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... GLOBAL NEWS . ... NEWS HEALTH BENEFITS OF VACCINATIONS DON'T OUTWEIGH THE RISKS | “In regard to your August 21 article, “Ounce of Prevention", I feel I must respond. ‘The statement that people sign the personal/philosophical waiver because of “compla- cency" due to "our busy lifestyle" and "it's an easy way out" couldn't be further from he truth. T have done a great deal of research on the pros and cons of vaccinations cand have found some very frightening information. There is a large controversy with-] in the pediatric profession as to the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations. ‘Consequently, my decision not to immunize my son was nota light one. According to’ my research, the vaccination process completely compromises the natural immune system and increases the chance for atypical disease which causes many more prob- lems than the actual disease. True immunity can never really be achieved through this method, which is evident by the need for ‘booster shots’. 4 "Side-effects from vaccinations range from high fevers, convulsions, brain damage, the disease itself, to death. Due to healthy and sanitary living conditions today, the disease itself is less dangerous than the side-effects caused by the vaccinations, Part of the inherent problem with the vaccines is that they are made up of animal proteins such as horse blood and rabbit brain tissue or formaldehyde and mercury, which are known carcinogens. Measles was mentioned as a disease that is "vaccine pre- ventable", Before the measles vaccination was introduced, it was extremely rare for’ an infant to contract measles. By 1993, more than 25 per cent of all measles occurred in babies under a’year of age, yet the vaccine is not recommended under the age of 15 months. "The Centers for Disease Control officers admitted that the situation is likely to get worse, and attributed it to the growing number of mothers who were vaccinated in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. (When natural immunity is denied, measles protection cannot be passed to the babies.) Today in the US, with 98 per cent immunization status due to enforced vaccinations, epidemics of measles still occur at three- to four-year intervals, unabated and uninfluenced by vaccinations. When a child contracts the disease natu- rally, the immune system is being strengthened for the future. (Viera Scheibner, Ph.D.) "Most diseases were on a natural decline before the vaccinations were even intro-] duced yet they were given all the credit. In countries that didn't have an extensive) vaccination program, the disease also declined. In 1949, Dr Sandler spoke on. the radio in Asheville, NC, warning parents to feed their children no sugar or foods con- taining sugar, in an effort to avert a polio-attack outbreak. He also recommended a high-protein diet with low-starch vegetables as being the best protection against low} blood-sugar, a condition making people susceptible to polio. "People responded with decreased sales in sugar, candy, ice creams, cakes, soft drinks, etc. Polio outbreaks in North Carolina were 2,402 cases in 1948. in 1949, after Dr Sandler's publicity, there were only 214 cases, even though the whole country | had an increase. This was all accomplished without vaccinations and was highly pub- licized before vaccinations were introduced. Why isn't this the way to strengthen our children's immune systems now? Clean diet, clean living and low-stress environment have done more to eliminate and prevent disease over thousands of years than any other form of intervention. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will aid the body's miracu- Jous ability to resist diseases and heal itself. Our children deserve to have their ‘immune systems function at the highest potential and not be compromised by inter- pvention, "Having researched all the available data, it is my conclusion that the benefits of vaccinations do not outweigh the risks. This was not a decision based on complacen- ‘cy but on hard-core facts. My main concern is that Rep, Lyn Bankes, who has intro- duced legislation to eliminate my philosophical waiver to vaccinate, is in effect abol- ishing my rights for freedom of choice in health care. "In this age of ‘less government’, why should I be forced to submit to a controversial procedure with questionable results and dangerous side-effects in the name of my child’s health? As a parent, I have the right to make the child's health-care choices— not the government." (Source: Written by Michigan Chiropractic Council Member, Cheryl Snyder- Hughes, D:C., for The Canton Observer, Points of View section, 28 September 1995) NATURAL CATASTROPHES AT RECORD HIGH FOR 1995 Natural disasters caused a record US$180 billion worth of damage during 1995, According to figures released by Germany's Munich Reinsurance, the company recorded nearly 600 natural cat- astrophes in 1995, including the Kobe earthquake (US$100 billion), compared with 580 in 1994, the previous record year. Deaths from natural disasters topped 18,000 compared with just over 10,000 the year before. Despite the increase of catastrophes, the actual cost to insurance companies fell, basically due to legal limits in Japan on insurance cover for earthquake dam- age and the fact that the government met much of the cost to private households. Also, damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges and harbour facilities was not covered by insurance. This meant that the cost to the insur- ance industry in 1994 was US$14 billion, a drop from US$17 billion in 1994, and $28 billion in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew alone cost the industry US$20 billion. (Source: The Australian, 29 December 1995) Not many people know this, but there are literally thousands of spectacular rock-paintings, mainly in the ancient Kimberley region of Western Australia, that point to the existence of a previously unknown race of Australians as much as 50,000 or more years ago. The paintings, known popularly as “the Bradshaws", bear absolutely no resem- blance to traditional Aboriginal rock art. In fact, according to some rock art experts, the Bradshaws comprise some of the finest, most elegant and oldest rock paintings found anywhere on Earth. Scholars still debate who the mystery race was, where they came from and where they went. Depicting mainly stylised human fig- ures dressed in elaborate costumes adorned with tassels, sashes and great sweeping head-dresses, the pictures are significantly older than the subsequent Wandjina tradition, which is associated with modem Aboriginal culture. (Sources: The Weekend Australian, 11-12 November 1995; The Australian, 15 November 1995) NEXUS ¢ 9 AUSTRALIA'S MYSTERY RACE FEBRUARY-MARCH 1996