FAST FOR FREEDOM IN MENTAL HEALTH



NEWS RELEASE - 16 August 2003
pre-fast David Oaks 541-345-9106 during fast Mickey Weinberg 626-795-5525

A Fast for Human Rights and Choice in Mental Health

PASADENA, CALIF: On Sat., 16 August 2003 five psychiatric survivors and a dissident social worker from throughout the United States will arrive in Pasadena, Calif. to begin a hunger strike to press for human rights and choice in psychiatry.

Their demand: That the mental health industry produce even one study proving the common industry claim that "mental illness is biologically-based." The hunger strikers charge that the pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry are medicalizing an ever-widening spectrum of human emotion and behavior for financial gain, and are willing to deceive the public while they too frequently humiliate and harm their clients.

"The government gives virtually total support to a quick-fix, pill-pushing model of mental health at the expense of alternative, less invasive ways of helping people in emotional distress," asserts David Oaks, hunger striker and Executive Director of MindFreedom Support Coalition International.

The hunger strikers will subsist on a liquid only diet until the American Psychiatric Association (APA), The Surgeon General, and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) respond to seven challenges sent to them concurrent with this news release.

Fourteen mental health academics and practitioners stand ready to review and reply to responses to the strikers' challenge. One, Loren Mosher, MD, former head of schizophrenia studies at the National Institute of Mental Health said, "What we are dealing with here is fashion, politics, and money... I want no part of a psychiatry of oppression and social control."

"The targets of our fast have muddied the waters of mental health for too long," said Mickey Weinberg, hunger striker and MindFreedom board member. "It's time they come clean. They claim science is on their side. We're just saying, 'prove it.'"

MindFreedom Support Coalition International is a Non-Governmental Organization with Consultative Roster Status in the United Nations, and a non-profit that unites 100 sponsor groups to win human rights & alternatives in mental health. Pre-strike contact David Oaks (541) 345-9601 or oaks@mindfreedom.org. During the hunger strike phone Mickey Weinberg (626) 795-5525. Web site: www.mindfreedom.org

graphic © 2003 by charles amsellem. all rights reserved. activists may reproduce for non profit use only

YO! Indy Media folks in So. California area, especially PASADENA! We are in DAY THREE of Hunger Strike in this rented building here in Pasadena! We're counting on the folks like you critical of CORPORATE MEDIA to help us get the word out about challenging the RICHEST CORPORATIONS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD -- the psychiatric drug industry (when measured by investments).

BELOW is a quick update on day 3, but see our web site for lots more info, links to photos, etc. Note we need volunteers, and people can drop by -- but best is between 6 and 8 pm (other than that, best to call first).

Okay, here you go for FREEDOM!

~~~~~~~


DAY THREE -- Monday, 18 August 2003 - UPDATE

ATTENTION -- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS


Hi, this is an update from the Hunger Strike Headquarters
of the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health ... especially
for people in the So. Cal. area. Please forward this to
others in the So. Cal area.

*** WE'RE ALREADY MAKING SOME NEWS

It's only Day Three but we're already making some news...

The news conference today good attendance... some
of the local media that have done stories or interviews are:
KPCC (local NPR), Pasadena Star News (today page 3a),
Pasadena Weekly, KCAL-TV, KNX radio.... This is a good
time for letters to the editor supporting the hunger strike.
Encourage the media to cover it!

*** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED -- YOUR HELP NEEDED!!!!!!!

Thanks to the volunteers who are helping... but they're stretched
thin!!! There are many little and big tasks, both simple and
complex, to help out a the hunger strike... if you're ready to
help, there's often a way you can assist.

Hunger striker Vince says, "Stand up and be counted. We're
here, come on out and see us... if you can help out, please help...
a computer person would be nice." Vince is right:

URGENT!!! -- At this moment we need someone with "pretty
good computer skills" to hook up the third computer to
the DSL line. We need someone fairly comfortable with DSL,
local area network, IP addresses, network, etc. NOW, to help
David Gonzalez get onto the Internet, to update his web site.
You can phone (626) 795-5525 or e-mail here.

If you would like to volunteer to help the hunger strike, please
e-mail, drop by or phone (626) 795-5525.

*** *EVERY* EVENING AT 6 PM TO 8 PM.

All supporters are invited to drop by between 6 pm to 8 pm
WITHOUT phoning first... We'll have an open community meeting about
the hunger strike and issues we're raising! Come on by:
AHIA, 277 North El Molino Ave, Pasadena, Calif. (You can
bring water and juice to share, but no food on premises please!)

You can also visit at other times, but please phone first, thanks.

*** REMEMBER THE FREE LECTURE SERIES!!!

What an amazing bunch of speakers we have lined up!

From Sat., 23 August to Wed., 27 August 2003:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike7.shtml

*** HUNGER STRIKE PAGE with lots of updated links, news release,
photos, message board to interact with hunger strikers, etc.:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike.shtml

AND BE SURE TO PHONE NAMI, APA AND SURGEON
GENERAL. DON'T TAKE "HANG UP" FOR AN ANSWER!

~~~~~~~~~~

This is sponsored by MindFreedom Support
Coalition International. For more info and to join
and/or donate see http://www.MindFreedom.org.

PLEASE FORWARD, ESPECIALLY TO INTERESTED PEOPLE
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA. THANK YOU.

- end -

Forwarded by:
--

David Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom Support Coalition International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org fax: (541) 345-3737
phone: (541) 345-9106 toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE

Fast for Freedom in Mental Health Scheduled to
Start 16 August 2003 in Pasadena, Calif., USA.

MindFreedom is a project of Support Coalition
International, a Non-Governmental Organization
with Consultative Roster Status in the United Nations.
SCI is a non-profit that unites 100 sponsor groups
to win human rights & alternatives in mental health.

[also on Indy Media - LA -- A day three update for So. Calif. The below is more general, for everyone....]

UPDATE: Your Mind & Human Rights - 18 August 2003
http://www.MindFreedom.org * * please forward * *

Day 3 of the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health:

Successful Press Conference!

PASADENA, CALIF.: This is a brief update on daily events
of the hunger strike "Fast for Freedom in Mental Health."

For background see http://www.MindFreedom.org.
For new photos of press conference and message board: http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

*** NEWS CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

Today, six hunger strikers and three members of the
scientific panel held a news conference with good turn-out
by media. The last reporter left after more than an hour
of presentations, discussion and questions.

Some of the media that have done stories or interviews are:
KPCC (local NPR), Pasadena Star News (today page 3a),
Pasadena Weekly, KCAL-TV, KNX radio, a major magazine
reporter, BBC, and film crew ("The Committed").

Romi spoke movingly about how a whole generation may
be lost to psychiatric abuse if people don't speak up now.

Statements & photos from the news conference are on the
Fast for Freedom web sites.

The three expert panelists who attended and spoke out:

School psychologist Al Galves, PhD flew in from Las
Cruses, New Mexico just for the press conference and
to support the hunger strikers.

Author and psychologist Ty Colbert, PhD and professor
of neuroanatomy Jonathon Leo, PhD from Western
University of Health Science.

***** Other Fast News *****

DON'T SETTLE FOR HANG-UP! Supporters are calling NAMI,
APA and Office of Surgeon General back, until they
can leave a message. Don't accept a hang up! Call
back until a message is taken!

THANKS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEERS! Thanks to visitors
and volunteers who dropped by, especially Andy who helped
take photos and buy juice. If you live in area, you are
welcome to drop by between 6 to 8 pm. You can drop by
other times, too, but best to call first then. Hunger
strike headquarters phone is 626-795-5525.

MICKEY SAID: "David Oaks is making the house smell
wonderful with his 'Earth Blood' juice." Recipe:
Organic kale, carrots, beets and garlic. Hunger strikers
give it a favorable review. Vince wants to call it
"Wacko Juice" in honor of a NAMI board member John
Milton who called a striker "wacko." (This NAMI board member
has since apologized to hunger strike headquarters, but we've
asked him to apologize to the solidarity striker he called
Wacko: Jerri Lynn.)

CONTACT THE MEDIA: You are encouraged to contact
both major and alternative media and encourage
them to cover the hunger strike. Thanks to Indy Media LA
for putting this on the hunger strike on their home page!
Ask media to contact the three entities named in the
hunger strike -- it's harder to hang up on media.

APA MATERIAL ARRIVING TOMORROW: UPS & APA
confirmed that a package from American Psychiatric
Association is arriving tomorrow, Tues., with a response to the
hunger strike.

DAVID GONZALEZ said, "Adding another computer to the
DSL hub was frustrating because I couldn't get the technical
requirements." If you have technical assistance to offer him,
or just sympathy for how frustrating that can be, feel free to
e-mail to eromaat@yahoo.com.

OTHER DAVID G. NEWS: And David G. wants to hear
from more "solidarity strikers," he's creating an informal
e-mail list to network this international network. If you can
fast even for a day, consider being a hunger striker.

PLUS, DAVID G. REMINDS WEB MASTERS: If you or
your group has a web site, please add an endorsement
and link to the hunger strike, http://www.MindFreedom.org,
and David G. will add you link to the list of endorsers.

AND BE SURE TO PHONE NAMI, APA AND SURGEON
GENERAL. DON'T TAKE "HANG UP" FOR AN ANSWER!

~~~~~~~~~~

This is sponsored by MindFreedom Support
Coalition International. For more info and to join
and/or donate see http://www.MindFreedom.org.

- end -

Forwarded by:
--

David Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom Support Coalition International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org fax: (541) 345-3737
phone: (541) 345-9106 toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE

Fast for Freedom in Mental Health Scheduled to
Start 16 August 2003 in Pasadena, Calif., USA.

MindFreedom is a project of Support Coalition
International, a Non-Governmental Organization
with Consultative Roster Status in the United Nations.
SCI is a non-profit that unites 100 sponsor groups
to win human rights & alternatives in mental health.

PASADENA, CALIF: Hunger strikers for human rights in
the mental health system had a jam-packed second day,
in the "Fast for Freedom in Mental Health."

Hunger striker David Gonzalez who flew in from Brooklyn said,
"It was a manic day. It was very productive. We got a lot done."

You can now find up-to-the-hour-or-so updates and photos
on a web site maintained by David Gonzalez from the hunger strike.

See: http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

On this constantly changing web site you will see many new photos
from Day 2... Plus use an easy to use MESSAGE BOARD where you
can interact "almost live" with hunger strikers... and even read
a message from a NAMI board member John Milton calling
a striker a "wacko" (more about that hate speech e-mail in a moment).
Plus, see a growing list of web pages that are endorsing the Fast!

Spirits are high. When hunger striker Romi, 22 years old,
was asked how she was doing, she laughed and said: "I'll tell
you how I'm doing. I'm hungry!"

Here are updates about DAY 2. ( For background about the
Fast for Freedom see http://www.MindFreedom.org )

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** DEALING WITH "THE NAMI HANG-UP"

The six core hunger strikers in the Fast for Freedom
headquarters began Day 2 with a two-hour strategy
meeting.

One topic was addressing the main response by NAMI
to the PHONE-IN campaign. Hunger strikers have asked
everyone to phone NAMI every weekday and ask NAMI for
any evidence of "biologically based brain diseases."

NAMI has officially decided to hang up on almost
anyone who phones them asking about that topic, or who
mentions the "Fast for Freedom." The NAMI operators
are instructed to turn on a long recording about NAMI that
ends with a click, with no chance to leave a message.

The NAMI "hang-up" is also happening to NAMI members.

NAMI operators are even mistakenly hanging up on some
mainstream media who have called them about the hunger strike.

The hunger strikers agreed today to a two-part strategy:

STRATEGY ONE: KEEP PHONING:
APA, NAMI & SURGEON GENERAL

The phone-in is obviously having an effect. The hunger
strikers ask everyone to RE-DOUBLE efforts to phone
NAMI and also the other two entities named in the hunger
strike: APA and the US Surgeon General.

You can get the basic PHONE-IN contact information here.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike5.shtml

"We are relying on the creativity and persistence of our
supporters to 'get a message to NAMI,'" said David Oaks,
faster and director of MindFreedom. "Be civil, but
insist that an actual message be taken. Don't settle for a hang-up."

Some callers are able to "get around the hang-up"
and leave a message with NAMI by leading off
with other important topics with the operator -- such as
about human rights and advocacy -- and asking for the
voice mail of Rick Birkel, director of NAMI; Tom Lane,
consumer affairs; or Elizabeth Adams, PR.

Phone weekdays (until the hunger strike ends), from 8:45 am to
5:30 pm eastern time (703) 524-7600 or TDD at (703) 516-7227.

You may also easily phone any of the hundreds
of phone numbers for State and Local NAMI's:

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=State_and_Local_NAMIs

STRATEGY TWO: ASK MEDIA TO ASK THE QUESTIONS

Hunger strikers ask everyone to contact media -- newspapers,
magazines, tv, radio, etc. -- to request that journalists make the request
for evidence of "biologically-based brain disease."

NAMI, APA and the Surgeon General will have a very hard time
hanging up on media.

"People can be shy when it comes to contacting the media," said
hunger striker Mickey Weinberg. "But they need to get over that."

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** A Press Conference is scheduled for tomorrow,
Monday, 18 August 2003 at 11 am. See details:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike9.shtml

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Media begin to visit and interview hunger strike

Media who have already visited and/or interviewed hunger strikers
include Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly,
KPFA radio , a major magazine reporter, and a three-person film
crew of "The Committed," led by long-time supporter Beverly Jones.

Beverly says, "We've gotten some fantastic material.
This will be the 'book-ends' -- the beginning and ending -- for
our film 'The Committed,' which we've been working on for
14 years."

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Visit from Dawn Rider, leader of ASPIRE

Dawn Rider, founder and director of ASPIRE, drove all
the way from Utah with her fiance Timothy Casey to support
the hunger strikers today. Dawn, Timothy and Mike Beckler
helped hang a beautiful huge banner ASPIRE donated,
that says: "Support Human Rights in Mental Health."
A group including two hunger strikers then went to downtown
Pasadena, where Dawn talked to passers-by about the
strike, and gave out literature.

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Calling all solidarity strikers & web sites

If you do a SOLIDARITY hunger strike -- even for one day --
be sure to register with office@mindfreedom.org
Please include your location and contact info including e-mail
address and -- if you'd like -- a brief statement of solidarity to be
listed on the web.

IF YOUR WEB SITE home page can include an
endorsement and links to the hunger strike
at http://www.MindFreedom.org, please
inform David G. at eromaat@yahoo.com.
He will add you to the list of endorsers on his
web site

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Physician Stuart Shipko says American
Psychiatric Association has Written Back to Us

Psychiatrist Stuart Shipko is one of the 14 on the
scientific panel, and is the liaison to receive
"scientific evidence" from the APA, NAMI and
Surgeon General. Dr. Shipko visited the fast today
to say the APA had sent a package, which should
be delivered here tomorrow. Stay tuned.

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Want to visit, express support, phone?

If you are interested in visiting the hunger strike
headquarters and offering your support, please
contact the Fast for Freedom.

If you want to express your support for hunger strikers,
or ask a question, or even disagree, you can
interact "almost live" by going to the Fast for Freedom
MESSAGE BOARD at:

http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

At least one NAMI official has sent us hate mail,
that you can read on the MESSAGE BOARD.
John W. Milton -- jay.Milton@worldnet.att.net. -- is
a retired business executive who is the 1st vice
president of NAMI-Minnesota's board and one of
their lobbiests. Mr. Milton wrote to Minnesota
solidarity hunger striker Jerri Lynn and said, "You are a
wacko. Please do not send any more of this crap
to me. The blood of the suicides is on your hands."

Hunger striker Romi Sayama replied, "This is
hate mail. It's wrong for NAMI to refer to people
as 'suicides,' and to refer to anyone as wacko.
So much for 'stigma busters.'"

You can also e-mail support to office@mindfreedom.org.

If you need to phone, the Fast for Freedom phone
number is now up and running at (626) 795-5525. Or you
can phone MindFreedom office at (541) 345-9106.

Please consider donating and becoming a member, or
renewing early, at http://www.MindFreedom.org!!

- end -

Forwarded:

--

David Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom Support Coalition International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org fax: (541) 345-3737
phone: (541) 345-9106 toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE

Fast for Freedom in Mental Health Scheduled to
Start 16 August 2003 in Pasadena, Calif., USA.

MindFreedom is a project of Support Coalition
International, a Non-Governmental Organization
with Consultative Roster Status in the United Nations.
SCI is a non-profit that unites 100 sponsor groups
to win human rights & alternatives in mental health.

UPDATE: Your Mind & Human Rights - 17 August 2003
http://www.MindFreedom.org * * please forward * *

Day 2 of the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health:

"Productive day" reaches media, puts up photos
on web, receives visitors, holds strategy meeting,
and begins on-line MESSAGE BOARD where you can
interact with hunger strikers & scientific panel.

John Milton, NAMI-Minnesota First Vice President
Writes to a Hunger Striker: "You are a wacko."

PASADENA, CALIF: Hunger strikers for human rights in
the mental health system had a jam-packed second day,
in the "Fast for Freedom in Mental Health."

Hunger striker David Gonzalez who flew in from Brooklyn said,
"It was a manic day. It was very productive. We got a lot done."

You can now find up-to-the-hour-or-so updates and photos
on a web site maintained by David Gonzalez from the hunger strike.

See: http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

On this constantly changing web site you will see many new photos
from Day 2... Plus use an easy to use MESSAGE BOARD where you
can interact "almost live" with hunger strikers... and even read
a message from a NAMI board member John Milton calling
a striker a "wacko" (more about that hate speech e-mail in a moment).
Plus, see a growing list of web pages that are endorsing the Fast!

Spirits are high. When hunger striker Romi, 22 years old,
was asked how she was doing, she laughed and said: "I'll tell
you how I'm doing. I'm hungry!"

Here are updates about DAY 2. ( For background about the
Fast for Freedom see http://www.MindFreedom.org )

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** DEALING WITH "THE NAMI HANG-UP"

The six core hunger strikers in the Fast for Freedom
headquarters began Day 2 with a two-hour strategy
meeting.

One topic was addressing the main response by NAMI
to the PHONE-IN campaign. Hunger strikers have asked
everyone to phone NAMI every weekday and ask NAMI for
any evidence of "biologically based brain diseases."

NAMI has officially decided to hang up on almost
anyone who phones them asking about that topic, or who
mentions the "Fast for Freedom." The NAMI operators
are instructed to turn on a long recording about NAMI that
ends with a click, with no chance to leave a message.

The NAMI "hang-up" is also happening to NAMI members.

NAMI operators are even mistakenly hanging up on some
mainstream media who have called them about the hunger strike.

The hunger strikers agreed today to a two-part strategy:

STRATEGY ONE: KEEP PHONING:
APA, NAMI & SURGEON GENERAL

The phone-in is obviously having an effect. The hunger
strikers ask everyone to RE-DOUBLE efforts to phone
NAMI and also the other two entities named in the hunger
strike: APA and the US Surgeon General.

You can get the basic PHONE-IN contact information here.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike5.shtml

"We are relying on the creativity and persistence of our
supporters to 'get a message to NAMI,'" said David Oaks,
faster and director of MindFreedom. "Be civil, but
insist that an actual message be taken. Don't settle for a hang-up."

Some callers are able to "get around the hang-up"
and leave a message with NAMI by leading off
with other important topics with the operator -- such as
about human rights and advocacy -- and asking for the
voice mail of Rick Birkel, director of NAMI; Tom Lane,
consumer affairs; or Elizabeth Adams, PR.

Phone weekdays (until the hunger strike ends), from 8:45 am to
5:30 pm eastern time (703) 524-7600 or TDD at (703) 516-7227.

You may also easily phone any of the hundreds
of phone numbers for State and Local NAMI's:

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=State_and_Local_NAMIs

STRATEGY TWO: ASK MEDIA TO ASK THE QUESTIONS

Hunger strikers ask everyone to contact media -- newspapers,
magazines, tv, radio, etc. -- to request that journalists make the request
for evidence of "biologically-based brain disease."

NAMI, APA and the Surgeon General will have a very hard time
hanging up on media.

"People can be shy when it comes to contacting the media," said
hunger striker Mickey Weinberg. "But they need to get over that."

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** A Press Conference is scheduled for tomorrow,
Monday, 18 August 2003 at 11 am. See details:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike9.shtml

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Media begin to visit and interview hunger strike

Media who have already visited and/or interviewed hunger strikers
include Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly,
KPFA radio , a major magazine reporter, and a three-person film
crew of "The Committed," led by long-time supporter Beverly Jones.

Beverly says, "We've gotten some fantastic material.
This will be the 'book-ends' -- the beginning and ending -- for
our film 'The Committed,' which we've been working on for
14 years."

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Visit from Dawn Rider, leader of ASPIRE

Dawn Rider, founder and director of ASPIRE, drove all
the way from Utah with her fiance Timothy Casey to support
the hunger strikers today. Dawn, Timothy and Mike Beckler
helped hang a beautiful huge banner ASPIRE donated,
that says: "Support Human Rights in Mental Health."
A group including two hunger strikers then went to downtown
Pasadena, where Dawn talked to passers-by about the
strike, and gave out literature.

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Calling all solidarity strikers & web sites

If you do a SOLIDARITY hunger strike -- even for one day --
be sure to register with office@mindfreedom.org
Please include your location and contact info including e-mail
address and -- if you'd like -- a brief statement of solidarity to be
listed on the web.

IF YOUR WEB SITE home page can include an
endorsement and links to the hunger strike
at http://www.MindFreedom.org, please
inform David G. at eromaat@yahoo.com.
He will add you to the list of endorsers on his
web site

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Physician Stuart Shipko says American
Psychiatric Association has Written Back to Us

Psychiatrist Stuart Shipko is one of the 14 on the
scientific panel, and is the liaison to receive
"scientific evidence" from the APA, NAMI and
Surgeon General. Dr. Shipko visited the fast today
to say the APA had sent a package, which should
be delivered here tomorrow. Stay tuned.

~~~~~~~~~~~

***** Want to visit, express support, phone?

If you are interested in visiting the hunger strike
headquarters and offering your support, please
contact the Fast for Freedom.

If you want to express your support for hunger strikers,
or ask a question, or even disagree, you can
interact "almost live" by going to the Fast for Freedom
MESSAGE BOARD at:

http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

At least one NAMI official has sent us hate mail,
that you can read on the MESSAGE BOARD.
John W. Milton -- jay.Milton@worldnet.att.net. -- is
a retired business executive who is the 1st vice
president of NAMI-Minnesota's board and one of
their lobbiests. Mr. Milton wrote to Minnesota
solidarity hunger striker Jerri Lynn and said, "You are a
wacko. Please do not send any more of this crap
to me. The blood of the suicides is on your hands."

Hunger striker Romi Sayama replied, "This is
hate mail. It's wrong for NAMI to refer to people
as 'suicides,' and to refer to anyone as wacko.
So much for 'stigma busters.'"

You can also e-mail support to office@mindfreedom.org.

If you need to phone, the Fast for Freedom phone
number is now up and running at (626) 795-5525. Or you
can phone MindFreedom office at (541) 345-9106.

Please consider donating and becoming a member, or
renewing early, at http://www.MindFreedom.org!!

- end -

Attention unwashed masses we will protect you from all unauthorized thoughts.
We know what is best for you.
Let us do your thinking for you

Is this a Vegan website???

NEWS: Your Mind & Human Rights - 19 August 2003
http://www.MindFreedom.org * * * please forward! * * *

Day Four: CALL FOR COMMUNITY ACTION!

American Psychiatric Association Responds
to Fast for Freedom in Mental Health

Hunger Strikers Call on Public to Contact
Media, NAMI, APA, Surgeon General

Solidarity strikers, endorsers, BBC & more....

PASADENA, CALIF.: This is Day 4 of the Fast for
Freedom in Mental Health. As well as six hunger
strikers in the hunger strike headquarters, there are
a growing number of solidarity hunger strikers internationally
who have fasted or are continuing to fast in support.

For fast info -- including many new links, a busy message
board, many photos, daily updates, and much more --
go to http://www.MindFreedom.org

~~~~~~~~~

*** AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION
RESPONDS TO FAST FOR FREEDOM

Today, the hunger strikers received a response from
James H. Scully, Jr., M.D., Sc.D., Medical Director for the APA.
Dr. Scully did not cite any specific evidence in his letter, here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike14.shtml

The Fast for Freedom Scientific Panel -- composed of
14 mental health professionals and scientists -- are working
on a response at this time. Watch for that soon.

~~~~~~~~~

*** CONTACT THE MEDIA

Today, hunger strikers called on *all* supporters to
build community -- and turn to media -- both
mainstream and alternative.

Mental health authorities are unlikely to
hang up on the media. Ask the media to request
specific evidence of the "biologically-based brain
disease" theory that now dominates the mental health
system.

Hunger strikers asked people to contact both
mainstream and alternative media, and
also write letters to the editor. Also create your
own media using e-mail, web, print-outs, etc.

Yesterday's news conference was well attended by
print, radio and tv journalists. For more info on that,
see Day 3 update on the web site. Today the BBC ran
a live interview with a panelist & striker. Don't forget
independent media: INDY-LA is giving great coverage.

~~~~~~~~~

*** SOLIDARITY STRIKERS GROWING --
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN IN!

A number of individuals have done support fasts,
or are fasting at this time, in solidarity, internationally.

If you would like to add your name to the list of
public endorsers, e-mail to office@mindfreedom.org
with your name, e-mail address, intended duration
of your fast, and geographic location.

If you want to be anonymous, give a pseudonym.

Read a partial list of public solidarity fasters here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike10.shtml

Even if you intend to do a solidarity fast for just a day,
please consider adding your name to the list of
solidarity fasters at office@mindfreedom.org.

~~~~~~~

*** PHONE FOR FREEDOM EVERY WEEKDAY!
GETTING AROUND NAMI'S HANG-UP OF 2003

Last week, the Fast for Freedom asked the public to
phone NAMI during office hours to support the hunger strike,
every weekday until the end of the strike.

NAMI responded by creating a special recording that
points concerned people to their web site, then HANGS UP.
All personnel are instructed to go the HANG UP message.

Hunger strikers encourage people *NOT* to take a
"hang up" for an answer. Romi, a hunger striker, said,
"It's easy to get around the hang-up... if you're creative."

Here are some examples of possible ways to get
around the NAMI Hang-Up of 2003, and leave a
civil but insistent message.

TOP FIVE TIPS SO FAR;

(1) During office hours, if you reach the operator,
be honest but consider asking *first* about any
number of other sincere concerns you have such as:
advocacy, homelessness, restraints, poverty,
funding, alternatives and more. And ask for a staff
person such as Rick Birkel, director; Tom Lane,
Consumer affairs; Elizabeth Adams, PR. Then
include your message about the hunger strike.

(2) You can easily leave a message by phoning NAMI
before or after office hours, which are 8:45 am to
5:30 pm eastern time.

(3) Before or after office hours, you can phone
NAMI director Rick Birkel's voice
mail by phoning (703) 524-7600 and at the prompt
entering his voice mail box number 7977. You
can also find other staff voice mail after hours,
using the prompts.

(4) Before or after office yours, you can
phone NAMI toll free at (888) 999-NAMI (6264)
or 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), and hit the prompt
to receive mailed information about "mental illness,"
then record your request, or wait to the end and leave
a message... include support for the hunger strike.
(5) Consider phoning state or local NAMI chapters,
who are often more open to dialogue, and ask them to
give feedback to the national headquarters:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Your_Local_NAMI

~~~~~~~~~~~~

*** DON'T FORGET OTHER PLACES TO CONTACT,
E-MAIL, FAX, MAIL AND PHONE.

For more info about e-mailing, faxing, mailing and
phoning the APA, Surgeon General & NAMI, see:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike5.shtml

PLEASE POLITELY ASK THIS OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS:

"I would like evidence of your claim about the
'biological basis of mental illness.' I support
the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health."

Please Keep Phoning Every Weekday
Until Hunger Strikers Announce That
Their Requests Are Met!

Note: APA's Dr. Scully went on vacation as the hunger strike began.
Ask to speak to the "appropriate deputy medical director."

~~~~~~~~~~

*** SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS:
FREE LECTURE SERIES, VOLUNTEER

Southern California residents, REMEMBER THE FREE LECTURE
SERIES! Check out these amazing speakers from the
Fast for Freedom Scientific Panel:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike7.shtml

Thanks to visitors and volunteers who dropped by.You are welcome to
drop by between 6 to 8 pm without calling. You can drop by other times, too,
but best to call first then. Hunger strike headquarters phone is 626-795-5525.

VOLUNTEERS are needed for support, especially outreach
to media. Please contact the Fast for Freedom to help. You can
also help from where ever you are, via member-only e-mail lists.
If you're a member, ask at office@mindfreedom.org. If you're
not a member yet, it's about time! Join: http://www.MindFreedom.org.

~~~~~~~~~~

*** WEB ENDORSERS -- SUCH AS GROUP FROM ALASKA

The web sites for the hunger strike list a growing
number of organizations & individuals WEB SITES
that have endorsed the hunger strike. If your
web site lists an endorsement of the hunger strike
and a link to it on its home page, please send
your URL & web site name to: office@mindfreedom.org.

One of these endorsers is from Alaska.

The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights
(PsychRights), http://psychrights.org/, has
joined the growing list of organizations
expressing solidarity with the hunger strikers by
passing a formal resolution supporting us. The
resolution is posted on the Internet at
http://psychrights.org/CorpSec/HungerStrikeResolutions.pdf.

Don Roberts, president of PsychRights, said "We hope
this brave action by these courageous people will
finally wake people up to the lack of validity to
the horrific 'treatments' people diagnosed with
mental illness are subjected to and the
incredible harm it causes." Mr. Roberts went on
to say that "the untruths about mental illness
and its 'treatments' are uncritically accepted by
the courts to force people to take these
dangerous, generally unhelpful and life
shortening drugs."

~~~~~~~~~~

RESPOND TO "WEST 47th STREET"

Tonight, Tuesday, PBS-TV's POV (Point of View)
intends to air a program on psychiatric survivors
and mental health consumers.

Advanced notice from activists is that the film
excludes the views of human rights and choice.
Hunger strikers intend to view the film and judge
for themselves.

If you view the film, you can try to give your feedback to PBS at:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2003/west47thstreet

~~~~~~~~~

**** PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO ALL
APPROPRIATE PLACES ON & OFF INTERNET! ****

~~~~~~~~~~

DONATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT
HUNGER STRIKE COSTS... IT'S NOT TOO LATE
TO HELP

BEGIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN
MINDFREEDOM TODAY!

MindFreedom Support Coalition International
is a non-profit uniting 100 grassroots groups,
and is independently funded by group and
individual members like you who support human rights.

Find out more, and join and/or donate today at
http://www.MindFreedom.org. Click on join/donate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For occasional updates like this, you may join this
dendrite MindFreedom announcement list here for free:

http://mailman.efn.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/dendrite

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*** PLEASE COPY THIS NEWS ***
TO ALL APPROPRIATE PLACES
ON & OFF THE INTERNET NOW!

REMEMBER: PHONE FOR FREEDOM EVERY WEEKDAY

NEWS: Your Mind & Human Rights - August 20, 2003
http://www.MindFreedom.org - feel free to forward

DAY FIVE:

Fast for Freedom in Mental Health --
Rest Day -- Ready for Action

PASADENA, CALIF.: After four hectic days,
the Fast for Freedom had a fairly quiet day today,
a day for reflection, walks, rest, strategy meetings...
and getting ready for the very busy days ahead.

How are they doing?

Vince: "I'm hungry." Romi: "I'm hungry... And it's not
like that comment is going to change day to day!"

To the dismay of some hunger strikers, Mickey
occasionally talks about favorite foods, at this
moment crackers and cheese.

A few brief news items....

*** The Scientific Panel is preparing its response to the
American Psychiatric Association letter to the
Fast for Freedom in Mental Health. Be prepared to
help tell the media when that is finalized.

*** Columnist Nicholas Regush published an article about
the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health here....

http://www.redflagsweekly.com/extra/2003_aug21.html

*** More solidarity strikers signed up here.... you can, too!
http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike10.shtml

*** More web sites added an endorsement of the hunger
strike to their home pages, and e-mailed office@mindfreedom.org
to be added to the list of web site endorsers. One psychiatric
survivor run community center even blacked out his home page,
except for the endorsement: http://www.efn.org/~safe/

*** For Abby in the MindFreedom office, it was not as quiet,
with lots of changes to the web site, including an updated
media news release and fact sheet (thanks Abby!).

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike8.shtml

*** Check out photo of the "the nerve center" on faster David
Gonzalez's: There is a bee hive of five computers buzzing away
the whole day amid fasters' comments, jokes, support, and ACTIVISM.
And remember the open message board -- there are many new posts,
including phone extensions for *dozens* of NAMI staff to leave
messages for about the fast -- and to beat the "hang up":
http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

*** A number of well-wishers and volunteers called and
visited today.... thanks! How to visit or call to help the Fast for
Freedom is on the web site.

*** PLEASE HELP THE FAST FOR FREEDOM STRATEGY:

*ASK* your community to *ASK* the media to *ASK* the APA, NAMI
& Surgeon General! For instance: Write a letter to editor! Tell your
local paper about this! Call a reporter! And here's an updated
news release & fact sheet you can forward to media, friends,
relatives, etc.:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike8.shtml

- end -

--

David Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom Support Coalition International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org fax: (541) 345-3737
Fast for Freedom Headquarters Phone: (626) 795-5525
phone: (541) 345-9106 toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE

Fast for Freedom in Mental Health Has Started 
16 August 2003 in Pasadena, Calif., USA.

MindFreedom is a project of Support Coalition
International, a Non-Governmental Organization
with Consultative Roster Status in the United Nations.
SCI is a non-profit that unites 100 sponsor groups
to win human rights & alternatives in mental health. 

What is this "liquid only diet"

""The hunger strikers will subsist on a liquid only diet until the American Psychiatric Association (APA), The Surgeon General, and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) respond to seven challenges sent to them concurrent with this news release.""

What "liquids" are the hunger strikers drinking?

Thank you in advance for your prompt reply.

22 August 2003 http://www.MindFreedom.org
Contact: Mickey Weinberg 626-795-5525
E-mail: office@mindfreedom.org

NEWS RELEASE:

Day Seven of the Fast for
Freedom in Mental Health:

Scientific Panel Clashes With the
American Psychiatric Association

PASADENA, CALIF.: On the seventh day of a hunger
strike by six psychiatric survivors to oppose
human rights violations in the mental health
system, the American Psychiatric Association
faces a direct and unprecedented challenge from a
Scientific Panel of 14 academics and clinicians.

The Fast for Freedom in Mental Health had
requested that the American Psychiatric
Association provide any specific evidence that
"mental illness is biologically based."

Last week, the APA responded with a two-page
letter that simply listed several textbooks and
names of journals, but the Medical Director of
the APA, James H. Scully, Jr., M.D., was
apparently unable to locate even one specific
study. The APA letter can be viewed here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike14.shtml

SCIENTISTS CHALLENGE PSYCHIATRY

What happened next surprised and delighted the
hunger strikers. Instead of simply rejecting the
APA's letter out of hand, the mental health
professionals and scientists on the Panel
carefully examined the source material listed by
Dr. Scully. What the Scientific Panel found were
quotations in each book that backed up hunger
striker accusations.

For example: "[T]here is no definitive lesion,
laboratory test, or abnormality of brain tissue
that can identify (a mental) illness" and "[T]he
precise causes (etiology) of mental disorders are
not known."

In their reply to the APA [SEE BELOW], the
Scientific Panel expressed dismay at "the
contrast between the hunger strikers, who ask
clear questions about the science of psychiatry
and consciously take risks in the name of
protecting the well being of users of psychiatry,
and the American Psychiatric Association, which
evades revealing what actual scientific evidence
justifies its authority."

The six hunger strikers said they felt
triumphant, and look forward to media asking the
APA to comment on the Scientific Panel's reply.

The fasters say they will continue to fast until
they reach their goals.

Mickey Weinberg, who helped organize the fast,
said, "The condescending and contemptuous letter
from the APA is consistent with its historic
behavior. The Panelists' response turns the
screws on the APA. It's certainly the first time
in my memory when psychiatry has felt forced to
answer to the demands of psychiatric survivors."

Romi Sayama said: "We're pleased to see that the
American Psychiatric Association has confirmed
that they could not find any evidence either."

David Gonzalez said: "Dr. Scully's letter states
that 'the answers to your questions are widely
available in the scientific literature.' If this
is so -- why did he balk at providing the
requested evidence?"

Krista Erickson said: "The Panelists provided a
thorough and challenging response."

Vince Boehm said: "It's the lies that bother me.
What makes me unable to sleep at night is to
think about the psychiatric drugging of infants,
even as young as three months. It's
incomprehensible."

David Oaks, director of MindFreedom, said: "The
only two things missing from Dr. Scully's letter
are a blatant admission that there is no
evidence, and a public apology to all psychiatric
survivors. The Scientific Panel's response is
magnificent and historic."

For more news and photos of the Fast for Freedom
in Mental Health see http://www.MindFreedom.org.

MindFreedom is a non-profit that unites 100
grassroots groups working for human rights in
mental health.

BELOW IS THE REPLY OF THE "FAST FOR FREEDOM
SCIENTIFIC PANEL" TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC
ASSOCIATION.

~~~~~~~~~~

From: office@mindfreedom.org

MindFreedom
Support Coalition International
454 Willamette, Suite 216
PO Box 11284
Eugene, OR 97440 USA

To: MedicalDirector@psych.org

James H. Scully, Jr., M.D., Medical Director
American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209-3901


Dear Dr. Scully:


David Oaks, Executive Director of MindFreedom,
has forwarded to us your reply dated 12 August
2003 to the hunger strikers involved in a "Fast
for Freedom in Mental Health." We are a panel of
14 academics and clinicians who have agreed to
review any such reply for scientific validity.

The hunger strikers asked your organization, as
well as the Surgeon General of the United States,
and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, to
provide:

1. evidence that establishes the validity of
"schizophrenia," "depression" or other "major
mental illnesses" as "biologically-based brain
diseases";

2. evidence for a physical diagnostic exam that
can reliably distinguish individuals with these
diagnoses (prior to treatment with psychiatric
drugs) from individuals without these diagnoses;

3. evidence for a baseline standard of a
neurochemically-balanced "normal" individual,
against which a neurochemical "imbalance" can be
measured;

4. evidence that any psychotropic drug can
correct any "chemical imbalance" attributed to a
psychiatric diagnosis;

5. evidence that any psychotropic drug can
reliably decrease the likelihood of violence or
suicide.

In your reply, no specific studies of any kind
were cited with reference to any of the questions
above. You cited three general sources, including
the recent Surgeon General's report on mental
health and two textbooks of psychiatry.

In examining each of these sources, we found
numerous statements that invalidate suggestions
that behaviors referred to as "mental illnesses"
have specific biological bases:

_Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General_
(1999) is explicit about the absence of any
findings of specific pathophysiology:

p. 44: "The diagnosis of mental disorders is
often believed to be more difficult than
diagnosis of somatic, or general medical,
disorders, since there is no definitive lesion,
laboratory test, or abnormality in brain tissue
that can identify the illness."

p. 48: "It is not always easy to establish a
threshold for a mental disorder, particularly in
light of how common symptoms of mental distress
are and the lack of objective, physical symptoms."

p. 49: "The precise causes (etiology) of mental
disorders are not known."

p. 51: "All too frequently a biological change in
the brain (a lesion) is purported to be the
'cause' of a mental disorder ... [but] The fact
is that any simple association -- or correlation --
cannot and does not, by itself, mean causation."

p. 102: "Few lesions or physiologic abnormalities
define the mental disorders, and for the most part
their causes remain unknown."

In the third edition of _Textbook of Clinical
Psychiatry_ (1999), we find similar statements:

p. 43: "Although reliable criteria have been
constructed for many psychiatric disorders,
validation of the diagnostic categories as
specific entities has not been established."

p. 51: Most of these [genetic studies] examine
candidate genes in the serotonergic pathways, and
have not found convincing evidence of an
association."

In Andreasen and Black's (2001) _Introductory
Textbook of Psychiatry_, we find, in the chapter
on schizophrenia:

p. 23. "In the areas of pathophysiology and
etiology, psychiatry has more uncharted territory
than the rest of medicine...Much of the current
investigative research in psychiatry is directed
toward the goal of identifying the
pathophysiology and etiology of major mental
illnesses, but this goal has been achieved for
only a few disorders (Alzheimer's disease,
multi-infarct dementia, Huntington's disease, and
substance-induced syndromes such as
amphetamine-related psychosis or
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome)."

p. 231: "In the absence of visible lesions and
known pathogens, investigators have turned to the
exploration of models that could explain the
diversity of symptoms through a single cognitive
mechanism."

p. 450: "Many candidate regions [of the brain]
have been explored [for schizophrenia] but none
have been confirmed."

As you are no doubt familiar with these textbooks
you cited, you will agree that such statements
invalidate claims for specific, reliable
biological causes or signs of "mental illnesses."
In the judgment of the panel members, your reply
fails to produce or cite any specific evidence of
any specific pathophysiology underlying any
"mental disorder."

You have also referred us to 60 volumes of
_Archives of General Psychiatry_ and 160 volumes
of _The American Journal of Psychiatry_. The 28
July 2003 cover letter from the hunger strikers
and panelists that they sent to you by certified
mail stated:

"We are aware that research studies can run to
thousands of pages. Therefore, please respond
only with those studies that you consider the
best available in support of your claims and
theories in a timely way. When responding with
evidence, please send citations for the original
publications or copies of the publications you
are citing."

Like you, we are familiar with the material found
in these journals. It is understandable why you
did not provide any citations. There is not a
single study that provides valid and reliable
evidence for the "biological basis of mental
illness."

The members of the panel wish to make some
further observations which we hope will assist
the American Psychiatric Association to present
an honest scientific stance with respect to the
hunger strikers' questions.

In the panel's view, the questions posed by the
hunger strikers are serious and fair. These
questions are legitimate questions that any
patient or family member or interested person
might ask of any psychiatrist, or a student might
ask of a professor. The panel was therefore quite
dismayed that you, as Medical Director of the
world's largest, wealthiest, and most resourceful
psychiatric association, could not provide a more
specific or substantial response than the
equivalent of, "See our textbook."

If, as you state in your letter, "the answers to
[the above] questions are widely available in the
scientific literature, and have been for years,"
then it behooves your organization to make these
answers and their specific sources -- if they
differ from the quotes we present in this letter
-- available promptly.

The panel members could not help but notice the
contrast between the hunger strikers, who ask
clear questions about the science of psychiatry
and consciously take risks in the name of
protecting the well-being of users of psychiatry,
and the American Psychiatric Association, which
evades revealing what actual scientific evidence
justifies its authority. By not giving specific
answers to the questions posed by the hunger
strikers, you appear to be affirming the very
reason for the hunger strike.


Sincerely,


Fred Baughman, MD
Mary Boyle, PhD
Peter Breggin, MD
David Cohen, PhD
Ty Colbert, PhD
Pat Deegan, PhD
Al Galves, PhD
Thomas Greening, PhD
David Jacobs, PhD
Jay Joseph, PhD
Jonathan Leo, PhD
Bruce Levine, PhD
Loren Mosher, MD
Stuart Shipko, MD


The hunger strikers endorse the scientific
panel's statement.

- end -

~~~~~~~~~~

**** PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO ALL
APPROPRIATE PLACES ON & OFF INTERNET! ****

~~~~~~~~~~

DONATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT
HUNGER STRIKE COSTS... IT'S NOT TOO LATE
TO HELP

BEGIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN
MINDFREEDOM TODAY!

MindFreedom Support Coalition International
is a non-profit uniting 100 grassroots groups,
and is independently funded by group and
individual members like you who support human rights.

Find out more, and join and/or donate today at
http://www.MindFreedom.org. Click on join/donate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For occasional updates like this, you may join this
dendrite MindFreedom announcement list here for free:

http://mailman.efn.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/dendrite

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*** PLEASE COPY THIS NEWS ***
TO ALL APPROPRIATE PLACES
ON & OFF THE INTERNET NOW!

What is this "liquid diet"

The reason I ask is that I MAY prevent someones DEATH as a result of this "hunger strike"

The core strikers have now fasted for nine days. While they have continued their fast they have answered the phone, send out and read and writen many e-mails as well as trying to get the word out to the media. So if you can drop in and help them out in any way you can phone this number or post a message to http://b4.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?user=CineMania. If nothing else, write a letter to the editor or suggest this story to the local media or call up APA on Monday to save that you support the strike.

NOTE TWO LOS ANGELES CONNECTIONS --

PLEASE CONTACT LA TIMES NEWS!

AND NOTE PRESIDENT OF APA IS IN LA -- PLEASE PROVIDE *CIVIL* COMMENTS TO HER, THANKS.

22 August 2003 http://www.MindFreedom.org
Contact for Hunger Strikers: 626-795-5525
E-mail: office@mindfreedom.org


DAY 8: "Time to Move our Movement." - Romi

Fast For Freedom In Mental Health
Hunger Strikers Issue a Challenge to
Community, Supporters, Friends & Family

"TAKE ACTION: REACH THE MEDIA AND
THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION"

Fasters make personal plea.

PASADENA, CALIF.: This is the eighth day of a
hunger strike protesting the "takeover of the
mental health system by the psychiatric drug
industry." Today is a turning point for fasters.

The Fast for Freedom in Mental Health is issuing
a challenge today to their community, friends,
family and all supporters of human rights in the
mental health system.

REACH THE MEDIA AND THE APA!!

This is a special "MindFreedom Dendrite." Immediately
following this alert, we will e-mail out three (3) news
articles about the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health.

The hunger strikers are encouraging you to copy those
articles far and wide, ESPECIALLY TO MEDIA, and to friends, colleagues, everyone! If you wish, add a very brief personal note.

Here are two key media. At BOTTOM are more. And
please get this to all other media -- major or independent:

~~~~~~~~

TWO MAIN MEDIA CONTACTS:

Los Angeles Times -- Headquarters
E-mail: sara.lessley@latimes.com
Phone: (213) 237-7001
Fax: (213) 237-4712
Website: http://www.latimes.com

New York Times -- Headquarters
E-mail: nytnews@nytimes.co
Phone: (212) 556-1234
Fax: (212) 556-7614
Website: http://www.nytimes.com

[At bottom are more major media contacts.]

~~~~~~~~~

ASK THE APA FOR A COMMENT!

The goal: For everyone -- especially the media -- to civily
ask the American Psychiatric Association this question:

"Please provide an official, meaningful comment on the
Fast for Freedom Scientific Panel's Statement to the APA."

~~~~~~~~~

TWO MAIN APA CONTACTS:

The Director of APA Public Relations
Laurie Oseran
Direct phone: (703) 907-8540
E-mail: LOseran@psych.org

The President of the APA Board of Trustees
Marcia K. Goin, Clinical Professor History & Education
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Direct phone: (323) 226-5755
Fax: (323) 226-6499
E-mail: mgoin@usc.edu

[AT BOTTOM are contacts for more members of the
American Psychiatric Assoociation Board of Trustees.]

~~~~~~~~~

HERE ARE HEARTFELT "DAY 8" MESSAGES FROM
THE HUNGER STRIKERS TO THEIR SUPPORTERS
ON DAY EIGHT OF THE FAST FOR FREEDOM:

Mickey Weinberg: "I'm worried and angry. I'm
worried about my 62 year old body. I'm angry
that both the APA and most of the media couldn't
care less. They couldn't care less about our
concern about folks enmeshed in the mental health
system... or about my life.

"So we need your help. The media shape public
perception. If major media cover the hunger
strike then to the public we -- and all the users
and survivors of psychiatry -- exist. Without that
coverage, then to the public none of us exists.

"The Fast for Freedom can diminsh the power of
psychiatry and enhance the reputation of people
labeled by psychiatry. LET'S NOT LOSE THAT
OPPORTUNITY!

"Demand from major media that they pressure the
APA to comment on our Scientific Panel's
brilliant refutation of the condescending letter
sent us by the medical director of the APA.

"Easier still, let the media know that YOU WANT
THE HUNGER STRIKE COVERED!

"Today, my wife cried. She's worried about me.
The physicians represented by the APA can easily
end this hunger strike. Call the media."
~~~~~~~~~

Romi Sayama, 22 years old: "I think we need to let our
supporters know that this is the time to move our
movement, not only by contacting the media, but
also by getting our issues off of the back burner
in our own lives. This a valuable opportunity to
have our voices and activism heard."

~~~~~~~~~

David Gonzalez, 45: "This is an urgent plea for support from someone
who entered a 'medical facility' 20 years ago seeking treatment for
an emotional crisis. I was re-traumatized by the very system
designed to provide that treatment. To this very day
I am still recuperating from the after effects of that
humiliating, debilitating and harrowing experience.

"If you are someone who has entered a mental health facility
and found yourself held against your will... If you are
someone who has been forced to take powerful psychotropic
drugs against your will... Or if you are someone who
has a relative who has been exploited under the guise of
mental health... I am asking for your support in contacting
the media to question the institutions that condone these
practices.

"What proof do the APA and NAMI have that emotional disorders
are biologically based? What proof do they have that
powerful psychotropic drugs alleviate, and don't, in fact,
exacerbate emotional disorders? And what authority justifies
and empowers them to routinely and unilaterally coerce and
force people into treatment?"

~~~~~~~~~

Vince Boehm, 64: "Does anyone out there give a hoot? Yes.
Support comes from unusual places. From Ausralia we
received a page of 'thank you, thank you, thank you.'
One mental health consumer was so grateful, she said
with lots of emotion, 'You're doing this for me,' and she
gave me a little hug.' That's what keeps me going."

~~~~~~~~~

Krista Erickson, 28: "I am asking everyone, especially the
disability community, to please contact the APA,
and any media -- both local and national. Please ask
the APA to provide a substantive comment on the
response from the Scientific Panel."

~~~~~~~~~

David Oaks, 47: "One of the reasons I joined the hunger
strike in the first place was to galvanize our community,
to move from patients to passion. We appreciate
every single bit of support, small and large. We are
asking for something much more: To dig deep down
inside ourselves, and challenge all media -- mainstream
and independent -- to do their job: Ask the APA about
the Scientific Panel's statement! Also, in the era of
the Internet, we are our own media. Break the silence!"

~~~~~~~~~

WEB SITES FOR MORE INFO & TO HELP
THE FAST FOR FREEDOM:

For the latest news releases, daily updates, solidarity strikers, articles, etc. check http://www.MindFreedom.org.

For the latest photos, message board, etc. see http://www.cinemaniastigma.com/pages/13/index.htm

~~~~~~~

CONTACT MORE MAJOR MEDIA

Chicago Tribune -- Headquarters
E-mail: srowley@tribune.com
Phone: (312) 222-3139
Fax: (312) 222-2550
Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com

Boston Globe -- Headquarters
E-mail: pr@globe.com
Phone: (617) 929-3100
Fax: (617) 929-3186
Website: http://www.boston.comcom/globe/

USA Today -- Headquarters
E-mail: editor@usatoday.com
Phone: (703) 854-3400
Fax: (703) 854-2078
Website: http://www.usatoday.com

Washington Post -- Headquarters
E-mail: pgextra@washpost.com
Phone: (202) 334-7300
Fax: (202) 496-3883
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com

Washington Post -- LA Bureau
Phone: (310) 277-4819 - Rene Sanchez
Fax: (310) 277-3704
Reporter e-mail: Rene Sanchez sanchezr@washpost.com

Wall Street Journal -- Headquarters
E-mail: nyspot@wsj.com
Phone: (212) 416-2000
News phone (212) 416-2658
Fax: (212) 416-2733
Website: http://www.wsj.com

ABC News -- Headquarters
Phone: (212) 456-1000
Fax: (212) 456-5962
Website: abcnews.go.com

CBS News -- Headquarters
Phone: (212) 975-4321
Fax: (212) 975-1893
Website: http://www.cbsnews.com

CNN News Group -- Headquarters
E-mail: cnnfutures@cnn.com
Phone: (404) 827-1500
Fax: (404) 878-0891
Website: http://www.cnn.com

Fox News Channel -- Headquarters
E-mail: comments@foxnews.com
Phone: (212) 301-3300
Fax: (212) 301-4220
Website: http://www.foxnews.com

MSNBC -- Headquarters
E-mail: feedback@msnbc.com
Website: msnbc.com
Phone: (201) 583-5000
Fax: (201) 583-5584

NBC News -- Headquarters
E-mail: letters@msnbc.com
Website: http://www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
News phone: (201) 583-5222
Fax: (201) 583-5453

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) -- Headquarters
E-mail: viewer@pbs.org
Website: http://www.pbs.org
Phone: (703) 739-5000
Fax: (703) 739-0775

National Public Radio - How To Pitch a Story
http://www.npr.org/about/pitch/

Remind the national office that NPR-LA's
Rachel Myrow is covering the story locally. To hear it:
http://www.scpr.org/play/audio.php?media=/news/features/2003/08/20030818_features1

~~~~~~~~~~~

To e-mail all the above, use bcc to: sara.lessley@latimes.com, nytnews@nytimes.com, srowley@tribune.com, pr@globe.com, editor@usatoday.com, pgextra@washpost.com, sanchezr@washpost.com, nyspot@wsj.com, cnnfutures@cnn.com, comments@foxnews.com, feedback@msnbc.com, letters@msnbc.com, viewer@pbs.org

~~~~~~~~~~~

CONTACT MORE MEMBERS OF
THE APA BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

APA President-Elect
Michelle B. Riba, M.D., M.S.
Dept. Psychiatry
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

Office: 734-764-6879
Fax: 734-936-1130
Email: mriba@umich.edu
http://www.med.umich.edu/psych/ribaapa.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~

APA Vice President
Pedro Ruiz, M.D.
Prof & Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs
Dept. Psych & Behav Sci., U Texas Med. Sch.
Houston, TX

Office: 713-500-2799
Fax: 713-500-2757
Email: pedro.ruiz@uth.tmc.edu

~~~~~~~~~~~

APA Secretary
Nada L. Stotland, M.D., M.P.H.
Chicago, IL

Office: 773-667-6329
Fax: 773-667-6692
Email: nadast@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/nadast/myhomepage/politics.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~

APA Trustee-at-Large
Tanya R. Anderson, M.D.
Dept. of Psychiatry
Univ of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL

Office: 312-355-4337
Fax: 312-355-4459
Email: tanderson@psych.uic.edu
http://www.psych.uic.edu/faculty/anderson.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~

APA Area 1 Trustee
Donna M. Norris, M.D.
Wellesley, MA

Office: 781-237-1778
Fax: 781-235-2954
Email: dmnorris@aol.com
http://www.pipatl.org/donnanorris

~~~~~~~~~~~

APA Area 4 Trustee
Sidney H. Weissman, M.D.
Chicago, IL

Office: 312-781-1144; 708-202-8419
Fax: 708-771-0077
Email: Sidney.Weissman@med.Va

~~~~~~~~~~~

APA Area 7 Trustee
Albert V. Vogel, M.D.
Univ New Mexico, HSC
Office of Assoc Dean for Clinical Affairs
Cancer Center Rm B-30
Albuquerque, NM

Office: 505-272-0738
Fax: 505-272-6055
Email: avvogel@salud.unm.edu

~~~~~~~~~~~

To e-mail all APA officials above use bcc to: LOseran@psych.org,
mgoin@usc.edu, mriba@umich.edu, pedro.ruiz@uth.tmc.edu, nadast@aol.com, tanderson@psych.uic.edu, dmnorris@aol.com, Sidney.Weissman@med.Va, avvogel@salud.unm.edu

~~~~~~~~~~

**** PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO ALL
APPROPRIATE PLACES ON & OFF INTERNET! ****

~~~~~~~~~~

DONATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT
HUNGER STRIKE COSTS...

BEGIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN
MINDFREEDOM TODAY!

IF YOU ARE IN LA AREA, VOLUNTEERS
ARE NEEDED. Phone 626-795-5525. Check web for
free lecture series on Saturday, Monday & Wednesday. Volunteer and
community meeting at 6 pm daily at Hunger Strike Headquarters:
277 North El Molina Ave., Pasadena, Calif., USA.
MindFreedom Support Coalition International
is a non-profit uniting 100 grassroots groups,
and is independently funded by group and
individual members like you who support human rights.

Find out more, and join and/or donate today at
http://www.MindFreedom.org. Click on join/donate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For occasional updates like this, you may join this
dendrite MindFreedom announcement list here for free:

http://mailman.efn.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/dendrite

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*** PLEASE COPY THIS NEWS ***
TO ALL APPROPRIATE PLACES
ON & OFF THE INTERNET NOW!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello???? anybody there?

Did you all starve to death?

A fact now coming forward is the experimental use of electronic technologies to 'entrain' brainwaves of non-consenting mentally ill to, in effect, produce drug-like effects. An example is 'electrosleep". A microimplant placed covertly near the temporal lobe of the brain can act as a receiver of bioactive frequencies forcing the natural brainwaves to conform to the entrainment and thus produce sleep (or various other mental states). Such techniques are now being used without the consent of the patient. The implany can both monitor brain waves and alter them.
All that is necessary is the covert placement of the micro receiving device (often done during a medical procedure for another problem), and the placement of a transmitter near the home of the patient.
Covert monitoring of behavior is used to determine the necessity for entrainment. (The entire procedure often referred to as 'mind control').
Another human rights violation brought to you by the University of California.

In fact we have had no SPAP postings from the hunger strikers for a while now.

are they dead?

Update please!!!!!!

Rational Normal Person can't spell....

I'm not one to go after people's spelling - I purposely don't use a spell-checker myself because I don't think perfect spelling is either possible or needed. The only time I'll even mention it is if someone cites me and they mis-spell themselves. (that's hypocritical)

But citing yourself seems shallow - eh ?

Just a shallow comment about spelling????

Oh well.

Here are a few other excellent sites taking on these issues in more depth than the psychotherapy-oriented reformers with SCI:

www.szasz.com
(You'll find Dr. Thomas Szasz, MD and a large group of PhD's attacking so-called "mental illness" science; Szasz has been trying to get the word out since the 1950s, but of course, such radicalness as his has been well marginalized, in favor of reformers like SCI whom really only wish to reproduce the existing social order in a new, slightly less coercive form, where hiearchies remain intact, and "consumers" remain subordinated)

www.stopshrinks.org
(includes a very large library of resources, including book titles and online links, and discussion forums--for those of you who are SKEPTICAL)

Utica, NY's non-industry Mental Patient's Liberation Alliance (which runs a toll-free support line for ex-patients of the mental stealth system)

www.adhdfraud.org (just like it says)

anti-psychiatry.org (apparently under heavy fire of late)

and many more (just check the links section)