions were "ANARCHY" in order to justify sentencing Kimball to serve more than four times federal sentencing guidelines for such a crime. Though the FDA has been persecuting Kimball since LDC became available to victims of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's in 1990, the federal agency admits that there has never been one consumer complaint or even one reported adverse reaction attributable to LDC. To the contrary, the court and the FDA have been provided with the results of 3,000 clinical case studies conducted by the University of Toronto which proved the product's safety and efficacy. The court was also provided hundreds of letters from LDC users who have had their quality of life returned to them with the help of the natural nutritive plant product derived from the ephedra plant. After Lazzara arbitrarily passed sentence on Kimball based primarily on his defiance of non-scientific federal authority, U.S. marshals took custody of the 60-year-old man and justified further abuse with a false charging report produced by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department. The report, which follows Kimball through the "justice" system, stated as of 11/20/00 that Kimball had been convicted in federal court for manufacturing, distributing, dispensing and possessing cocaine. The speedometer in the transport van containing six male and two female prisoners with no seat belts in the vehicle except for the marshals, reportedly reached 100 mph as it careened through traffic en route to LaBelle. Kimball was catapulted out of his seat two times and suffered injuries to his shoulder for which he was denied medical attention when he arrived at the LaBelle facility. He also lost his voice and experienced difficulty breathing but was not allowed to see a doctor the entire time he was behind bars in LaBelle. U.S. Marshal Vasquez, one of the transport deputies, reportedly subjected Kimball to a five-minute stream of extremely profane verbal abuse in front of LaBelle officials immediately prior to Kimball's return trip to Tampa. During the return trip Vasquez caused Kimball to fall again and injured his tailbone. Kimball did receive proper medical attention upon his return to HCJ. Robin Hill of the U.S. Marshal's Service office in Tampa refuses to comment on her agency's treatment of Kimball but she did see to it that the charging report was changed. The report, which is available on-line at http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/pub/default.asp?/online/qdisp/BN=00064435 has been changed to reflect a conviction for the manufacture, distribution and possession of "synthesized narcotics" -- which is also false as Kimball was not convicted of that crime and LDC is not a synthesized narcotic. The U.S. Marshal's Service is apparently insistent upon incorrectly identifying the nature of Kimball's conviction so that hardened prison officials who only know Kimball by what the "official" report tells them will treat him in the worst possible manner. In the court of common sense, Kimball was convicted in federal court for helping people to overcome degenerative disease without federal approval. Since his conviction for having the courage to continue helping people regardless of his own safety, he has been physically and mentally tormented by a prison system that believes him to be a convicted drug manufacturer/dealer. Attached for your consideration are two art
CS>To all Clark supporters:
To all Clark supporters: Yesterday I sent out an e-mail that started out "I have in front of me excerpts from Dr. Clark's newest book, called simply "The Lab Manual." I had no idea I'd get that many responses that quickly. So, for now, I'm going to mass-answer the common questions. (1) I don't know the "qualifications" Dr. Clark wants for the "lab assistants." I spoke to her this morning about the sheer volume of responses, and we've set a time to re-discuss this program. She is very pleased with all of your interests, and would like to figure out a way to accomodate, and get help, from all of you. (2) We're just starting on the arrangements for the seminar. I've got this "secret person" looking at superb sites in a great city. I need an idea of how many of us are coming. I'll set up a special e-mail address for sign ups and let you know. (3) "Final Editing" means just that. Somebody (several people) always has to read the book carefully before it goes to press to make sure their are no words added or missing., and everything is in the right order. The book will be 8 1/2 by 11 (lab manual size). (4) The experiments are progressive and designed to be followed in order using the syncrometer. And here are Dr. Clark's exact words on that: "There are two purposes in publishing this lab manual, one scientific and the other practical. This laboratory manual contains the experiments that led to the statements made in my other books. They constitute the science underlying the new concepts and testing methods (plus treatments) advanced in those books." (5) No, the quackbusters will not be allowed to disrupt the discussion group. Any of them that make the attempt will be immediately removed from the list, get a letter from our attorney immediately - the first time - and a subpeona (or a warrant) the second. They will be warned ahead of time about "criminal harassment." Nor will they be allowed to disrupt the seminar. They will be warned ahead of time - and will be arrested on site if they make the attempt. (6) Yes, Dr. Clark has been innundated. I'd guess she gets as many FAXes every day at the research clinic as we get e-mails. She'd like to help everybody but she can't. That's where YOU come in. You don't need to be a doctor to basically understand her theories and deal with your own health through a "self-health" program. And then, you can teach others... (7) Yes, I personally think Dr. Clark is wonderful person. She is very personable. I've enjoyed our trips together, and I like her attitude, and the way her mind works. Her family is first rate. I can see where she got her value structure. She is what she seems. I am privileged to know her. Tim Bolen JuriMed - Public Relations and Research Group juri...@yahoo.com
CS>FDA VENDETTA
An Interview with Thomas Elias, author of The Burzynski Breakthrough (Nov. 15) The Burzynski Breakthrough is veteran reporter Tom Elias' second book since he co-authored The Simpson Trial in Black and White. Elias first became involved with the story of Houston physician Stanislaw Burzynski, M.D., Ph.D., when Elias was approached by a neighbor who believes her life was saved by Burzynski's controversial "antineoplastons" cancer treatment. The book, published in August 2000 and extensively revised from an earlier edition, details how the medicine works by manipulating genetic switches that can stop or start a tumor. It explores why Burzynski became the target for an FDA vendetta, and why a medicine that seems to be effective for a wide range of cancers has been suppressed for more than a decade. (more at http://naturalhealthline.com )
CS>The Lab Manual.",Dr. Clark's newest book
To all Clark supporters: I have in front of me excerpts from Dr. Clark's newest book, called simply "The Lab Manual." Although I respect all of her works, I think this one is the best. It has, before final edit, 134 experiments to take Clark enthusiasts to a new level of understanding and ability. It is designed to work at any level of expertise. It is simple enough to follow, and complicated enough to teach. Dr. Clark has assigned us several functions over the new book. (1) Set up a two-day seminar for 200 to 500 people around the first week of March, 2001 in the central US, and (2) set up an internet discussion group we'll call Clark Workshop dedicated only to work through the experiments in the book. We are already started on both projects. On number (2), we are looking for four, or more, "lab assistants" to help others through the experiments. Volunteers can contact us at our e-mail address. I repeat - this is the best book of all... Tim Bolen JuriMed - Public Relations and Research Group juri...@yahoo.com
CS>BANZAI BARRETT
by Tim Bolen Everyone in the American Health movement knows about the legal troubles (the Indiana case) dumped on Hulda Regehr Clark - and the outcome. What many don't know is that there is, and was, a plot to cause her these problems - and that there is one specific individual, a kingpin, an aging propagandist, behind it all. His name is Stephen Barrett, and he is a de-licensed MD, operating out of his basement in Allentown, PA. Barrett is now, and has been, conducting a "wild-eyed" onslaught against world health humanitarian Hulda Regehr Clark. PhD, ND. Early in 1999, Barrett ordered his minions, including his personal attorney Christopher Grell, to mount an all-out, anything goes, attack against Clark. Clark's books had been selling well, far better than Barrett's books. With big promises of financial reward, Barrett had advertised on his website (quackwatch.com) for, and found, a female plaintiff to claim that Clark had somehow damaged her at Clark's research clinic in Mexico - a bogus lawsuit against Clark and twenty one other defendants. Barrett's attack against Clark didn't stop with just that bogus lawsuit. Barrett goes far further than that. He mounted an all-out attack, one that if Clark supporters hadn't been prepared for, might have worked. THE EVIL ASSAULT AGAINST CLARK. (1). Apparently, in early 1999, Barrett ordered attorney Grell to file criminal charges against Clark with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in San Diego. The FBI declined to investigate (they had better things to do), but did run an NCIC check which, we all know, ended up in Clark's arrest on seven year old charges, which were later dropped, in Indiana. (2). During the case activity, Barrett sent an emotionally disturbed man, who blames Clark for his mother's death of cancer, to a Clark rally for the express purpose of disrupting it. The man claims that although his mother never did Clark's protocol (he wouldn't let her), that somehow Clark is still responsible for his mother's death. Barrett, who has had Psychiatric training (although never Board Certified), was well aware that this man had said in public "I don't know what I'd do if I ever met Clark." Barrett sent him anyway, and did not notify police of the potential danger to Clark, and her supporters. Fortunately, Clark supporters, monitoring Barrett's chat group (healthfraud.ssr), intercepted the discussion, and alerted authorities. The man was ordered off the property, and Clark was kept safe. (3). Barrett's heir apparent to the "quackbuster" throne is, I believe, Terry Polevoy, MD, a "pimple doctor" in Canada. Polevoy is now, and has been, under investigation by Canadian authorities for a number of reasons. According to the Canadian press, Polevoy entered Canada as a draft dodger from the United States. Polevoy stalked Canadian Radio personality Christine McPhee for months, and other females for shorter periods of time. Polevoy may have ceased his clandestine following of McPhee, and others, after police raided his home late one night, questioning his activities. Canadian medical authorities are investigating allegations of mental instability and professional misconduct against Polevoy. Polevoy could lose his medical license. Polevoy operates a "hate" website where he specializes in attacks against leading-edge health professionals that spurn the heavy prescribing of dangerous drugs. Polevoy conducted such a virulent attack against Clark in Canada that Clark Supporters felt it necessary to put an armed cordon around Clark when she was the guest speaker in Toronto. Toronto police were standing by to assist. Polevoy's website was turned off by his original provider, but he has since found space for his virulence from another fringe group.. (4). Barrett conducts an internet campaign to disrupt Clark's activities and her support network. (a) Barrett has set up a system whereby when someone "searches" for Clark information on the internet, they are sent to a series of websites, including his own and Polevoy's, where virulent dis-information is thrust at the reader as authoritative. The websites are run by a house painter in Ohio, a 22-year old veterinary student (who works with Polevoy) in Canada, an unemployed computer consultant (whose wife supports him) in Australia - not by anyone with credentials. (b) Barrett minions have infiltrated and disrupted the Clark discussion groups. Several of Barrett's hate-mongers have infiltrated the drcl...@egroups list and verbally truncheon Clark supporters and those interested in information on Clark's protocols. (c) Barrett threatens lawsuits against anyone who tells Clark supporters the truth about Barrett's activities. (d) Barrett is making false statements, and providing mis-information, to internet service providers in attempts to damage the Clark network. (e) and more... BARRETT - GRELL, THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE... San Francisco based lawyer Christopher Grell is Stephen Barrett's personal attorney, and has represented him, AND
CS>Genentech/American Heart Association Connection
Busted: the Genentech/American Heart Association Connection By Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman For years, Genentech Inc.'s clotbuster drug tPA has been used to treat heart attacks. Last year, the American Heart Association published guidelines for physicians advising that tPA be used to treat strokes. Whether these new guidelines will help stroke patients or not is an open question. Whether it helps Genentech's bottom line is decided -- it will. Dr. Jerome Hoffman, professor of medicine at the UCLA Medical School, sat on the American Heart Association panel that hashed out the new guidelines. He was the only member of the panel who raised serious questions about recommending using tPA to treat strokes. Dr. Hoffman says there is clear-cut evidence that clotbusters are helpful in treating heart attack patients. But when it comes to treating stroke, there is a great deal of controversy. While clotbuster drugs do some good in treating stroke, they also can cause bleeding in the brain. "The Food and Drug Administration approved this drug to treat stroke on the basis of a single study by the National Institutes of Health, which I find worrisome," Dr. Hoffman said. "The study shows a marginal benefit in a very small number of stroke patients. Furthermore, I believe that study conflicts with evidence from some other studies that show increased risks with use of these drugs." In the previous version of its guidelines, the American Heart Association recommended using clotbusters for stroke. "But they gave it a guarded recommendation," Dr. Hoffman told us. "Last fall they were reconsidering it. And a proposal had been made to upgrade it to a class one recommendation -- slam dunk -- definitely use it." The American Heart Association calls itself "the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke." According to the group's 1999 annual report, it has received $1 million or more from some of the nation's largest pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Novartis, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, SmithKline Beecham -- and Genentech. Curious to find out more details, we called on the Association acting science chief Dr. Rodman Starke. Dr. Starke said that over the past 10 years, Genentech had given more than $10 million to the American Heart Association, including $2 million to build the Association's conference center in Dallas, Texas, making it one of the group's top corporate donors. Did Genentech get anything in return for building the conference center? "We put up a plaque inside the conference center thanking Genentech for its contribution and have allowed the company to hold a meeting of its sales reps at the conference center," Dr. Starke said. We questioned whether Genentech's largesse created an environment conducive to the writing of guidelines calling on physicians to treat stroke with Genentech's tPA -- over the informed objections of one of the panelists -- Dr. Hoffman. "Poppycock," Dr. Starke says. "There is no influence of any corporate supporters of what the guidelines are going to say. The guidelines wouldn't be any good if people would point to them and say -- well these were bought." We asked Dr. Hoffman whether he believed that the Genentech money influenced the American Heart Association on tPA. "I don't have reason to believe that there is a quid pro quo with anyone in the American Heart Association," he said. "On the other hand, many of the volunteers on the panel have worked for drug companies, and while people who do research for drug companies often deny that this has any affect on their science, studies show it does have an effect -- results tend to be better for proprietary research than for non-proprietary research." Dr. Starke said he would get us the conflict information on the people who developed and wrote the guidelines for treating stroke. But then an American Heart Association spokesperson called us to say that the conflict reports were "confidential," and that we couldn't have them. Instead, he would set us up with a Mary Fran Hazinski, a co-editor of the guidelines. She would give us what we needed to know about possible conflicts. Hazinski said she wanted us to know that the guidelines went through 10 or 11 layers at the American Heart Association before being released. She said that she didn't have access to the conflict statements for all of the people involved in the process, but that she recalled that one or two of the panelists may have received a grant from Genentech. She wasn't sure, she said, whether the people involved in the process were required to disclose any and all money -- speaking fees, for example -- received from Genentech. She said she didn't even know about Genentech's $10 million in contributions to the American Heart Association -- until we told her -- and she was writing and editing the guidelines recommending tPA for stroke. "I think it is wonderful that I never knew about the Genentech
CS>Chemtrails - E-ThePeople Petition
Subject: Chemtrails - E-ThePeople Petition for Congressional Hearings Please go to the following URL and sign the petition for Congressional Hearings to uncover the mysteries of Aerial Chemtrail Spraying. http://www.e-thepeople.com/affiliates/national/index.cfm?PC=PETFV1&PETID=454959 the following URLs from another source: http://www.egroups.com/group/VancouverChemTrails - Vancouver Chem-Trail study group http://contrailconnection.com - Pictures http://www.chemtrailcentral.com - NEWS reports http://www.islandnet.com/wilco - Local reporter http://www.carnicom.com - Blood cells in samples
CS>Fwd: ACTION ALERT: Online Poll (MSNBC)
Delivered-To: libertyw...@mjx.listcommanders.net From: "LibertyWire" To: "Subscriber" Subject: ACTION ALERT: Online Poll (MSNBC) Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 16:09:24 -0700 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 Sender: distribut...@mjx.harrybrowne2000.org L i b e r t y W i r e ~ A C T I O N A L E R T |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| Today MSNBC's "Equal Time" is conducting a poll on its web site featuring the following question: "If the election were held today, who would get your vote?" Please take a moment right now to visit http://www.msnbc.com/news/419965.asp and vote for Harry Browne. (Please note that this poll appears to end at midnight.) Then forward this message to a friend. And thank you! |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| L i b e r t y W i r e is the official e-mail newsletter of Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne and vice presidential candidate Art Olivier. Site: http://www.HarryBrowne2000.org/lw Email: Mailto:i...@harrybrowne2000.org
CS>Aspartame popularity soaring < bad news>
THIS IS NOT A HAPPY POST Aspartame popularity soaring 10/10/2000 Americans' preference for convenience is helping spur growth in the food additive and preservative industry. New strategic research from Frost & Sullivan (www.frost.com), "U.S. Food Additive and Preservative Markets" shows the industry had more than $3 billion in revenue in 1999. Frost & Sullivan projects revenues to top $5 billion by the year 2006. "Consumers are increasingly substituting non-nutritive sweeteners such as Sweet `N Low or NutraSweet for sugar in an effort to reduce their caloric intake and reduce or maintain their body weight," says Frost & Sullivan analyst Dr. Bradley Watkins. Aspartame and saccharin are more popular than ever, and the list of artificial sweeteners may continue to grow, pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. This will provide a boost to the artificial sweetener industry. Frost & Sullivan presents the 2000 Marketing Engineering Awards to companies that have worked hard to make a positive contribution to the U.S. food additive and preservative industry. The Market Engineering Leadership Award was presented to McCormick & Company. The Merger & Acquisition Strategy Award was given to Warner Jenkinson. Adams Extract Company received the Distribution Strategy Award. Ashland Chemical Company, a division of Ashland Incorporated was given the Customer Service Innovation Award, and Velsicol Chemical Corporation received the Vertical Integration Award. Frost & Sullivan (San Jose, CA) is a global leader in international strategic market consulting and training. Frost & Sullivan's industry experts monitor the food chemicals industry for market trends, market measurements and strategies. This ongoing research is used to complement the Food and Beverage Custom Subscription, which includes studies on the U.S. Proteins Ingredients Market and the European Enzymes for Food Applications Markets. Along with publishing in-depth strategic market consulting research, Frost & Sullivan also provides custom consulting needs to a variety of national and international companies. For more info about U.S. Food Additive and Preservative Markets Report: 7438-88, Date: October 2000: Robert Spurlock, 210/348-1032, rspurl...@frost.com.
CS>56 MEN
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as you can. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games. The doorway to freedom is framed in muskets!
CS>: World-wide ban on alternative health information planned by CODE
TO ALL BE ADVISED... Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 10:43 AM Subject : World-wide ban on alternative health information planned by CODEX Well, now we have it. The monstrous Codex masterplan is emerging once again. And, the threat is not merely to reduce dosages, like we have been thinking. It's to eliminate all circulation on information related to alternative medicine. Imagine that. And, the plan unfolds in one week's time in Berlin on June 19th. The purpose of the CODEX meetings on June 19 - 23, is to establish a worldwide ban on health information concerning natural healing methods This is a mortal threat to the very existence of health advisory groups, all radio programs on alternative medicine, all multi-level marketing of natural products, all internet chat groups. According to Dr. Matthias Rath, "laws to be enacted in all the countries of the world are being prepared with the aim to prohibit ALL statements concerning the healing effects of vitamin and natural therapies" . 75% of the representatives meeting at the Codex meetings are paid by pharmaceutical companies. How do you think the interests of the public are going to fare? Please check out Dr Matthias Rath's website below, register your protest, and forward to one and all. http://www.drrath.com/new_default/new_main_us/def_usa.htm
CS>CHEMTRAILS
From: "Kerry Boytzun" Subject: Amazing: CHEMTRAILS - Did An Airline Mechanic Stumble Upon The Truth? Date: Sun, 21 May 2000 FROM: SIGHTINGS HOMEPAGE http://www.sightings.com CHEMTRAILS - Did An Airline Mechanic Stumble Upon The Truth? (5-17-00) (Note - We cannot confirm the following statement but the implications are enormous, and we expect there will be serious efforts to investigate and evaluate these allegations quickly. -ed.) For reasons you will understand as you read this I can not divulge my identity. I am an aircraft mechanic for a major airline. I work at one of our maintenance bases located at a large airport. I have discovered some information that I think you will find important. First I should tell you something about the "pecking order" among mechanics. It is important to my story and to the cause to which you have dedicated yourself. Mechanics want to work on three things. The avionics, the engines, or the flight controls. The mechanics that work on these systems are considered at the top of the "pecking order". Next come the mechanics that work on the hydraulics and air conditioning systems. Then come the ones who work on the galley and other non-essential systems. But at the very bottom of the list are the mechanics that work on the waste disposal systems. No mechanic wants to work on the pumps, tanks, and pipes that are used to store the waste from the lavatories. But at every airport where I have worked there are always 2 or 3 mechanics that volunteer to work on the lavatory systems. The other mechanics are happy to let them do it. Because of this you will have only 2 or 3 mechanics that work on these systems at any one airport. No one pays much attention to these guys and no mechanic socializes with another mechanic who only works on the waste systems. In fact I had never thought much about this situation until last month. Like most airlines we have reciprocal agreements with the other airlines that fly into this airport. If they have a problem with a plane one of our mechanics will take care of it. Likewise if one of our planes has a problem at an airport where the other airline has a maintenance base, they will fix our plane. One day last month I was called out from our base to work on a plane for another airline. When I got the call the dispatcher did not know what the problem was. When I got to the plane I found out that the problem was in waste disposal system. There was nothing for me to do but to crawl in and fix the problem. When I got into the bay I realized that something was not right. There were more tanks, pumps, and pipes then should have been there. At first I assumed that the system had been changed. It had been 10 years since I had worked on one. As I tried to find the problem I quickly realized the extra piping and tanks were not connected to the waste disposal system. I had just discovered this when another mechanic from my company showed up. It was one of the mechanics who usually works on these systems. I happily turned the job over to him. As I was leaving I asked him about the extra equipment. He told me to "worry about my end of the plane and let him worry about his!" The next day I was on the company computer to look up a wiring schematic. While I was there I decided to look up the extra equipment I had found. To my amazement the manuals did not show any of the extra equipment I had seen with my own eyes the day before. I even tied in to the manufacturer files and still found nothing. Now I was really determined to find out what that equipment did. The next week we had three of our planes in our main hanger for periodic inspection. There are mechanics crawling all over a plane during these inspections. I had just finished my shift and I decided to have a look at the waste system on one of our planes. With all the mechanics around I figured that no one would notice an extra one on the plane. Sure enough, the plane I choose had the extra equipment! I began to trace the system of pipes, pumps, and tanks. I found what appeared to be the control unit for the system. It was a standard looking avionics control box but it had no markings of any kind. I could trace the control wires from the box to the pumps and valves but there were no control circuits coming into the unit. The only wires coming into the unit was a power connection to the aircraft's main power bus. The system had 1 large and 2 smaller tanks. It was hard to tell in the cramped compartment but it looked like the large tank could hold 50 gallons. The tanks were connected to a fill and drain valve that passed through the fuselage just behind the drain valve for the waste system. When I had a chance to look for this connection under the plane I found it cunningly hidden behind a panel under the panel used to access the waste drain. I began to trace the piping from the pumps. These pipes lead to a network of small pipes that ended in the trailing edges of the wings and horizontal stabilizers. If you look c
CS>HAPPY NEW YEAR
The Month After Christmas... 'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber). I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please." As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt--- I said to myself, as I only can "You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!" So--away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip Every last bit of food that I like must be banished "Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie--not even a lick. I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore--- But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet! -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour
CS>MEDICAL RECORDS
=== DON`T LET THE CLINTON THUGS GET AWAY WITH THIS, ITS YOUR HEALTH === Your medical privacy is under attack by politicians' Unique Health Identifier WASHINGTON, DC -- There's less than a month left to block a federal regulation that will permit thousands of businesses and government agencies -- including banks, the FBI, and even the Environmental Protection Agency -- to examine your private medical records without your consent, the Libertarian Party warned today. And equally ominous: The same regulation will mandate that each American get a "Unique Health Identifier" -- a Social Security Number-style identifier from the government that will follow you throughout your life and be permanently attached to all your medical records. "If these proposals are enacted, you might as well post your health history on the Internet, because nearly anyone who wants that information will have access to it," said Steve Dasbach, national director of the Libertarian Party. "These proposals are a devious attempt by the government to diminish your medical privacy -- while claiming to protect it." The new rules were unveiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Federal Register last month. The Clinton Administration claimed the proposals would "safeguard" Americans' medical privacy by making health-care companies responsible for any privacy lapses or violations. But the real result will be to throw your private records wide open to dozens of government departments, for-profit businesses, and law enforcement agencies, said Dasbach -- while stripping individuals of their right to file lawsuits to protect their medical privacy. "The government claims these rules are designed to protect you," he said. "But trusting politicians to protect your medical privacy is like hiring Bill Clinton as night watchman at a girls' dormitory. The only way to protect your health records is to make sure the government doesn't have them." And because of the mandatory "Unique Health Identifier" provision, accessing health records could become "just as easy and convenient as accessing your credit history is now," he warned. "The list of people who could read your medical records is like a Who's Who of people you don't want to see them," said Dasbach. Included on the list: Banks, state insurance commissions, the Department of Justice, the FBI, criminal defense attorneys, federal welfare agencies, the Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Education, OSHA, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Is there anyone who wouldn't have access to your medical records? "Yes -- you!" said Dasbach. "The regulation doesn't guarantee that individuals can access their own medical records in all circumstances. Plus, there is no statutory authority for you to take action if your medical privacy is breached. The government apparently believes that federal bureaucrats and police have a greater right to your medical records than you do." But the prognosis isn't all bad, said Dasbach: There may still be time to stop the proposal. "We have a few weeks left to try to protect medical privacy," he said. "The Libertarian Party is working with other groups to stop this medical spy scheme before it starts -- by encouraging Americans to inundate the HHS with comments, and demand that politicians back down from this malignant proposal." The HHS is accepting public comments until January 3, 2000. If the proposal isn't terminated by then, it will go into effect in February 2000. "When it comes to medical privacy, the government is the disease," said Dasbach. "Stopping this proposal is one way we can keep our medical privacy -- and liberty -- a little bit healthier." To comment via e-mail, visit the special "Medical Privacy" link on the Libertarian Party's website: www.LP.org. -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour
CS>FOOD SAFETY
Food poisoning increases as imports rise Study blames World Trade Organization policies, quotas By Jon E. Dougherty © 1999 WorldNetDaily.com A new study blames the rising number of food poisoning cases throughout the United States on World Trade Organization-style import/export rules that prohibit government inspection agencies from adequately examining food imports. The Paragon Foundation, a New Mexico-based conservative think tank, says the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is reporting "an all-time high in food poisoning," and added that those statistics "continue to rise." The suspected cause is the poor content-labeling practices used by other nations, the inability of government inspectors to examine enough imported meat and produce, and the globalization of food production. "America historically has enjoyed the safest food supply in the world," Jay Walley, the foundation's communications director, told WorldNetDaily. But he said researchers at Paragon concluded the phenomenon was largely due to quotas imposed by the World Trade Organization, as well as "a WTO ruling that it is illegal for a government to ban a product based on the way it is produced, according to (World Trade Organization Director General Michael) Moore." The report noted that trade globalization politics are so intense -- as evidenced at the recent World Trade Organization summit in Seattle -- "that U.S. regulatory agencies have largely ignored the quality and safety of foodstuffs arriving on our shores." "Additionally," the study said, "there is lack of action by most elected representatives to support current legislation that would enable consumers to identify where food is produced." Walley said the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization that examines health and environmental issues, reported a much higher number of import violations than the United States Department of Agriculture. According to government figures, import violations on produce and meat products occur in about 3.1 percent of imports. However, the working group found that "violation rates were high for many important sources of major fruits and vegetables, including Mexican strawberries (18.4 percent), Mexican head lettuce (15.6 percent), Guatemalan blackberries (14.6 percent), Argentine pears (12.9 percent), Mexican carrots (12.3 percent), Chilean kiwi (11.7 percent), Mexican leaf lettuce (11.3 percent), and Mexican green beans (9.4 percent)." Also, the study said, "nearly 49 percent of the pears imported from Korea were contaminated with illegal pesticides, as were 40.8 percent of green peas from Guatemala, and 34.1 percent of the peas from China." See chart. In his Mar. 16 testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies, Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan said that despite the country's historically secure food supply, "we continue to face challenges to the safety of our food." Americans "now consume more fresh produce and seafood and demand a constant supply throughout the year," Koplan said. "To meet the demand, an ever increasing proportion of our food is imported, especially from developing parts of the world. As a result, we are being exposed to pathogens not commonly found in the United States, as demonstrated by the Cyclospora outbreaks associated with raspberries imported from Guatemala." Koplan said the Centers for Disease Control, in conjunction with other federal agencies, has developed a new outbreak surveillance system known as FoodNet, designed to "to capture a more accurate and complete picture of trends in the occurrence of illness caused by priority foodborne pathogens." This increase in food poisoning in the United States was predicted by the World Health Organization two years ago. In the October-December 1997 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, World Health Organization researchers concluded that "a consequence of the increase in transnational trade, travel, and migration is the greater risk of cross-border transmission of infectious diseases." "With more than one million people crossing international borders every day, and with the globalization of food production, manufacturing and marketing, the risk of infectious disease transmission is greater," the WHO study said. "Food, a major trade commodity, is also an important vehicle for transmission of infectious diseases. Because food production, manufacturing and marketing are now global, infectious agents can be disseminated from the original point of processing and packaging to locations thousands of miles away." One recent CDC study concluded that "foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year." Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage, an Idaho Republican, believes more needs to be done to ensure the safety of imported food. In a speech delivered to the House Agricultu
CS>GENETIC FOODS
Hi list, do we really need this, idon`t think so.. The Clinton/Gore administration has been aggressively helping Monsanto promote ag-biotech, bypassing U.S. health and safety regulations to promote new, untested gene-altered products. A key component of the U.S./Monsanto plan to dominate world agriculture with genetically modified seeds is the absence of labeling of genetically engineered foods. All U.S. foods carry labels listing the ingredients: salt, sugar, water, vitamins, etc. But three separate executive agencies -- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- have ruled that genetically-modified foods deserve an exception: they can be sold without being labeled "genetically modified." This strategy has successfully prevented consumers from exercising informed choice in the marketplace, reducing the likelihood of a consumer revolt, at least in the U.S., at least for now. -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com List maintainer: Mike Devour
CS>FOOD SAFETY NEWS
This might be considered off topic, however it is very MUCH RELATED, and should be read by all.. We are what we eat!!! Campaign for Food Safety News #21 August 24, 1999 News and Analysis on Genetic Engineering, Factory Farming, & Organics by: Ronnie Cummins & Ben Lilliston Campaign for Food Safety Affiliated with the Organic Consumers Association ___ Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods and Crops: Why We Need A Global Moratorium by: Ronnie Cummins, Campaign for Food Safety/Organic Consumers Association The technology of genetic engineering (GE), wielded by transnational "life science" corporations such as Monsanto and Novartis, is the practice of altering or disrupting the genetic blueprints of living organisms--plants, animals, humans, microorganisms--patenting them, and then selling the resulting gene-foods, seeds, or other products for profit. Life science corporations proclaim, with great fanfare, that their new products will make agriculture sustainable, eliminate world hunger, cure disease, and vastly improve public health. In reality, through their business practices and political lobbying, the gene engineers have made it clear that they intend to use GE to dominate and monopolize the global market for seeds, foods, fiber, and medical products. GE is a revolutionary new technology still in its early experimental stages of development. This technology has the power to break down fundamental genetic barriers--not only between species--but between humans, animals, and plants. By randomly inserting together the genes of non-related species--utilizing viruses, antibiotic-resistant genes, and bacteria as vectors, markers, and promoters--and permanently altering their genetic codes, gene-altered organisms are created that pass these genetic changes onto their offspring through heredity. Gene engineers all over the world are now snipping, inserting, recombining, rearranging, editing, and programming genetic material. Animal genes and even human genes are randomly inserted into the chromosomes of plants, fish, and animals, creating heretofore unimaginable transgenic life forms. For the first time in history, transnational biotechnology corporations are becoming the architects and "owners" of life. With little or no regulatory restraints, labeling requirements, or scientific protocol, bio-engineers have begun creating hundreds of new GE "Frankenfoods" and crops, oblivious to human and environmental hazards, or negative socioeconomic impacts on the world's several billion farmers and rural villagers. Despite an increasing number of scientists warning that current gene-splicing techniques are crude, inexact, and unpredictable--and therefore inherently dangerous--pro-biotech governments and regulatory agencies, led by the US, maintain that GE foods and crops are "substantially equivalent" to conventional foods, and therefore require neither mandatory labeling nor pre-market safety-testing. This Brave New World of Frankenfoods is frightening. There are currently more than four dozen genetically engineered foods and crops being grown or sold in the US. These foods and crops are widely dispersed into the food chain and the environment. Over 70 million acres of GE crops are presently under cultivation in the US, while up to 500,000 dairy cows are being injected regularly with Monsanto's recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Most supermarket processed food items now "test positive" for the presence of GE ingredients. In addition several dozen more GE crops are in the final stages of development and will soon be released into the environment and sold in the marketplace. According to the biotechnology industry almost 100% of US food and fiber will be genetically engineered within 5-10 years. The "hidden menu" of these unlabeled genetically engineered foods and food ingredients in the US now includes soybeans, soy oil, corn, potatoes, squash, canola oil, cotton seed oil, papaya, tomatoes, and dairy products. Genetic engineering of food and fiber products is inherently unpredictable and dangerous--for humans, for animals, the environment, and for the future of sustainable and organic agriculture. As Dr. Michael Antoniou, a British molecular scientist points out, gene-splicing has already resulted in the "unexpected production of toxic substances... in genetically engineered bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals with the problem remaining undetected until a major health hazard has arisen." The hazards of GE foods and crops fall basically into three categories: human health hazards, environmental hazards, and socioeconomic hazards. A brief look at the already-proven and likely hazards of GE products provides a convincing argument for why we need a global moratorium on all GE foods and crops. Toxins & Poisons Genetically engineered products clearly have the potential to be toxic and a threat to human health. In 1989 a genetically engi
