Archive for 'Blog'
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity associations in Spain meet with Ministry of Health officials
Posted on Feb 05, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Disability Rights, Government Regulation, Guest Bloggers, MCS, Social Justice
Eva Caballé reports on the meeting between Multiple Chemical Sensitivity associations and Ministry of Health officals in Spain, Feb. 4, 2010
Translated from Spanish by Eva Caballé
On February 4th 2010 at 12:00h has been held the meeting with Ministry of Health to state the situation of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferers in Spain.
Mr José Martínez Olmos, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Mr Alberto Infante Campos, General Director of Professional Planning, Cohesion of SNS and High Inspection and Mr Francisco Valero Bonilla have attended to the meeting representing the Ministry of Health. One person by almost each MCS association has attended to the meeting and also Jaume Cortés, lawyer of Colectivo Ronda, and Dr. Pablo Arnold, immunologist specialized in MCS.
• ACAF: Cristina Montané
• AFCISQUIM: María Roldán
• Alas de Mariposa- SQM: Tránsito Rodríguez
• ALTEA – SQM: Cristobalina Bejarano
• APQUIRA: Mª Carmen Gómez de Bonilla
• AQUA: Mario Arias
• ASQUIFYDE: Francisca Gutiérrez
• AVASFASEM-AVASQ: Francisca García
• ENA: Laura Domínguez
• MERCURIADOS: Mª Carmen Miravete
• Plataforma Estatal Contra la Contaminación Ambiental: Minerva Palomar
• PLATAFORMA PARA LA FM ,SFC, SQM, reivindicación de derechos, Asociación Nacional: Elena Navarro
A petitions document done by MCS associations under David Palma coordination has been submitted. This document has been signed by:
• ABAF: Margarita Pascual
• ACAF: Maite Ribera
• AFCISQUIM: María Roldán
• Alas de Mariposa- SQM: Irene Escudero
• ALTEA – SQM: Cristobalina Bejarano
• APQUIRA: Mª Carmen Gómez de Bonilla
• AQUA: Mario Arias
• ASQUIFYDE: Francisca Gutiérrez
• AVASFASEM-AVASQ: Francisca García
• ENA: Rosa de Gabriel
• MERCURIADOS: Servando Pérez
• Plataforma Estatal Contra la Contaminación Ambiental: Minerva Palomar
• PLATAFORMA PARA LA FM ,SFC, SQM, reivindicación de derechos, Asociación Nacional: Elena Navarro
• Eva Caballé
Also a copy of Desaparecida: Una vida rota por la Sensibilidad Química Múltiple (Missing: A life broken by Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) has been hand delivered on behalf of Eva Caballé, who couldn’t attend to the meeting, as an example of what MCS sufferers have to go through in Spain.
The meeting with Ministry of Health has meant an agreement on minimum standards by the Ministry, but a big hope for all MCS sufferers.
Representatives of Ministry of Health have committed to contact MCS associations within 2 weeks to jointly agree on experts to form a Scientific Committee to create a document of consensus on the MCS. They have stated that this is the first step to make possible the inclusion of the MCS in ICD-10, i.e. its official recognition as disease in Spain. They have demonstrated that later there would be necessary to start creating the protocols.
All people who have been part of this process are thrilled by the result of the meeting, because doors have opened us to obtain the recognition of the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Spain and to achieve that MCS sufferers have the same rights as the other chronically ill people.
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US Senate committee holds hearing on public exposures to toxic chemicals
Posted on Feb 04, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Environment, Government Regulation, Susie Collins
Now available: Transcript and webcast of today’s hearing at the United States Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health entitled, “Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals.”
Led by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), at left, the United States Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held a hearing today entitled, “Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals.” I urge you to become familiar with Sen. Lautenberg’s work on the hill; along with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), he’s the greatest advocate in the U.S. Senate for toxic chemical policy reform. For those of you who follow The Canary report, you’ll remember a post I did on Sen. Launtenberg back in February 2009 when he assumed the chairmanship of this committee. Lautenberg is the senator who introduced the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act, a proposal to overhaul federal restrictions on toxic chemicals.
Canaries will recognize the name of one other of our heroes among the panel members: Ken Cook, president at the Environmental Working Group.
Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health hearing entitled, “Current Science on Public Exposures to Toxic Chemicals.”
Thursday, February 4, 2010
10:00 AM EST
EPW Hearing Room – 406 DirksenSenator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health, will convene a hearing to examine the current science on public exposures to toxic chemicals.
Majority Statements
Barbara Boxer
Frank R. LautenbergMinority Statements
James M. Inhofe
WitnessesOpening Remarks
Panel 1
Steve Owens
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Environmental Protection AgencyHenry Falk M.D., M.P.H.
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionJohn Stephenson
Director, Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Government Accountability OfficeLinda Birnbaum Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S.
Director
National Institutes of Environmental Health SciencesPanel 2
Molly Jones Gray
Participant in a Biomonitoring StudyKen Cook
President
Environmental Working GroupCharles McKay MD FACMT, FACEP, ABIM
Division of Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Hartford HospitalTracey J. Woodruff PhD, MPH
Associate Professor and Director
Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
I don’t know how much change is going to be made as a result of these hearings, but I can tell you that trends are moving in the direction of toxic chemical policy reform. If President Obama manages to hang on to a second term despite the discontent that is brewing due to the economic problems, we will have a much better chance at stronger reform. I can tell you though, that even though the wheels of Washington, DC, move painstakingly slow, I’ve seen more happening to enforce the Clean Air Act and to put progressive environmental policies in place over the past year than I saw in the entire eight years of the Bush administration.
Link to transcript and webcast of today’s hearing.
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Professor of chemical engineering urges students to go fragrance-free
Posted on Feb 03, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Susie Collins
Chemical engineering professor at the University of New Hampshire encourages students to “be considerate to human canaries and help them to enjoy life to the fullest.”
Ihab Farag, professor of chemical engineering at the University of New Hampshire and member of our Canary Report community, wrote a letter to the editor at his school’s student paper to raise awareness about chemical sensitivity. And they published it! I’m a huge supporter of letters to the editor. Bravo, Ihab!
Many of us are familiar with canaries, the beautiful, colorful birds that tend to sing most of the time. Canaries also saved many human lives in coalmines. This is because canaries are much more sensitive to toxic gases than humans. Miners would take canaries with them in the coalmine. If the canary stopped singing and fell (or died), the miners knew to leave the coal mine quickly to safety.
There are individuals who have developed a very strong sensitivity to many common chemicals. These people can be very negatively affected and irritated by fumes, chemical cleaners, disinfectants, cigarette/cigar smoke, engine exhaust, solvents, etc. These people are often called “Human Canaries” of the modern world, because of the chemical sensitivity similarity to that of Canaries. Human Canaries of the 21st century tend to be very strongly irritated by everyday chemicals like perfumes, hair products, shampoos, shower gels, after shave lotions, antiperspirants, deodorants, hand sanitizers, chap sticks, finger nail polish, etc. Human canaries look the same as other people, and when you see one you probably will not recognize he or she is a human canary until an offensive toxic chemical triggers his or her sensitivity.
Please be considerate to human canaries and help them to enjoy life to the fullest. One way you can help the human canary and at the same time lower your exposure to undesirable chemicals, is to go fragrance-free: avoiding perfumes, and fragranced personal care products.
Ihab Farag
Professor, Chemical Engineering Department
Link to Dr. Farag’s home page at the University of New Hampshire.
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MCS researcher Martin Pall to speak in five European countries
Posted on Feb 01, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Research, Susie Collins
Martin Pall announces speaking tour in five European countries starting April 10.
Guest post by Martin L. Pall, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences, Washington State University and Research Director, the Tenth Paradigm Research Group.
I will be giving 11 talks in five countries in Europe, starting on the tenth of April, all on the NO/ONOO cycle. Nine of these are being scheduled to correspond with my trip to Europe, including several entire meetings. The talks are as follows:
I will start with an all day workshop in Berlin, to be presented by me and also Dr. Peter Ohnsorge. My presentation will be simultaneously translated into German. I will speak on multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and on therapy and may discuss other topics that will be covered in my talk in London which follows.
In London, I will be presenting three 90 minute talks, for a total of 4 1/2 hours, all at the Royal Society of Medicine, one of the most prestigious locations in the world. The first talk will focus on the NO/ONOO-cycle mechanism and how it plays out in the etiology of CFS/ME and also fibromyalgia. The second talk will focus on how that same mechanism explains MCS and also the three classic neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS. The three neurodegenerative diseases were also discussed as apparent NO/ONOO-cycle diseases in my book, “Explaining ‘Unexplained Illnesses’”, but there is substantial new evidence that further buttresses the case. Specifically, there is compelling evidence, that the four specific features, the formation of amyloid beta protein (A-beta) aggregates in Alzheimer’s, the formation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregates leading to neurofibrillary tangles (also Alzheimer’s), the formation of Lewy bodies (Parkinson’s) and the formation of neurofilament aggregates (ALS) are all formed under the influence of NO/ONOO-cycle elements of which peroxynitrite is the most important but several others have roles as well. What is interesting is that both A-beta aggregates and neurofilament aggregates act, in turn, to increased NO/ONOO-cycle elements, acting therefore as tissue-specific elements of the cycle. Recent studies of the A-beta aggregates have elucidated the mechanism by which this occurs.
The third talk at the Royal Society of Medicine will be entirely on therapy– how we can be down-regulate the NO/ONOO cycle.
I then fly on to Rome for a presentation on the morning of April 17, flying later that day to Catania, Sicily for a meeting on MCS. That meeting is again being scheduled to correspond to my European trip and is the first meeting ever to be held in Italy on MCS. I then return to Rome for an informal meeting with people at the National Institute of Health to discuss the mechanism of MCS. The situation in Italy is an amazing turn around compared with the situation when I visited there in November 2008. At that time, and I gave talks at the medical school in Brescia in Northern Italy and also in Rome, I was told that the situation regarding MCS in Italy was positively barbaric, with physicians being prosecuted and thrown in jail for treating their patients for MCS. Maybe, just maybe, I will have turned the situation around in that country within 1 1/2 years? We can only hope.
From Rome, I fly to Paris to talk at a meeting on MCS. That meeting is the first meeting ever to be held on MCS in France and was again scheduled to correspond to my European trip. It follows a talk that I gave at the Environmental Medicine meeting in Aix-en-Provence last April. The latter talk was the first talk ever given on MCS at the French Environmental Medicine meeting, a meeting that in the past, was largely dominated by environmental carcinogenesis. The situation in France has change dramatically in other ways. My web page paper on MCS has been translated into German and French and the response in both countries have been impressive. The French professional society of allergists has asked for and been given permission to post that French translation on their web site. Both French and German translations have been placed on several web sites.
After the Paris meeting, I go to Wurzburg for another meeting– an already scheduled one. I have been asked explicitly to give two talks– one on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS as NO/ONOO-cycle diseases– this will follow much of the material I outlined above on this topic for the London meeting. I have also been asked to give a talk on therapy– how we can down-regulate the NO/ONOO cycle.
After the Wurzburg meeting, it’s on to Madrid for the last meeting of the trip. I am not completely sure what I will be speaking on at that meeting, but am leaning towards talking about excessive NMDA activity as a common “end point” of large numbers of environmental toxicants. This is, in some ways, the most important new understanding that came out of my recently published big MCS review– that large numbers of environmental toxicants all produce increases in NMDA activity and have been shown to have their toxic responses greatly lowered by NMDA antagonists. Previously, there have been two major toxicant end points– what has been called genotoxicity for many carcinogens– and a second, endocrine disruption. So this is a third, and it is almost certainly more important than endocrine disruption in terms of its implications for human health.
I had a wonderful trip to Europe in November 2008, ending up that six-country speaking tour as the only non-European invited to a special session of the Council of Nations (the EU Parliament) on environmental medicine, but this next one promises to be even better.
Martin L. (Marty) Pall
Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Science at Washington State University
503-232-3883
martin_pall@wsu.edu
thetenthparadigm.org
~~~
02/04/10 Update: This announcement is now translated into Spanish. Thanks, Cathy!
~~~
Related posts:
Research shows toxic chemicals initiate Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity now recognized as a toxicological phenomenon
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity researcher launches website
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Request for help composing an advance letter to health care specialists
Posted on Feb 01, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Disability Rights, MCS, Susie Collins
What should be included in a letter to a physician that arrives before WE do?
Elaine Willis, who has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and a host of other illnesses, contacted me for help in composing an advance letter for her health care specialists. She’d love to have input from as many people with MCS as possible. Please leave your thoughts in the comment section.
My family doctor (primary care physician) has asked that I prepare the letter that will go to specialists prior to my first arrival. It needs to elucidate in few words what to do to make my visit safe. It must also explain MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) to a physician who may have had no education about or exposure to a patient with the kind of symptoms I experience. My symptoms can be mild (for me) which may include coughing, asthma, brain fog and increased ataxia (you see I already I have ataxia – the hereditary kind). Or, they can be medium, slurred speech, severe ataxia, altered blood pressure, complete inability to focus or answer questions, stuttering, poor word-finding skills and dizziness. And of course, the biggie… anaphylaxis… and it happens too often.
So, my desire with this post is to engage the assistance of others with MCS. What should be included in a letter to a physician that arrives before WE do? First appointment of the day? No waiting? This is a brainstorm – so all ideas are accepted. I will choose the ones I want for my letter and post it. Maybe it will be useful for others, too!
Please leave your suggestions here in the comment section. Thank you!
~~~
Read more about Elaine here:
Perfume blogger dismisses concerns from a member of our community
Canadian teacher fights for her right to workplace accommodations
~~~
This post was originally published on Elaine’s blog and republished here on The Canary Report with her permission.
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Chemically-safe building practices: what we did when we renovated our bathroom
Posted on Jan 29, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Guest Bloggers, Products
Many of the resources used were environmentally-friendly, but it should be noted that “green” does not always mean “chemically safe.”
By Guest Blogger Catherine Ockey
Background
In the spring of 2009 we discovered a leak in a shower faucet in our home. Upon further investigation it was determined that water had been leaking down an inside wall for some time and had caused damage to the bathroom walls and subflooring. The process of repair and reconstruction occurred over a three-week period in the fall of 2009. Before the actual work began, however, I did a lot of research into chemically-safe (or safer) building products and found a contractor willing to follow my instructions explicitly. I am happy to share more details of my experience with anyone by phone or through email. Following is a summary of what we did.
Contractor
We found a contractor with experience in environmentally friendly building practices. He had previously built an entire house for a person with MCS, so he had some familiarity with the issues. However, every person with MCS has slightly different issues, so I micro-managed the entire project myself from start to finish. I let the contractor know upfront that this is how it would be done and also had this written into our contract with him.
Resources
Books
Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners by Paula Baker-Laporte, Erica Elliott and John Banta. (Both my contractor and I had a copy of this book. It was our most valuable resource.)
The Healthy House by John Bower. (I have an older edition of this, but I believe it has been updated.)
Magazines
Fine Home Building
Green@Home
Mother Earth News
Care2 Green Living
Safer Building
Various manufacturer’s Web sites
Lassen Technologies
Ecohaus
Healthy House Institute
Guide to Less Toxic Products
Safe Shopper’s Directory: Building Materials
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Short film: The People’s Grocery
Posted on Jan 29, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Food, Media/Videos, Organic Gardening, Susie Collins
Food justice: The People’s Grocery in West Oakland is an inspiration to communities everywhere about the importance of a healthy diet and about knowing where your food comes from. Director of the project Brahm Ahmadi is a hero!
In West Oakland, California, where liquor stores have replaced markets, People’s Grocery is creating a healthy alternative, offering access to organic produce. Through urban gardens and local farms, People’s Grocery supports a culture based on connection to the land, sustainable agricultural practices, and regenerating community.
Brahm Ahmadi is the co-founder and executive director of People’s Grocery. He has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California and is an MBA candidate at the Presidio School of Management. Brahm combines social enterprise, cooperative economics, urban agriculture, public education and youth development to build healthy and stable inner city communities. He is also Executive Director of the North Oakland Land Trust, which preserves properties in North Oakland for the exclusive purpose of community gardening.
Link (A great site with oodles of online films to watch!)
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MCS support group in Alaska is covered on local TV news
Posted on Jan 27, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Media/Videos, Susie Collins
KTVA television news in Alaska does a two-part report on a group of women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
A wonderful group of activist women have formed an MCS support group in Alaska. KTVA television news covered their story, filming the group at the cafe where they meet once a month. The women do a good job of explaining life with MCS; one of the group is in tears as she describes how difficult it is to get people to understand the illness.
The report is fine as long as it’s listening to the women with MCS. Unfortunately, the reporter then uses an allergist as her primary source. He, of course, doesn’t have a clue about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity since MCS is not an allergy and therefore clearly outside his area of expertise. By the way, did you know that the antibody IgE was discovered in 1967 and gave the key scientific basis to allergy as a medical condition? Before that no one really understood allergies. Sound familiar? Ironically it’s allergists who are often the greatest and most powerful opponents to the recognition of MCS. MCS, by the way, does not produce the antibody IgE, therefore it is not an allergy.
Oh, and one more ding on the report: the reporter does not explore the ingredients of the products mentioned by the women with MCS, nor does she explain the known health hazards of the products and chemicals that the women cite as intoxicants.
The first part of the report covers the group and the uninformed allergist.
The second part films one of the women in her home.
Thanks to Kathy for bringing this report to my attention! And thanks to Harry for his insight about allergies and the discovery of the antibody IgE!
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The Cloisters, where smells of the past meet the toxic chemicals of today
Posted on Jan 27, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Susie Collins
A woman with chemical sensitivity tells the story of her visit to The Cloisters. “I was furious at having been yanked across centuries and continents, and back to the 21st century where strange beings beat back every aroma or scent that nature or history has to offer by engulfing it in a cloud of sprayed odor – the embodiment of ‘Better Living Through Chemistry,’ I guess.”
Faith Wurtzel reports at Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood about The Smells of the Past.
In the essay, Faith tells a story about her visiting The Cloisters in New York City, what she describes as “a medieval European monastery that pre-dated Henry Hudson’s birth by a few centuries [and] anachronistically appeared in Manhattan.” During the visit to the stone structure, Faith experiences the pleasant natural smells of “hot wax and cold stone,” and she’s flooded with childhood memories of being “dragged by my parents to every castle, museum and cathedral in Europe.”
“I remembered lofty vaulted chambers with damp and icy winds blowing through them,” she writes.
But while her mind was tripping back to her childhood in this ancient of settings, she was suddenly jolted into the 21st century when assaulted with the stench of modern perfume.
Still a little dazed, I finished the climb to the heavy wooden door that separates the stairway from the museum’s entry vestibule, and we made our way in.
As soon as we opened the door, we were engulfed in an eye-stinging miasma of air “freshener,” to which I am frighteningly allergic, and which was no doubt unleashed by some plebeian in an effort to combat the persistent smell of history inherent in the centuries-old structure.
Snatched from my visit with the past, I fled down the stairs Dracula-style, with the front of my coat draped across my nose, and then stood outside on the icy cobbles sucking in draughts of cold, clean air. I was furious at having been yanked across centuries and continents, and back to the 21st century where strange beings beat back every aroma or scent that nature or history has to offer by engulfing it in a cloud of sprayed odor – the embodiment of “Better Living Through Chemistry,” I guess.
You should go read the whole essay, it’s beautifully written.
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Poster for fragrance-free hospital care
Posted on Jan 26, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Disability Rights, MCS, Susie Collins
This poster was designed as a public service project for patients requiring in-hospital care at hospitals that are still lacking a proper fragrance-free policy for the staff.
The poster comes in two versions: one for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and one for Severe Allergic Asthma. Click here to download either one in print resolution.
I think the posters are FAB, but I knock off a couple points for using the word “allergen” in the MCS poster. As we all know, MCS is not an allergy, it does not have any of the physiological markers of an allergy. But that criticism aside, this poster rocks. I especially love the part where it says, “Patient is not a Fragrance Crash Test Dummy. Don’t just ‘come & see if it affects the patient.’”
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More blogging canaries
Posted on Jan 26, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, MCS, Susie Collins
A couple of blogs came up on my radar this week that I wanted to share with you.
Healthologist & well seasoned Nurse. Out of the box practical thinker with common sense. Fabric Artist – Quilter. Problem Solver.
My first find is Kathy AK’s Blog at Open Salon. Kathy is a new member of The Canary Report community, and among her topics at Open Salon, she blogs about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. In the post Visiting someone with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, she writes:
There are not any products that I am not neurologically reactive to. It is just a matter as to how reactive or sensitive to them I am and how ill a specific product will make me.
So, please leave them all at home.
Those “all natural” fragranced products are not safe around me either. While some products are worse than others, all WILL make me sick to some degree, probably too sick for you to even come into my home or to enjoy your company.
A nurse with over 25 years experience (and a quilter to boot), Kathy’s also encouraged her readers to Make the connection — Chemicals & Fragrances make you sick, and asked them to consider When Scented cleaners do not make good Cents.
~~~
Sundog –noun 1. parhelion. 2. a small or incomplete rainbow.
I also found Sundog Tales by Lisa, who describes herself as “a survivor of the devastation multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).”
Lisa writes a lovely blog, full of detail, emotion and tales of a survivor.
I was feeling energetic and alive. My brain fog was noticeably less and it felt like just out of the corner of my eye I kept catching glances of what it would be like to have no fog at all. That little glimpse you catch of something that is mythical and mysterious but no matter how quick you are to turn and look you always just missed it. But I knew it was there and almost tangible.
Lisa and her partner Jeremy are living in a tent in the foothills of Washington state. They are living in the tent through winter and several of her blog posts describe the harrowing experience of cold and freezing temps (while battling CFS and MCS). They are currently building a straw bale house.
~~~
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MCS groups in Spain to meet with Secretary of Health
Posted on Jan 26, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Disability Rights, Government Regulation, MCS, Policy, Social Justice, Susie Collins
A coalition of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Groups in Spain will meet with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health to discuss formal recognition of MCS.
Eva Caballé at NO FUN reports that a coalition of MCS groups in Spain will meet with the Secretary of the Ministry of Health on Feb. 4 to discuss the formal recognition of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as a physical illness. The groups also will ask that all people with MCS have the same rights as the other chronically ill people.
The meeting will be held on February 4th 2010 in the Ministry of Health. Mr José Martínez Olmos, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Mr Alberto Infante Campos, General Director of Professional Planning, Cohesion of SNS and High Inspection will attend to the meeting representing the Ministry of Health. Following the Ministry of Health instructions, one person by each MCS Association will attend to the meeting and a lawyer and a doctor specialized in MCS too.
David Palma is coordinating this process selflessly.
We are now working on petitions document that will be signed by all MCS associations. This document will be given to the Ministry during the meeting, along with medical information about MCS.
List of MCS associations that are part of this process:
* ACAF
* AFCISQUIM
* Alas de Mariposa
* ALTEA – SQM
* APQUIRA
* ASQUIFYDE
* AVASFASEM-AVASQ
* ENA
* MERCURIADOS
* PLATAFORMA PARA LA FM ,SFC, SQM, reivindicación de derechos, Asociación Nacional
Link to read more about Eva’s book.
Link to read about Eva’s essay in Delirio’s “Silence” issue.
Link to read about Eva’s essay in Delirio’s “Naked” issue.
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We are all connected
Posted on Jan 25, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Environment, Media/Videos, Susie Collins
A tribute to great minds of science, intended to spread scientific knowledge and philosophy through the medium of music.
“We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” -Carl Sagan
Incredible mix of quotations from some of the greatest scientific minds of our age. If everyone understood the truth of this, the planet would not have been poisoned with toxic chemicals and most of us canaries would not not have developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity due to toxic chemical injury.
There is much to learn.
“We Are All Connected” was made from sampling Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, The History Channel’s Universe series, Richard Feynman’s 1983 interviews, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s cosmic sermon, and Bill Nye’s Eyes of Nye Series, plus added visuals from The Elegant Universe (NOVA), Stephen Hawking’s Universe, Cosmos, the Powers of 10, and more. It is a tribute to great minds of science, intended to spread scientific knowledge and philosophy through the medium of music.
Check out “A Glorious Dawn” by Carl Sagan, another Symphony of Science project!
And my website for more original music: [Colorpulse]
Enjoy!
John
john@symphonyofscience.comLyrics [after the jump]:
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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity housing survey
Posted on Jan 21, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Healthy Living, MCS, Products, Susie Collins
Home renovation expert launches survey to discover the housing needs of people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Please take a moment to participate!
James Van Raden, doing home renovation services under the name Paragon Renovations in North Dakota and Minnesota is starting a new “energy efficient affordable housing” business called Building Impressions. He’s expressed interest in including safe homes for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as part of his services. To that end, he’s currently conducting an exploratory survey to discover the needs of people with MCS.
James is a member of our Canary Report social network and I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with him. I think he’s genuinely interested in exploring the housing needs of people with chemical sensitivity and sees as his goal the creation of safe housing for people with MCS. I hope you’ll join me in supporting his efforts.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey so James has the information he needs to develop this aspect of his business.
Hello Everyone!
The housing study is ready and can be accessed by visiting
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A53MHW7T7
Thanks everyone for your willingness to participate and the survey is limited to 100 responses and I hope that there are many more that wish to take the survey than that!
If there is more interest in participating than 100 I will create another study so PLEASE visit the study page and answer as many questions as you are willing.
Also, for those NOT afflicted with MCS please leave the study for those that are and I appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Warmest regards,
James Van Raden
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The site is under construction today!
Posted on Jan 21, 2010 by Susie Collins in Blog, Editor's Notes, Susie Collins
We are doing some design work on the site today so things may look a little jangled up for awhile. You should still be able to navigate the site and leave comments. I’m sorry for any confusion. Thanks much for your patience! Aloha, Susie
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Why I boycott Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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The Canary Report releases its 2010 wall calendar
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Warning: Avoid ozone generating air machines
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The false promise of miracle cures for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
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The dangers of aroma technology
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DIY: Skip the chemicals, get a buzz
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The naked truth about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
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A statement from Lourdes Salvador about recent ad hominem attacks on Facebook
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Perfume blogger dismisses concerns from a member of our community
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The woes of public restrooms
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Susie Collins: Aloha Laura, While I understand the difficulty...
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Laura: Hi, My name is Laura I would really appreciate hel...
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Suzanne L: Good to know about the article by Dr. Donohoe. I...
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Suzi Duke: We've been using this litter for about 6 months no...
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Sandy: My apologies for being vague in my first reply. Dr...
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Ihab Farag: Thank you all for your kind words and comments. Th...
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