Pinterest bans leading natural news portal GreenMedInfo!

GreenMedInfohas been banned from Pinterest, one of the largest, and widely-used, social media platforms for “violating their misinformation policy” for publishing information on vaccines that doesn’t toe the conventional, party-line. Only last week we reported on the organised censorship of natural health information on Wikipedia, whilst earlier in the year we exposed Facebook’s purge of natural/alternative health pages. GreenMedInfo, one of the most popular, widely accessed natural health reference and information sites immediately appealed the decision but do not expect to be reinstated. As evidence rapidly mounts demonstrating continued erosion of our rights and freedoms, we need to make our voices heard and keep demanding the truth, questioning convention and sharing information to protect our health. Together, we are stronger, but we can no longer rely on social media or portals like Wikipedia to act in our best interests.

The snackification of Asia

The SE Asian market is ripe for the picking and Big Food is taking full advantage of the growing desire for western style foods and interest in ‘healthy’ snacking across the region. In Japan, marketeers are now targeting products at young women with the introduction of ‘Potato Chips Lovely Cheese’. Still with one of the lowest obesity rates in the world, if the adoption of such foods continue, it won’t be long before Japan moves up the ratings. With the growing health crisis across the ASEAN region it’s time for other countries to follow Malaysia’s lead in attempting to turn the tide on this largely preventable epidemic that threatens to overwhelm health systems worldwide.

To patent or not – that’s the question

It seems the EU just can’t make up its mind when it comes to the patenting of plants and animals from conventional breeding. Having recently revoked a patent granted to Monsanto for broccoli, the European Patent Office (EPO) has thrown the system into chaos by setting Rule 28(2) aside following an appeal by Syngenta over pepper plants claiming it conflicts with Article 53. This puts the EPO in conflict with the 38-member states who adopted Rule 28(2). This potentially leaves the door wide open for Big Ag to take advantage of the ensuing confusion (by design?) to patent biological organisms and limit farmers’ ability to share seeds and maintain crop diversity.

Italian vaccination confusion continues

Vaccination policy in Italy is in shreds. Mandatory vaccination was introduced in 2017, but the newly elected Italian government recently took a step towards rescinding that law. However, in recent weeks the Italian Health Ministry has declared a ‘measles emergency’, announcing plans to vaccinate 0-16 years and people aged up to 35 under the existing law. Amidst the confusion, Italian scientists are up in arms over a €10,000 grant from the Italian National Order of Biologists to Corvelva (an organisation working for informed choice in vaccination) to research the safety and efficacy of commonly used vaccines. In an email interview with Nature, the ONB president said, “There is a need for truly independent vaccine research because, in his opinion, work conducted in public laboratories and at universities is usually influenced or funded by companies that produce vaccines”. Its first report on Infanrix has identified evidence of 65 chemical contaminants, 7 of which were chemical toxins. The report also states they could not find the six antigens that were expected. Rather than providing answers, more questions have been raised along with further increases in concerns over the safety of vaccines. Resolutely steadfast, Corvelva responded, “One thing is for sure: we will not stop!”

A blatant case of greenwashing 

With pressure growing on all fronts, Monsanto’s new parent Bayer is seeking to reassure citizens of the safety of its products. The new strategy? To use new and distinctly questionable marketing ploys, which appear to exploit parents’ fears over their children’s safety. How long can Monsanto/Bayer continue to paper over the ever-widening cracks as citizens recognise the harm caused by the chemicals they produce and say no to remaining profit fodder for Big Ag?

Concern over 5G grows

Organisations and scientists around the world continue to call on governments to stop the deployment of 5G networks amidst concerns over its potential danger to human health and all life on Planet Earth. Across the pond, ANH-USA are calling for research on 5G’s safety to be conducted before its deployment. Whilst the International Appeal to Stop 5G on Earth and from Space, initially signed by scientists, doctors and representatives of health and science related organisations, is now calling for the support of citizens around the world. Quite literally, 5G is a massive experiment that will result in a huge increase in exposure to wireless radiation that no living thing will be able to escape. What the effect will be is anyone’s guess, but if you’re not willing to be a guinea pig, then have your say and sign the appeal.

UK Charity Commission concludes review

In response to a challenge by the Good Thinking Society, the UK’s Charity Commission undertook a consultation into how it assesses the charitable purpose of charities from the complementary and alternative medicine sector. It has now concluded its review and published new guidance. The new guidelines state that charities promoting therapies as being able to treat or ‘cure’ disease ‘will need to provide robust medical evidence’ to be able to register as a charity. Its summary states that emphasis will be placed on evidence being appropriate to the particular benefit being claimed, in order that the diversity of the related therapy is specifically recognised. The Commission has also reiterated that its main role is to determine the charitable status of an organisation – complementary, alternative or otherwise – and not to judge the efficacy of the related therapy(ies).