Not directly related to this lists purposes but an issue which receives
much discussion on wilderness expeditions and perhaps some support for
using sponges which can be re-used.
PLEASE READ WITH ATTENTION AND FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS, SISTERS, WIFES, ETC.
FYI...
>> > >
>> > > I find this personally disturbing and alarming,
>> > > Do check the labels of the sanitary pads or tampons
>> > > that you are going to buy the next time, and see
>> > > whether you spot any of the familiar signs stated in
>> > > this email... no wonder so many women in the world
>> > > suffer from cervical cancer and womb tumors...scary!!!
>> > >
>> > > Please pass on to as many women as possible!
>> > >
>> > > If you use pads, but especially if you use tampons
>> > > read this and pass on to your friends (for the men
>> > > receiving this email, please forward it to your
>> > > friends, significant others, sisters, mothers, daughters,
>> > > etc.) Thanks
>> > >
>> > > Have you heard that tampon makers include asbestos in
>> > > tampons? Why would they do this? Because asbestos
>> > > makes you bleed more... if you bleed more, you're
>> > > going to need to use more. Why isn't this against the
>> > > law since asbestos is so dangerous? Because the powers
>> > > that be, in all their wisdom (not), did not consider
>> > > tampons as being ingested, and therefore wasn't illegal
>> > > or considered dangerous.
>> > >
>> > > This month's Essence magazine has a small article
>> > > about this and they mention two manufacturers of a
>> > > cotton tampon alternative. The companies are:
>> > > Organic Essentials @ (800) 765-6491 and Terra Femme @
>> > > (800)755-0212.
>> > >
>> > > A woman getting her Ph.D. at University of Colorado,
>> > > Boulder sent the following:
>> > >
>> > > "I am writing this because women are not being
>> > > informed about the dangers of something most of us use
>> > > - tampons. I am taking a class this month and I have
>> > > been learning a lot about biology and women, including
>> > > much about feminine hygiene. Recently we have learned
>> > > that tampons are actually dangerous (for other reasons
>> > > than TSS). I'll tell you this, after learning about this
>> > > in our class, most of the females wound up feeling angry
>> > > and upset with the tampon industry, and I for one, am
>> > > going to do something about it. To start, I want to inform
>> > > everyone I can, and email is the fastest way that I know how.
>> > >
>> > > Here is the scoop: Tampons contain two things that are
>> > > potentially harmful:
>> > >
>> > > Rayon (for absorbency), and dioxin (a chemical used
>> > > in bleaching the products). The tampon industry is
>> > > convinced that we, as women, need bleached white
>> > > products - in order to view the product as pure and
>> > > clean. The problem here is that the dioxin produced in
>> > > the bleaching process can lead to very harmful problems
>> > > for a woman. Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic
>> > > (cancer-associated) and is toxic to the immune and
>> > > reproductive systems. It has also been linked to
>> > > endometriosis and lower sperm counts for men - for both,
>> > > it breaks down the immune system.
>> > >
>> > > Last September the Environmental Protection Agency
>> > > (EPA) reported that there really is no set "acceptable"
>> > > level of exposure to dioxin given that it is cumulative
>> > > and slow to disintegrate. The real danger comes from
>> > > repeated contact (Karen Houppert "Pulling the Plug
>> > > on the Tampon Industry"). I'd say using about 4 - 5
>> > > tampons a day, five days a month, for 38 menstruating
>> > > years is "repeated contact", wouldn't' you?
>> > >
>> > > Rayon contributes to the danger of tampons and dioxin
>> > > because it is a highly absorbent substance. Therefore,
>> > > when fibers from the tampons are left behind in the
>> > > vagina (as usually occurs), it creates a breeding
>> > > ground for the dioxin. It also stays in a lot longer
>> > > than it would with just cotton tampons. This is also
>> > > the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs.
>> > >
>> > > WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
>> > >
>> > > Using feminine hygiene products that aren't bleached
>> > > and that are all cotton. Other feminine hygiene
>> > > products (pads/napkins) contain dioxin as well, but
>> > > they are not nearly as dangerous since they are not in
>> > > direct contact with the vagina. The pads / napkins
>> > > need to stop being bleached, but obviously tampons are
>> > > the most dangerous. So, what can you do if you can't
>> > > give up using tampons? Use tampons, that are made from
>> > > 100% cotton, and that are UNBLEACHED. Unfortunately,
>> > > there are very, very few companies that make these
>> > > safe tampons. They are usually only found in health
>> > > food stores. Countries all over the world (Sweden,
>> > > Germany, British Columbia, etc.) have demanded a switch
>> > > to this safer tampon, while the U.S. has decided to
>> > > keep us in the dark about it. In 1989, activists in
>> > > England mounted a campaign against chlorine bleaching.
>> > > Six weeks and 50,000 letters later, the makers of
>> > > sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one of
>> > > the green methods available). (MS magazine, May/June 1995).
>> > >
>> > > WHAT TO Do NOW:
>> > >
>> > > Tell people. Everyone. Inform them. We are being
>> > > manipulated by this industry and the government, let's
>> > > do something about it! Please write to the companies:
>> > > Tampax (Tambrands), Playtex, O.B., Kotex.
>> > >
>> > > Call the 800 numbers listed on the boxes.
>> > > Let them know that we demand a safe product - ALL COTTON
>> > > UNBLEACHED TAMPONS.
>> > >
>> > > Reminder: P.S. In order not to lose the impact of this email,
>> > > I suggest that anyone who want to forward to your friends,
>> > > PLEASE copy this mail and paste to a NEW message. That way
>> > > will not distort the whole message with all the forward arrows. Please
>> > > do
>> > > this with consideration and seriousness.
>> >
>> >
>>
>> ------- End of forwarded message -------
>>
>>
>> ___________________________________________________________________
>> Get smart - get your FREE email at http://email.looksmart.com
>
>
Pete Allison
Scottish School of Sport Studies
Faculty of Education
University of Strathclyde
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 07968 793818
Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership Editorial issues to:
[log in to unmask]
www.adventure-ed.co.uk
www.outdoor-learning.org
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