The C.I.A. Doctors

READING

The C.I.A. Doctors
Human Rights Violations By American Psychiatrists
By Colin A. Ross, M.D.

By Mark Isaac Thyss

BALTIMORE, MD

In his book, The C.I.A. Doctors, Colin A. Ross attempts to prove that the Manchurian Candidate "super spy" is fact, not fiction. He describes the experiments conducted by psychiatrists to create amnesia, new identities, hypnotic access codes, and new memories in the minds of experimental subjects.

The C.I.A. Doctors proves that there were extensive violations of human rights by psychiatrists in North America throughout the second half of the twentieth century, perpetrated not by a few renegade doctors, but by leading psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacologists, neurosurgeons and medical schools.

To Order: http://www.rossinst.com/cia_doctors.html


© 2009 Mark Isaac Thyss/Garden of Healing®. All rights reserved.

The Psychologists of Torture

MENTAL TORTURE

Aggressive Interrogation Techniques
Medical professionals designed and helped to implement Bush administration interrogation practices

By Ashland Holderman, PhD

BOSTON, MA

One of the key, if underreported, findings in Tuesday’s bombshell Senate committee report on the Bush-era treatment of U.S. military detainees was the role of civilian psychologists in devising, directing and overseeing the torture of prisoners.

While the report highlights the role of senior Bush administration officials in approving “aggressive” interrogation techniques, it also exposes how medical professionals helped to transform the Pentagon’s torture resistance program into tactics used against prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and CIA “black” sites.

Understanding the role of these professionals should be a “specific focus” of an investigation into the use of these tactics, according to Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which has condemned the tactics as illegal and medically unethical.

FULL STORY: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4387/the_psychologists_of_torture


Copyright © 2009 In These Times. All Rights Reserved.

Gay Man could face jail for helping ill Partner die

HEALTH / LAW

Gay man could face jail for helping ill partner die
Alan Rees could face 14 years in jail

By Nell Frizzell

A north London man who helped his partner access assisted suicide in Switzerland could face a 14-year prison sentence.

Alan Rees, who had lived with his partner Raymond Cutkelvin for nearly thirty years, has decided to speak to the media about what he calls the “draconian” laws surrounding assisted suicide.

“It was his choice to die. They can arrest me if they want but the law has to be changed," said Rees, who, under the 1961 Suicide Act, could face charges for aiding, abetting, or procuring the suicide of another person.

Rees' partner Cutkelvin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007, but refused chemotherapy.

"He began deteriorating in front of me,” Rees told the Evening Standard. “I could see the difference on a daily basis.”

With the help of Rees, Cutkelvin got in touch with the pro-euthanasia organisation Dignitas and decided to go to Switzerland to die in a suicide clinic. “He was determined this was what he wanted and I respected that,” explained Rees. “He was in a lot of pain so I agreed to help.”

Despite the illegality of euthanasia in this country, Rees travelled to Switzerland with his partner. "I would have helped Raymond die, no matter what the consequences," he said: "He wanted to die with dignity, not waste away."

Dignitas has been criticised for the methods it uses in assisting the suicides of terminally ill patients. Its founder, Dr Ludwig Minelli has been forced to move the clinic following complaints.

Rees, however, is unwavering in his support. “I loved [Raymond] and could not allow him to suffer."

SOURCE: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12839.html


© 2009 Pink News. All rights reserved.

Atheists file Lawsuit

ACROSS THE NATION

Freedom From Religion Foundation
Lawsuit filed to block architects of religious mis-directions

By Mark Isaac Thyss

MADISON, WI

The nation's largest group of atheists and agnostics filed a lawsuit seeking to block an architect from engraving "In God We Trust" at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington.

The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation says the taxpayer-funded engravings would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.


© 2009 Garden of Healing®. All rights reserved.

Synthetic Genomics to develop Biofuels

NEWS BRIEFS

Exxon Mobil announces biofuel investment
Green Energy produced by algae is meaningful solution

By Richard Zelbersman with Simon Grazer

PORTLAND, OR

Exxon Mobil is announcing a major investment in greenhouse-gas-reducing biofuels.

The oil giant reported this week that it had entered into an alliance with Synthetic Genomics to develop biofuels from photosynthetic algae.

The Company plans to spend more than $600 million on the project, with an eye on developing a product that is compatible with current gasoline and diesel fuels. Exxon also noted that the main challenge facing the project is the ability to produce enough of the biofuel to meet commercial demand.

The world’s growing energy demands will require a multitude of technologies and energy sources. Biofuel produced by algae, with California-based Synthetic Genomics, could be a meaningful part of Exxon's solution, if efforts result in an economically viable, low net carbon emission transportation fuel that is sustainable and meaningful to the planet.

Along with the natural oils it produces, algae is said to be desirable as a biofuel source because, as Exxon Mobile notes, it does not need fresh water or arable land to thrive.


© 2009 Richard Zelbersman/Garden of Healing®. All rights reserved.

Wisconsin Stalking Laws

ABUSE SIGHTINGS

Addressing Stalking
What do I do if I am being stalked?

By Cokeley Goerin with Gay Sourling

Whoever meets certain criteria is guilty of a Class I Felony for stalking in most states:

The Predator intentionally engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person under the same circumstances to fear bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.

Examples of Stalking

Cyber stalking: emails, chat rooms, instant messengers, cell phones and pagers. Following a person, watching a person from afar, continuous phone calls, delivering something to a person's residence, place of work, having other people make contact.

For more information: http://www.uwstout.edu/cvpp/stalking.html

Create a Plan

Report the stalking behavior immediately
Make a stalking safety plan
Let people around you know what is going on, including your professionals
Vary your route, leave work and home at varying times
Go places with others
Collect evidence (keep emails, phone messages, letters etc)
Keep a detailed journal of the stalking behavior


© 2009 Cokeley Jessica Goerin

Chop Wood, Chop Wood

ENLIGHTENMENT

Chop Wood, Carry Water
Taking out the garbage

By Jeff Raeddlehoudt

There's an old Zen saying:

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

It means no matter how much you know, you still have to take out the garbage. The difference is you take it out with more consciousness.


© 2009 Jeff Raeddlehoudt

Avoiding Contaminated Foods

FOOD SAFETY

Fresh Foods Healthier
Check Labels to Avoid Contaminated Food

By Mark Isaac Thyss
Garden of Healing®

Look for “Sell-by” and “Use-by” dates. Past-prime products do make it onto shelves, so be aware; sometimes fresher stuff is in the back. If the date looms, make sure to use the product quickly or freeze it. On bagged salad, it’s believed that E. coli can grow more rapidly in greens that are old and decomposing, so checking the dates is imperative.


© 1996-2009 Mark Isaac Thyss/Garden of Healing®. All rights reserved.

Nature Programs - Fox Cities

EVENTS

Fox Cities Passport to Nature
Free Nature Programs available to Kids

By Padre Liddy Slickens

Fox Cities Passport to Nature sponsors the following free nature programs this week for kids.

"Whose Tracks Are These?"
1:30 pm Wednesday; Elisha D. Smith Public Library, 440 First Street, Menasha
Learn about Wisconsin's critters through a story reading and hands-on tracking activities.

Skulls and Skins
10 am Friday; Lutz Park, 1320 S. Lutz Drive, Appleton
Learn about Predator and Prey interactions.

Timber Wolves and Folklore
8 pm Saturday; High Cliff State Park, Sherwood
Learn about Wisconsin's Top Predator through stories and legends.

Metamorphosis-Frogs and Butterflies
1 pm, July 19; Garden of the Fox Cities, 1313 Witzke Blvd., Appleton
Learn about the lifecycles of frogs and butterflies.

Fox Cities Passport to Nature is a collaborative effort by Fox Cities nature centers, libraries and park and recreation departments.


© 2009 Padre F. Liddy Slickens

Inquiry on Torture Claims

ABUSE SIGHTINGS

Britain: Inquiry on Torture Claims
Criminal Investigations into Accusations of Abuse

By Mac Martin Fakanrani (Reporting from Argentina)

British police say they are investigating allegations surrounding the detention of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee, Binyam Mohamed.

Mr. Mohamed, an Ethiopian who moved to Britain as a teenager, was arrested as a terrorism suspect in 2002 in Karachi, Pakistan. He says he was tortured in Pakistan and in Morocco before being transferred to the Guantánamo detention center in Cuba in 2004 and beaten there.

London’s Metropolitan Police force said Friday that it had begun a criminal investigation into his accusations of abuse.

© 2009 Mac M. Fakanrani

Parsley's Winning Smile

KITCHEN CURES

Halitosis in Dogs is common
Getting a Clean, Smart Smile with Parsley

By D. Rykkers Prestina, Div.

Feel free to completely forget about your dentist for this one...:

YOU DO NOT NEED A DENTIST to get a bright winning smile - just use a little parsley, and your smile will grow abundant and strong.

Bad breath is common in dogs, but for people, it may take a brave friend to let you know about parsley for halitosis.

Blame harmful bacteria for bad breath. Micro organisms can hide between your teeth and cover your tongue.

It would be nice to just spit out that bad taste in your mouth, but it takes a little more work than that.

Experiment with a little parsley after eating and see the results. This is a cheap and effective remedy for unpleasant breath, as parsley grows abundant and strong.

© 2007 D. Rykkers Prestina, Div.

Stalking is a Form of Terror

PUBLIC SAFETY

Menacing by Stalking
Pending danger can change a victim's way of life

By Arlie Maylin

ORANGE COUNTY, CA

Stalking is a form of terror. It can be a sign of pending danger and can change a victim's way of life. Law enforcement agencies and court orders can stop harassment, and when there is repeated stalking, the law now allows police and courts to respond and prosecute.

We hope that the following information will help you to understand the law and what it can do for you.

Stalking and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
http://www.uc.edu/pubsafety/police_services/Menacing_by_Stalking.html

More about Invasion of Privacy, Wiretapping, Taping, and Cyber Stalking
http://www.orangeinjurylaw.com/invasion-of-privacy.htm#

"The new weapons are words, and the new artillery is satellites."

- James Bond

__________________

© 2009 Arlie Ian Maylin/Garden of Healing®. All rights reserved.

Music Heals Premature Babies

NEWBORNS

Premature Babies; Music helps their Healing
Music can reduce the level of pain babies experience

By Arlie Maylin
Garden of Healing®

For infants, especially Premies, sleep is crucial to their growth and development. And this is why hospital units where premature babies are treated have taken to playing music in the belief that it may help them heal more quickly and feel more comfortable. Now a new study finds some evidence that it may work.

Researchers are looking at how music can reduce the level of pain babies experience. Like mothers singing lullabies to calm their newborns, music may also help them make the transition to feeding by mouth, the study said. Babies stop reacting to pain more quickly when music is played, and they calm themselves more efficiently.

The researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada have been reviewing studies that looked at babies’ heart and breathing rates, oxygen levels and how much pain they appeared to be in. Some also looked at whether music seemed to calm babies during painful procedures like heel pricks to draw blood.

Another recent study offers the benefits of music on healing:

Playing two hours of recorded Mozart each week to premature babies lowered their heart rate and helped induce sleep, according to researchers at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.

While the studies did not establish a definite case for using music, the researchers said, they did offer preliminary evidence that it could help in some circumstances.

Music can mimic heartbeats and womb sounds, as well as a mother's own voice, to comfort their newborns. Playing music can encourage babies to sleep, become calm and alert, and prepare for feeding.


© 2009 Arlie Ian Maylin/Garden of Healing®. All rights reserved.