Discovery: Much of U.S. Water Safe, But Problems Remain

Looking more carefully at the water we drink



A recent study suggests that testing protocols may not accurately measure lead leaching.
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March 10, 2010

The United States has benefited from centuries of improvements in drinking water safety, and most Americans can trust that clean water comes from their taps. Yet, closer inspection is showing that on a house-by-house basis, water quality is not guaranteed--even in communities with high marks for water safety.

Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech University has been part of a growing contingent of engineers and scientists looking more carefully at the water we drink and finding, in some cases, harmful sources are overlooked.

www.nsf.gov

Ellen DeGeneres among Celebs Receiving PCRM's Voice of Compassion Award

This Saturday, Alicia Silverstone and Marilu Henner will receive the inaugural Voice of Compassion Award at PCRM’s 25th Anniversary Art of Compassion gala. The award honors those who, by word and example, have communicated compassion, caring, and the highest ethical principles. The Voice of Compassion Award was also presented this week to Ellen DeGeneres on the set of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and to Portia de Rossi.

“Alicia Silverstone and Marilu Henner have had a tremendous impact in spreading the message about health issues related to diet and nutrition,” said Neal Barnard, M.D., PCRM’s founder and president. “They have played a particularly significant role in shining a spotlight on the powerful health benefits of a vegan diet.”

Actor, activist, and author Alicia Silverstone recently published her first book, The Kind Diet, now a New York Times best-seller. She exemplifies the benefits of adopting a plant-based diet, including natural weight loss, clear skin, and tremendous energy. Alicia works tirelessly to support PCRM and numerous animal-related charities.

Marilu Henner’s entire life testifies to the power of her plant-based diet. The knowledge and discipline this actor, author, and full-time mom has gathered to maintain her demanding schedule is discussed in her books, including Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover. She is working with PCRM to persuade Congress to reform the Child Nutrition Act to offer more healthful school lunches.

Host of the Emmy-winning The Ellen DeGeneres Show and judge on American Idol, Ellen has used her humorous and compassionate voice to raise awareness of health issues and environmental and animal welfare concerns. Portia, who shares those values, stars in ABC’s Better Off Ted and has appeared in Nip/Tuck, Arrested Development, and Ally McBeal.

PCRM’s gala brings attention to doctors and laypersons working together for compassionate and effective medical practice, research, and health promotion. The evening will be hosted by Kathy and Tom Freston, along with honorary committee co-chairs Cindy Landon, Richard Donner and Lauren Shuler-Donner, Maria and Wolfgang Petersen, and steering committee chair James Costa.

To purchase tickets to the gala and learn more about other celebrity members of the honorary committee, visit PCRM.org/Gala2010.

Antibiotics – The Decline of the Former Miracle Drugs

Once hailed as miracle drugs 100 years ago, today antibiotics are proving to be anything but. Medical experts are placing the blame for the extremely rapid evolutionary rate seen in micro-organisms on the overuse of antibiotics. Viruses and bacteria have been exposed to antibiotics for so long that they have now become immune to the once miraculous penicillin or amoxicillin. Antibiotics also cause intense side effects in the patient such as watery diarrhea, nausea and yeast infections in women.

Although humans won one round of the arms race against illness when penicillin was introduced in 1928, bacteria and viruses are winning the latest round. According to a Reuters report, Europe alone has had to spend over 900 million Euros a year fighting illnesses that have become resistant to antibiotics (’Antibiotic Overuse Could Threaten Medicine;’ 10/11/2009.) Before penicillin, humans used herbs and food in order to help fight illness. The time may have come to start using ancient treatments once again.

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Holy Company and Mind Control

Holy company is an authentic method taught in the scriptures as well, and if correctly practiced, it can help anybody and almost everybody. There will however be many people, who are so constituted that they cannot take inner care of themselves in such detail, or because their conditions of living are not conducive to the practice of this discipline. To control the mind, we have to develop for ourselves two sets of inner disciplines:
a.One set is for permanent basic operation, and,
b.The other set is for providing a high-power of emergency brakes.

The first set will give a general healthy direction to the mind while the second one will save us during emergency situations. If the first principle is not practiced, then we cannot make use of the second set at all, for the simple reason that the power supply for the second system comes from the first set of disciplines when these are effectively practiced.

In the first set several basic disciplines are included:

1.Life must be held in proper frame of constructive thinking. There should be a routine for daily life and certain basic principles by which a sense of direction is given to whatever we do. There should also be certain moral commitments by which our conduct should be guided.
Those who do not have any moral or other principles, and no regularity of life, will find it almost impossible to control the mind. We have to bring rhythm into our life in order to control our mind properly.

www.brain--power.info