Fw: He or she who does not learn from history, is doomed to repeat it

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----- Original Message -----

From: " Hotz (by way of ilena rose) " <ahotz@...>

<Recipient List Suppressed:;>

Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 9:17 PM

Subject: He or she who does not learn from history, is doomed to repeat it

>

> TO: ILENA ROSE OF Breast Implant Awareness -

> http://www.humanticsfoundation.com/greatlinks.html

>

> CC: Individuals and groups interested in chemical injury issues

>

> *********************************

> He or she who does not learn from history, is doomed to repeat it

>

> Dear Ilena Rose,

>

> Some of your recent posts show that you are weaving together an important

> picture that has the potential to link breast implant survivors with

others

> who have been injured by synthetic chemicals, including those with

chemical

> sensitivities, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cancer,

> etc.

>

> Finally we are beginning to see a few comments and articles about how the

> same companies that make these toxic products -- also profit from our

> illnesses.

>

> What a great system! This regulatory/political/social structure makes

> industry billions of dollars by enabling it to market products that are

> destroying the integrity of our DNA! And then when we become ill-- it

> profits again by selling us the drugs and therapies to treat our chronic

> illnesses. What a terrific business plan!

>

> Why don't we begin talking about this in a more strategic and focused way

> so that more people can see how corrupt the medical/scientific model has

> become in this country?

>

> All chemical injury survivors have important things in common: No matter

> whether it is an inadequately tested household products, pesticides,

> implants, vaccines --or whatever -- in all circumstances, there is

> inadequate testing of the products for how chronic exposure to these

> substances, affect human health.

>

> The public most often learns the hard way that chemicals are innocent

until

> proven guilty. The burden of proof for chemical injury is on the injured

> -- the company that makes these products is NOT required to conduct fair

> tests to prove safety -- the exception is for pharmaceuticals, which

> undergo extensive testing.

>

> But let us please be candid. Despite rigorous testing, many

phamaceuticals

> cause terrible side effects and can trigger serious problems. CBS News

> reported in 2000 that hospitals nationwide found that over 100,000 persons

> died from doctor prescribed drugs in hopitals. This does not factor in

the

> deaths from those who take medications at home.

>

> This lack of adequate testing for the vast majority of synthetic chemical

> products creates an incredibly difficult, complicated and enormously

> expensive problem for the injured. But industry likes this system and it

> serves it well. It works hard to keep it that way.

>

> God help you if you are a doctor or scientist that is studying toxin

> induced illness.

>

> The chemical/pharmaceutical industry knows how to exert enormous pressure

> on the medical and scientific community by its connections to medical

> licensing boards and through powerful public relations and lobbying

> machinery. It also is able to effectively control who gets its money and

> who does not. Science in the area of toxin induced illness has long been

> in jeopardy for this reason. If you are a research scientist

investigating

> toxin induced illness, you can be certain that not only will your research

> funding soon dry up, but you will be blackballed by the medical/scientific

> community if you insist on pursuing such research.

>

> Industry also creates hatred and suspicion against hapless victims by

> devious and ugly tactics. For decades, it has successfully created seeds

> of doubt and ridicule in some of the public mind, by funding such

> " scientific " front groups like The American Council on Science and Health,

> that marginalizes activists and the injured who dare to speak out. It is

> not that unusual to see efforts by industry influenced persons who

> marginalize the injured by denigrating them -- suggesting they are crazy,

> money grubbing, stupid, alarmists, chemophobes, tree-huggers, etc. This is

> akin to hate speech that has been very successful. This feeds on that

ugly

> part of human nature --the dark side that makes some people want to hate

> and scapegoat others. It also causes may people to back away from those

> who speak out -- in fear that they may be denigrated as well.

>

> One of these days soon, I hope to see all of these disparate toxin induced

> injury groups organize our anger into dignified and collective political

> action in the name of a more democratic and fair America, for us and for

> future generations.

>

> In the past, breast implant victims, Gulf War vets, Vietnam vets, workers

> chronically exposed to neurotoxins, homemakers chronically exposed to

> pesticides and other household chemicals, pesticide operators who finally

> become hopelessly ill, etc . -- have all thought that our situations were

> unique.

>

> We must continue to remind ourselves that we have much in common: fatigue,

> fibromyalgia, memory loss, joint problems, muscle aches, autoimmune

> disease, and a wide variety of chronic illnesses and medical conditions --

> often ending in the final despair of cancer.

>

> We must link together these disparate groups from time to time for common

> strategic goals, as we can gain enormous political strength that can only

> be achieved by numbers and a commitment to common goals. For now one of

> our mutual goals must be to continue to warn the public of the dangers of

> untested products.

>

> Warmest Regards,

> Hotz

>

>