Release of New Single-Dose Mumps Vaccine

Though I am not pro-vaccination, to say I am anti-vaccination would be a stretch. I believe it is a very personal decision that only a parent should be able to make for their child.

The facts are that vaccinations can cause harm to your child, and like anything that may cause harm, only a parent should be given the responsibility of weighing up the pros and cons and making the decision that is best for their family.

After all, if something should go wrong (as it did with my child) it is you the parent who will be dealing with the aftermath - financially, physically and emotionally.

That said, I have seen a recent announcement of a new vaccination that is a single dose mumps vaccination available in the UK from June 2012, and wanted to write some detail on it here.  

There are many reasons a single-dose mumps might be considered a good idea at first appearance. 

 * MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella) vaccination has had many reports of serious adverse affects

 * MMR is 'cultured' in a chick embryo and thus is unable to be utilized by those children allergic to eggs 

 * 1 vaccination as opposed to 3-in-1 is less likely to cause adverse reactions

Please be aware if you are evaluating your stance on this new drug, that newer does not automatically mean better. In addition, something that needs to be taken into account is the method of producing any drug (or cosmetic, household product etc).

In this case this vaccination that you will be allowing to be injected into your child is cultured from canine kidney cells rather than chick embryos and is thought to be manufactured in the Czech Republic (a country with vastly different laws and safety legislation on pharmaceutical manufacture).  

Top reasons to be concerned and look further into this vaccination before making a decision: 

 * Manufacturing company is based in Czech Republic - a country with vastly different laws and safety regulations

 * Company has had other products banned previously due to concerns about their safety 

 * This may actually be a vaccine that was approved previously and then rejected. If this is the case it would have only be renamed and repackaged. (See this page for more detail on this statement.) 

* Innocent, sweet living dogs are bred specifically (typically in horrid conditions and with no love, affection or attention. They suffer and die at the hands of big business and you may not want to contribute to their suffering. 

* Manufacturer has stated that children allergic to the proteins in dog hair may also have an allergic reaction to this vaccine. 

All in all, as with any vaccine product the best advise I can offer is to do your homework. Know when you are making a decision it is an informed decision, and not one made by a puppet who does whatever the man in the white coat tells you to do.

Gourmet Retailer Wiliams Sonoma to Carry Organic Agave Nectar

Williams Sonoma will be stocking its first Premium Raw Organic Agave Nectar produced by Natures Agave Inc.

The Premium Raw Agave will be available on shelves in time for the coming holiday season. Agave nectar is a natural sweeter, often used in place of sugar.

It is low GI, Kosher-certified, gluten-free and vegan. The Natures Agave product is 100% organic, natural, raw, and produced without any enzymes, additives or chemical processing.

These attributes make it an ideal choice for those with special dietary needs, as well as those searching for an enhanced tasting experience.

“Not only is our agave an excellent, healthier substitute for ordinary sweeteners – it also adds an extra element and depth of flavor that enhances even the most traditional recipes;” says Stew Duncan, co-founder of Natures Agave Inc.

Please stop by your local Williams Sonoma store to try this delicious product or visit www.naturesagave.com to learn more about the company and its products.



This article first published at This Dish Is Veg

A Letter From Lyn White Of Animals Australia

I had hoped to update you today with the news that Labor had taken advantage of a critical opportunity to end the horrors of fully conscious slaughter in the live export trade. 

But instead, despite pleas from no less than 60,000 Australians, and appeals from some caring Labor MPs, today's caucus motion was weakened from a position of 'mandating' stunning, to 'encouraging' stunning — meaning that Australian animals will continue to have their throats cut while fully conscious in foreign abattoirs. 

That Labor has again bowed to the interests of the live export industry, and failed to extend even the most basic protection to exported animals, is bitterly disappointing. Fortunately, animals still have some unwavering allies in Parliament. 

Today independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a staunch opponent of the live trade, vowed to submit new legislation to Parliament requiring that if the live export industry is to continue for the time being, it must afford animals protection from un-stunned slaughter. 

Our immediate focus is now on ensuring this bill gets the support it needs. As our campaign to expose and end live exports continues, please accept our heartfelt thanks if you are among the thousands who have tirelessly directed letters, e-mails or phone calls to your elected representatives on behalf of animals. 

Whilst the vote today did not go as we hoped, we know that as each day passes more and more politicians are struggling with their consciences on this issue. It is a direct result of your support that we are coming ever closer to ending the cruelty of this trade. 

For the animals, 
Lyn White 
Investigator & Campaign Director

Please, if you are an Australian resident or citizen, contact your MP and make noise!

Let them know how unhappy you are that we, the voting public, are not being heard.

Remind them that at the next election, their decision making here, will determine your decision making at the polling booth.

You can find out more about Animals Australia and the work they are doing here.

 

New PETA Advocate Angela Simmons Says Eating Meat is a Sin

Designer Angela Simmons, co-founder of the Pastry fashion line, has posed in a new PETA campaign; “Eating Meat Is A Sin, Go Vegetarian.”

Angela is the niece of Russell Simmons, who has long been a supporter of PETA. In the campaign, Angela is naked, covered with only her hair and ivy, and is holding an apple. The ad is an obvious play on the original 'sin' of Eve, as depicted in the Bible.

Simmons has openly declared herself a committed Christian. “As a devout Christian, I feel it is important to show compassion of all of God’s creation – and adopting a vegetarian diet is the best way to keep innocent animals from suffering,” she states.


You can view Angela’s PETA campaign here and learn more about the work of PETA and how to adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet here.





*This article first published at This Dish Is Veg.