According to O'Dwyer's PR Daily, former Greenpeace UK head Peter Melchett has been hired by the PR firm Burson-Marsteller which represents, among other companies, Monsanto, a prominent maker of genetically-modified foods, which Greenpeace regards as evil. The PR firm helps companies sound eco-friendly and socially responsible.
The report says that an internal Greenpeace memo reassures members that Melchett will still tell companies to "go organic" and that he will never help "bad companies avoid the likes of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth."

Did mysterious fumes from the World Trade Center disaster leave firefighters, aid workers, and others with debilitating, lifelong diseases? Or might the people involved suffer from nothing more than a combination of smoke inhalation, flu symptoms, and (quite understandable) stress? It's too soon to say, but already hype about mysterious illnesses is spreading in the press. Witness last month's Associated Press report by Malcolm Ritter.

Only half of Americans and few scientists believe in alternative medicine, but we're all paying to study it.

From a relatively small $2 million per year operation in 1992, called the Office of Alternative Medicine, a behemoth has grown now known as NCCAM, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Its funding has grown even more rapidly than the popularity of alternative medicine has and is now soaring over $100 million a year.

At least one type of stroke is more likely in the morning, according to a study done by neurologists and internists at Italy's University of Ferrara. They found that about 44% of the ischemic strokes (due to reduced blood flow to the brain, as with a blood clot) in the population they studied started in the quarter of the day between 6am and noon. The scientists suggest a "chronotherapeutic approach," including antihypertensive agents designed to lower morning blood pressure.

Executive Summary

A national public health group has released two new publications, each of which presents evidence that childhood vaccinations are safe, and urge Americans to continue to protect their children's health by immunizing them against common childhood diseases.

Place:
The Regency Hotel Ballroom
540 Park Avenue
New York, New York

Remarks presented by ACSH President Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan at a special conference convened by Secretary Andrew Cuomo.

The traditional American holiday meal, which typically includes mushroom soup, roast turkey, potatoes, green salad, fruit and pumpkin pie, is really a chemical feast of toxins and carcinogens all courtesy of Mother Nature. Even if it is all certified "organic."

To the Editor:
Vaccinations against influenza the "flu shot" should indeed be encouraged by our public health officials, but not merely to allay fears concerning confusion with anthrax symptoms ("Flu Shots Won't Alleviate Worries...", Nov. 1).
Influenza, a largely preventable disease, continues to kill over 20,000 Americans each year, despite the availability of an effective vaccine. Yet, between one-third and one-half of those who would most benefit, such as the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases, remain unprotected.