Hilary's Desk
Bodily Matters
Mandatory Vaccination
Making vaccines compulsory, isn't something you hear much about in New Zealand media, BUT... if we aren't careful, mandatory vaccination will become law in this country. While those who tweak the strings around the wrists of politicians have kept very quiet in public, in private, there have been, and are, far more intense discussions going on about making vaccines mandatory, than ever before. How do I know? Read Full Blog
Swinish Shock Doctrine: Part Two
Everywhere we look, we see nothing but pictures of coloured surgical masks as if these have some paranormal ability to “protect” the wearer. These, we presume, work. Right? After all, they are part of the “national plan” to stop the spread of flu viruses right? We’ve been told that the two main means of infection are contact: as in shake someone’s hand, put hand in mouth; picking up droplets from furniture (fomites), or being directly coughed or sneezed over. Right? Masks supposedly are to contain what the infectious people cough out, to protect others, so wearers also assume that masks protect them from the “environment” around them. Why else would people on the streets of Mexico, and doctors, be wearing them? Right? Wrong, actually, on both counts. Read Full Blog
More Mercky Maths
According to IMAC “In New Zealand cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in women aged 25 - 44 years.” As usual, no reference. (pdf of IMAC page uplifted here, see page one) Really. That’s very interesting, because the Auckland District Health Board’s March 2009 4 mb “Nova” Newsletter says differently. (1st 4 pages uplifted here, because they remove it when the next one comes out.) It says, “for Maori women cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and it is often only caught in the later stages. For New Zealand women overall, it is the ninth most common cancer.” Read Full Blog
Mercky Maths
We are told that Gardasil will result in a 70% reduction of cervical cancer smears, because HPV 16 and 18 make up 70% of all abnormal smears. Right? Bollocks! Where is the proof? I’ve spent the day looking everywhere for the as usual unreferenced study detailed at IMAC (scroll down quite a way) which apparently, is the only study which has been done on oncogenic HPV smears in this country. It’s pathetically small, but it appears to be all New Zealand has. Remember, that IMAC is the site of the very people who PROMISE that Gardasil will do this cervical cancer miracle 70% reduction. Read Full Blog
Don't come crying!
One of the societal tools used against those who chose not to vaccinate is the “don’t come crying” line. Read Full Blog
"One Less" selective thinking
In the Escape section of Sunday Star Times, March 1, 2009, journalist Karen Tay, who admits to viewing beauty and skincare products as sacred miracle potions, was researching their true cost to her body, and the environment. “While researching this story, I learnt many unpleasant truths about my beauty products…” Read Full Blog
What's in a word?
The title of our first book came at 1.30 a.m in the morning. I’d been watching a recorded TV programme on the MenZB showing a nurse about to jab a child. She said, “little prick…” The child exploded vocally out of the blocks, and was inconsolable. I thought back to my last phlebotomist’s visit, when the ubiquitous “just a little prick” came out. And the day when she speared a twisted vein and the whole lot swelled up like a golf ball. Read Full Blog
Tamiflu garage sale anyone?
You remember all the paranoia about that pandemic cash-cow called bird flu? You remember that the New Zealand humoured whatsisname... Rumsfeld?? ... who profits gazillions from the company that makes Tamiflu, by buying a few million dollars worth of a useless drug, which wasn't necessary, and is now well past it's use-by date? Well, don't hold your breath, about either the value of Tamiflu, or whether Bird Flu will naturally find it's way here any time soon, or that any vaccine with be worth having.
Pinnochio's nose and Peter Flegg
As the UK medical gestapo proclaim 1,000 measles cases a national disaster, and go after parents who have refused to vaccinate their children against measles, there is an interesting "discussion" at the BMJ website. Peter Flegg, an infectious disease specialist has made some extraordinary claims. That's nothing new. He's done that at the BMJ for years. For those who want are keenly following the UK situation, here is the debate. Read Full Blog