We just received a message from Dr. Rima Laibow at the Natural Solutions Foundation that was scary, enlightening and fascinating - as is so much of their information. You can read the whole article here, but we're providing an overview here.
The article starts with the government's use of independent media to further its agenda. In this case, popular "indy" radio host Art Bell is interviewing internist Dr. Gary Ridenour about a book he is selling describing a supposed imminent avian flu pandemic. The NSF article describes why such an outbreak is actually not likely, and - more to the point - how the government could use such fear in society to allow for forced vaccination of the entire population.
Dr. Laibow goes on to describe incidents of forced vaccination in Maine and Maryland and reviews the implications for our health and our civil rights. She then details the rights and interests of the government at the state and federal level (including how they may conflict with the rights of the individual) and provides alternative information about the risks of vaccination, as well as how to find out more about vaccine exemption.
The article continues with a description of the NSF's mission and goals for 2008, specifics on how you can support their work. It concludes with some thoughts on the role of one's skin as a boundary that should be sacred and inviolate. No one should be able to force you, by injection or consumption, knowingly or unknowingly, with or without consent, to ingest ANY substance.
Beyond the specifics of the information that the NSF provides, we really appreciate their vigorously independent thought and their devotion to health, human rights and the environment. Dr. Laibow and her co-founder of NSF, General Stubblebine, will be in New York City briefly on January 26, and you can meet them for lunch in Queens if you email Dr. Laibow here, with RSVP in the subject line.
While health information is being used and abused (and disabused), there are also examples of mainstream media getting the word out about alternative treatments. A recent article in the New York Times describes the neti pot, which had just been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show. Neti pots are used to clean out the sinuses, and can help reduce symptoms of allergies, cold, flu and other nasal problems.
Another Times article focused on food allergies (specifically among kids) and one mother's journey to understand her children's health problems. She traced much of it to industrial agricultural practices and political and financial relationships between health professionals, food producers and government agencies. The Times article was clearly skeptical of this woman's work.
And they may have a point. She may be seeing connections that don't truly exist. However, the real lesson to be learned here is the value of questioning what is taught, thinking for yourself, getting out and doing your own research and consulting sources that have earned your trust. And it's truly wonderful that this mother's investigation and our friend the neti pot are both getting mainstream coverage!