The Serene Way

Expert Panel Discussion - Bill C51

How will Bill C51 impact Canada?

Join the expert panel discussion on Thursday, June 26

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm  

OISE - 252 Bloor St.

Toronto

Bill C51 – Response to government agenda  The Big Pharmaceutical lobby continues to strong arm the government into pushing through legislation to change the Food & Drug Act to include ‘Therapeutic Products’. What affect will this have on our ability to choose traditional options for preventative care? At what expense to the current health care model will this push a beleaguered system over the brink?   Our government is telling us, “This Bill is part of our strategy to ensure that food and products that are available on the Canadian Market are safe for consumers.” How can they ensure this when laws governing prescription drugs or even day to day products lack this ability? Recently, it was reported by Canadian Press that ‘The federal government is considering declaring a substance used to make chewing gum as toxic after tests on the colourless liquid with a sweet, fruity smell linked to cancer…” Apparently, there is a law in place to protect the consumer from this ‘toxic’ substance.  “All of Canada’s major international trading partners have the authority to recall a drug, cosmetic or medical device if a serious incident were to occur. While most companies willingly remove dangerous product from the market, without this Bill, Canada would not have the authority to intervene if a company chooses to ignore requests for withdrawal.” Teflon pans that are now prohibited from sale in Canada, again, there is a law in place that can remove products and ensure consumer safety. This new legislation certainly didn’t have an impact upon this product and yet the government managed to deal with the issue.  A recent response to an email regarding Bill C-51 elicited the following response, “Under this Bill, natural health products will continue to fall under their own unique set of regulations and the provisions for safety and quality will continue to be appropriate to the relatively low risk profile of this class of products.” Clearly a law already exists for consumer protection. Safety and quality?  Where are these terms in relation to prescription drugs, I was on the subway the other day and one of the advertisements stated, “In Canada, 300,000 hospitalized for misuse of prescription drugs.” That’s one percent of the entire population hospitalized for taking what is prescribed. Can the same be said for supplements? A recent article in MacLean’s Magazine (Apr. 21^st, 2008) titled ‘Vitamins can be hazardous to your health.’ quoted a British 2003 study that indicated, “…34 vitamins and mineral studied, one could cause cancer, six could induce ‘irreversible, harmful effects’ and three could have ‘short-term harmful effects’. Here’s the kicker, at levels over 10 times the recommended dosage. Yet little was said in the article regarding even one ray of hope in regard to the positive effects of supplementation. A Canadian University study in the 1950’s of vitamin IV therapies on paranoid schizophrenics found that within a three month period participants received a clean bill of health. There are countless other examples that we don’t get to see and aren’t covered in the media.  What constitutes low risk?  Definitely not the prescription drug advertisements that inundate our televisions, where we see untold numbers of ads for ‘prescription’ drugs that have a list of side effects as long as your arm. Take a bottle of aspirin and you could end up dead. Give a child a tube of toothpaste and they too could have ‘irreversible, harmful effects’.  As for low risk, I ask, is death a relatively ‘low risk profile’. We have seen numerous drugs flood the market only to be taken off when further ‘testing’ reveals levels of risk higher than previously claimed. We don’t have to look that far back to remember Vioxx. Are current laws protecting the consumer in this case?  Who’s most at risk? Another quote from a message regarding the government’s stance on Bill C-51; “We need fines in the Bill to deter criminals from abusing their privilege to market safe products … the Bill also says that the fines must be tailored to the risk of the product.” Would these laws be applicable to the Big Pharmaceuticals or better said are they being applied to them now? I think not and I don’t think so! If any supplements to come under this legislation, it is the Big Pharmaceutical companies have the most to gain. They are unable to patent plant matter, yet when they discover a chemical compound that affects the body, they can patent that process and the synthesis of the ‘drug’. Who pays for it? We do.  Research since the discovery of ‘sulpha’ drugs in 1850’s has changed from the more holistic approach to a prescription approach, in no way affecting the underlying issues regarding disease. Will mediation become part of this ‘therapeutic product’ as recent discoveries have proven its effect on all systems of the body? What criteria would be used to define a ‘therapeutic product’? The advertising claim on most of the food we eat certainly is becoming more oriented to the therapeutic affect of ingredients. Is our food destined to become by prescription only? Are the current laws protecting the consumer or the large corporations? In the instances here, Big Pharmaceutical companies are the beneficiaries of current regulations and they are sure to continue to be unless we act.  Please write to your governmental representatives today, to stop this process.
Canada - www.StopC51.com
US - http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/   Please sign the petition and forward this information, we are all affected by these changes. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/StopC51 Peace, love & lightT.S. (Tim) White

Oprah, we all need your help!!!

The state of health of all North Americans is in jeopardy.

Here in Canada big pharma is strong arming the government to pass Bill C51 (www.stopc51.com) There is a similar Codex in the US and this government is following its southern counterparts lead. This would restrict access to natural remedies, such as vitamin and herbal supplements to a prescription basis. The government would have the authority to enter one’s home without a warrant and seize one’s property as well as levy fines upwards of $2,000,000 and jail time for drying herbs in your own home.

I’ve signed the petition “Stop Bill C-51″& http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/StopC51

This is the note I attached to my signing of the petition.

12:50 pm PDT, May 7, Tim White, Canada

Thanks in part to natural supplements and herbal remedies; I have been able to control my Irritable Bowel Disorder for the past 2 1/2 years. It is with this continued support that I do not have to avail of the health care system at a great expense. Giving in to Pharmaceutical companies is just another indication of how government is for the corporate sector and not of the people for the people. Stop the process of this act immediately. How much more can the health care system sustain. Extended Health Care premiums would skyrocket and how few can afford them as it is.

We must all fight to ensure that neither government enacts laws that restrict access to our ability to take care of ourselves. We must be free of big brother Pharma trying to squeeze more out of the average citizen by its lobby.

We need your help to get this message out to as many as possible so we can protect our right to avail of natural products and be responsible for our own health and wellbeing.

Many thanks

Tim

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When we talk about our work, it is how we deal with the stress that is an indication of our character – a positive and constructive attitude towards ones self and others in the situation. We may not know all that is going on in a person’s life – there are those that are ill – or just uncomfortable and stressed out at home – they can tend to project their feelings outward, which is a natural thing. It is important to remember that their reactions are not a reflection upon our selves. Doing things that remove our emotions from the situation is the best remedy and those things that allow us to breathe deeply such as walking helps in that regard as do they other activities that facilitate this process…

Deep breathing engages an automatic relaxation response throughout the entire human organism including; increasing cellular respiration, immune system response and improving digestion. The breathing is like filling a glass of water, first the bottom of the glass is filled then the middle and finally the top…when we take that simile to the anatomy of the body, we fill the belly with air first, then the lower rib cage and finally the upper chest, then we reverse the action on the exhalation - first with the upper chest, middle rib cage and finally the belly – much like the way a baby breathes (though most people would not like to consider themselves a baby, so the glass of water works best, so does the wave upon the shore as it breaks and slowly rises up the sand and from there retreats back to the ocean – the description of this visualization is also very calming and can be used with the breathing).

…A suggestion for those that you deal with a situation which may allow co-meditation and help another deal with their stress is to facilitate deep breathing practice. By holding their hand and having them breathe with you in the same pattern may have a calming effect on both of people in the situation, there is a feeling of compassion and community, when the breathing is controlled so are the emotions and then there is love. If you can feel the beat of your heart then perhaps start with 3 or 4 heart beats for the inhalation and the same length for the exhalation gradually increasing the length of the breath to 5 or 6 heart beats, depending on the ability of the person you are with, this can again be slowly increased or decreased based on need and ability.

Here’s a little something that was written for one of the courses I offer…perhaps some of it may be useful, take what applies and feels right in any situation…

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques start by taking your consciousness away from emotionally charged thoughts and directing it to activities that are emotionally neutral such as breath and body awareness. If your attention is on your big toe it is difficult to stay angry, the same is true if you are focussed on the movement of air in and out of the body. Tension will be released with the implementation of conscious deep breathing and the rotation of awareness through various muscles and parts of the body.

The full body or Yogic breath

 The yogic breath allows the body to release tension by slowing down the breathing rate, utilizing increased air and pranic capacity and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. Alternatively, with shallow and quick breathing the sympathetic nervous system activates the ‘flight and fight’ response in which adrenalin and cortisone fill the physical body, a caustic element to cellular health and overall well-being.

For the most part people have very shallow breathing that originates in the upper regions of the torso – effectively the shoulder area. These muscles often give great problems as tension is being held in these areas, especially with work at a computer or desk and even driving will be exacerbate this tension. Shallow breathing increases the work load and over use of those muscles which attach to the rib cage and facilitate the mechanics of breathing.

Breathing should follow these rules:

1. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the nose, as this part of the process warms and filtrates the air (those with constricted nasal passages or colds may have difficulty with this and should modify accordingly, with the intention of increasing this capacity)
2. Keep the back of the throat and the jaw relaxed, this will open the air passage ways and increase the oxygen flow to the lungs
3. Feel the cool air travelling down the back of the throat warming as it passes into the lungs
4. Maintain this relaxed state during exhalation, feeling the warmed air expelled from the lungs in the reverse course
5. Do what comes naturally…relax into the breath!

 © T.S. (Tim) White, 2007  All rights reserved