Human Extinction

As a child my elders used to say, “when I was your age…” as they told me stories of their youth.  Every elder before would say the same thing each telling tales of how life has changed and prices have gone up or how far they had to walk to get to the school house.  If I’m lucky enough to be an elder one day my words might be somewhat different.  I may begin telling my dying children, “When I was your age the earth was inhabitable.  We grew crops for delicious foods and walked freely outside without our suits and masks.  We had hope for a future for you and your children.”

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Founder Spotlight

Question:    How & when did you learn that you have MCS?

Sal:  I was detoxing from mercury poisoning with DMSA via my doctor and began to have minor reactions around fragrances and perfumes.  Things bothered me that never did before.  I was also working with a naturopath and he suggested I was chemically sensitive.  It made sense.  He gave me some tips, one of which was to remove the Pine Sol, bleach, WD40, and Brasso from under the sink of my apartment and dispose of them.  I thought he was crazy. 

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Environmental Refugees

“The New Homeless”

By now you’ve probably heard that the environmentally ill are fast becoming the “new homeless”.  With the ever increasing amount of toxic substances used in and around homes many environmentally ill persons find themselves unable to tolerate living in traditional housing.  Issues of concern include: New Construction, Pesticide Spraying by Neighbors, Plug-In use by Attached Neighbors, Nearby Traffic Fumes, Neighbors Laundry Fumes,  Remodeling, New Painting,

Remodeling or New Painting

Gas Heating

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Secondary Education Options for the Chemically Injured—Part 2

In last month’s issue I discussed issues related to pursuing a secondary education on a college campus.  The picture, as I see it, is challenging at best.  Another option, which seems much better suited to those of us with chemical sensitivities, is that of distance learning.  Since my knowledge of this type of learning is limited to what I have seen on television I was happy when I remembered that I recently met Afton through a list-serve who finished getting her degree through distance learning not long ago.  She graciously agreed to answer my questions.

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Justice—An Interactive Poem by the Members of MCS America

today is the day

i'll strive to do the things

to understand why others
miss the peril in greed

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Pathologies of the DSM

Pathologizing people who are dissimilar as mentally ill gives unreasonable and unprecedented power to those who chose conformity.  Interestingly the real illness is often not experienced by the person who is living their life as they see fit but rather the person who fears someone who is brave enough to live life as they see fit.  Many mental illnesses are figments of our vivid imagination.  Labeling choices, such as protecting oneself by avoiding chemical exposure, and behaviors as disorders only causes harm in the long run.  Choice and behavior is relative to the differences in human

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This Thanksgiving Day—A Poem

this thanksgiving day i am thankful

for the people who stick by me through this tragic illness

for doctor's like ziem, pall, rhea, and shoemaker

for the dream that one day toxins will be banned

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An MCS Thanksgiving

Remember those wonderful and warm Thanksgiving family get togethers before MCS?  I sure do! When I was younger there were huge crowds of family at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving dinners. There are many happy childhood memories of helping to cut the bread, celery, and onions the night before for the dressing, extra tables in the living room and dining room to accommodate the many guests, all set with the good china and table linens, the wonderful smells of turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie baking in the oven.

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Indigo Canary:  A Story of an MCS Child’s Tribulations at School (Part 3)

The new school year looked promising upon the completion of my son’s 504 Accommodation Plan.  This was something that should have been done the previous year but unfortunately was overlooked by the school administration.  I was a bit more knowledgeable about the disability laws and education.  I had acquired an out of state advocate who went out of her way to help and educate me as she had spent many years defending the same cause that I was up

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Sal’s Place

In light of the recent earthquake just 100 miles from my home here on Maui we’ve changed the photos below to show some of the damages that the Big Island of Hawaii sustained.  I was resting in my van when the quake hit shaking my van so badly I though someone was trying to scare me by lifting the tailgate and dropping it repeatedly.    However there was more to come.

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Inside MCS America

November is upon us and Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we all know what that means - the holidays are upon us.   

Soon after the holidays it is time to start planning for May which is MCS Awareness month. 

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Have You Heard This?

Attractive Scents

My mother moved to the town where I live.  An elderly neighbor's niece walked across the yard to introduce herself (neighbors had been alerted to Mom's MCS).  The niece  appeared a bit disheveled in the summer heat and apologized while fanning her underarms that she had just finished mowing. 

Contributed by Janice Trease

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Letters to the Editor

Thank You!

Just wanted to say thanks for a wonderful newsletter.  The soap article in October was most informative!

Rose Miller

California

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Community News Web Links

Measuring Chemicals in Californians

Four Senior Physicians Arrested for Illegal Experiments on Elderly Patients

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Classifieds

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Featured Web Links

Case Control Study of Genotypes in MCS

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/dyh251v1

Organophosphates Induced Effects on Antioxidant Status of Liver & Brain /Subchronic Exposure

http://tinyurl.com/yy7rm6

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