As regular readers will know, I am not a fan of the pharmaceutical companies and I am interested in alternative health methods.  I therefore brought the book and I thought I would share my humble opinion with you.

Firstly though, I will emphasise that although I consider myself to be quite well informed, I have no medical training and this is just my opinion.  It should not be considered as medical advice.

I did not agree with all that was said in the book, but its bottom line reasoning does make a lot of sense to me.  The book reasons that as our bodies are 70% to 80% water and water is 89% oxygen (by weight); then our bodies are 62% to 71% oxygen.  We can go without food and drink for days or even weeks, but will only last minutes without oxygen.  Oxygen really is THE most important element for human life.  We always feel better for a bit of fresh air, yet sluggish when staying indoors or in a smoky environment for too long.

Viruses, pathogenic bacteria and even cancer cells are anaerobic (thrive without oxygen) whilst the useful probiotic bacteria are aerobic (need oxygen).  So every cell in our body as well as the good bacteria that supports our life, all need a good supply of oxygen; whilst viruses, pathogenic bacteria and defective cells (like cancer cells) die in the presence of too much oxygen.  The One Minute Cure continues that we seldom get enough oxygen, especially if we live in areas of high pollution (always associated with higher disease rate and chemical sensitivity).

The One Minute Cure also quotes a theory stating that viruses and pathogenic bacteria do not in themselves cause disease, they look for an environment that they can thrive in (low oxygen).  I would argue that viruses and pathogens do actually cause disease, but obviously a well oxygenated body will fight the disease a lot more efficiently.

So bearing in mind than most of us do not have the time to spend all day on a mountain side practising deep breathing exercises, how do we efficiently oxygenate our bodies every day?

The One Minute Cure gives two main methods, the first being ozone therapy.  Oxygen is usually in the form of O2, that is 2 oxygen atoms joined together.  Ozone is O3, which is 3 oxygen atoms joined together.  You can see then that ozone provide an extra oxygen atom which obviously helps to super-oxygenate the body.  However, specialist equipment is needed and it can not easily be self administered.  If you go to a therapist, it can get expensive too.

The other method is much simpler and much more available.  It is simply to dilute an easily obtainable oxygen rich substance in pure water.  However, it comes with a warning as it can be dangerous if not applied properly:
1.      It must be diluted properly
2.     It must be food grade (no other grade)
3.     It must be taken several hours apart from food

If the guidelines are followed, then it is very safe, very cheap and supposedly very effective.  I am not going to name the substance here because to be blunt, I don’t want to be responsible for somebody not doing it right, harming themselves or their loved ones and then blaming me.  I won’t take that responsibility, so get the book and do it right.

Where I did not completely agree with the book is that it slates the pharmaceutical companies and the nutritional supplement industry.  I agree with most of what it says about the pharmaceutical companies, but I do acknowledge that we need them for some things (when natural methods are exhausted).  As for the nutritional supplements industry, I agree that there are a lot of products that do not live up to their claims or hype and are a waste of money.  However, with a bit of research you can find some very powerful nutritional supplements, yet The One Minute Cure (although not saying it outright) gives the impression that all nutritional supplements are a waste (which I can not agree with).  That said, the best nutritional supplements do tend to be more expensive, yet the One Minute Cure does offer a much cheaper alternative, that potentially may do the same job.

It also refers to colloidal silver stating that it can turn you blue (yawn – not that one again)!  I have answered that one so many times I will not bother here, but again The One Minute Cure does insinuate the worst case scenario, rather than a balanced overview.

It also quotes that 15,000 European doctors, naturopaths and homeopaths have administered this substance to over 10 million patients.  Without actually saying so, it gives that impression that this substance was administered in isolation.  However, I suspect that it was administered as part of a protocol along with other supplements (just my guess).

Overall however, I thought The One Minute Cure made a lot of sense and though I have doubts that it can completely cure virtually all diseases on its own, it does make sense that it will assist the body in fighting most diseases, viruses and pathogens, and increase the chances of returning to health.  I also believe that it is a good cheap maintenance method to help prevent you from getting ill in the first place (much cheaper than the best nutritional supplements).  I have some of the substance on order and am looking forward to trying it out.  I’ll let you know what I find.

Below is their promotional video:

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

So over to Avaaz:

“Dear friends,

No-one yet knows whether swine flu will become a global pandemic, but it is becoming clear where it came from – most likely a giant pig factory farm run by an American multinational corporation in Veracruz, Mexico.(1)

These factory farms are disgusting and dangerous, and they’re rapidly multiplying. Thousands of pigs are brutally crammed into dirty warehouses and sprayed with a cocktail of drugs — posing a health risk to more than just our food — they and their manure lagoons create the perfect conditions to breed dangerous new viruses like swine flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) must investigate and develop regulations for these farms to protect global health.

Big agrobusiness will try to obstruct and scuttle any attempts at reform, so we need a massive outcry that health authorities can’t ignore. Sign the petition below for investigation and regulation of factory farms and tell your friends and family and we will deliver it to the UN agencies. If we reach 200,000 signatures we will deliver it to the WHO in Geneva with a herd of cardboard pigs. For every 1000 petition signatures we will add a pig to the herd:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/swine_flu_pandemic

Last week the flu was all that we talked about — Mexico has been nearly paralysed and across the world leaders halted air travel, banned pork imports and initiated drastic controls to mitigate the spreading virus. As the threat shows signs of subsiding the question becomes where it came from and how we stop another outbreak.

Smithfield Corporation, the largest pig producer in the world whose farm is being fingered as the source of the H1N1 outbreak, denies any connection between their pigs and the flu and big agrobusiness worldwide pays huge sums of money for research to argue that biosafety is ensured in industrial hog production. But the WHO has been saying for years that ‘a new pandemic is inevitable’(2) and experts from the European Commission and the FAO have cautioned that the rapid move from small holdings to industrial pig production is in fact increasing the risk of development and transmission of disease epidemics. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that scientists still do not know the extent that infectious compounds produced in factory farms affect human health.(3)

Studies abound of the horrific conditions endured by pigs in concentrated large-scale operations, and the devastating economic impact on small farmer communities of bloated large-scale operations.(4) Smithfield itself has already been fined $12.6m and is currently under another federal investigation in the US for toxic environmental damage from pig excrement lakes.(5)

But even with all of this damaging evidence, a combination of increased global meat consumption and a powerful industry motivated by profit at the cost of human health, means that instead of being shut down – these sickening factory farm operations are propagating around the world and we are subsidising them (6). In the wake of this swine flu threat, let’s hold industrial pig producers to account. Sign the petition for investigation and regulation:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/swine_flu_pandemic

If we resolve this global health crisis boldly by reassessing our food consumption and production, and urgently calling for an inquiry into the impact of factory farms on human health, we could put in place tough farm practice rules that will save the global population from future animal borne lethal pandemics.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/swine_flu_pandemic

in hope,

Alice, Pascal, Graziela, Paul, Brett, Ben, Ricken, Iain, Paula, Luis, Raj, Veronique, Milena, Margaret, Taren and the whole Avaaz team

(1) Biosurveillance report tracing the disease to the Smithfields farm: http://biosurveillance.typepad.com/biosurveillance/2009/04/swine-flu-in-mexico-timeline-of-events.html
Reports on the link between the Mexican factory farm and the flu:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/for-la-gloria-the-stench-of-blame-is-from-pig-factories-1675809.html

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-fg-mexico-flu28-2009apr28,0,1701782.story

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=can-swine-flu-be-blamed-on-industri-09-05-01

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227063.800-swine-flu-the-predictable-pandemic.html?full=true

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/swine-flu-outbreak—-nat_b_191408.html

(2) WHO pandemic information
http://www.euro.who.int/influenza/20080618_19

(3) FAO, EC and CDC reports on the risks of industrial farming on public health
FAO and CIWF and http://www.cdc.gov/cafos/about.htm

(4) CIWF and PETA video reports of the disgusting conditions for animals in factory farms and the disease ridden manure swamps:
CIWF and PETA

(5) Reports on Smithfield’s animal welfare and environmental damage
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/for-la-gloria-the-stench-of-blame-is-from-pig-factories-1675809.html

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/press/releases/new-report-highlights-the-trouble-with-smithfield-article03132008

http://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/SmithfieldJan08.pdf

(6) Reports on UK tax payers subsidising factory farms http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/farming/5225298/Taxpayers-forking-out-700-million-for-factory-farming-in-England.html“

See also:
Swine Flu And Colloidal Silver (Part 1)
Swine Flu And Colloidal Silver (Part 2)

The old saying that the pen is mightier than the sword is true, as the sword is used to do the bidding of the idea (pen).

I believe that an idea who’s time has come is, “green recovery”.  That is, investing in renewable fuels, efficiency and new technology to both save the planet and create jobs at the same time.  This is being discussed by people the world over from US President Obama to the Chinese leader, Hu Jintao (and course, many many bloggers like us).

US and Chinese political doctines have made them rivals in many ways, yet dispite that they are begining to speak the same language when it comes to saving the planet.  The US has already committed itself to investing almost 1% of its economic output to sustainable recovery programs, whilst China is putting over a third of it big stimulus package into green investments.  Furthermore, the South Koreans are investing two-thirds of its package in energy efficiency, green jobs, public transport and renewable energy.

Ironically, the communist system in China puts them in a better position to combat climate change than the West.  I read years ago that many Chinese cities have an environmental committee that will actually shut down factories for several days if the local pollution levels get too high.  Some people I have told this too have argued: yes but how bad does it have to be before the Chinese will actually do that, it will have to be really bad. 

I don’t know what levels the Chinese set before they will close factories, the bottom line is they do it, we in the West don’t.  Why don’t we do it.  Imagine if we closed a factory in one city for a few days, they would be screaming blue murder that their competitors in other cities were having an unfair advantage as they were not closed.  Our governments/councils have more concern that they may be sued over this than they have concern for our health or the planets future.  Now I am not arguing for or against communism (this is not a political blog), but the communist system does have certain advantages when it comes to environmental controls.

It should be no big surprise then that the biggest threat to progressing green recovery comes from the West, with the biggest dirty poluters paying a small army of lobbyists to undermine any green laws being discussed.  Their only interests is in their profits.

Many people feel that they are too small and insignificant to make a difference, but we can. 
Green recovery is  an idea whose time has come.

Talk about it, blog about it, send links about it to your friends and join groups that lobby in favour of green issues.  Maybe we should update that saying about the pen being mightier than the sword to the keyboard is mightier than the bomb.

It is claimed that pre-polluted new born babies are coming into the world with 300 industrial chemicals already inside their tiny bodies.  Pollution is increasingly being linked with a wide range of serious conditions including childhood cancer, autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility and birth defects.  When I was a child (I’m 46 now) we hardly ever heard of things like ADHD or childhood cancer, now they are common place.

A campaign calling for action is asking people to sign an on-line petition called “The Declaration“ which will be handed in to Congress when it is big enough.  Please watch the video below and sign the petition at http://www.kidsafechemicals.org/. 

Then pass it on to your friends, family and anybody you know that loves kids.

If you are interested in reducing the number of chemicals that you and your family are exposed to on a daily basis, then you may want to look at some of my earlier posings on:
     Chemically Safe Products For Cleaning Your House 
     How To Make Your Water Safer
     In Car Air Filters
     Make Up For Ladies On Strict Detox Program
     How To Detoxify Your Body

That is where Avaaz comes in.  They set up petitions for a variety of subjects, they inform their large database of little guys, they collate the names and then they deliver the petitions to the decision makers.  Will the decision makers listen?  Well in many cases they are elected officials, so if they have enough voters petitioning, then yes they will.  Besides, it is always better to try than not to try.  If we don’t act, but the lobbiests for the dirty polluting companies do act, then the decision makers will only know one side of the story.  We have to try.

I do not intend to discuss the political stances taken by Avaaz as this is not intended to be a political blog.  All I will say is, that if you disagree with their political campaigns, then ignore them and only respond to the environmental campaigns.  However, if you are interested in fighting to save the planet, then visit Avaaz, chose your language and go to the “sign up” link.

We’ve received an unusual message: a video sent back in time from the future … by a talking fridge named “Coldy.” Click the picture to watch the video and take action now:

But the most-polluting companies want to sell dirty products cheaply, and avoid green investment. It’s up to us to make sure EU negotiators hear the clear voice of thousands of citizens across Europe — and not just the voices of industry lobbyists. Click below to watch the video and sign the petition — it will be delivered to negotiators this Thursday:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/refrigerator_revolution_video

After 9/11, the USA grounded all aircraft flights in and out of their country.  I have been told (though I can’t verify it) that this led to a measurable difference in the Earths temperature.  The USA is one biggest users of aircraft and is of course receiving many flights from foreign countries.  However, if a measurable difference can be made by just the USA alone banning flights, how much difference are we as a race making to our planet when you see all the flights from Europe, Asia etc that were not involved with the USA flight ban.

Then ask yourself, if that is aircraft alone, then what difference are all our cars, trains and industry making?  Questions like that can make you go mad.  Anyway, enjoy the film.

Drinking water supplies are to be tested for the presence of prescription drugs amid fears that rivers are being contaminated by the growing quantity of pharmaceuticals flushed unwittingly down the drain.

The Government has commissioned scientists to test river water at intake points where it is abstracted for human consumption, The Independent can reveal. They will also test drinking water after it has been through the water-treatment cycle.

Under a pilot project to begin next year, supplies will be examined for about five of the most common and potentially dangerous prescription drugs. The experts will meet over the next few weeks to decide which drugs to look for and where testing should be carried out. However, an insider said this was likely to be at selected sites on the river Thames because its water-catchment area covered the most densely populated part of the country.

Click here to read the rest of the article

In 2003, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimated that throughout the world, between 500 billion and a trillion bags are consumed each year.  Less than 1% of these are recycled because it is cheaper to make a new one than recycle the old ones.  The average person will consume over 22,000 plastic bags in a lifetime.  If you are not concerned about the damage that this does to our environment and to animals then consider this; as the plastic breaks down it finds its way into our soil and waterways, then into OUR FOOD-CHAIN.  We eat them.

A number of countries and the American city of San Fransisco have followed China’s lead and are banning plastic bag outright. 

I have seen a number of people carrying cloth bags, announcing that it is not plastic and my local supermarket offers discounts for people who bring their own bags or re-use plastic bags.  I will confess that I never really took it all that seriously before, but having found a very informative presentation about it, I’m sold on the idea.  No more plastic bags for me. 

CLICK HERE to see the whole presentation.

If you live outside of Europe and are interested in environmental issues, then you may want to check out their website as they campaingne on a lot of issues.  Anyway, here is the email they sent me, pasted in below:

“Dear friends around Europe,

Far from the eyes of the media, elected representatives in the European Parliament are writing a climate and energy plan for our continent. As citizens, we’ve campaigned hard for a global deal to stop catastrophic global warming, and Europe’s negotiators have driven progress in international talks — but if big polluters succeed in watering down Europe’s own climate action plan, all our momentum will be lost.[1] And that’s just what’s happening right now.

This Tuesday afternoon, European parliamentarians are gathering to finalise their proposals — but the whole plan is being undermined by industry lobbyists demanding they lock in massive “permits to pollute”, which would put emissions targets completely out of reach for 2020 and beyond.[2] Before it’s too late, in the next 48 hours, let’s deluge representatives from our own countries with emails and phone calls — urging them not to give in to the lobbyists, and instead to put forward strong plans to build a sustainable future for our societies, showing the world the way forward.

Just click the link below to see the names and phone numbers of the representatives from your own country — we’ve added a few “talking points” you can use in your emails and phone calls:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_our_future_europe/?cl=133827893&v=2246

68 people from 27 countries — the members of the European parliament on its environment committee — can fix this plan. And there are tens or hundreds of thousands of us in every one of these countries.

We’re told that the most effective thing we can do is for as many as possible of us to email or call the offices of those representatives in our own countries (particularly those from the conservative EPP umbrella party, who have shown most signs of giving in to the lobbyists), making the case for them not to compromise on permits to pollute and other backward-looking loopholes, and asking them to invest in building a cleaner, greener future for Europe. At a time of economic difficulty and high fossil fuel prices, efficiency and sustainability become even more vital.[3]

Just click the link below for everything you need — names, phone numbers, email addresses and suggestions about what to say. And don’t delay — we have hours, not days, to make a difference.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_our_future_europe/?cl=133827893&v=2246

With hope and determination,

Paul, Pascal, Veronique, Graziela, Ricken, Ben, Iain, Milena and the whole Avaaz team

Sources:

1. For Avaaz’s previous climate campaign successes, see http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_report_back/

Reuters: “EU urged to agree on climate before UN talks open”:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LU300512.htm

2. European Voice: “EPP-ED group split over carbon emissions”
http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/epp-ed-group-split-over-carbon-emissions/62506.aspx

AFP: “WWF criticises attempts to water down EU’s green targets”
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hJvhQ9ClFitMa4husGWkUZRYJxQQ

Financial Times: “Climate change fears over industry lobbyists”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4e47f656-88ba-11dd-a179-0000779fd18c.html

EUX.tv: “EU set for ‘Super Tuesday’ with controversial vote on climate”
http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=20536

3. UK Stern Review: “Ignoring climate change will damage economic growth”:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/3/executive_summary.pdf

EU carbon market will not raise power prices:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/report-eu-carbon-market-raise-power-prices/article-175667
“